A Chongqing Runaway Princess’s 3-Day Deep-Dive at Shanghai Disney Resort, with Shanghai Dining, Lodging, Transport & Shopping Roundup
Yes, I went to Disney again! After Hong Kong, the US (Los Angeles), and Tokyo, Japan, this time, I’ve arrived at Shanghai Disneyland. That brings me to four down out of the six Disney parks worldwide on my mission to visit them all. With overseas travel off the cards this year due to special circumstances, Shanghai Disneyland became a must-complete check-in item for 2020.
We did our homework ahead of time for this Shanghai Disney trip, and to skip the long queues, we’d booked a Premier Access pass early and opted to stay right inside the resort at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, enjoying the most convenient and comfortable arrangements. Compared to how my sister and I practically ran ourselves ragged at Tokyo Disney, this Shanghai Disney experience was so chill, easy, and happy! This time we really let ourselves be runaway princesses for real.
Shanghai has always been my number-one city for that chic, petit-bourgeois vibe. Every time I come—whether for work or leisure—I make it a point to hit those lovely old streets under the plane trees and one adorable café after another. This trip was no exception. Some friends have been waiting for my all-in-one Shanghai guide. Let me just say: you can’t even cover all the cafés in Shanghai, so I don’t think a truly comprehensive guide is possible—actually, nowhere can be fully summed up. All you can do is record what’s happening on the road, in that moment, in that place, with those people. So, for those of you headed to Shanghai Disneyland, here’s a guide that’s not about saving money but about playing in the most relaxed way possible—offered with all my heart.
Shanghai Disney Resort Know-How & Itinerary
Shanghai Disney is actually huge, and it’s not in the city centre; it’s in Chuansha New Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, all part of the Shanghai Disney Resort. The resort includes: [1] Disneyland; [2] two themed hotels: Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel; [3] Disneytown; [4] one metro station: Disney Station. All guests have to pass through Disneytown to enter the park. Disneytown and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel are separated by an artificial lake. Hotel guests can take a free shuttle boat (with your room key card) back and forth to Disneytown. Seriously, they built a private dock just for Shanghai Disneyland Hotel guests. And there’s even a small kiosk at the hotel dock, purely so guests can grab snacks—truly VIP treatment.
You can also take a complimentary shuttle bus from the hotel to the park. We stayed one night at each hotel so we could hit the park as early as possible and crash right away after the last moments. Our luggage was transferred straight from Shanghai Disneyland Hotel to Toy Story Hotel by staff, so we just focused on the fun; when we got back to Toy Story Hotel at night, our bags were already waiting in the lobby.
And by the way, here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: Chongqing → Shanghai, check into Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, explore Disneytown, dinner buffet at Lumiere’s Kitchen
Day 2: Full day at Disneyland, overnight at Toy Story Hotel
Day 3: Metro into the city, check into Seclusive Life Wukang Mansion, Seesaw Café, “The Eight Hundred” Sihang Warehouse, the Bund
Day 4: Wukang Mansion area, strolling Wukang Road, Xianwei Noodle House, “Nothing But Thirty” café, Shanghai → Chongqing
Sleep: Shanghai Disneyland Hotel
There’s no dedicated shuttle bus from Shanghai Airport to Disney Resort; you either take the public bus or the metro. The metro requires multiple transfers, so we opted for a taxi straight to Shanghai Disneyland Hotel.
We’d booked one night on the hotel website, and checked in with our ID at the front desk. 2,300 RMB/night, including 15% service charge.
The lobby is symmetrical, with a central sculpture of Disney’s iconic star—Mickey Mouse and friends. I see the whole piece as a tribute to Mickey’s “Mickey’s PhilharMagic”; these music-makers give us the first ingredient for dreaming.
The entire double-height lobby is retro, symmetrical, and elegantly antique, designed in a “New Art Nouveau” style.
Two reception desks flank the room, and the walls behind them are covered with framed portraits of Disney cartoon stars, each one different, mimicking famous paintings but with Disney characters as the subjects—so adorable!
Next to the front desk is a small lounge area with a TV looping cartoons, and the benches opposite are tiny, clearly meant for kids.
From the lobby you can gaze across the lake at Disneytown and the big Cinderella Castle.
After check-in, the bellman took our luggage to the room, but we didn’t rush up; instead, we waited in the lobby for the Disney character welcome ceremony.
