A babysitting guide to Shanghai Disneyland: Uncover hidden perks and enjoy all the official must-dos
Preface
There has never been a theme park that has attracted as much attention as Disney, or in other words, Disney has always been a source of joy in this type of theme park. With countless classic IPs, it can satisfy the pursuit of "love and courage" for people of all ages.
Therefore, going to Disneyland has always been on the must-go list, igniting the beautiful dreams in my heart and taking some time to be a child again.
Shanghai Disneylandcheck the details
Shanghai Disneyland, the first Disney theme park in mainland China, is located in Chuansha New Town, Pudong New District, Shanghai. It officially opened on June 16, 2016. It's the first Disney theme park in mainland China. It's a magical world unlike any you've seen before, where dreams can be ignited. This is Shanghai Disneyland, where guests of all ages can experience creativity, adventure, and excitement! Set your sights on the Enchanted Storybook Castle, the largest Disney castle in the world. Unlike any other Disney property, Shanghai Disney Resort offers a unique, Chinese-inspired experience designed for a diverse range of guests.
Recommended month: All seasons
4879 recommendations, 3020 visits
🎠Preparation guide before entering the park
When it comes to exploring Disneyland, you still have to plan carefully. At the very least, you must be like me and prepare all your plans on the night you arrive.
After reading through all the guides, the core is to save more time and money, so most of the guides do not apply to those who have various VIP cards, fast-track cards, and financial freedom.
But by following the lessons learned, you will be far ahead of many people, or you will feel that your arrangements have gone astray. Either way, it will become part of the fun of conquering the park.
How to get there
subway
The subway is the most convenient and fastest. From early morning to midnight, the terminus of Shanghai Metro Line 11 is Disney Station. Exit from Gate 2 or 4 and head north to Disneyland.
Disneyland train schedule: First 07:08 (arrival) / Last 23:39 (arrival)
Self-driving
Arrive at Shanghai International Tourism Resort from the West Entrance (Resort Elevated Road), East Entrance (Sunshine Avenue), or South Entrance (Avenue of Stars), and follow the traffic instructions to choose the appropriate parking lot.
The closest Disney parking lot to the park is the Disney Small Car and Tour Coach Parking Lot, located at the west entrance of the Disney Resort. It is only a 5-10 minute walk to the park. Parking is charged on a daily basis and there are also new energy charging equipment.
Public transportation
If you want to take the bus, you can take Pudong No. 50, 51, 52
nearby accommodations
Whether you arrive early or want to rest after visiting the park, you must prepare your accommodation near Disneyland well.
No matter what platform you are on, you can see colorful homestays of various styles around Disney. The average price is reasonable and there are also great views. Paired with a butler, the experience will be even better!
Although there are many different types, there are still some tips on how to choose a homestay. The basic conditions include: location from the park, subway entrance/park pick-up service, free breakfast, dry and wet separation inside the room, safe platform, newness, etc. The rest is to choose a style you like. Most of the homestays here are converted from rooms in the homes of local villagers, and the service is very heartwarming.
Of course, there are hotels like All Seasons nearby, so you can choose them if you are used to traveling in hotels. If you choose Disney’s own hotel, it is recommended to buy a package bundled with tickets and meals for the best value, and you will also have the privilege of early admission!
Items for admission
Don’t disbelieve the experience of our predecessors, which is the result of blood and tears. The proud Disney has a bag check for items entering the park, so what should you prepare?
Must-have list:
1. Three major documents: ID card, Suishen QR code (apply for it when queuing on site, there is a QR code to scan in the queue area), reservation code (regardless of where you purchased your ticket, enter your order number on the official account to get a reservation code, which will only turn green on the day of admission)
2. Practical items: power bank (shared in the park), raincoat (bring it in advance, buy it before entering the park for 50 yuan, buy Mickey ears on Taobao and you will get it as a gift), Mickey ears (headwear can be bought in advance and brought in, the price inside the park is 10 times higher), water bottle (the park provides direct drinking water, if you sell it, it is 10 yuan per bottle), comfortable shoes
Prohibited items:
1. You can bring snacks, but processed food is prohibited
2. Selfie sticks, glass containers, large photographic equipment, alcohol, large luggage bags (56*36*23cm)
In general, the tolerance is relatively large. Apart from the necessary items, you don’t need to bring too many things. The park is very large, and even if you are playing a project, you usually carry a backpack with you!
Special Note:
Cosplaying as Disney characters is prohibited in the park, except during Halloween, between October 5th and November 1st.
App Instructions
Downloading the "Shanghai Disney Resort" app in advance is a guarantee for swiping through the projects. The app not only has the function of binding information to reserve passes, but also can check waiting times in various places. It is an action guide for the entire park, and you can check information about dining, performances, and entertainment during the period.
