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Ben and David visit Shanghai Disneyland as the final park in their world tour. They begin at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, where the room has a high-tech toilet, a fireworks effect on the headboard, and filtration escape masks. The lobby and Disneytown lead into a park with a very wide Mickey Avenue and the Enchanted Storybook Castle, which blends Chinese design with Disney features. They ride Buzz Lightyear, Tron, and Pirates of the Caribbean, which they single out for its screens and rotating boats. Food includes durian ice cream and an egg tart. At night, Zootopia and Tomorrowland light up, the Winter Show adds artificial snow, and fireworks close the visit.
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Hotel arrival and first impressions
Ben and David, experienced Disney park visitors, arrive at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel to complete their tour of the world's Disney parks. The hotel room has several unusual details, including a high-tech toilet with many controls, a bedside panel that triggers a fireworks display on the headboard, and filtration escape masks. The lobby's Art Nouveau details and Fantasia-inspired statues set the tone before they head through Disneytown to the park. A coffee stop includes a coconut latte with pieces of coconut.
Mickey Avenue looks different from Main Street USA: it is a broad, cartoon-inspired thoroughfare designed to handle large crowds. The Enchanted Storybook Castle is very wide and combines Chinese architectural elements with Disney fairy-tale styling. The central area reminds the visitors of EPCOT's World Showcase, while gardens and the fireworks viewing area underline the scale of the park. Cold, rainy February weather affects the day but does not stop them from trying rides.
Rides, food, and nighttime shows
Buzz Lightyear uses screens in a dark setting, while Tron feels sleek and futuristic to the visitors, especially at night. Pirates of the Caribbean is their standout ride: it uses large screens and boats that rotate 360 degrees. They note the park has fewer large roller coasters than they expected. Food becomes another experiment; Ben tries durian ice cream, which he says tastes like savory beef and blue cheese, while David enjoys a Portuguese egg tart. The park also has a strong Zootopia and Duffy presence. The Duffy shop uses a one-way queue, and clapping makes animated plush toys wag.
After dark, neon lights bring Zootopia and Tomorrowland to life. The Winter Wonderland show adds artificial snow to Mickey Avenue, and fireworks, including a Marvel segment, finish the evening. Ben and David praise friendly cast members and orderly crowds, though they feel the park needs more rides and lands to use its large footprint. They conclude that Shanghai Disneyland differs from other parks in a way they enjoy, with hot chocolate and a giant inflatable Donald Duck by the lake as a final send-off.
The park's scale keeps surprising them: gardens, walkways, and the fireworks viewing area all feel wide, while the central hub reminds them of EPCOT's World Showcase. The castle is not described as the tallest, but its breadth and Chinese architectural features make it distinctive. The couple also notice the park's focus on Zootopia and Duffy the Disney Bear. The Duffy store uses a one-way queue, and a clap triggers animated plush toys.
The nighttime experience is a major part of the visit. Zootopia and Tomorrowland are lit up, the Winter Wonderland show adds artificial snow to Mickey Avenue, and the fireworks include a Marvel segment. The fireworks area is very large and provides space for visitors to watch. Ben and David's final assessment is balanced: they enjoy the friendly cast members and orderly crowds, but think the park needs more rides and lands to fill its footprint. Hot chocolate and an inflatable Donald Duck by the lake serve as their final moments at the resort. Their advice about Premier Access, QR ordering, paper tickets, food, and nighttime shows comes from this particular visit.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What surprised Ben and David most about the park?
- A: They were impressed by the cast members' friendliness and the orderly crowds, which differed from what they had heard from other people.
- Q: What was the durian ice cream like?
- A: Ben says it tasted like savory beef and blue cheese, making it a very unusual flavor for Western taste buds.
- Q: Did Zootopia require a special pass?
- A: The source says visitors need a priority pass or Premier Access to enter without waiting in a very long line.