A Fairy Tale Disney
I woke up early in the morning, too excited to sleep. I had checked the weather forecast: cloudy and not too hot, so I threw on a light jacket. That jacket turned out to be a lifesaver — the temperature dropped to just over 10 degrees Celsius that evening, and the wind was strong. I packed light, carrying only a small shoulder bag with a disposable rain poncho inside. I didn't bring an umbrella but had a wide-brimmed canvas hat that could shield me from both sun and drizzle. I also brought a water bottle from Beijing, since a friend had told me there are lots of drinking water stations inside Disney. Without breakfast, I went down to the lobby to wait for the shuttle. Everyone else was in groups; I was alone, but I didn't feel the least bit lonely.
Less than half an hour later, the shuttle arrived at the Disney parking lot. The driver explained the pick-up point and schedule, and we dispersed. Walking across the bridge toward the park, the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ soundtrack filled the air, and my heart swelled with excitement. But when I reached the entrance queue, it felt like a bucket of cold water — there were just so many people.
After what felt like an eternity, security checks began, and then we still had to line up for tickets, with scalpers and queue-jumpers appearing here and there. I later calculated that from the moment I arrived outside the gate to boarding my first attraction (Soaring Over the Horizon), it took more than two and a half hours. Once I had my ticket and actually entered the park, I linked it to the Shanghai Disney Official App to grab FastPasses (up to three per person per day). To my dismay, the FastPasses for Soaring Over the Horizon were already gone, but I snagged one for TRON Lightcycle Power Run, with a return window from about 9:30 to 10:30.
Since I had some time before that, and the app showed a wait time of under an hour for Soaring Over the Horizon, I decided to join that queue first, figuring I’d still make it to TRON within the window. While waiting for Soaring, I could scan QR codes on the walls to take part in a quiz game about science and nature, and even choose a team to join. The indoor queue hall had giant screens projecting each team’s progress. I joined the Snake team, which oddly felt like stepping into the world of Harry Potter. The questions were tough, but I ended up placing third in my team — great fun. Finally, it was my turn. Staff first showed us a safety video featuring Grandmother Thunderbird, then led us into the main hall where rows of seats were arranged. I got a seat in the very last row. As the ride lifted us up, a massive curved screen wrapped around us. The attraction combines visual, audio, olfactory, and tactile sensations. I won’t spoil the details — you need to experience it yourself to truly feel the magic. I can say, though, that my fear of heights and deep-water phobia almost kicked in (P.S. there are no actual underwater scenes). Coupled with an empty stomach, I felt a bit nauseous when I got off, but I held it together.
After barely surviving that first ride, I realized I couldn’t make it to TRON by 10:30. So I decided to take it easy, strolling and snapping photos along the way. All the planning and research I’d done beforehand turned out to be pretty much useless. Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure is one of the most popular attractions, so when I reached the area, I got in line. Despite the long-looking queue, it moved quickly — I only waited about twenty minutes. Compared to Soaring Over the Horizon, the wait was a breeze. While in line, I also scored a FastPass for Roaring Mountain Rapids, with a return time around 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. I absolutely loved the Sunken Treasure adventure. With Captain Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl, Davy Jones and the giant sea monster — I felt like I was right in the middle of a fierce sea battle. Oh, and there’s a little surprise at the end.
Even though I wanted more, I moved on to the next ride. By a stroke of luck, I wandered to the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration just as the show was about to start. Being solo, I squeezed in at the last second and managed to snag a seat way at the back. The performance wasn’t quite as amazing as I’d imagined, but the kids were incredibly enthusiastic. They sang along loudly, and little girls in Elsa dresses were invited to the stage to twirl under the performers’ guidance. Watching them interact so joyfully was heartwarming and made me a bit envious.
Now, let’s talk about my absolute favourite — and most regretful — attraction: TRON Lightcycle Power Run. By then, I was starving, but I found myself near the Tomorrowland area. I hesitated: first, because the ride looked intense; second, I was worried I might actually throw up afterwards. But recalling the big talk I’d spouted to my friends, I forced myself to get in line. I had seen photos of TRON online before and the setting felt familiar — I’d watched the movie ‘TRON: Legacy’ back in high school. It was so cool, with a cyberpunk vibe.
A friend had told me about the single-rider line, and sure enough, while the regular queue was packed, I practically walked right through to the very front. Only two people were ahead of me. The ride vehicles have two seats per row, so the staff would call single riders to fill empty spots. I was really nervous, my palms sweating. With no one beside me, it was one of only two moments of loneliness I felt in Shanghai.
The regular line would have taken about 45 minutes, but I was seated in just over ten. The ride was over in a flash, and I was cheering all the way to the end. It was absolutely thrilling — a perfect blend of adrenaline and fun. I’d once ridden the world’s fastest roller coaster at Ferrari World, and that was genuinely terrifying, with intense G-forces where your soul seemed to lag behind your body. But TRON masterfully combined speed and visuals, with minimal weightlessness. As the wind roared past my ears, I felt like I had slipped into a real future world.