The specific usage is as follows:
1. Get the paper ticket and bind your account. Each account can bind 5 tickets. You can reserve multiple waiting cards with one click.
2. Go on time with the waiting card. It is a queuing qualification, not a fast pass. The earlier you go, the better. You can give up the waiting card. Generally, you can make an appointment for the second one after 2 hours.
3. It is usually sent on the hour, but it may appear at any time after 10:00. Please refer to the official announcement for details.
Hidden benefits
It is said that 90% of tourists don’t know the “other”:
1. Exchange badges: You can prepare some Disney set badges or simple genuine badges you have collected before and exchange them with the staff for limited edition badges (Please take the single badges sold in the park home for collection)
2. Receive badges: You can receive a commemorative badge for your first visit, an exclusive badge for your birthday month, and your companions will also receive an accompanying badge. With this badge, the staff will give you blessings.
3. Dream Passport: You can check in at different locations, and when you collect them, you can exchange them for badges or small gifts. (After testing this, you need to buy the passport yourself, and the check-in time is not enough, so the cost-effectiveness is relatively low. I didn’t collect them in the end.)
4. Sticker signature: The staff of the park are like gift bags. You can ask them for stickers and ask the dolls for signatures.
5. If you have to complete a questionnaire, you will be rewarded with a gift.
🎠Guidelines for visiting the park after entering
First, you can purchase tickets on the official account and bind your registration information, or you can purchase tickets from other channels and get a reservation code on the official account.
How to get the most items
In Disney's popular projects, queuing is essential. If you can save the time of queuing, it is not difficult to play all the projects at one time. However, in addition to the 120/time pass and exclusive access, we still have some tricks to follow. First of all, we must ensure the time for the popular recommended projects.
Popular activities (2-3 hours):
Soaring Horizon, Roaring Mountain Rafting, TRON Lightcycle Power Run, and Pirates of the Caribbean are four of the must-see attractions.
Second level project (1 hour):
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Dragon Run Racing, Carousel
In addition, there are Disney performances, floats, fireworks, and food, so if the popular queue time can be shortened as soon as possible, that is why everyone lines up at the park entrance. There is also a reservation channel during this period. As mentioned above, the qualification for advance reservation is also very important.
Red line: Time-saving entrance channel / Yellow line: Reservation card play order / Blue line: Return wandering path
The only way to save time is to get up early. For the park that opens at 9:00, you can line up at 6:00. If you can swipe the Leap Over the Horizon and grab the reservation channel card during the first wave of admission, you can save 3 hours. The reason for 6:00 is that you can get to the front row on the first subway and go to the front of the park. At this time, you can prepare various codes and start queuing in order.
The first one: S-curve in the park
There is a sign that says "Suishen Code Application". You can eat the simple breakfast you brought and do your preparations here.
Second: Check your belongings
It is divided into a channel with bags and a channel without bags. Here, friends can divide the bags among one person, and the others can run in in advance and wait for the last door to open.
The third lane: before the ticket gate
This is the last one. You can enter the park after getting the ticket with your ID card. The moment you get the paper ticket, you will start binding your information. One app can bind 5 people. After binding, you can immediately make reservations for popular projects, such as Run to the Horizon and make reservations for the Speed Light Wheel. After passing this point, you must sprint 100 meters.
It only takes 10 minutes to queue up at the entrance of Horizon, and after queuing, you can choose to queue up for another popular project. It is estimated that 3 hours can be saved for both items. After that, you can queue up and play while walking towards the reserved project. Other projects can be selected according to the dynamic time prompted by the app. This lays the foundation for the time requirements for many projects.
Before the fireworks are set off, there are fewer people queuing at each point, which is also a good time to make up for the missed check-in. However, the probability of everyone seeing the fireworks is higher at this time!
Comparison of various tourist attractions
Whether to run left or right, I suggest you run to the right. The three projects, rafting, horizon and Caribbean, are all here. If you are lucky, you can complete the three major projects in 1 to 2 hours and finish the must-see attractions in the scenic area at 9:30. It is a more time-saving option.
Four popular items (five-star recommendation)
1. Leaping over the horizon
Real naked eye 5D, full 5-star recommendation
The three rows of vision are vertical, but the people in the back row may see the feet of the people in the front row. If you want to sit in the first row, you can wait a little for the next wave of people and stand on the left side of the entire three rows.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean
It can be used as the second stop. You can sit on the boat and let the gears drive the boat. It is another naked-eye 5D project. Especially when the pirate ship rises, it makes people feel as if they are rising. There is no particularly scary scene, but the props and effects along the way are very delicate and realistic. Sitting in the middle will not spray water, and the shore feels closer to the surrounding scenery paintings.
