Shanghai Disneyland is another unmissable highlight for teens who plan to have a vacation in Shanghai, the place is considered the newest Disneyland theme park in the world. So, if you’re a big fan of Disney characters or like to visit an amusement park. Don’t hesitate to stop here and spend one full day enjoying fairytale lands and attractions. I had been there since morning to nightfall. 😊
Where to Buy Shanghai Disneyland Tickets?
The high recommendation when traveling Shanghai Disneyland is to buy tickets in advance. I personally bought it through the KLOOK, which is definitely cheaper than buying in the theme park’s ticket office. Besides, KLOOK also offers monthly discounts from various promotions.
💸 If you’re interested in checking and purchasing Shanghai Disneyland tickets. You can see it below which includes Photo Pass and private transfer from the city if you are interested.
Download the Shanghai Disneyland App to Get a Free Fast Pass!
The ticket you will receive after the purchase from Klook will be a QR Code ticket. You can use it at the theme park entrance. Furthermore, on your arrival day, I advise you to download the Shanghai Disney Resort app, because once you scan the QR Code through the gate and get a paper card, then, you can scan the QR Code from that paper card into their app. Then, you will be registered via the app and can access more offered services like getting the Fast Pass.
Via the app, you can see the theme park map, estimated wait times for attraction, as well as creating a party amongst your companions, consequence the coolest part of the app utilize, which is you can get free Disney FAST PASS on your behalf or your friends in the party group’s behalf as well. This is very easy as you don’t have to run towards the Fast Pass machines, everything can be done via the app. it’s so convenient.
⚡️ Trick: While in a theme park, you are able to get a Fast Pass ticket one by one. The first ticket can be clicked after entering the theme park, then, you have to wait another 1 hour to get a new one for the next attraction. After that, it will be every 2 hours you can accept a Fast Pass service. It’s advisable to set the alarm on your mobile phone. When it reminds you, then click for a reservation, it will fit for 1 day to get on almost the popular attractions that provide a Fast Pass service.
Disney Premier Access Pass, Skip the Line ticket, or other tickets which is non-free Fast Pass, are also available for purchase in the app. Based on my experience, I think you don’t need to buy those. Because the free Fast Pass is already adequate, it allows you to complete must-try attractions without wasting extra money. It’s just thriftless.
Let’s Start Shanghai Disneyland !!
Shanghai Disneyland is gigantic, the layout of the theme park is arranged in multiple themed areas, which you can walk from the Garden of Imagination on the side of Disneyland Castle, then, walk in a circle around the theme park to play various attractions before walking back to the original starting point. Now, you may have to plan for the Fast Pass to see what to play first or after for your own ease of walking, because if you randomly click for the Fast Pass and the attractions are in the different directions, you’ll definitely dead-tired.
⚡️The attractions, to be straightforward, the thrilling rides in Disneyland Park are the minor selling point. They emphasize the cute fairytale themes that kids would enjoy it more. Some noteworthy attractions include the TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Soaring Over the Horizon, Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure, Roaring Rapids, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Peter Pan’s Flight.
Okay! The introduction is all done. Let’s start with each area and jump on the rides! FYI, the attraction’s name with a star is the aforementioned rides you can’t be missed (All of which are personal opinions).
Tomorrowland
TRON Lightcycle Power Run ⭐️
The coolest and the best of Shanghai Disneyland is the TRON Lightcycle Power Run in Tomorrowland with a futuristic rollercoaster based on the movie TRON: Legacy. This is the most thrilling ride of the theme park which I highly recommend you to try on. Because amongst Disneyland around the world, Shanghai is the first TRON Lightcycle Power Run and up until now, it’s the only one standing in the world.
The TRON Lightcycle Power Run coaster is clearly different from other coasters, as it is a semi-enclosed launched steel motorbike roller coaster. You have to sit down and squat with the motorbike, then, it will race along the rail from the indoor to the outdoor, and circling back. It was very fun! Besides, the atmosphere is like being in the ultramodern world. The light, the 3D graphics, and the techno-style design are all extraordinary.
Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue
Still wandering in Tomorrowland, if any of you has been to the ‘Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters’ in Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland, this one is almost the same. A slightly different of Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue in Shanghai Disneyland will be a new version based on Toy Story 2. To be frank, if you have played this anywhere else, you may feel indifferent due to the exact formation of the ride experience, which is to take an interactive shooting dark ride to score points and compete with friends. It’s not thrilling, the cart is quite slow. The feeling is rather like playing a game, the boys may like this. Hahaha
Treasure Cove
Arrive at Treasure Cove, a replica of an 18th-century Spanish harbor town located on a Caribbean island. Whoever is a fan of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, you must pay a visit because there is the attraction named Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure which is indeed fantastic! There is also a pirate junk that we can walk to explore with characters in the movie.
Pirates of the Caribbean Battle
for the Sunken Treasure ⭐️
Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure is another must-play attraction. It’s the second rank in my opinion after the TRON Lightcycle Power Run that feels pleasurable and worth the lineup. In fact, it’s not necessary to queue up at all since we have a Fast Pass service. Just click to reserve via mobile app and get back at the allotted time. YAY!
The storyline of the Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure attraction is a dark ride into the Caves of Misfortune, afterward, you’ll enter the Graveyard of Lost Ships. You can see Jack Sparrow in both holograms in motion and the realistic movable model. I had to exclaim in my mind ‘Omg, it looks real and convincing’. He acts like a real human in terms of appearance and movement. From there, you’ll see stories with various surrounding environments features new technology, including a giant projector that makes you excited and extremely fun, it’s agreeable to experience and never skip on this.
Fantasyland
Fantasyland is a unique land themed of Disneyland. As it features the Disney castle, whereat Shanghai Disneyland has located the largest-scale castle among Disney castles around the world. Apart from the magnificent Disney castle, which is a landmark for a visitor to take pictures. There are also many attractions based on Disney’s classic animation. If you grew up watching various animated films such as Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and Disney Princesses. You’ll definitely love this!
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
If you’re drawn into Pooh story, you should get ahead to this attraction, as you will be able to experience the vision of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh through the ride that may not be scary or thrill. But it’s cute with the characters of Pooh and friends, along with the spectacular scenery from the motion picture. But for those who are not influent by the film-related or have insufficient time. I suggest skipping it. if you have some time left like me, plus, can get another Fast Pass ticket. Then, come, this is awfully cute!
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ⭐️
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a steel roller coaster themed to Walt Disney’s film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first length animated film, which of course, you feel familiar with since childhood. While boarding on the train, you’ll definitely meet the seven dwarfs. But I won’t tell you how I met them. The attraction is another must-try because if you don’t play it here, you probably have to play it in the US. In Asia, it’s only situated in Shanghai Disneyland Park. Furthermore, you can use the Fast Pass service through the app here as well.
In my viewpoint, the roller coaster of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is exciting and fast. Not the most stirring or the fastest as it’s constructed for a wide-range age from kids to adults. The thing that makes this attraction more enjoyable is it features two formations of compatible riding with both adventurous outdoor race and indoor dark ride.
Peter Pan’s Flight ⭐️
Peter Pan’s Flight is a themed attraction based on the classic Peter Pan animated film, designed for guests to ride on the airship, follow Peter Pan and Wendy through London to Neverland. The scene and installation in this attraction are really WOW! I felt like I was flying above London and see the entire city vista, including the island of Neverland. Look below! There is a battle scene with Captain Hook. The light, music, staging, and artwork all together is spectacular. I like it very much. I highly recommend queueing for this!