This was the moment my sister was super excited about. The moment the lobby orchestra struck up, before I even registered it, she sprang off the sofa and dashed to the centre, waiting for Mickey, Donald, and Goofy on the second floor to wave and greet us.
With the cheerful music, the four characters waved and danced, delighting big and little guests alike. There’s music everywhere in the hotel, so from the moment you enter, you’re already stepping into a fairy tale dream. Even the buttons in the elevator are Mickey-shaped—Mickey is truly everywhere.
After happily greeting my beloved Mickey, we went back to the room.
Before we left, my sister told me the room had a surprise. Even though she already knew about it from her research, she couldn’t hide her enthusiasm when she demonstrated it for me:
I felt the room had a strong American vibe, not super trendy or modern, but more like an old castle—retro decor. Why did we choose to stay at the Disney hotel? I’ve summed up these 10 important perks:
[1] One-hour early park entry via a dedicated entrance.
[2] Free shuttle bus to Disneytown, the metro, and Toy Story Hotel; from the Disneyland Hotel you can also take the boat.
[3] Mickey and Minnie greet guests in the lobby roughly once an hour.
[4] Unique bedside light effects reveal a castle and Mickey shape.
[5] If you’re with kids, stay on the concierge floor; at night Mickey tells bedtime stories in his pyjamas.
[6] At Lumiere’s Kitchen you can interact with Disney friends while dining.
[7] If you buy lots in Disneytown, purchases can be sent back to the hotel for free.
[8] Hotel guests can store luggage for free outside the park entrance; regular visitors pay.
[9] When buying next-day tickets at the hotel, you get one free FastPass (FP) for a chosen attraction.
[10] Two official Disney cups in the room are yours to keep, and you can keep the key card as a souvenir.
Outside, there’s a huge garden, like stepping into a castle’s grounds—again, wonderfully symmetrical and exquisitely manicured. Put on your tulle skirt and become a runaway princess here.
In the centre of the hotel’s fountain is a uniquely Chinese artwork: a large, intricate glass peony sculpture surrounded by classic Disney sprites. This Shanghai-made traditional peony—China’s national flower—is one of the largest glass flower sculptures in the country.
Another reason we stayed at the Disney hotel: the buffet dinner at Lumiere’s Kitchen on the lower ground floor. Walking down the spiral staircase, you come upon a classic “Beauty and the Beast” sculpture, as if you’ve entered the Beast’s castle. Lumiere’s Kitchen is a Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant, complete with the animated-famous spiral staircase.
We had reserved a table in advance, and they even sent a text reminder when dinner time approached. At the entrance, there’s a traditional Chinese sugar-painting station making Disney characters live—free to collect. Naturally, I chose my favourite Mickey.
Coming here for the buffet is mainly about meeting the character friends. They loop through the dining area every half hour to greet guests, dance, and take photos. The dining time is officially 75 minutes; I managed to see them four times—Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto.
Honestly, the variety of food doesn’t quite match the price; it’s really more about seeing the “stars.” A lot of kids were dressed to the nines. The desserts were adorable, all shaped like cartoon characters.
The seafood was frozen, not fresh—just average. The dessert area was full of Mickey shapes, which I absolutely loved. When a child had a birthday, a server would bring glowing “BIRTHDAY” letters and sing, creating a really happy vibe. Drinks aren’t included in the buffet; they’re extra.
Price: Adults 388 RMB/person, children ages 3–10 268 RMB/person, plus a 15% service charge.
Location: Lumiere’s Kitchen, Shanghai Disneyland Hotel ground floor.
After eating and drinking our fill, we took a stroll in the garden, watched the nightly fireworks from across the lake, then headed back to the room early to rest up for the next day’s Disney marathon.
Sleep: Toy Story Hotel
Let me wrap up the resort hotels in one go. After our second day at the park, we checked into Toy Story Hotel, also within Shanghai Disney Resort.
Compared to Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Toy Story Hotel is more cute and playful. Its theme is inspired by the Disney·Pixar film series Toy Story, with 800 guest rooms. The building’s shape resembles the number 8 and the infinity symbol. The number 8 represents good luck in Chinese culture, and the cloud patterns on the exterior walls also carry an auspicious “xiangyun” meaning.