Hoping to ride TRON again later in the day, I grabbed a quick meal at Disneytown. By the way, there are plenty of restrooms in the park, though strangely, when I needed one urgently that evening, it took ages to find. Next, I headed to the Marvel Universe. There were character actors dressed as Captain America you could take photos with, but that didn’t interest me much. Iron Man’s suit was gleaming, so I snapped a bunch of shots. I’m a big Avengers fan, but the Marvel area in the park wasn’t all that impressive. As I walked out, a light drizzle started. My wide-brimmed hat was just enough to keep the raindrops off, and it felt surprisingly pleasant. Before I knew it, I had reached the castle. The platform in front was nearly empty, so I hurried to take panoramic shots. Too bad it was overcast — it gave the scene a somewhat wistful atmosphere. Checking the schedule, the afternoon parade wouldn’t start until 3:30, so I had time for another ride. I strolled back to the Pirates area and explored the Sirens’ Revenge, the pirate ship with the giant mermaid figurehead.
Then I found the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and queued for about an hour. During the wait, the sun came out and things finally warmed up a bit. On the ride, I screamed with my eyes wide open the whole time. Honestly, this kind of coaster is common in other parks, but the Snow White theme added a nostalgic touch that made it extra special. It was a delightful experience, perfect for kids. On my way to the parade route, I walked through the Alice in Wonderland Maze. It’s a simple maze with hedges low enough to see over. It’s basically a small attraction itself, with the Red Queen statue standing tall — a great photo spot.
I arrived at the parade route half an hour early; the roadsides were already packed. I found a spot with a clear view and guarded it against people blocking my sight. To the cheerful music, beloved Disney characters and elaborate floats rolled past. Everyone held up their phones, capturing the magical moments. Rapunzel and Eugene looked so happy, Elsa was gorgeous, Mulan on her horse was awe-inspiring, and the flag-waving girl was just adorable...
After the parade ended close to four o’clock, I didn't want to miss my FastPass, so I rushed to Roaring Mountain Rapids. While waiting, I put on my disposable poncho — only to discover the hood was broken (it was a freebie from a fun run the year before). Annoying and helpless. The rapids ride wasn’t thrilling at all; everyone in our boat was chatting and laughing the whole time. Near the end, on a small drop, water surged in and drenched me — hair and shoes soaked. At least the sun was out, so I could dry off a bit. I spotted a ropes course in front of the artificial mountain and waterfall and felt a twinge of temptation, but I really wanted to do the Sunken Treasure and TRON again. So I pressed on.
Retracing my steps to the Pirates area, I experienced Battle for the Sunken Treasure a second time. Again, I only queued for about twenty minutes. The girl beside me visibly jumped at the sudden sea monster, but I had no deep-water fear at all this time. After the ride, I felt torn. On one hand, I desperately wanted to re-ride TRON; on the other, I was curious about the ropes challenge I hadn’t tried. I made a decision I’d later regret — the ropes course.
I waited over an hour for this. As soon as I stepped onto the platform, regret hit me. I’m really afraid of heights, and the gaps between the pillars were terrifying enough; I was too scared to step onto the swaying planks or ropes. I meekly stuck to the regular solid walkway. Watching kids in my group cross the rope nets encouraged me to challenge myself. Shaking, I stepped onto the net — and realized I couldn’t go back. I’m short, and the safety line was too tight. When I slowly made it to the middle, I felt like a hanging piece of cured meat, stuck and unable to move.
No one was there to cheer me on, and suddenly I envied those in groups. By now, I’d fallen behind my batch, and I didn’t want the next group to see me struggling. So I clutched the safety rope and inched my way across. Afterwards, I played it safe, sticking to the solid path and watching in awe as a nimble guy breezed along the trickiest ropes. This attraction is great for adventure lovers, but a nightmare for acrophobics. To this day, I regret choosing the ropes course — the wait time could have let me ride TRON twice. I vowed silently that next visit, I’d ride TRON at least three times to make up for the missed opportunity.
The grand finale: the nighttime spectacular, Ignite the Dream. It started at 8:30 p.m., so by 7:00 I was already scouting a spot. But many people had already claimed the best front-row positions. Since everyone was standing, I couldn’t sit down for fear of being stepped on. During the wait, I felt aches all over. I calculated that the total standing and queuing time from the moment I arrived in the morning added up to over six hours — maybe even seven if you counted the shorter waits. The show was breathtaking, and as someone who’s seen a fair share of Disney movies, I was deeply moved. There are plenty of well-shot videos online, but only by being there in person can you truly step into that beautiful dream. I adore Disney, and I dream of visiting every Disney park in the world.
After the show, with crowds thinning, I snapped a few more photos of the illuminated castle and the carousel. The temperature had dropped and the wind had picked up. Since our hotel shuttle wasn’t due until 10 p.m., I browsed inside Mickey’s Store. The merchandise was pricey but the quality wasn’t overwhelming — still, it was fun to look around. The auntie holding the sign in the parking lot was so dedicated. We caught the last shuttle back to the hotel, wrapping up a full-day Disney adventure. I ate something warm from a convenience store, and with that cozy feeling, drifted off to dreamland.
