Shanghai Disneyland

History

Preparations

The Chinese government approved the resort on November 4, 2009. On April 7, 2011, groundbreaking began at the Shanghai Disneyland Resort site. On June 29, 2013, construction on the Enchanted Storybook Castle began.

Construction

Major construction work started on April 8, 2011, targeting a spring 2016 opening. The resort was planned to cover an area of 4 km2 and it was expected to cost ().{{cite news

On March 8, 2013, the company announced that the park would open in late 2015. On February 2, 2015, the opening date was pushed back to early 2016. On January 12, 2016, the park's opening date was announced as June 16, 2016, its final opening date.

The cost was initially estimated at 24.5 billion yuan (US$3.7 billion) for the theme park and an additional 4.5 billion yuan (US$700 million). which was partly due to more attractions opening to the public on the first day, which added US$800 million to the cost. In addition to the attractions and two hotels, a high-speed rail system is being built to get visitors to and from the site. Disney owns 43% of the property, and the state-controlled Shanghai Shendi Group owns the remaining 57%.

Opening

On May 7, 2016, Shanghai Disneyland had started soft openings.

Disney aired the live broadcast of the grand opening show on its Facebook and the Disney TV stations on the night of June 15, 2016. Bob Iger, the chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, was joined by nearly 3,000 distinguished guests and celebrities for a showcase of choreography, acrobatics, costumes, and technology on grand scale, with dazzling lights, Disney music, pageantry, special effects, and fireworks. The show featured world-renowned pianist Lang Lang, who performed a custom arrangement of the musical sensation "Let It Go" (from Disney's Frozen) and China's television and movie actress Sun Li took center stage. The historic event included the debut of an original song, "Ignite the Dreamer Within", written especially for the grand opening of Shanghai Disneyland. Acclaimed composer and conductor Tan Dun, known for his scores for the films Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero, led the Shanghai Symphony with an original composition of the new song.

As the opening was met with rainy weather, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang told Iger that the rain is an auspicious sign of dollars and renminbi to come. Wang then read a brief message of congratulations from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who said: "By adding to the classic Disney style a stroke of Chinese characteristics, and by blending international standards with best local practices, the resort demonstrates our commitment to cross-cultural cooperation."

Ticket pricing

Tickets for the park went on sale on March 28, 2016, with a two-tiered pricing scheme. On most days, day adult tickets will be , while child and elderly one-day tickets will cost , roughly 20% cheaper than Hong Kong Disneyland (which charges for a day adult ticket). During busier periods, including the first two weeks of the park's operation, adult day tickets will cost , while child and elderly tickets will cost . The park will be the first Disney park to feature tiered pricing.

According to the International Business Times (IBT), the equivalent of park ticket pricing will cost about US$75 for adults and US$60 for children on holidays and weekends, and around US$60 for adults and US$45 for children on weekdays. IBT notes that "a two-day weekend ticket for two adults and one child comes close to China's average urban monthly wage."

Opening day tickets sold out in a few hours after they had gone on sale at midnight, March 28. However, more tickets were put on sale several days before the official opening day.

As of 2025, ticket pricing ranges from ¥475 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, to ¥499 on Monday, to ¥539 on Friday and Sunday, and ¥599 on Saturday. Shanghai Disneyland also offers early bird tickets, making tickets ¥50 cheaper when purchasing more than 10 days in advance.

Response to COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the park (which was the first Disney park to close) temporarily closed from January 25, 2020, following the actions of Ocean Park Hong Kong and Hong Kong Disneyland Park. It remained closed the following three and a half months, reopening to guests on May 11, 2020, becoming the first of the Disney Parks to reopen. It reopened under strict rules that included, but was not limited to, social distancing, reduced capacity, temperature screenings, and mandatory face masks. Shanghai Disney Resort closed for a second time due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in China from March 21, 2022, through June 29, 2022. The resort reopened for the second time on June 30, 2022. On October 31, 2022, it was announced that the park would once again close indefinitely due to a surge in cases. It last closed on November 29, 2022, before reopening again on December 8 after China eased its "zero COVID" policy in response to protests.