The front desk counters are adorned with adorable candy-coloured abacus decorations. The entire hotel is bursting with colour, like walking into a candy house—everywhere playful, sweet hues. All the corridor pillars look like they’re made of toy blocks pieced together, super cute.
The Toy Story Hotel is about half the price of Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, so it feels a bit busier. The corridor carpets are printed with Toy Story character motifs. In my opinion, the hotel’s Toy Story elements come through mainly in the soft furnishings and décor. Strip those away, and the hardware is pretty similar to many budget-friendly hotel chains.
Room beds are 1.4 metres wide (single). Almost every detail reveals the presence of Toy Story’s cartoon stars—look closely at the lamp pattern, it’s Slinky Dog! Even the shower curtain has cartoon images, and the red-and-white bathroom tiles are so cute. The most adorable touch: the bedside table is a Rubik’s cube design.
On the lower ground floor, there’s a children’s playroom where you can “deposit” your kids with staff who’ll look after them; the whole corridor is covered in hand-drawn Toy Story murals. Parents can also take children to the Family Activity Centre for a variety of Disney·Pixar-themed interactive activities, crafts, games, and story time.
Room cups are sized for papa, mama, and baby, and Disney character-themed key cards, toiletries, postcards, and stationery are provided.
What are the perks of staying at Toy Story Hotel? Here’s my summary:
1. Price is about half that of Shanghai Disneyland Hotel; we booked at 1,150 RMB/night, including 15% service charge.
2. It’s closer to the park, good for guests without Premier Access who want to rope-drop—even if you miss the early bus, it’s a short walk.
3. Free shuttle bus to/from the park, one-hour early entry via a dedicated entrance.
4. Buy tickets at the hotel concierge and receive a Premier Access for one popular attraction.
5. Key card/park ticket card don’t need to be returned—you can keep them as souvenirs.
6. Chance encounters with Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear waving hello.
7. Purchases made at in-park Disney stores (except the Crystal Arts shop) and at Disney store in Disneytown can be delivered free of charge to the Big Bear Emporium at Toy Story Hotel.
8. Hotel guests can store luggage at the main entrance of Shanghai Disneyland or at the hotel itself.
There’s a gift shop on the ground floor, and outdoors in the “Woody’s Corral” stands a life-size-plus Woody on his trusty horse, Bullseye. The hotel is divided into two wings: Woody’s Roundup and Buzz Lightyear, forming an infinity symbol when viewed from above, evoking Buzz’s courageous, dream-chasing motto: “To infinity and beyond!” In the Buzz Lightyear Courtyard, a giant Buzz welcomes you.
At the Sunshine Eatery on the lower ground floor, Chinese-style kites featuring Toy Story characters float overhead, inspired by the traditional kite-making craft of Weifang, Shandong, China’s renowned kite capital.
At the sweet shop, we had a Donald Duck waffle and a Mickey ice cream bar.
Resort Shopping: Disneytown
After checking into Shanghai Disneyland Hotel on the first day, we caught the shuttle to Disneytown to get our park gear ready. Disneytown features seven Mickey statues crafted with traditional Chinese glass art. Each one, standing 1 to 1.2 metres tall, was created by Chinese artists. The seven colours represent the five Chinese elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) plus the dragon and phoenix, symbols of harmony.
Disneytown sits right outside Shanghai Disneyland, on the shore of Wishing Star Lake, combining shopping, dining, and entertainment. Spanning over 46,000 square metres, it feels a bit empty—not because there aren’t enough shops (there are many), but because it’s so huge. Disneytown blends traditional Shanghainese Shikumen architecture with rich local flavour.
The lakeside inflatable Donald Duck is the most famous sight. Disneytown has five zones: Town Market, Broadway Boulevard, Broadway Place, Broadway Street, and Lakeshore.
Our first stop was the Disney World of Goods store to round out our park “equipment.” The 3,000-square-metre store has a nostalgic, roundhouse train depot exterior, symbolizing travel and adventure. Although there are shops inside the park and at Toy Story Hotel, the Disney World of Goods here has the most complete range—clothing, accessories, jewellery, digital products, toys, collectibles, pins, and plush toys. There are also specialty boutiques: D-Trend for accessories and digital items; D-Creative for lifestyle and fashion; D-Fashion for trendy Disney apparel.
