Shanghai Disney Resort is located in Chuansha New Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. It is the first Disney-themed resort in mainland China, as well as the sixth in the world and the third in Asia. With the core feature of integrating authentic classic Disney experiences with unique Chinese elements, the resort has created a comprehensive tourist destination that combines theme parks, supporting hotels, shopping, catering and entertainment areas. The total area of the resort is about 3.9 square kilometers, among which Shanghai Disneyland covers about 1.16 square kilometers, making it the largest Disneyland in China. The core buildings include Enchanted Storybook Castle (the tallest and largest castle among all Disney parks worldwide, with a height of about 60 meters), Disneytown (covering an area of about 46,000 square meters), Wishing Star Park (covering an area of about 11 hectares), etc. In addition, there are two themed hotels: Shanghai Disneyland Hotel (with 420 guest rooms) and Toy Story Hotel (with 800 guest rooms). The whole resort can meet the accommodation, sightseeing and leisure needs of different tourists. Since its official opening on June 16, 2016, it has become a highly influential cultural and tourism landmark in the Yangtze River Delta and even the whole country.
Historical Culture
The planning and construction of Shanghai Disney Resort started in 2009. In November of the same year, the Shanghai Disney project was officially approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, marking the entry of this world-class cultural and tourism project into the substantive promotion stage. The project is jointly invested and constructed by The Walt Disney Company and Shanghai Shendi Group, with the shareholding ratios of 43% and 57% respectively. It is an important model of Sino-US cultural cooperation and also reflects the exploration of integrating Disney culture with Chinese local culture.
On June 16, 2016, Shanghai Disneyland officially opened. It became the first park in Disney's global layout to set up Chinese cultural elements such as the "Chinese Zodiac Wall" and "Mian Yue Shi Fu". Inside the Enchanted Storybook Castle, not only classic Disney stories such as Snow White are integrated, but also the themed scene of Mulan is added for the first time, highlighting the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. In 2018, the resort completed its first-phase expansion and added the "Toy Story" themed land; in 2021, the "Zootopia" themed land was officially opened, which is the first land themed on Zootopia among all Disney parks worldwide. It further enriches the tourist experience and has become a landmark achievement of Disney's customized development for the Chinese market.
In addition to amusement experiences, Shanghai Disney Resort has continued to deepen the expression of local culture. During major traditional Chinese festivals such as the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, it launches limited-time themed activities, such as the Spring Festival Float Parade and the Mid-Autumn Moon Appreciation Special. It combines classic Disney IPs with traditional Chinese folk customs, becoming an important carrier for cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.
Major Attractions
Shanghai Disneyland
Shanghai Disneyland is the core attraction of the resort, consisting of six themed lands: Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, as well as the subsequently added Toy Story Land and Zootopia Land. The park has the longest float parade route among all Disney parks worldwide (about 1.2 kilometers). The daily "Ignite the Dream - A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light" uses more than 500,000 light points, combined with water screen and fireworks special effects, becoming the iconic performance of the park. Among them, the "Soaring Over the Horizon" project in Adventure Isle adopts dome flying theater technology, allowing tourists to have an immersive experience of world-famous landmarks; the "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure" in Treasure Cove is the first pirate-themed ride in Disney's global parks, integrating real scenes and special effects to restore the classic scenes of the movie; the "TRON Lightcycle Power Run" in Tomorrowland is one of the fastest roller coasters in Disney's global parks, with a maximum speed of up to 120 kilometers per hour, making it one of the most exciting projects in the park.
Enchanted Storybook Castle
Enchanted Storybook Castle is located in the center of Fantasyland in Shanghai Disneyland, with a height of about 60 meters. It is the tallest castle among all Disney parks worldwide and also the first castle that gathers all Disney princesses. Inside the castle, there is the immersive experience project "Once Upon a Time". Tourists can explore the castle following the storyline of Snow White; the top of the castle is inlaid with golden decorations weighing about 12 tons, and the exterior facade integrates Chinese architectural elements (such as window lattice patterns). The "Voyage to the Crystal Grotto" project in front of the castle leads tourists through classic Disney animation scenes and finally arrives at the magical secret place under the castle.
Disneytown
Disneytown is located next to the entrance of Shanghai Disneyland, covering an area of about 46,000 square meters. It is a free-to-enter shopping, catering and entertainment area, accessible without a park ticket. The town includes areas such as "Baili Xiang Street", "Broadway Boulevard" and "Town Market", with more than 50 catering and retail brands settled in. Among them, the "Walt Disney Grand Theatre" stages the Chinese version of the musical The Lion King all year round, which is the first Chinese version production in the world, with stage props replicating the original version and a performance duration of about 2 hours and 30 minutes; the "World of Disney Store" by the town lake is one of the largest flagship Disney stores in the world, covering an area of about 5,000 square meters and selling more than 3,000 kinds of Disney peripheral products.
