Angel's Long Way Home: Shanghai

Stop number two on my long journey home was Shanghai. Although I had watched quite a few Chinese dramas that take place in Shanghai, I didn't plan on actually checking out the city, I was only there for Disney. It was... an experience!

Let's start at the very beginning. Disnelyand Shanghai is the youngest of the Disney theme parks having opened in June of 2016. At the time, I was working at EPCOT in Orlando. They tried to get us excited about the new baby park. We had buttons, and maps, and cut wages because they went over budget opening week and covered it by taking money from the Orlando entertainment budget. Needless to say, I had to see this place for myself.

I wish that I could say the hotel was amazing but unfortunately, Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone was a bit subpar especially compared to the Hotel East 21. They were my only option with an airport/Disney shuttle. However, the airport shuttle ended as I was landing and the last Disney shuttle left before the fireworks.

The Lands and Attractions

The park is huge—and surprisingly empty. If you’re planning a trip, I highly suggest going in March. The layout is a bit different from other Disney parks, with Tomorrowland and Adventure Isle flipped to opposite sides. There’s also a bigger emphasis on Pirates of the Caribbean, and rightfully so. Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure is a far cry from the gentle boat ride at Magic Kingdom. It’s an immersive, high-tech adventure that completely blew me away. On the other hand, Roaring Rapids will definitely remind you of Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom—prepare to get soaked!

In Fantasyland, you’ll find familiar favorites like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Peter Pan’s Flight. Even Dumbo’s Flight makes an appearance, though it’s oddly placed right in front of the castle. One notable swap is Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which has been replaced by Pooh’s Honey Spin. A standout here is Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, a unique boat ride that takes you through scenes from various princess stories in search of the mythical “Crystal Grotto.”

Toy Story Land is completely different from its counterparts in other parks. Slinky Dog Spin looks like a simple variation of the Tilt-A-Whirl, but it’s a lot of fun. Rex’s Racer is like the pirate ship ride you’d find at most non-Disney theme parks, but without the stomach-churning flips. Woody’s Round Up is similar to the Baymax ride in Tokyo, minus the techno music. I was surprised not to see Toy Story Mania here—it’s a favorite of mine in other parks.

Tomorrowland, usually my favorite part of any Disney park, was… a disappointment. Buzz Lightyear’s ride is here instead of being grouped with the other Toy Story attractions, and the Marvel Warehouse feels oddly out of place. The main draw here is Tron. Since I was in Korea when Tron finally opened in Magic Kingdom, this was my first time experiencing it. I was a little nervous about fitting on the ride—let’s just say I have too much “junk in the trunk” to risk it on the Light Cycle. So, I went straight for the handicapped seat, which was still a thrilling experience.

Finally the true reason that I agreed to paying $200 for a tourist Visa, 2 trips to the Chinese Embassy, and survive the scariest Taxi ride of my life was all to visit Zootopia. It's possible that after working in Disney and seeing it all every day and even being someone that likes to visit places that I've seen in movies, Zootopia is one of the most immersive lands that I have seen! There is only one attraction, Zootopia, Hot Pursuit, which is the same track as Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios, but the land itself was really cool!

Taking all of this into consideration, I would give the Lands and Attractions of Shanghai Disney a 2/5. The lack of Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, and Small World is disappointing, and while I like Hot Pursuit, Pirates is carrying this park.

Characters and Performances

I didn’t get to meet many characters during my visit. I’m not sure if they weren’t out or if I just didn’t notice them. I skipped meeting Duffy (again), and I’m devastated that I missed Oswald and Scrooge McDuck. I did make sure to meet the Boss, though—Mickey himself. Unfortunately, it was the most lackluster interaction I’ve ever had. It was the equivalent of a “love and shove,” and there wasn’t even a line! Honestly, the most interactive character I met was Spider-Man. That is… until I found Tiana.