Disney World of Goods is one of the most technologically advanced Disney retail stores in the world, featuring a central projection sphere about 2.5 metres off the ground and an interactive “magic mirror.” The sphere shows clips from Disney films, while video walls and digital screens are everywhere.
Opposite stands the world’s largest Lego flagship store—Lego fans should check it out. Disneytown even has a Heytea location. There are plenty of restaurants, including The Cheesecake Factory; you can even pop out of the park for lunch and come back in.
Finally, our haul:
Play: Shanghai Disneyland
With the resort’s sleep, eat, and shop covered, let’s get to the heart of it—Shanghai Disneyland.
Before entering, do these two things:
1. Download the official “Shanghai Disney Resort” app so you can see all the queue times and show schedules.
2. It’s best to purchase a Premier Access pass (formerly called FP or Concierge Card).
Shanghai Disney is the only park in the world where you can pay for Premier Access to enjoy attractions with minimal wait—likely because visitor volume in China is simply enormous. I queued myself to exhaustion at Tokyo Disney; my feet didn’t feel like mine any more. So I strongly recommend getting the Premier Access—it saves your body from a lot of wear and tear.
About the Concierge Card (Premier Access):
Official purchase via Shanghai Disney Resort website or app; it comes in a Classic Set and a Deluxe Set. When we bought it in September 2020, the Classic Set was 960 RMB per person (prices fluctuate slightly with visitor numbers). Perks include:
1. Premium park entry: use the Disneytown entrance for fast entry at the Walt Disney Grand Theatre, pick up your day’s Premier Access pass with ID, and enter via a dedicated lane.
2. Premier Access for eight attractions: Soaring Over the Horizon, Roaring Rapids, TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue, Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure.
3. Reserved viewing areas for “Mickey’s Storybook Adventure” and “Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light.”
4. Quick dining: skip the line for the popular turkey leg.
Thanks to this card, we managed to experience nearly every worthwhile ride—the only ones we skipped were the kiddie rides in the Gardens of Imagination. I even rode Seven Dwarfs Mine Train twice.
Shanghai Disneyland has seven lands: Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove, Tomorrowland, and Disney·Pixar Toy Story Land.
Coming in through the priority entrance, the first area on the left is Tomorrowland. It has six interactive zones: TRON Lightcycle Power Run; Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue; Jet Packs; Star Wars Launch Bay; Marvel Universe; and Stitch Encounter, plus a Stargazer Grill restaurant.
Tomorrowland – TRON Lightcycle Power Run
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the most thrilling ride here and one of the longest queues. If you enter early, you can head straight for it, but be warned: the speed can make some people dizzy or nauseous. If that happens on your first ride, the rest of the day is tricky! When I rode TRON, the park hadn’t opened to the general public yet—only Premier Access guests were allowed in, so it was wonderfully empty! I was on the very first batch.
TRON is a ride where you’re leaning forward on a motorcycle, fully immersed in speed and adrenaline. You enter the electronic world of “TRON” and whip around turns so fast my face was literally twitching! But so exhilarating! My sister couldn’t do it—she was afraid she’d throw up—so I went alone. The person next to me was a mum whose kid also chickened out, so we buddied up.
Tomorrowland – Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
My sister didn’t get the point of this one. Honestly, it felt a bit childish. You sit on a tracked car and shoot at “bad guy” targets with a blaster, racking up a score. Inspired by the Disney·Pixar Toy Story films, the ride simulates an outer-space setting with animated targets, LED screens, and a real-time aim-feedback system. The story unfolds as Emperor Zurg threatens alien planets, and Buzz needs more Space Rangers. Guests join his new Star Command, board their star cruisers, and fire personalised coloured lasers. Your ranking in Buzz’s elite fleet improves with your shooting accuracy.
Tomorrowland has a creative stage where bands, DJs, artists, and dancers perform, but it was closed due to the pandemic. Throughout the land, there are bubble-blowing decorations—absolutely adorable.
Tomorrowland – Marvel Universe
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a Marvel fan, I had to come here for a photo with my superhero. This time I met Spider-Man! Life-sized Marvel heroes and their super gear get your adrenaline pumping. You can also watch specially produced multimedia presentations about the Marvel universe and buy all kinds of souvenirs and collectibles.
