Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Shanghai: Top Attractions and Tips

Intro

This is my last blog post about my day at Disneyland Shanghai, part of my Round the World Trip 2024. From the exciting rides to the magical shows, the park had so much to offer. I was able to see a lively parade, explore different themed lands, and end my visit with an incredible nighttime show that lit up the entire castle.

Disneyland Shanghai was a memorable part of my trip, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading about these final moments in this amazing park!

Mickey’s Storybook Express parade

This will be my last entry of my day at Disneyland Shanghai in China, part of my Round the World Trip 2024. In the last 2 blogs you can see more of how I started my day here:

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

Shanghai Disneyland Highlights: Toy Story, Tron, and More

I had just returned from the Disneytown shopping section of the resort, and now I was met with the Mickey’s Storybook parade, not to be confused with the Mickey’s Storybook Adventure show that I mentioned in my first blog.

Mickey and the seven dwarves were present (or at least some as far as I can remember).

Goofy and Minnie were also at the parade. The Castle is the main character of this entry and will show up later on a lot lol.

Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle of the Sunken Treasure – AGAIN!

I was still in shock from Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle of the Sunken Treasure so I HAD to ride it again. I mean, when would be the next time I would be able to ride it right? So here I was, doing the regular line, no more Premier Access or anything like that.

It was nice being back, and appreciating it once again.

The effect of lifting you up from under the sea, and then putting you in the middle of a ship battle, woah!

The ride was over but now I had some minutes to explore Treasure Cove, which is the Pirates of the Caribbean inspired land, with architecture that reminds me of the Spanish colonies like Cartagena, Colombia.

Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular

I was also in the area waiting for the next show of Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular. This stunt show was super recommended, and I would like you to include it in your Shanghai trip.

All the jokes are in Chinese, so I could not understand much but it seemed funny. I was surprised of a very feminine character. The show was basically comedy on the preview part and then before the stunts started…

But once the curtains were raised, and the stunts started, wow! I would say it is to the level of Bourne Stuntacular in Universal Orlando.

When they did the flying stunt I was in shock almost haha. It was so good, you really get entertained here. I cannot imagine all the practice that it takes them.

Soaring Over the Horizon

If EPCOT and Tokyo DisneySea have their Soarin’s, why not Disneyland Shanghai? This ride was not included in the Premier Access pass that I had, so I had to do the longest line so far. The queue this time is based off old ruins and magic (?), but the ride itself was the same except for the end showing a little more of Shanghai and this park.

Enchanted Storybook Castle lights

I could not believe that the day was almost over, but I had so much fun in this park. I really, really loved Disneyland Shanghai. Even as a castle park, I was able to spend my whole day here (looking at you Hong Kong). But now the show to turn on the lights on the Enchanted Storybook Castle was about to start, and this is not the main nighttime show later on.

The crowds were crowding and it seemed that this was gonna stay like this until the show tonight. There was still some time until that, so I gotta do other stuff.

Marvel Universe

Like for example finally visit the Marvel Universe section of the park. I usually go straight to Star Wars (Galaxy’s Edge) or Avengers Campus, but this land did not attract me too much. There are no rides, just meet and greets.

There are some props shown in here.

And for example you could meet Loki, but the rest is just people trying to get some AC haha.

Ralph Breaks the Dance Floor

I went real quick to Tomorrowland, where according to the app, the Ralph Breaks the Dance Floor show was about to start. Tron at night looked so amazing.

The show started with Ralph and Vanellope. It was ok but very child oriented as expected. I mean I am in Disney after all.

Peter Pan’s Flight

Could I squish a last ride before the fireworks? Yes, I could. So I went to the last one I wanted to do: Peter Pan’s Flight. This ride which always have a long wait time was not going to make me miss the fireworks, but I was hopeful it would be fast.

The line was not as long as they said, and the ride was smooth. They say this is one of the best versions of it, but I do not remember major differences.

Zootopia at night

Before I left back to the castle, I had to stop by my favorite land of this park: Zootopia. I had been told that at night it looked even more amazing, and I was about to find out. From afar I could see their skyline, and Gazelle once again.

It is so alive and vibrant at night, definitely an obligated stop at night.

Il Paperino

Time for a last snack. I still had the giant pop and donut from earlier, but I wanted to get the famous waffle from Il Paperino.

And here it was, to give me some company during the fireworks: LinaBell Waffle with Sakura Peach and Vanilla-flavored Ice Cream from Il Paperino. They do not give syrup in China, but Ice cream or cream.

ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration

And here it was, the very end of this adventurous day. I would say it was successful since I was able to do everything I wanted to. The Premier Pass for the 6 attractions (used 4) worked perfectly. Love the rides, the theming, the technology, the food (those dumplings omg). I would come back here if I had the chance but so fast. I cannot believe it but yes, this park is above Tokyo Disneyland and by far. I found the one in Tokyo absolutely boring.

Now, Tokyo DisneySea was another story. I would have to compare them more carefully but I think DisneySea overall was better.

Anyways, the firework show was going to start. The Nighttime Spectacular for this park.

ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration at Shanghai Disneyland is an enchanting nighttime show that takes guests on a breathtaking journey through Disney’s timeless stories. This spectacular display centers around Enchanted Storybook Castle, which transforms with vibrant projections, laser effects, and dazzling fireworks.

The show explores the power of dreams and imagination, bringing beloved Disney characters and scenes to life in a way that’s visually captivating and emotionally stirring. Classic and modern Disney favorites, from The Lion King and Frozen to Toy Story and Mulan, are featured with intricate projections that illuminate the castle in vivid detail.

Accompanied by a sweeping orchestral soundtrack, ILLUMINATE! combines advanced technology with heartwarming Disney themes to create an immersive and unforgettable experience. This nighttime extravaganza is a highlight of any visit to Shanghai Disneyland, capturing the wonder and magic that Disney is known for worldwide.

These are the chapters for this show:

The fireworks started, and the projections on the giant castle as well.

Suddenly, not everything was about the traditional Disney characters

MARVEL and STAR WARS were on the castle. Like what??? That was a very welcomed surprised. Loved it.

Black Panther on the castle. I was about to cry haha.

Even The Infinity Gauntlet, and all the Avengers.

Amazing! One of the best shows ever.

Also. Try Everything?

Time to say goodbye

With the park now closed, it was time to say goodbye. I already expressed my opinion on the park, but the show cemented it. The first main goal of the RTW was finished and now I had to go back to my hotel. I still had to explore a little bit more of Shanghai.

The metro station was crowded but I was able to get in quickly.

MetroMan showed me route I had to take and here I was.

Conclusion

And with that, my day at Disneyland Shanghai comes to an unforgettable close. From the iconic Mickey’s Storybook Express parade to the awe-inspiring “ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration,” this park exceeded my expectations at every turn. Whether it was riding Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle of the Sunken Treasure (twice!) or exploring the vibrant night scenes in Zootopia, Shanghai Disneyland delivered magical experiences I won’t soon forget.

This park’s unique blend of technology, storytelling, and cultural details creates a Disney experience all its own. If you’re planning a trip here, I highly recommend taking the time to enjoy the immersive lands, impressive rides, and spectacular shows that make this park a true gem in the Disney family. While Tokyo DisneySea will always have a special place in my heart, Disneyland Shanghai has certainly raised the bar with its creativity and grandeur.

As I leave the park behind and head back through Disneytown, I feel grateful for this incredible day filled with surprises, laughter, and pure Disney magic. Now, onto my next destination in this round-the-world adventure! Thank you for joining me on this journey—there’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to share it with you.