What to expect at the Shanghai Disney Resort

Shanghai Disney Resort, the first Disney theme park in mainland China, opens its doors to the public on June 16, 2016. Under construction for five years and built on a budget of $5.5 billion USD, the resort offers an experience tailored to Chinese audiences. We explore this new Disney destination to see what it has offer to visitors of all walks of life.
By dearJulius.com Staff



History in the making

Featuring six themed areas, two themed hotels, a shopping district, and several parks and gardens, the sprawling resort covers an area the equivalent of 1,000 football fields. Tickets for children and adults are priced at $56 and $75 respectively. Disney is expecting 10 to 12 million visitors in its first year of operations.




Inside the Disney Castle

The Enchanted Storybook Castle is the largest Disney castle ever built. Though it might come across as a typical Disney structure with its turrets and spires, there are various Chinese details that make it "authentically Disney, distinctly Chinese." The gargoyles on the outer walls are inspired by the Chinese zodiac; the finials feature peonies and magnolias, which are China's favorite flowers; and there are jade carvings and columns, as well.




Shanghai Disneyland Hotel

This lakeside hotel has a three-story lobby and landscaped gardens, along with an indoor King Triton pool and a Mickey Mouse Playhouse.




Guest rooms

Nightly room rates at the hotel start at $250 and go up to $704 per night, depending on the room. The décor is a clever mix of Art Nouveau and Chinese elements, along with touches of the immortal Disney magic.




Fine dining

Titillate your taste buds in the four dining and coffee joints at the hotel: Aurora, Bacchus Lounge, Ballet Café, and Lumiere Kitchen (pictured). The menus are inspired mainly by Chinese cuisine and Disney themes.




Toy Story Hotel

Inspired by the Disney Pixar film series, images of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Bullseye and the other characters in the film permeate the Toy Story Hotel, from the entrance to the columns, floor elevators, upholstery and shower curtains.




Themed dining options

At the Toy Story hotel café, lunch options include Peking Duck pizza in the shape of Mickey Mouse's head, eel over rice and seafood with noodles. A standard meal costs $10-15 per person. (Pictured) Aurora Cafe at Shanghai Disneyland Hotel.





World's largest LEGO store

The LEGO store is spread over two floors and is the largest in the world. It's decked with dragons, skyscrapers, well-know children's characters and scenes made from LEGO blocks.




Treasure Cove

Where other Disney parks will feature pirate-themed rides, this is Disney's only pirate-themed park at a resort. Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, the latest version of the classic Disney ride, is the most anticipated feature of this new theme park.




Gift shops

Visitors will be spoiled with choice when it comes to finding Disney souvenirs and collectibles. The World of Disney Store, Mickey & Minnie's Mercantile, Marvel Mementos, Tinker Bell Gifts and Doubloon Market are just a few of the gift shops scattered throughout the resort.




Tron Lightcyle Power Run

This indoor roller coaster in Tomorrowland, which is based on the 1982 film “Tron,” is one of the fastest rides in any Disney park, and features adrenaline-pumping music, lights and 3-D graphics.




Alice in Wonderland Maze

Located in Fantasyland, Red Queen’s Garden features a giant sculpture of its namesake that bears a distinct resemblance to Helena Bonham Carter’s character in Tim Burton’s 2010 film “Alice in Wonderland.” Other attractions include Wonderland Garden, Hedge Maze, Tea Party and more.




Dancers perform in a parade

The opening ceremony will be televised live on the Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior. It will feature a concert at the castle, a parade and appearances by Chinese celebrities. (Pictured) Dancers practice for the parade.




Disney-themed planes

China Eastern Airlines, one of the official sponsors of the park, has debuted their Disney-themed fleet, and they plan to unveil more in the coming years. Under the agreement, the airline will also sponsor the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction at the park.




How to get there

To help visitors get to the resort with ease, a new subway station has been built and the experience starts from there with Mickey and Minnie Mouse sculptures at its center. The station features a mix of Disney and traditional Chinese design elements.