3. Thunder Mountain Rafting
The rafting will not be very exciting, so be sure to prepare your raincoat in advance, as well as your raincoat hat and shoe covers, and do not sit in the gap of the rubber ring.
4. TRON Lightcycle Power Run
Tomorrowland, on the left side of the park, is a technologically advanced blue world, showcasing a blend of speed and passion. The motorcycle-shaped Nimbus shines beneath a dome of blue lights, undulating with the waves of the giant dome.
Other tour items
5. Future Technology Exhibition
At the exit of Lightcycle Speed, concept cars and simulators are displayed to meet the needs of checking in with a sense of technology.
6. Dwarf Mine Car
This small roller coaster combines the story of the Seven Dwarfs with fun rides, making it more suitable for children and adults to play together.
7. Rotating Honey Pot
Winnie’s favorite place is to sit on the honey jars and spin around in the magic of love, where you can take beautiful sweet photos.
8. Frozen Show
The singing extravaganza usually has more than 4 shows a day, and there are many shows, but people are accommodated according to their seats. Frozen is a musical, and it focuses more on the interaction between children and the characters in Frozen.
9. Buzz Lightyear: Planet of the Planet
A roller coaster shooting tour with a score. You need to use the laser gun in front of you to hit the Z-shaped signs along the way, and the best shooter will be judged at the end.
10. Marvel Outdoor Performance
Don't stand in the front row, or you will be ruthlessly pulled up to save the world.
11. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Listen to the story of Winnie the Pooh, sit comfortably in the honey pot car, move to different scenes, there will be many levels and mechanisms, accompany Winnie to find honey.
12. Alice in Wonderland
The Red Queen's Maze under the Disney Castle has all kinds of Alice merchandise. Do you want to be a throne and have afternoon tea with the Mad Hatter?
13. Storm Show
I stood up to watch at first, and then returned to the theater. It was a very exciting acrobatic and fighting performance.
13. Marvel Headquarters
There will be all kinds of Marvel peripherals, and you can also take photos with the heroes!
14. Disney Castle
It is the largest Disney castle in the world and the symbol of the park. You can actually climb up the castle, and there is a welcoming pavilion below the castle where Disney princesses are.
The first floor is decorated with mosaic murals depicting spring, summer, autumn and winter. Princess Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Queen Elsa and Princess Anna represent the four seasons respectively. Upstairs, you can experience the entire story of Snow White starting from a magic book.
15. Hug Dragon
The feeling of weightlessness is very strong, and it can be regarded as the most exciting project in the entire park, no doubt about it.
16. Spring Dog Spins in Circles
The up and down movement is not particularly exciting and is suitable for children.
How to choose fireworks and floats?
Reference time:
Float 15:30
Fireworks 8:30 PM
Some tips:
1. The starting point of the float parade is at the gate between the Toy Story Land and Tomorrowland Parks. This is where you can first see the float parade. Sometimes it starts around 3:00 and then goes around the front of the castle and back to the other side.
2. You must find a good spot to watch the fireworks before 8:00. Generally, everyone sits on the ground. Staff will mark out the spots and there will be small paths for quick entry and exit. If you want to go to the toilet or go out, you must get a sign from the staff so that you can come back within a limited time.
3. I personally think the best location is in the kiosk garden in front of the carousel, where you can see the full view of the front, and there are also light shows in addition to fireworks.
Doll photo spot
Mickey Avenue (9:00 AM - 3:00 PM)
Mickey and Minnie - M Street Shopping Arcade, Chip and Dale - Chef Xiaomi Newsstand, Donald Duck Daisy - The Three Little Pigs Warehouse, Duffy and Tony - Old Station Store, Lulu and Meimei - Sweetheart Candy House, Goofy and Pluto - Goofy Alley
Other places (9:00~17:00)
Pu Pu - Hundred Acre Wood, Judy Nick - Laughter Gathering, Princess - Welcome Pavilion, Hudi Tracy - Friendship Inn, as well as Dumbo, Imagination Garden, Alice's Labyrinth, Pirate Bay, Carousel
Park Food
There are two types of dining options. One is within the Disneyland park, located near various attractions, such as the new Terrace Restaurant in Tomorrowland, where you can get a burger combo, or the Pirates of the Caribbean restaurant in Storm Bay. The other is in Disneytown, where you can find Heytea and a variety of delicious restaurants. It's recommended to have a quick lunch and then enjoy a full meal in Disneytown later in the evening.
🎠Conclusion
After the evening fireworks, it was the end of Disney. The castle gradually returned to its original pink color, but the park still played familiar Disney musicals slowly and softly.