Park layout

Unlike other Disney parks, Shanghai Disneyland does not feature a steam railroad surrounding the park's perimeter due to the Chinese already being accustomed to train travel. Shanghai Disneyland also has no earthen berm to obscure the outside world from guest view. As a replacement for a central-spoked/hub, the center of the park features a 11 acre collection of Chinese zodiac gardens called the Gardens of Imagination. Main Street, USA has given way to Mickey Avenue, which introduces Chinese visitors to Disney characters. Conventional-themed lands such as Adventureland are reimagined into Adventure Isle, and other lands, such as Frontierland, are omitted entirely. Several staple attractions, such as Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, and It's a Small World, are excluded as Disney wanted to avoid criticism of cultural imperialism. Restaurant seating has been revised upwards after studies found that Chinese guests take longer over meals, and extensive picnic areas are better adapted to extended families with grandparents. Also, there is more live entertainment as many Chinese patrons prefer that to thrill rides.

In regards to the layout of other Magic Kingdom parks, this park's layout is mirrored. Instead of being on the left side of main hub, Adventure Isle (Adventureland) is on the right side; while as Tomorrowland is now on the left side instead of the right. Fantasyland is located in the back behind the castle (Enchanted Storybook Castle).

The table below shows the Attractions, Dining places, Entertainments, and Shops in each theme land.

Mickey Avenue

Main article: Main Street, USA

Mickey Avenue, the entrance of the park, is the park's equivalent to Main Street, USA. While the entrance building resembles a train station, there is no railroad circulating the park and it is used for character shows. The area is inspired by the personalities of Disney cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Chip 'n' Dale as well as Disney films, including Ratatouille, The Three Caballeros, and Lady and the Tramp. Avenue M Arcade, the largest gift shop in the park, is modeled after the Carthay Circle Theater. The Storytellers statue, which depicts a young Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, is at the end of Mickey Avenue and in front of the Gardens of Imagination.

Gardens of Imagination

The hub of the park, this land features seven 11 acre Chinese gardens with each of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac represented by Disney characters. Attractions include Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Fantasia Carousel, and Marvel Super Heroes at Marvel Universe, a meet-and-greet pavilion featuring Marvel characters. Entertainment includes castle stage shows as well as the nightly Illuminate! A Nighttime Celebration. Mickey's Storybook Express, a parade with a musical soundtrack and colorful performers, runs on the longest parade route in a Disney park.

Fantasyland

Main article: Fantasyland

Fantasyland is the park's largest land themed to Disney animated films. The land features the 197 ft Enchanted Storybook Castle, themed to Disney princesses. The castle is the largest in any Disney theme park and features the Royal Banquet Hall restaurant, a boutique, and Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, a boat ride around and under the castle that takes guests past scenes from films including Tangled, Aladdin, Mulan, Fantasia, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Attractions include Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan's Flight, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Evergreen Playhouse (including For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration), Alice's Curious Labyrinth, a walk-through hedge maze inspired by the 1951 and 2010 versions film adaptations, and the Hunny Pot Spin, a spinning Teacups-style ride themed to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Treasure Cove

Treasure Cove is themed to an 18th-century Spanish harbor town located on a Caribbean island that has been captured by Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. The land's marquee attraction is Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, a dark ride based on the films. Guests, riding in magnetically propelled boats, travel past audio-animatronic and projected depictions of Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones as the two battle against each other in attempt to seize the cove's sunken riches.

The land also is home to Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular, a stunt show inspired by the films and Siren's Revenge, a shipwreck-themed three-story interactive play area set aboard a wrecked French galleon. Explorer Canoes are also located in this area.

Adventure Isle

Main article: Adventureland (Disney)

Adventure Isle is the park's counterpart to Adventureland. Focused around a mysterious lost world full of hidden treasures, the land features Roaring Rapids, a river rapids ride through the land's towering Roaring Mountain and Soaring Over the Horizon, a hang gliding flight experience across the world. Additionally, the land features Tarzan: Call of the Jungle, a live acrobatic stage show (which was permanently closed to make way for The Adventure of Rhythm) in Storyhouse Stage, and Camp Discovery.