Toy Story Land
The second area we hit was Toy Story Land. It sits between Tomorrowland and the castle where “Frozen: A Sing-Along Celebration” takes place, so you sort of flow into it. This land has: Slinky Dog Spin, Woody’s Roundup, and Rex’s Racer (a launched coaster). Friendship Stage was closed due to the pandemic.
I find this land unbearably cute—everything looks like building blocks, like you’ve shrunk into a microscopic world of playful fun. The land was co-created by Shanghai and US-based Imagineers, along with Pixar artists. The toys are the masters here—over 400 of Andy’s toys, all scaled up to human size. I felt like a miniature toy myself. Rumor has it that in the restaurants, various movie NPCs will affectionately call you “New Toy.”
Toy Story Land – Rex’s Racer
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The most famous and thrilling ride here: a launched coaster that swings beyond 90 degrees and reaches over 30 metres high, delivering an even more intense thrill than TRON. Someone like me, who won’t even go on a swinging pirate ship, definitely skipped this one—I’d be guaranteed to throw up. I’m not afraid of heights, I just get motion sick, and since I get seasick, I’d absolutely lose my lunch.
Toy Story Land – Slinky Dog Spin
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I did Slinky Dog Spin. In the movies, Slinky Dog is so silly, and his favourite thing is chasing his tail. This ride puts you inside his spring-shaped body as he goes after his tail, facing a giant dog bowl full of toy bones. Haha, I thought this pup was adorable!
Toy Story Land – Woody’s Roundup
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Like stepping into the Old West, you ride in a western carriage through Woody’s ranch. Pick your favourite pony, settle into the cart, and as the music plays—tunes from Woody’s Roundup soundtrack, including “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”—the carriage sets off on its track. Such fun!
Fantasyland
This is where the Enchanted Storybook Castle is! And there are so many interactive attractions here. They include: Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Hunny Pot Spin, Alice in Wonderland Maze, Peter Pan’s Flight, Frozen: A Sing-Along Celebration, Tangled Tree Tavern, and Pinocchio Village Kitchen.
Fantasyland – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When you enter this land, the first must-do is the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train—another attraction with long lines. Inspired by the classic animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, we rode it twice. As hotel guests, we had one FastPass selection and chose this, plus our Premier Access included it.
You go indoors then race outside. The interior is a gem-glowing mine, and the coaster winds through rolling mountains, past a pond with a waterfall, and after leaving the jewel mine, you arrive at the dwarfs’ cottage. Each mine car has a pivot-arm system that lets it sway as it switches tracks. Along the way, you’ll enjoy music and animation from the Disney classic, plus meet friendly forest critters. Honestly, the thrill level is moderate.
Fantasyland – Voyage to the Crystal Grotto
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a boat ride that takes you through Fantasyland on the water. Our boat driver had a blank expression the entire time—the attitude of Shanghai Disney staff is a far cry from Tokyo Disney; they’re either sluggish or impatient. Anyway, the sculptures of Disney princesses lining the banks are incredibly authentic! Absolutely stunning!
Beauty and the Beast, Rapunzel, The Little Mermaid… then into the cave beneath the Enchanted Storybook Castle, accompanied by flickering lights and shimmering water, immersed in magical music and colour.
Fantasyland – The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
What I couldn’t understand: at Tokyo Disneyland, this ride consistently had queues of over two hours all day long, so much that we never got to do it in Japan. Maybe the two versions are different! But I found this one pretty simple and average—maybe it is different from Tokyo’s. The star is author A.A. Milne’s beloved “silly old bear.”
We boarded a honey pot vehicle into the Hundred Acre Wood, accompanied by the Sherman Brothers’ music, meeting Eeyore, Gopher, Kanga, Piglet, Tigger, Roo, and the wise old Owl and his nest.
Fantasyland – Peter Pan’s Flight
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Board a magic pirate galleon, strap yourself into your magical flying ship, and set sail from London with Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, and the Lost Boys to soar across the sky. I had wonderful memories of this ride at Tokyo Disney—suspended from the ceiling, you followed Peter Pan around the world. But Shanghai Disney’s version is so dark inside that a lot of the 3D projections were hard to see; personally, it didn’t feel as magical as Tokyo’s.
Along the way, you encounter Captain Hook and his pirate crew, while Wendy, Michael, and John teach you how to fly.