After riding Tron, I noticed the daily parade passing by. I hadn’t even thought about the parade, but I couldn’t resist waving at all the characters. The usual suspects were there, with Mulan playing a much bigger role—something I expected given the location. But at the very end of the parade, on the literal caboose, were Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen, having their own little dance party. This is where the magic happened. The way Tiana’s face lit up when she saw another naturally tanned girl in the park is something I’ll never forget. I was so captivated that I sat and waited for the next parade just to take decent pictures of her! I even considered going to the Princess meet-and-greet for a Black Girl Magic moment, but I wasn’t willing to wait in line for 45 minutes only to potentially meet Cinderella instead.

Mickey’s Storybook Adventure quickly became one of my favorite Disney shows, second only to Fantasmic. The stories were a little different from what I’m used to. Jungle Book and Frozen were still featured, along with Princess and the Frog and Rapunzel. But there were some surprises too—Moana made an appearance, as did Mulan (which, again, was expected). There was even a performance by Gazelle from Zootopia. I will say, though, Goofy isn’t quite as entertaining in Mandarin as he is in Cantonese. Still, it’s a great show overall.

The main stage show, Golden Fairytale Fanfare, is your standard princess pageant and sing-along, but with some truly impressive staging. Shanghai’s Enchanted Storybook Castle is the biggest of all the Disney castles, and it features a larger, Broadway-esque stage. The theatrics actually reminded me a little bit of the Shen Yun show—grand, colorful, and full of energy.

As for the fireworks, I only caught a brief part of the show before I had to leave to catch the last shuttle back to the hotel. What I saw was pretty good, with plenty of Zootopia features and even a glimpse of a Black Panther segment.

When it comes to characters and performances, I’d give it a weak 3/5. The parade is VERY different from its American counterparts, though not as interactive as the one in Hong Kong. On the plus side, they do have some characters that are harder to find in the States, which adds a unique touch.

Food and Merchandise

Admittedly, I’m not a big Disney eater or shopper, but I expected to spend some extra yuan in Shanghai. And let’s be real—this is the part you really want to know about. Yes, they have Dole Whip… they just call it “Pineapple Flavored Sorbet.” The table service options are full of Asian classics: roasted meats, fried rice, and dumplings are everywhere. For those craving Western options, there’s “pizza,” ribs, and grilled meat. Over in Tomorrowland, you’ll find your standard burgers, chocolate ice cream, fried chicken, and even churros!

The kiosks offered a mix of familiar and unexpected treats. Hot dogs, pulled pork tacos, French toast with durian ice cream (yes, durian!), and—in a Kingdom Hearts reference I wasn’t expecting—sea salt ice cream. The Zootopia area had its own themed snacks, like the Big Donut, Gazelle Horn Pretzel, and Pawpsicles. But the strangest thing I saw? What looked like elotes… but with seaweed instead of cilantro. I’ll let you decide if that’s genius or blasphemy.

Now, onto the merchandise. Considering there’s no Emporium (and after visiting the Tokyo one, which was full of snacks and not clothes), I wasn’t expecting much. But the ears! Oh, the ears. Most of them are customizable, featuring an empty band that you can slide various “charms” onto. A lot of the ears in Shanghai even light up. I meant to go back and grab a pair of the Tron ears, but at the time, I couldn’t justify buying all three pairs. My suitcase was already heavy, and I had to draw the line somewhere.

When it comes to food and merchandise, I give Shanghai a solid 4/5. Those Tron ears alone are worth a shoutout, and the Zootopia-themed snacks were a fun surprise. If only I’d had more room in my luggage…

Final Ranking

Out of all five Disney parks I’ve visited, I rank Shanghai Disneyland at a solid No. 3. The merch, that magical moment with Tiana, and the first-time experiences like riding Tron, exploring Zootopia, and the jaw-dropping Pirates of the Caribbean ride all earned it a strong third place. Could it be toppled by Disneyland California? Possibly. We’ll see if (or when) I go back, but for now, it’s a good 3.

What’s your ranking? I’d love to hear how you’d stack up the parks—let me know in the comments!