Shanghai Disneyland: Highlights & Maps

Shanghai Disneyland is one of the three Disneylands in Asia, and it has been a top destination for family-friendly fun since its grand opening in 2016. We've prepared a comprehensive guide to help you organize your time in Disneyland, including maps and introductions about some attractions, where to meet Disney characters, and watch live shows.

About Shanghai Disneyland

A map with recommended attractions of Disneyland

• Location: No. 310 Huangzhao Road, Chuansha Town, Pudong New District, Shanghai. (Takes about 40 minutes to drive from the Bund)
• Entrance Fee: 475 RMB to 599 RMB (about 67.8 USD to 85.5 USD)
  There will be an extra fee if you need Premier Access services to skip the line.
• Operating Hours: 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM
• Recommend Visiting Time: A whole day

Shanghai Disneyland is the first Disney-themed park in mainland China and 6th worldwide. Travelling to Shanghai Disneyland is easy. You can either take Metro Line 11 to the Disney Resort Station and walk about 30 minutes to get there. However, the most convenient way to get there is taking an exclusive car. Our car will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the parking lot of Disneyland. From there, it only takes about 10 minutes to walk to the entrance of the park.

It's worth mentioning that Shanghai Disneyland is bilingual, with both Chinese and English instructions for the attractions. The characters and staff you encounter in the park also speak English, greatly enhancing the experience for international visitors.

Highlights in Shanghai Disneyland

Shanghai Disneyland attracts large crowds, especially during summer vacation, and it's no exaggeration to say that each attraction often has wait times of over an hour. The official Premier Access option allows you to bypass lines at certain attractions.

Compared with the other 2 Disneylands in Asia: Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland, the featured theme of Shanghai Disneyland is Zootopia, while Hong Kong Disneyland features Frozen, and Tokyo Disneyland highlights Beauty and the Beast. The Zootopia area in Shanghai Disneyland includes a city recreated based on movie scenes, including Judy's workplace, the Zootopia Police.

We recommend purchasing the Premier Access pass for eight attractions, which gives you fast-lane access to the following 8 rides without queueing. This will save you a lot of time, allowing you more opportunities to interact with characters around the park and enjoy live shows.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure

Pirates of the Caribbean is a well-known movie series in the world. If you're a fan of Jack Sparrow, you don't want to miss this opportunity to take a pirate adventure. Perhaps to ease us gradually into the experience, the boat sails for a bit, passing by the Caribbean-themed restaurant before entering the indoor section of the attraction. Most of the scenes depict underwater landscapes, where you can see sirens and treasures. The ride has gentle rises and falls to simulate the lifting and lowering of a ship.

• Duration: about 9 minutes
• Limitation: No age limits or height limits.
• Thrill Level: Small Drops, Loud, Dark, Thrill Rides

Zootopia: Hot Pursuit

Once you walk in to the Zootopia area, you've become a member of this magical town. And you will be a police officer in Zootopia Police. Here's your mission: drive your car and chase down the villain who kidnapped Gazelle.

Along the way, you'll encounter various surprises, like traffic jams that force you to detour up walls and crowds of pedestrians that require you to swerve left and right to avoid accidents. Overall, it's an enjoyable experience. However, keep in mind that using the Premier Access service means missing out on the regular queue area, which has scenes specially set up to recreate the movie's atmosphere.

• Duration: about 5 minutes
• Limitation: No age limits or height limits.
• Thrill Level: Dark, Small Drops

Roaring Rapids

The attractions in Adventure Isle have a certain level of thrilling, including Roaring Rapids. However, this ride isn't particularly intense, with no sudden drops. The boat is cushioned by a large airbag, so it bounces off walls gently, without much impact. Though disposable rain ponchos are available for purchase in the queue area (10 RMB each, equals to 1.4 USD), we recommend bringing an extra set of clothes just in case.

• Duration: about 4 minutes
• Limitation: No age limits. Guests must be 107 cm or taller.
• Thrill Level: Big Drops, Dark, Loud, Water Splash Rides

Roller Coaster: Tron Lightcycle or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Tron Lightcycle Power Run might be the most futuristic attraction in the park, popular among thrill-seekers of all ages. It's a high-speed roller coaster. You'll sit on a motorcycle-like seat, leaning forward and pressing close to the bike as staff secure you with a safety bar that locks your body into place.