Once Upon a Time Adventure
Once Upon a Time Adventure is a ride… No, it’s not a ride. It’s more like an Interactive Exhibition that tells stories about Disney princesses. In Shanghai Disneyland displays a story about Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. It might not be impactful in all aspects, but certainly, girls will enjoy and get excited over this. The only regret is the narrative language is in Chinese, which I didn’t understand at all. 😂
Before attending, I expected to meet all the Disney princesses but the outcome was turned upside down. Consequently, when making a way out. I felt a little disappointed because of seeing only Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. LOL
Adventure Isle
Wandering in the last themed land, the Adventure Isle is themed to resemble the jungle island in Africa, Asia, or realms with a comparable environment. The storyline behind the Adventure Isle is about a group of explorers named ‘The League of Adventurers’ who lost from the track to this island in 1930, then, they created a friendship and learned about the culture from the traditional tribes ‘Abori’, until it became a story of the attractions related to the animals of tribal lore.
Roaring Rapids ⭐️
Roaring Rapids is a feel-like rafting ride. Each float can contain 8 people, traversing through the rivers flowing. According to the theme story of Adventure Isle, it is to boarding rafts in the Apu Taku Valley, which is located in the middle of the island to search for a giant crocodilian beast that explorer ‘The League of Adventurers’ is studying about. Honestly, I didn’t see any crocodiles. If I didn’t read what was behind the attraction before, everyone has no way of noticing we made a journey to look for a legend crocodile beast. LOL
If you have played several river rapids rides in other amusement parks. Those and Roaring Rapids are all simulated whitewater rafting. It appears the same vibes and always getting wet from river floating. During my play. The locals were all wearing raincoats, but I let it be, hahaha. In the end, it wasn’t so wet, it depends on how lucky you are, if you get a good seat location, you’ll be a little wet. Therefore, to prevent water splashed, it’s wise to prepare a plastic raincoat, or else you can buy it at the entrance.
Soaring Over the Horizon ⭐️
Soaring Over the Horizon is another attraction in the Adventure Isle, I strongly advise you to jump on. It is a flight motion simulator employing a mechanical lift system with a projected presentation on a large dome-shaped screen, to project several locations across six continents around the world whether it is the landmarks of Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Egypt, US, China, and many other countries.
The good thing about this attraction is, it’s a feel-like flying above the sky and truthfully traveling around the world. It is exciting and breathtaking. My legs floated-swung across countries. If you’re afraid of heights, you may be a little stiff during the ride. But I personally enjoyed it a lot. I considered the Soaring Over the Horizon to be another must-try attraction, you can’t miss for any reason!
Shows in Shanghai Disneyland
3.30 pm: Watch Mickey’s Storybook Express Parade ⭐️
For guests who like to enjoy a parade full of the Disney characters, set an alarm at 3:30 pm and go straight to the Mickey’s Storybook Express parade, starting from Toy Story Land to the passage between Fantasyland and Treasure Cove. The Mickey’s Storybook Express is deemed to be the longest parade route of Disney theme park around the world.
Are you kids ready to meet Mickey Mouse, adorable characters from Toy Story, Princess Elsa from Frozen, Nemo, Mulan, and other Disney characters? Honestly, it’s unmissable throughout the parade whole procession, because all performers dance nonstop for almost half an hour. Hahaha
8.30 pm: Fireworks at Disney Castle, Ignite the Dream – A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light ⭐️
The perfect goodbye to end this 1-day trip before returning from Shanghai Disneyland is to experience the magnificent fireworks and light show, ‘Ignite the Dream – A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light’ at 8.30 pm, at the largest Disney castle in the world.
The show plot will be where Mickey Mouse takes you into the story of Disney’s cartoons and animated films. I was overwhelmed with happiness throughout the show, it was a good performance with a stunning special light effect. The fireworks were showing up constantly. You shouldn’t miss this trademark Disney closing show. I suggest coming to the spot early (better arrive before 8 pm), then wait up there.
This is all about the Shanghai Disneyland guide reviews. If you want to read more of other theme parks. Click on the images below to process for reading. Or if you’re interested or want to learn more about Shanghai destinations, take a look at the review list and click on its title!
Read more, Shanghai Travel Review, or Disneyland Paris 🙆🏻♂️
