Shanghai Disneyland
Shanghai Disneyland is a theme park located in Chuansha New Town, Pudong, Shanghai, China, that is part of the Shanghai Disney Resort. The park is operated by Disney Experiences and Shanghai Shendi Group, through a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company and Shendi. Construction began on April 8, 2011. The park opened on June 16, 2016. The park operated in its first half-year with a visitor attendance of 5.60 million guests.
The park covers an area of, costing 24.5 billion RMB, with Shendi group holding 57% and Disney holding the remaining 43%. The park currently has eight themed areas: Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle, Tomorrowland, Toy Story Land, and Zootopia. In 2024, the park hosted 14.7 million visitors, making it the most visited theme park in China, the third-most visited theme park in Asia and the fifth-most visited theme park in the world that year.
History
Preparations
The Chinese government approved the resort on November 4, 2009. The Walt Disney Company announced on November 5, 2010, that it had signed an agreement with Shanghai Shendi Group to build the resort and park in Shanghai, with a planned opening in 2015. On April 7, 2011, groundbreaking began at the Shanghai Disneyland Resort site. On June 29, 2013, construction on the Enchanted Storybook Castle began.Construction
Major construction work started on April 8, 2011, targeting a spring 2016 opening. The resort was planned to cover an area of and it was expected to cost . The project is financed by several large Chinese state-owned enterprises in Shanghai forming a joint venture with the Walt Disney Company. "The first-phase of the project will be to the South of Huanglou Area, an area in Chuansha Town, the southeast suburbs of Shanghai's Pudong area; the second phase will extend further southwest," an urban developer from Shanghai stated. DeSimone Consulting Engineers were the structural engineers behind the construction work.On March 8, 2013, the company announced that the park would open in late 2015. On February 2, 2015, the opening date was pushed back to early 2016. On January 12, 2016, the park's opening date was announced as June 16, 2016, its final opening date.
The cost was initially estimated at 24.5 billion yuan for the theme park and an additional 4.5 billion yuan. That rose to around US$5.5 billion before delays, which was partly due to more attractions opening to the public on the first day, which added US$800 million to the cost. In addition to the attractions and two hotels, a high-speed rail system is being built to get visitors to and from the site. Disney owns 43% of the property, and the state-controlled Shanghai Shendi Group owns the remaining 57%.
Opening
On May 7, 2016, Shanghai Disneyland had started soft openings.Disney aired the live broadcast of the grand opening show on its Facebook and the Disney TV stations on the night of June 15, 2016. Bob Iger, the chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, was joined by nearly 3,000 distinguished guests and celebrities for a showcase of choreography, acrobatics, costumes, and technology on grand scale, with dazzling lights, Disney music, pageantry, special effects, and fireworks. The show featured world-renowned pianist Lang Lang, who performed a custom arrangement of the musical sensation "Let It Go" and China's television and movie actress Sun Li took center stage. The historic event included the debut of an original song, "Ignite the Dreamer Within", written especially for the grand opening of Shanghai Disneyland. Acclaimed composer and conductor Tan Dun, known for his scores for the films Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero, led the Shanghai Symphony with an original composition of the new song.
As the opening was met with rainy weather, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang told Iger that the rain is an auspicious sign of dollars and renminbi to come. Wang then read a brief message of congratulations from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who said: "By adding to the classic Disney style a stroke of Chinese characteristics, and by blending international standards with best local practices, the resort demonstrates our commitment to cross-cultural cooperation."
Ticket pricing
Tickets for the park went on sale on March 28, 2016, with a two-tiered pricing scheme. On most days, day adult tickets will be, while child and elderly one-day tickets will cost, roughly 20% cheaper than Hong Kong Disneyland. During busier periods, including the first two weeks of the park's operation, adult day tickets will cost, while child and elderly tickets will cost. The park will be the first Disney park to feature tiered pricing.According to the International Business Times, the equivalent of park ticket pricing will cost about US$75 for adults and US$60 for children on holidays and weekends, and around US$60 for adults and US$45 for children on weekdays. IBT notes that "a two-day weekend ticket for two adults and one child comes close to China's average urban monthly wage."
Opening day tickets sold out in a few hours after they had gone on sale at midnight, March 28. However, more tickets were put on sale several days before the official opening day.
As of 2025, ticket pricing ranges from ¥475 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, to ¥499 on Monday, to ¥539 on Friday and Sunday, and ¥599 on Saturday. Shanghai Disneyland also offers early bird tickets, making tickets ¥50 cheaper when purchasing more than 10 days in advance.
Response to COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the park temporarily closed from January 25, 2020, following the actions of Ocean Park Hong Kong and Hong Kong Disneyland Park. It remained closed the following three and a half months, reopening to guests on May 11, 2020, becoming the first of the Disney Parks to reopen. It reopened under strict rules that included, but was not limited to, social distancing, reduced capacity, temperature screenings, and mandatory face masks. Shanghai Disney Resort closed for a second time due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in China from March 21, 2022, through June 29, 2022. The resort reopened for the second time on June 30, 2022. On October 31, 2022, it was announced that the park would once again close indefinitely due to a surge in cases. It last closed on November 29, 2022, before reopening again on December 8 after China eased its "zero COVID" policy in response to protests.Park layout
Unlike other Disney parks, Shanghai Disneyland does not feature a steam railroad surrounding the park's perimeter due to the Chinese already being accustomed to train travel. Shanghai Disneyland also has no earthen berm to obscure the outside world from guest view. As a replacement for a central-spoked/hub, the center of the park features a collection of Chinese zodiac gardens called the Gardens of Imagination. Main Street, USA has given way to Mickey Avenue, which introduces Chinese visitors to Disney characters. Conventional-themed lands such as Adventureland are reimagined into Adventure Isle, and other lands, such as Frontierland, are omitted entirely. Several staple attractions, such as Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, and It's a Small World, are excluded as Disney wanted to avoid criticism of cultural imperialism. Restaurant seating has been revised upwards after studies found that Chinese guests take longer over meals, and extensive picnic areas are better adapted to extended families with grandparents. Also, there is more live entertainment as many Chinese patrons prefer that to thrill rides.In regards to the layout of other Magic Kingdom parks, this park's layout is mirrored. Instead of being on the left side of main hub, Adventure Isle is on the right side; while as Tomorrowland is now on the left side instead of the right. Fantasyland is located in the back behind the castle.
The table below shows the Attractions, Dining places, Entertainments, and Shops in each theme land.
| Name of Theme land | Attraction | Dining | Entertainment | Shops |
| Mickey Avenue | N/A |
| ||
| Gardens of Imagination | ||||
| Fantasyland | ||||
| Treasure Cove | ||||
| Adventure Isle | ||||
| Tomorrowland | ||||
| Toy Story Land | ||||
| Zootopia |