2025 Shanghai Disneyland: Zootopia Land & Pirates of the Caribbean Adventure - Flying The Nest - China Travel Guide

2025 Shanghai Disneyland: Zootopia Land & Pirates of the Caribbean Adventure - Flying The Nest - China Travel Guide

More about the current video:(Published on 2025-08-17)

Our First Visit to Shanghai Disneyland (our final Disney park)

The Flying The Nest family—Stephen, Jess, Hunter, and Cola—have arrived at their final Disney park: Shanghai Disneyland. This marks the completion of visiting every Disney park in the world, a truly remarkable achievement. They begin their adventure at the Toy Story Hotel, finding the check-in experience magical with Buzz and Woody appearing, setting a whimsical tone for their stay. The room, while subtly themed, includes fun details like aliens above the window and a Rubik's cube bedside table, though they note the Kung Fu Panda room was more elaborately decorated. The hotel offers early park access, a key perk they plan to utilize. Their first evening, they explore Disney Town, grabbing dinner at Cheesecake Factory—a welcome break from weeks of Chinese cuisine—before entering the park for a preview. The castle, massive and beautifully lit at night, impresses them immediately. They watch a spectacular fireworks show, which Stephen declares the best they've ever seen at Disney, a perfect celebration for their milestone. The next morning, they use early entry to rush to Zootopia, the only land of its kind in the world. The ride queue is immersive, leading into a police station and jail cell, and the ride itself blends trackless technology with stunning screens, rivaling Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway but elevated. They explore the land's details: a working crosswalk, Easter eggs in the architecture, and the charming Jumbo's Cafe with its massive ice creams. Cola, their toddler, lights up at Shakira's 'Try Everything' playing in the land. They sample the blueberry ice cream waffle and a frittata, both delicious, but find corn-flavored popcorn odd. Afternoon rain drives them indoors for shows, including Mickey's Storybook Adventure, unique for including Mulan and Zootopia. They also catch an epic pirate stunt show that evolves from slapstick to thrilling spectacle. The parade impresses with the elaborate Mulan float, and they observe local favorites: Winnie the Pooh and Duffy & Friends draw huge lines while Mickey has a short wait. Inside the castle, they discover a princess shop, a ride through movie scenes, and a mirror portal, solidifying the castle as the best they've seen. They note that the park's fast pass system is expensive and poorly tiered, with all rides priced the same. On their final day, they focus on rides, starting with Woody's Roundup and the honey pot spin. Tron offers a thrilling but short experience, best enjoyed with a minimal wait. They then ride Pirates of the Caribbean, which completely reimagines the classic with a backwards roller coaster element and incredible animatronics of Davy Jones and a skeleton-to-life Jack Sparrow. Stephen calls it a top-five ride globally, comparing it to Rise of the Resistance. They also enjoy Snow White's Minecart and explore Fantasy Springs and Toy Story Land. At the arcade, they win huge prizes, causing packing dilemmas. The family concludes that Shanghai Disneyland is the best Magic Kingdom-style park, ranking second only to Tokyo DisneySea, held back only by the expensive and poorly designed fast pass system. Despite the rain and crowds, they leave with magical memories and massive souvenirs, wrapping up their epic journey through all Disney parks.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What is the best ride at Shanghai Disneyland?: A: The Pirates of the Caribbean ride is incredible! It's completely different from other Disney parks, with a backwards roller coaster section and amazing animatronics. It's a top-five ride for me.

Q: How much is the Toy Story Hotel per night?: A: It was $250 US a night, which is really affordable for a Disney hotel. You also get early park entry, which is a huge perk.