Tomorrowland

Main article: Tomorrowland (Disney Parks)

Tomorrowland is the park's futuristic-themed land. Unlike the other Tomorrowlands, this version does not have Space Mountain and instead is home to TRON Lightcycle Power Run, an indoor Tron-themed roller coaster. Similarly, instead of an Astro Orbiter attraction, Shanghai's park includes a spinning Jet Packs ride. Other attractions include Tomorrowland Pavilion (home to Star Wars Launch Bay, which is permanently closed to make way for Avatar: Explorer Pandora), Stitch Encounter, and Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue, a variant of previous Buzz Lightyear dark rides.

''Toy Story'' Land

Main article: Toy Story Land

This Toy Story franchise-themed land, the park's first expansion, opened on April 26, 2018. The original plans for Shanghai Disneyland called for a Toy Story area with three rides, two restaurants, a show, and a gift shop. The Celebration Café, a restaurant that opened on opening day, was meant to be in Toy Story Land. Additionally, the nearby bathrooms are the same as the Toy Story Green Army Men attractions found at the other parks.

Zootopia

Zootopia is themed to the Zootopia franchise and set within the mammalian metropolis featured in the films. It opened as the eighth land on December 20, 2023. It is located behind Fantasyland in the very back of the park. It features the trackless dark ride Zootopia: Hot Pursuit. Characters from the movies will appear from the windows of Zootopia Park Apartments along Mane Street by advanced puppetry techniques. The land also features food ventures providing a variety of treats from the movie, for instance Officer Clawhauser’s big donut at Jumbeaux’s Café and paw-shaped Pawsicle at Zootopia Market. Visitors can also purchase Zootopia exclusive merchandise from Fashions by Fru Fru, located by the entrance of Mane Street.

Upcoming theme land

In August 2024, it was announced that the park will receive a land themed to Spider-Man, with construction started in May 2025. This is the park's ninth theme land and third major expansion. The land will also introduce the first major Marvel-themed attraction, which will be a Spider-Man themed thrill roller coaster. Disney also announced the launching of a Spider-Man attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Globalization and localization

Unlike previous Disney resorts, Shanghai Disneyland was designed to be both “Authentically Disney” and “Distinctly Chinese,” incorporating both western Disney culture with Chinese traditional culture and aesthetics.

Design and cultural adaptation

The park’s physical design and layout incorporate Chinese cultural elements that’s not seen in any other Disney theme parks. Disney deliberately removed features that’s deeply tied to Western culture, such as the Disneyland Railroad and Haunted Mansion. Modifications are also done to specific attractions. Soaring Over the Horizon added scenes of the Great Wall and added with the Shanghai skyline, which differs from Soarin’ Around the World at Disney World. These efforts were made to appeal to Chinese visitors, while still maintaining Disney’s own image.

Shanghai Disneyland’s localization extends beyond design to food. Most restaurants serve Chinese cuisine, such as The Snackin’ Krakin, located at Treasure Cove, which is named after Beihai Kraken and serves food from Sichuan.https://www.shanghaidisneyresort.com/experience/restaurant/snackin-kraken The design of communal gardens and rest spaces are also drawn from traditional Chinese element, and also accommodates for bigger families.

IP Localization

Another layer of Disney’s localization strategy lies in its use of IP localization through the introduction of Lina Bell, a pink fox character created originally by and specifically for Shanghai Disneyland. Lina Bell became a viral phenomenon in China, making her a successful example of Disney’s appeal to China’s social media and Disney fans. The character’s philosophy, announced during her launch, is that she finds joy and excitement in solving problems and mysteries, which resonates with Chinese Gen-Z women. As a member in the Duffy and Friends IP, Shanghai Disneyland also has a special merchandise exclusive shop named Wandering Moon Restaurant, located at Gardens of Imagination, which sells Duffy and Friends' exclusive merchandise to pre-registered customers.https://www.shanghaidisneyresort.com/experience/shop/wandering-moon-shop

Emotional branding

The slogan "Authentically Disney, Distinctly Chinese" and the strategies behind it functions as a form of emotional branding. By blending Chinese culture with the Disney's global imagery, the park constructs a national pride from Chinese audience, as well as preserving Disney's own branding and identity. The localization process puts together both Chinese culture and Western fantasy, creating a hybrid cultural identity appeals to both Chinese visitor's cultural pride and Chinese Disney fan's enthusiasm for Disney's IPs.

Attendance

References

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