Who’s ready for Spring 2016? Shortly after Disneyland’s official 60th Anniversary celebration, Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger unveiled new, stunning details and concept renderings about the latest international Disney Park to join the family – Shanghai Disney Resort – and they are pulling out all the stops for this one! After 60 years, Disney Parks and Resorts are still going strong.
Image courtesy of Disney Parks. Bob Iger, Disney CEO, unveils Shanghai Disneyland details
This is an exciting announcement for me personally, as I am a former Shanghai expat who spent two years teaching English in this wonderfully vibrant city in China. The city has special meaning for me as I met my husband, a fellow Disney fan, while living and working there – and it was my homesickness for Disneyland Anaheim during my two-year stint that led me to visit both Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort – my first encounters with Disney’s international offerings.
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- Hong Kong Disneyland
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- Tokyo Disney Sea
When I was trying to decide whether to extend my stay in China or to return to the United States in 2008, I began to see advertisements for an English-language teaching program called “Disney English.” Other than Hong Kong Disneyland, the mainland Chinese had very little interaction with the Disney brand so it was interesting to see Disney’s foray into English-language teaching to young Chinese students and getting them to interact with the Disney brand long before there were any talks about another Disney Park in Asia. Who would have thought that merely 4 years later, Disney Parks and Resorts would be breaking ground in Shanghai? It’s felt like it was all coming full circle for me.
Forced perspective – me and the Shanghai Pearl Tower in 2007
Image courtesy of Disney Parks – Shanghai Disney Resort Entrance rendering
The Shanghai Disney Resort is slated to be the largest Park ever built outside of the United States, joining Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disney Resort in the international offerings and becoming the 6th park bearing the Disney name. The Park will feature 6 lands, including:
- Mickey Avenue
- Gardens of Imagination
- Fantasyland
- Adventure Isle
- Treasure Cove
- Tomorrowland
Even more exciting are the promises of the longest parade route in Disney history, and feature the most collectibles and souvenirs than any Park in the world. While Guests will experience familiar attractions such as Peter Pan’s Flight and The Seven Dwarves Mine Train, there will be a distinct presence of Disney properties featuring Marvel Comics and Star Wars, as well as a new attraction based off the movie “Tron” and their “lightcycles.”
Image courtesy of Disney Parks
One of the biggest notable changes to this particular Park is the absence of Main Street USA, which is evident in the other 5 Disneyland Parks around the world. Shanghai Disney Resort will also feature the “tallest, largest, and most interactive castle” with the Fantasy Fairytale Castle which is not dedicated to any particular Princess. If you’re a Pirates fan, you’re in luck as one of the six-themed lands will be entirely focused on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.
Image courtesy of Disney Parks – “Dream World” panorama
I’m especially interested in seeing how the local Chinese culture is incorporated into Shanghai Disney Resort. Similarly to how Disneyland Paris focuses on many of characters that represent France (i.e. The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Remy from Ratatouille), Shanghai Disney Resort will feature ‘Disney Town’ – a large shopping and entertainment district much like our Downtown Disney, but with distinct Chinese influences, as seen in this rendering for the “Hong Hundred Food Street.”
Image courtesy of Disney Parks – Disney Town rendering
There are so many incredible things to look forward to at the Shanghai Disney Resort and after 60 years of innovation, it will be amazing to see what Disney has created in a city and a country that I once called home for a small period of time.
You can see details for this new Park also at the D23 Expo 2015 – check out our 9 Tips for Attending the D23 Expo
Let’s plan a trip to Shanghai in Spring 2016! Who’s with me?
