Experience Shanghai Disneyland: A Magical Overseas Adventure!

I had an incredibly fun time! 🌟 If I were to rate my overall satisfaction, it would be a solid 9/10. 👍🏻

🧚🏻 Attractions: 10/10
Absolutely cutting-edge! The latest technology left me in awe. Tron, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Zootopia were, of course, phenomenal. Since attractions were my main focus, I got to experience Disney's unparalleled technological prowess. There were also many attractions that, while similar to those in Japan, had different features, making it fun to spot the differences. Surprisingly, Soaring was a highlight—it felt more immersive than in Japan, with the screen being closer, giving a realistic sensation of flying through the skies!

🧚🏻 Shows: 7/10
The Illuminate show was particularly amazing! The number and frequency of indoor and castle-front shows were a big plus. However, I felt the level of detail in the productions was higher in Japan.

🧚🏻 Character Greetings: 10/10
Although I didn’t focus much on character greetings this time, characters were always around, ready to interact! The greeting experience here is more extensive than in Japan, with ample time for photos, videos, and even autographs. 🩷 It’s no wonder character greeting enthusiasts flock to Shanghai! That said, Duffy and Friends are so popular that even on days when attractions had short wait times, the lines for greetings were incredibly long. 🙄

🧚🏻 Cast Member Service: 9/10
The cast members were genuinely sincere! They answered questions politely using either English or a translation device, waved as they passed by, and always included greetings and words of thanks in conversations. I never had an unpleasant experience. 💗 Compared to Japan, some cast members here spoke in louder voices or seemed rushed when giving directions, but it came across as them being attentive to guest control.

🧚🏻 Park Atmosphere: 9/10
Being a relatively new Disney park, it has a fresh and pristine feel! The Disney quality is evident everywhere, and just admiring the details of the buildings could take up your time. 🥰 Cleaning staff were constantly patrolling, maintaining a consistent level of cleanliness. The park is vast, with long distances between attractions and areas, so pacing yourself is key to enjoying the experience. 👍🏻

🧚🏻 Guest Behavior: 7/10
Overall, it was good! I didn’t encounter any major issues. ✨ However, cultural differences were noticeable. For instance, during the parade, I used a small, folded leisure sheet to avoid getting my clothes dirty, but if even a tiny part of it extended beyond my space, others would place their belongings on it. (Haha!) There’s no rule against overlapping with others’ belongings, and since it’s standing-room-only, the sheet is quickly folded up, so it was within acceptable limits. During the parade, people would press forward, and I’d sometimes feel hands or faces from behind reaching over my shoulders. (Haha!) While this was fine for the parade, I wanted to enjoy the nighttime show more leisurely, so I opted for a paid viewing area.

In other situations, people tended to speak loudly. This included regular conversations as well as a few instances of people shouting into their phones (possibly due to disputes with companions?). These were cultural differences I could overlook, but there were a few disappointing behaviors, such as line-cutting and spitting on the ground. Line-cutting was often for reuniting with companions, but some people would squeeze into even the smallest gaps. I was prepared for this, so it didn’t bother me much. Having a "not letting you cut in" mindset is important! 😉 For example, I saw a man jump over a barrier to join the line for Zootopia, but a cast member quickly chased him down and escorted him out. (Haha!) It was impressive to see the park strictly maintaining order. 💗 (They were also quite firm about kids stepping over parade tape. 👍🏻) As for spitting, it was mostly men doing it while walking along the paths. While I understand it might be cultural, seeing it in such a clean park wasn’t pleasant. That said, the park itself was clean and well-maintained, so I hope guest awareness improves over time.

It was truly a park that exceeded my expectations! If you’re curious about overseas Disney parks, starting with one in Asia is a great idea. 👏🏻