Fantasyland – Disney Princesses in the Enchanted Storybook Castle
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Enchanted Storybook Castle is a true landmark—the tallest, largest, and most interactive Disney castle anywhere, home to all the Disney princesses. Not only can you go inside, but you can climb a winding staircase to the top floor, and the ceiling is gorgeous. Follow the staircase to the top for a presentation of the Snow White story, blending projections and physical sets; as you ascend, you watch the tale unfold step by step.
Fantasyland – Alice in Wonderland Maze
Just at the foot of the castle. Even though I adore the Red Queen, I didn’t go in. As someone with zero sense of direction, I’d probably be stuck in the maze forever, so I saved that for another time. When we went back at 7 pm, it was already closed! The Alice in Wonderland Maze is a themed attraction designed exclusively for Shanghai Disney, inspired by Tim Burton’s 2010 film. You can choose one of three paths to reach the Mad Tea Party. Along the way you pass through the wondrous garden, the Red Queen’s garden, and the hedge maze, encountering the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, and sculpted figures from the movie.
Fantasyland – Hunny Pot Spin
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
There are 18 giant spinning honey pots. Pick one and embark on a swirly adventure with Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, Piglet, Kanga, and Roo to help Winnie the Pooh find his favourite honey. You control the spin speed with a central wheel. The details, including bilingual labels, are adorable; from a distance, each pot looks dripping with golden honey. I think this ride is great for photos—blur the background and you’re the star!
Note: To catch every show at Disneyland, check the app for detailed times and locations. We mostly relied on luck to stumble upon performances.
At Pinocchio Village Kitchen, I bought a “Duffy and Friends” honey pomelo-flavoured specialty drink in a mystery cup. That means when you open it, you don’t know which Duffy family member you’ll get—it’s all luck. And since we visited in September, which happened to be Duffy Month, the cups and merchandise centred on the Duffy family. But each month the theme changes according to different characters and seasons. I love that—it gives you something to look forward to.
My sister filled me in on Duffy: dubbed the “cutest money-grabbing squad in history,” Duffy was originally an exclusive plush character created for Tokyo DisneySea. He’s the teddy bear Minnie gave Mickey as a gift. Mickey thought, “If only this bear could walk with me.” At that moment, Tinker Bell appeared and sprinkled pixie dust on the bear. Thanks to the magic, the teddy bear came to life. Mickey was so happy he hugged the bear tightly, and thus the bear’s face got Mickey’s silhouette. Previously, Duffy merchandise was only sold at Tokyo DisneySea, but now Duffy and Friends have made their way into Disney parks worldwide. They are currently the most popular cartoon characters, and their merchandise sells like crazy!
The DisneySea pals now include five characters:
- Duffy (male, Mickey’s beloved teddy bear)
- ShellieMay (female; often mistaken for Duffy’s girlfriend, but they’re just friends)
- Gelatoni (male, a beret-wearing artistic cat [Italian cat…])
- StellaLou (female, debuted July 3, 2017; a lavender rabbit who dreams of being a dancer)
- CookieAnn (female, a pink-loving pastry chef)
Lots of celebrities, like Nana Ouyang, carry Duffy backpacks.
Adventure Isle
This land has: Roaring Rapids; Storyhouse Stage: “Tarzan: Call of the Jungle”; Camp Discovery; Soaring Over the Horizon; and Tribal Table. The two most popular and longest-wait attractions are Roaring Rapids and Soaring Over the Horizon—definitely get Premier Access for these, or you’ll queue 1–2+ hours.
Adventure Isle – Soaring Over the Horizon
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Basically, it’s a dome-screen 3D film. You soar through the sky to glimpse world landmarks: the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Shanghai skyline, the Great Wall of China. It’s very short—less than five minutes—so not that many landmarks. Really, it’s a two-hour wait for a three-minute experience.
Adventure Isle – Roaring Rapids
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We’d heard you get soaked, so we came prepared with rain ponchos and waterproof shoe covers—the kind that go up to your shins. You can buy them on-site, but nothing in Disneyland is cheap, so we’d ordered online beforehand: about 10 RMB for a set (poncho plus shoe covers).
