Disneyland Shanghai: First Time, Zootopia and Pirates of the Caribbean

Intro

Starting my Shanghai Disneyland journey felt like stepping into a dream, a chance to complete my visit to every Disney park in the world. Arriving in Shanghai, I was excited not only for this iconic park’s one-of-a-kind attractions, like the immersive Zootopia land and the groundbreaking Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure but also for the cultural fusion that makes this park so unique. Shanghai Disneyland brings Disney magic to life in a way that celebrates Chinese culture and artistry, blending beloved stories with innovative experiences and local touches that make it stand out among Disney parks worldwide.

On the way to Shanghai Disneyland

In the last post, I arrived to Shanghai, China, starting off my Round The World adventure 2024. There were many goals during this trip, but one of them was to finally complete all the Disney Parks in the world. Shanghai Disneyland was the one I had not been, and today I had the chance to get there.

I woke up very early. Fortunately, my first sleep in China was a success and did not feel too jetlagged for now. Disneyland Shanghai is very far from the center of the city, but it is reachable by metro and that is exactly what I was going to do.

Thanks to the MetroMan app I got instructions on how to get there. Since there are so many lines, it gives you the best combinations depending on number of changes and time. It also shows you how much will the ride be, since the metro charges depending on where you get in and out.

Paid the fare using Alipay to enter the Metro System, and once in the train I noticed there were phone chargers. Wow.

Once I got out the Disneyland Resort station, I noticed what seemed to be a very important sign in Chinese, so I pulled my Google Translate and effectively it said the last times for the subway tonight. Thankfully I was able to see this because even though the park closed at 9:30 pm, the last train being just 30 minutes later is crazy.

Disneyland Shanghai Resort

Here I was, finally in my last Disney Park in the world (not counting the water parks). In order now I had visited:

1. Magic Kingdom
2. Hollywood Studios
3. Epcot
4. Animal Kingdom
5. Disneyland Anaheim
6. Disney California Adventure
7. Disneyland Paris
8. Walt Disney Studios Park Paris
9. Tokyo Disneyland
10. Tokyo DisneySea
11. Hong Kong Disneyland
12. Shanghai Disneyland

Mind-blowing. And I had the Paris ones lined up for a revisit later in the trip when I arrive to Paris. I was so excited about it too.

But now, it was time to enjoy the park that has become of the favorite ones. Disneyland Shanghai is a favorite for a few unique reasons that blend Chinese culture with Disney magic, making it stand out among the Disney parks worldwide:

1. Distinctive Design and Attractions: Shanghai Disneyland features unique design elements and attractions specifically tailored to Chinese culture and preferences. For example, the Enchanted Storybook Castle is the largest Disney castle, designed to represent all Disney princesses rather than just one, appealing to a broader audience.
2. Localized Experiences: Many attractions have been adapted with Chinese storytelling elements or visuals to resonate with local visitors. For instance, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure,” offers a technologically advanced, immersive experience that isn’t found in other Disney parks, showcasing Disney’s storytelling with a mix of familiar and fresh themes.
3. Cultural Integration: The park incorporates elements of Chinese culture, from food offerings to themed decor and events. During Chinese holidays like the Lunar New Year, Shanghai Disneyland hosts unique celebrations that blend Disney’s magic with traditional festivities, creating a special experience for locals and tourists alike.
4. Expansive Layout: Shanghai Disneyland has a larger layout than some other Disney parks, allowing for wide walkways and spacious areas that enhance the visitor experience. The layout prioritizes green spaces and scenic paths, creating a balance between attraction spaces and peaceful areas for families to relax.
5. Technologically Advanced Rides: From Tron Lightcycle Power Run to Soaring Over the Horizon, Shanghai Disneyland leverages the latest technology to deliver visually stunning, high-speed, and interactive rides. This high-tech focus appeals to both thrill-seekers and those looking for cutting-edge attractions that push the boundaries of traditional theme park rides.
6. Accessibility to a New Market: Disneyland Shanghai was Disney’s first park in mainland China, making it a prime destination for many Chinese citizens who may have found other Disney parks less accessible. It became a cultural milestone, bridging Eastern and Western entertainment styles.

Shanghai Disneyland stands out because it carefully blends Disney’s brand with Chinese cultural touches, making it a distinctive experience both for local visitors and international tourists looking for something new within the Disney park portfolio.

During my visit it was Shanghai Disneyland Summer Blast season, so many of the characters were wearing their Summer attires.

One of the biggest attractions of this park is Zootopia, and you will find not only the entire new land, but also merchandise, decorations, characters and presence in many shows all over the park.

The Jewel of the park is the Enchanted Storybook Castle, and it’s the largest Disney castle ever built, and is home to the stories of Disney Princesses. 