Wishing Star Park
Wishing Star Park is built around Wishing Star Lake, covering an area of about 11 hectares, among which the water area of Wishing Star Lake is about 400,000 square meters, and the lake shape is very similar to the head outline of Mickey, the classic Disney character. The park has a walking path of about 2.5 kilometers, with more than 200 kinds of plants planted, including about 800 arbor trees. It is a good place for leisure walks and lake viewing. At the same time, tourists can overlook the Enchanted Storybook Castle from a distance, making it a popular spot for taking panoramic photos of the castle. The park also has a "Wishing Star Pier", where tourists can take a cruise to visit Wishing Star Lake and enjoy the water-friendly leisure time.
Shanghai Disneyland Hotel
Shanghai Disneyland Hotel is located in the resort, adjacent to Wishing Star Lake. It is a themed hotel inspired by the Art Nouveau style in design, with 420 guest rooms. Each guest room integrates classic Disney elements, and some rooms can directly view the park's fireworks show. The hotel has characteristic catering areas such as "Mickey's Restaurant" and "Bacchus Lounge", as well as a "Children's Fun House" specially built for children, providing Disney-themed handicrafts, games and other activities; the "Garden Maze" outside the hotel covers an area of about 2,000 square meters, which is one of the largest outdoor garden mazes in Shanghai. At the center of the maze stands a statue of Alice, the classic Disney character, becoming the iconic landscape of the hotel.
Toy Story Hotel
Toy Story Hotel is themed on the Toy Story animation, with 800 guest rooms divided into two major areas: "Woody's Cowboy Wing" and "Buzz Lightyear's Wing". The guest room decorations are full of animation elements, such as Buzz Lightyear-themed bedside lamps and Woody-style wall decorations. The hotel has a "Sunshine Food Court" buffet restaurant, providing Disney character interactive dining experiences; the outdoor "Toy Story Courtyard" displays oversized statues of characters such as Buzz Lightyear and Woody, which is a popular spot for parent-child check-ins. There is a free shuttle bus from the hotel to the park, with a ride time of about 5 minutes.
Tour Routes
Classic One-Day Tour Route: After entering the park, first go to Adventure Isle to experience "Soaring Over the Horizon" (avoid peak hours) → go to Treasure Cove to play "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure" → have lunch at "Barbossa's Bounty" in Treasure Cove → in the afternoon, visit Fantasyland to experience "Seven Dwarfs Mine Train" and "Voyage to the Crystal Grotto" → go to Tomorrowland to ride "TRON Lightcycle Power Run" and "Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue" → in the evening, watch the float parade "Mickey's Storybook Express" on Mickey Avenue → have dinner at the catering outlets in Disneytown → return to the park and wait for "Ignite the Dream - A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light" in front of the Enchanted Storybook Castle. This route takes about 10-12 hours, covering the core projects of the park, and is suitable for first-time tourists.
Parent-Child Leisure Tour Route: After entering the park, visit Mickey Avenue and Gardens of Imagination (take photos with Disney characters) → go to Fantasyland to experience "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" and "Hunny Pot Spin" → have lunch at "Bacchus Lounge" in Fantasyland → in the afternoon, go to Toy Story Land to play "Slinky Dog Spin" and "Woody's Round-Up" → go to Zootopia Land to experience "Zootopia: Hot Pursuit" → in the evening, watch the sunset and castle scenery in Gardens of Imagination → have dinner at "Food Republic" in Disneytown → watch the night show or return according to the situation. This route takes about 8-9 hours, with a slow rhythm, suitable for families with young children.
Two-Day Tour Route: On the first day, visit Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove and Tomorrowland to experience exciting projects, and watch the night show in the evening; on the second day, visit Fantasyland, Toy Story Land and Zootopia Land to deeply experience parent-child projects, and in the afternoon, visit Disneytown and Wishing Star Park, and experience the musical The Lion King (separate ticket required). This route takes about 2 days, allowing tourists to fully experience the core content of the resort, and is suitable for tourists with sufficient time.
Travel Tips
- It is recommended to check the park's operating hours, project waiting times and performance schedules 1-2 days in advance to plan the route reasonably and reduce waiting time.
- It is recommended to arrive 30 minutes before the park opens. Guests with Early Entry Tickets can enter the park 1 hour earlier to experience popular projects first.