It’s essentially a river rapids ride, but everyone sits in a circular raft, floating downstream into dark caverns. Honestly, we didn’t get that wet—nowhere near the time at the original Disneyland in Los Angeles when a waterfall poured straight over my head and I was drenched. The middle-aged woman next to me totally overreacted; every time we entered a cave she shrieked in fear, clung to her husband’s arm, and cried out, “Ahh! Ahh! I don’t want to ride anymore! So scary! I’m so scared! Too terrifying! Blah blah blah…” Meanwhile, the four of us (including my sister) seated around them, all clearly younger, just sat there stone-faced and unruffled… Us tough girls should really learn from how wives play the damsel with their husbands!
After hitting the two big ones in this area, we skipped the other three and headed straight for Pirates of the Caribbean.
Treasure Cove
Treasure Cove is the first pirate-themed land in any Disney park. It has: Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure; Explorer Canoes; El Teatro Fandango; Shipwreck Shore; plus Barbossa’s Bounty.
Treasure Cove – Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
That’s right—six stars. This was my favourite attraction in all of Shanghai Disneyland!!!! The sensation of our whole boat submerging into the underwater world was incredible!!!!!
The story: under Captain Jack Sparrow’s lead, we embark on a rollicking adventure to steal Captain Davy Jones’s most prized treasure. Three massive multimedia domes, projection effects, theatre-quality sets, and complex lighting truly immerse you in an undersea world—just magnificent!
Diving from the surface to the deep. Incredibly lifelike pirates, mermaids, the Kraken. Even the octopus-faced pirate looks straight out of the movie, incredibly vivid and real.
I planned to ride again, even without Premier Access, because I loved it so much that queuing felt worth it. But then I ran into another runaway princess from Chongqing who’s in my industry—she’s also at Shanghai Disney! We snapped a photo together, and by the time I got back to the line, it had gotten insanely long. We still had to catch the afternoon parade. That day, three Chongqing media friends were all at Shanghai Disney—great minds think alike! It was the first weekend of September, kids were busy starting school, so us adult-children seized the chance to play!
Shanghai’s weather was perfect—blue skies, white clouds, neither hot nor cold—making the whole park insanely beautiful.
In Treasure Cove we stumbled upon another show, with two performers giving it their all.
A giant turkey leg cost 80 RMB, and there was still a long queue. But thanks to our Concierge Card, we skipped the line and got ours instantly.
The afternoon’s highlight: the parade—Mickey’s Storybook Express. With our Concierge Card, we had a reserved viewing spot, the main advantage being shaded by big trees. A lot of people come to Shanghai Disney specifically for the parade and the nighttime fireworks, so many arrive super early to stake out a spot, camping out on picnic mats for hours, from morning until the 3:30 pm start.
The official app is great because it lists every day’s parade time, fireworks time, and showtimes for the pirate and Frozen shows. The exact times will be in the app on the day you enter the park. During special holidays like National Day, there are two parades and two fireworks shows. You can’t make a completely accurate plan for Disneyland because things change constantly—seasonally, weather-wise, due to festivals, or maintenance. Always download the app.
At Tokyo Disney, everyone stays seated during parades so they don’t block the view for those behind. Not in Shanghai—the moment music starts, everyone stands up. If you don’t stand, you won’t see a thing. Everyone crowds against the railings; there’s no way around it. Honestly, the afternoon parade here was far simpler than the one I saw at Tokyo Disney at night. Simple is the word. A lot of Mickey and friends walk out on foot, and some, like in the photo below, appear on a luggage cart—it really looked a bit shabby.
The daytime parade “Mickey’s Storybook Express” belongs to the Gardens of Imagination land.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Led by a magical train engine, it travels the longest parade route of any Disney park. A whole line of themed floats rolls by, accompanied by upbeat music and a colourful cast of performers. Each float is themed around characters, stories, and music from a Disney film.
Oh, a dwarf is waving at me!
Gardens of Imagination – Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A staple in nearly every Disney park, one of the most beloved characters: big-eared Dumbo has come to the gardens with the circus. With a magic feather and the help of his mouse friend Timothy, Dumbo learns to fly. Hop aboard one of 16 elephant cars and soar over the park, with a magical glimpse of the castle—beautiful for photos.
Childish, yes, but from up there you can see the castle, and the photos come out gorgeous.
Another big moment: meeting my absolute favourite—Mickey Mouse. Due to the pandemic, you can’t get close, only pose in front of the two of them, but they were so cooperative, adjusting their poses perfectly to match whatever the guest did—true professionals!
While queuing for the photos, I noticed the retro frames on the wall display moving clips of classic Mickey cartoons—they’re actually screens playing films.