Here are some things to do at Enchanted Storybook Castle:

• Golden Fairytale Fanfare: A performance celebrating Disney Princesses
• Character Greetings: Meet Disney royalty 
• Royal Banquet Hall: A storybook-style feast
• Once Upon a Time Adventure: A walk-through attraction
• Voyage to the Crystal Grotto: A boat ride

  

Zootopia

The hot attraction right now is Zootopia, and you better be in here early in the morning, because the lines get crazy, at least in 2024 when it does not have one year of being opened to the public.

This land s a highly immersive, themed land based on Disney’s popular animated movie Zootopia. It’s the first of its kind, bringing the bustling animal metropolis to life with rich, detailed environments inspired by the movie’s unique districts, like Tundratown, Sahara Square, and Little Rodentia.

Visitors can meet characters like Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, explore interactive experiences, and enjoy themed merchandise, food, and drinks. The centerpiece attraction is an innovative ride featuring advanced animatronics and special effects, designed to fully immerse guests in Zootopia’s world, blending storytelling and technology.

For this park, I had purchased via Klook not only the entrance, but the Disney Premier Access Package (6DPA), which included:

• Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue (Any Height)
• TRON Lightcycle Power Run – Presented by Chevrolet (122 cm or Taller)
• Challenge Trails at Camp Discovery
• Zootopia: Hot Pursuit
• Roaring Rapids (107 cm or Taller)
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (97 cm or Taller)

I took advantage of my pass and went to Hot Pursuit, even though the regular line was not too long this early in the morning.

Hot Pursuit

The problem with the Premier Access is that you miss part of the main queue with many details. Maybe I would be back and join it later.

In the queue you can see characters like Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, Bellwether, Chief Bogo and Officer Clawhauser.

We were put in the car and the hot pursuit started. In this ride, guests join Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde on an action-packed police chase through the city of Zootopia. The ride uses advanced animatronics, immersive set pieces, and dynamic visual effects to bring the bustling streets of Zootopia to life. With twists, turns, and surprises around every corner, Hot Pursuit combines storytelling with thrilling ride elements, making it a standout experience for fans of the film.

The drag queen Gazelle took me out lol

The ride was very entertaining, and ending it on a high now with Try Everything from Shakira, muah! Chef Kiss!

In this blog, we are a Shakira stan no matter where in the world we are!

More of Zootopia

And talking about Try Everything, the tigers from Gazelle’s show were spotted on a club up there.

I kept walking and enjoying the land. It is really very immersive, and everything was well crafted.

Hot Pursuit again

After walking around a bit, I had, had to come back to do the regular line of Hot Pursuit and do that ride once again. I was not expecting the prison tho lol. Kind of dark for a Disney ride.

There were even jail cells for the tinier animals.

The other props were nice regardless, and I am glad I got to go again.

One thing I loved from the ride the first time was the wardrobe of Gazelle, in which I saw some Shakira’s wigs and outfits from her regular videos.

Like the blue wig from Las de la intuicion music video.

Jumbeaux’ Cafe

Time for the first snack of the day at Jumbeaux’ Cafe in Zootopia.

From there I got the Jumbo Pop Chocolate Marshmallow, which became viral because of its size. It took me a couple of days to finish it.

I also got, mostly for later, the Big Donut, which is not as big as the one in The Simpsons land in Universal.

Character meet and greet

Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde were meeting right outside Hot Pursuit.

And I continued exploring the land a little bit more.

Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle of the Sunken Treasure

The other main attraction of this park is arguable Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle of the Sunken Treasure. This technologically advance ride that goes above and beyond the traditional rides and it is more focused on the movies. Also, the entire land is Pirates of the Caribbean, not only this ride.

The similarities are at the beginning, especially with the one in Disneyland Anaheim.

But then you get to this scene and you know this is probably a sequel to the regular rides, and very different.

Jack Sparrow and the other animatronics are mind-blowing. Just amazing how the captured all the movements.

Davey Jones, amazing.

The sunken part was fun, but once you get to the part where you rise and go above the sea level, I was in shocked. Like the entire time I was in shock.

Definitely one of my favorite Disney rides ever. The technology is just amazing, and those surprising drops, wow!

Mickey’s Storybook Adventure

After those 2 amazing rides, it was time for the first sit down show of the day, Mickey’s Storybook Adventure.

From their website:

Mickey’s Storybook Adventure is a brand-new live theater performance now showing at Shanghai Disneyland. A fantastical library is brought to the stage, where Mickey and Goofy find a magic book that spirals them into worlds of adventure and happiness. This extravaganza features classic Disney songs and includes appearances by 23 beloved Disney Characters.

Moana…

Rapunzel and Mulan have their part on the show…

But the star was no other than Gazelle. This part was the most applauded of the show.

But I was glad that they included Tiana as well.

The show ended with Elsa from Frozen singing Let it go.

So far, I had had a great morning and was expecting more fun in this park. Stay tuned for more coverage of Disneyland Shanghai.