- It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes as there is a lot of walking in the park, with an average daily walking distance of about 15,000 steps; in summer, bring sun protection products and portable water cups (there are direct drinking water points in the park), and in winter, keep warm as the wind in the castle area is strong.
- In terms of catering, unopened food and drinking water can be brought into the park. The catering prices in the park are relatively high, while Disneytown has more catering options and more affordable prices. Tourists can leave the park for meals and re-enter with the ticket (fingerprint registration is required at the exit).
- Tourists with children can rent strollers. There are many baby care rooms in the park with complete facilities.
- The peak waiting time for popular projects such as "Soaring Over the Horizon" and "TRON Lightcycle Power Run" can reach more than 120 minutes. You can choose to play during off-peak hours (such as lunch time or evening time).
- It is recommended to occupy a position in front of the castle 1-1.5 hours in advance for the night show. The position in Gardens of Imagination near Mickey Avenue has a good view, and the viewing positions in Treasure Cove and Tomorrowland are also available with relatively fewer people.
Notes
- Selfie sticks, flammable and explosive items, pets (except guide dogs), and luggage exceeding 56cm×36cm×23cm in size are prohibited in the park; the use of drones and tripods for shooting is prohibited; smoking is prohibited (smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas).
- Once the ticket is sold, it is non-refundable and non-exchangeable except for force majeure factors as stipulated by law; the ID card is an important document for entering the park, and the ticket purchase information must be consistent with the ID card information of the visitor, who can enter the park by swiping the card.
- There are height restrictions for project experiences: "TRON Lightcycle Power Run" requires a height of ≥122cm, "Seven Dwarfs Mine Train" requires a height of ≥97cm, "Soaring Over the Horizon" requires a height of ≥102cm, and "Slinky Dog Spin" requires a height of ≥120cm. Please confirm in advance whether children meet the conditions.
- Performances in the park (such as float parades and night shows) may be cancelled temporarily due to weather, equipment failure and other reasons, subject to official notifications.
- The park has a huge passenger flow during holidays (such as Spring Festival, National Day and summer vacation), with a peak daily reception capacity of up to 80,000 person-times. It is recommended to travel during off-peak hours; the passenger flow on weekends is also higher than that on weekdays, so you can prefer to visit on weekdays.
- Tourists must abide by the order in the park, and are prohibited from climbing over fences, jumping queues, and conducting commercial shooting without permission; when interacting with Disney characters, follow the arrangements of the staff, and are prohibited from pulling or chasing the characters.
Transportation
- Subway: Take Shanghai Metro Line 11 to "Disney Resort Station", and exit from Exit 1 or Exit 4 to reach the resort directly. The operating hours of Disney Resort Station on Metro Line 11 are: the first train towards Jiading North departs at 6:00, and the last train departs at 22:30; the first train towards Huaqiao departs at 6:00, and the last train departs at 22:00.
- Bus: Take Pudong Bus No. 50, No. 51 or No. 52 to "Disney Resort Station". Among them, Pudong Bus No. 52 can connect to Chuansha Station on Metro Line 2, with a ride time of about 20 minutes.
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Shanghai Disneyland Parking Lot", which is located on Shendi East Road in the resort area. After parking, it takes about 10 minutes to walk to the park entrance.
- Taxi/Ride-hailing: The drop-off point is located in the ride-hailing area of P1 Parking Lot in the resort. The pick-up point should be confirmed in advance to avoid illegal parking; the taxi fare from the center of Shanghai (such as People's Square) to the resort is about 80-100 yuan (during non-peak hours).
- Tourist Special Line: There are tourist special lines directly to Shanghai Disney Resort from Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai South Railway Station and Hongqiao Railway Station, with a ride time of about 40-60 minutes and a fare of about 20-30 yuan per person. For specific schedules, you can check the official website of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission.
Opening Hours
The regular operating hours of Shanghai Disneyland are 08:30-21:30 (summer, June-August), 09:00-21:00 (spring and autumn, March-May and September-November), and 09:00-20:00 (winter, December-February). The specific opening time may be 30 minutes earlier, and admission stops 1 hour before closing; Disneytown is open from 10:00-22:00 all year round; Wishing Star Park is open from 08:00-20:00; Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel are open 24 hours a day, with check-in time at 15:00 and check-out time at 11:00.
During legal holidays (such as Spring Festival and National Day) and summer vacation (July 1-August 31), the operating hours of Shanghai Disneyland will be extended, usually from 08:00-22:00; limited-time operating hours will be launched on special festivals (such as Christmas and New Year's Eve), with an increase in the number of night show sessions, subject to official announcements.
Tickets
Tickets start from 475 yuan per person. You can search for the official WeChat service account "上海迪士尼度假区" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