Gardens of Imagination – Fantasia Carousel
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Don’t underestimate this seemingly gentle ride—the queue gets very long. Featuring characters and symphonic music from Fantasia, Mickey as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice joins in. This large carousel was crafted by Chinese artisans, boasting 72 brilliant colours and 62 flying horses (dads, mamas, and babies) plus two chariots. Unlike traditional medieval-style carousels in other Disney parks, this is the first brightly coloured one in any Disney park. At night, it’s a hot photo spot. I didn’t manage to squeeze in.
In September, night falls early in Shanghai—by around 5 pm the sun was already setting. The castle at dusk was breathtakingly beautiful.
The evening climax is “Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light.” The official website says 8:00 pm, but it actually varies; you’ll know the real time only after you enter the park.
Gardens of Imagination – Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Since our Concierge Card was the pricier one, we were right in the front area closest to the castle, allowed to sit on the ground. How close? Every time the fireworks shot up, I could feel the heat on my face, hahaha.
This show is more than fireworks—there’s a laser show too. Classic Disney characters are projected onto the Enchanted Storybook Castle while different theme songs play: The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Aladdin, Mulan, Frozen, and even characters from Zootopia. It was so exciting and euphoric!!!!!
Both my hands couldn’t keep up—I had to record video and take photos, and I couldn’t help but whoop “Wow! Wow!” from my mouth. The magic of the fireworks show is something you just have to experience live.
Mickey Avenue
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
For regular guests, entering Shanghai Disneyland brings you straight onto Mickey Avenue, but because we used the priority entrance, we ended up at Mickey Avenue only when we were leaving. Mickey Avenue is the first Disney park entryway themed around Mickey and his cheerful pals. For example, at “Il Paperino” ice cream shop, a mural shows the Italian family tree of shop owner—Donald Duck. Near the park entrance stands a large clocktower inspired by classic Mickey watch designs. The giant timepiece displays the park’s name in both English and Chinese, full of Chinese design elements and colours. “Avenue M Arcade” on Mickey Avenue offers gifts and souvenirs, including select apparel, accessories, gifts, homeware, and jewellery. The “Steamboat Mickey Fountain,” a tribute to Walt Disney’s 1928 animation, sports a more modern Mickey style than the original cartoon. Located at the entrance, it guides guests onto Mickey Avenue.
Inside Mickey & Friends Market Cafe are four restaurants: Mickey’s Kitchen, Tony’s, Daisy’s Café, and Three Cavaliers. “Remi’s Patisserie” is a French-style bakery themed after Remy from Ratatouille, offering a variety of breads, pastries, muffins, and fresh desserts from the kitchen. Absolutely adorable!!!!!
After the fireworks and laser show, my 13-hour “battle” at Shanghai Disneyland was over.
I left a day and a half to wander around Shanghai itself. I’ve always loved Shanghai—so cosmopolitan, so international, so full of stories.
This time I deliberately chose a hotel housed in a century-old building on Wukang Road—Seclusive Life Wukang Mansion.
100 Wukang Road, a vintage two-storey mansion. Built in 1918, it was originally an apartment for senior staff of the American-owned Texas Oil Company, and later became the residence of renowned scholar Wang Yuanhua. A century later, in 2018, the building was redesigned, restored, and renovated into “Seclusive Life Wukang Mansion.”
At the front door, the Seclusive Life group restored this three-storey English country villa almost entirely to its original state.
Seclusive Life has three types of resort hotels. The first is the “Fanhua” series, high-end urban resort hotels. Seclusive Life Wukang Mansion and Seclusive Life Wuxing Road Mansion belong to this line: situated in bustling parts of Shanghai, they combine European architectural features with a Shanghainese flavour. We chose this hotel category.
Of course, we booked the smallest, cheapest room—still 1k RMB per night. Humble but complete.
The hallmark of Shanghai’s Seclusive Life brand is “to lead and craft a parallel world apart from reality—a place that is warm, quiet, beautiful, free, enchanting, and full of happiness,” a “balanced space that transports you into a rich spiritual and material world.”
I first saw this hotel when Josephine Siao was interviewed here, and I fell in love with it on the spot, deciding to stay for a night. The washstand is made of solid copper, and all the toiletries are tucked into a cosmetic bag—a nice touch for storage.