The ride simulates a test run, and along the way, you'll hear system notifications updating you on your progress. If you're brave enough to keep your eyes open the whole time, you'll notice that the ride includes 360-degree spins, and at times, you'll find yourself facing the ground.

• Duration: about 2 minutes
• Limitation: No age limits. Guests must be 122 cm or taller.
• Thrill Level: Thrill Rides, Dark, Big Drops

If you're looking for a less intense roller coaster, try the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This ride has gentler drops and no inversions. Midway through, the train enters a tunnel designed as a mine, where you'll see the dwarfs digging for countless sparkling gems. However, this attraction isn't included in Premier Access. To save time, you can enter the park early and head straight to this ride.

• Duration: about 3 minutes
• Limitation: Guests must be taller than 97 cm.
• Thrill Level: Big Drops, Thrill Rides

Peter Pan's Flight

Peter Pan is taking you on a flight, giving you an aerial view of the nighttime scenes from the Peter Pan movie. Along the way, you'll occasionally spot Peter Pan guiding your "flight," a lighthouse illuminating the dark night, and finally, you'll soar through treacherous caves and out of the forest. Although it's designed like a cable car, the ride is quite gentle and slow, making it ideal for families with children of all ages.

• Duration: about 3 minutes
• Limitation: No age limits or height limits
• Thrill Level: Dark

Soaring Over the Horizon

This attraction is well-suited for children, who are often curious about seeing the world's wonders from above. During the experience, you'll get to view fascinating scenes like dinosaurs running in a prehistoric world, camels strolling through the desert, and polar bears rolling on the ice.

• Duration: about 5 minutes
• Limitation: No age limits. Guests must be taller than 102 cm.

Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue

This ride is also a big hit with kids, especially boys. You get to hold a laser gun and aim at targets on villains, making it feel like you're a real hero battling monsters. Hitting the targets earns you points, and in the end, you receive a hero ranking based on your total score. Here's a tip for getting a high score: when the boss appears, aim at his targets and shoot as much as you can as he gives the most points!

• Duration: about 3 minutes
• Limitation: No age limits or height limits.
• Thrill Level: Dark

Voyage to the Crystal Grotto

If you and your child love Aladdin or The Little Mermaid, you'll really enjoy this attraction. It's a water ride, but it's designed to be enchanting and romantic. The boat glides along, passing by fountains themed around Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Mickey Mouse, and the magic broomsticks, before finally drifting through vibrant, colorful caves. It's best to try this ride around sunset, as the evening lighting adds a magical atmosphere.

• Duration: about 3 minutes.
• Limitation: No age limits or height limits.
• Thrill Level: Slow Rides

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Meet With Disney Characters

Find your favorite Disney characters with this map

With Premier Access, you can enjoy all eight attractions in less than half a day. You can then have lunch in the park and spend the afternoon freely exploring and taking photos with characters. The map shows the locations of classic Disney characters, and below is detailed information on where and when the characters will appear.

Indoor Live Shows

A map of most popular live shows in Disneyland

Indoor live shows are scheduled, and seating is limited for each show. So if you'd like to watch, plan your time accordingly and be prepared to queue.

The Parade: Mickey's Storybook Express

The route of the Parade

The parade usually starts at 3:45 PM, with Mickey leading a lineup of classic Disney characters along the main road. Each character rides on a float inspired by the movie they appeared in. We recommend waiting for the parade at the spot shown in the picture; from there, you can capture photos of the floats with the castle in the distance as a backdrop.

The Firework Show

At 8 p.m. sharp, the castle hosts a fireworks and light show. This is the most anticipated moment, and most visitors still in the park gather in front of the plaza to wait for the show to begin. After the performance, our private car will wait for you at the parking lot and take you back to your hotel.

Dining and Shopping

Shanghai Disneyland has many themed restaurants, merchandise shops, and roadside stalls. When you finish your visit, you can choose to exit through the gate that is connected to Disneytown and explore the shops in the area. Disneytown is open until 10 PM, which is later than the park's closing time.

Plan Your Trip to Shanghai

Ready to experience the magic of Shanghai Disneyland? With so much to see and do, having a well-planned itinerary can make all the difference. Contact us or write to trip@odynovotours.com, and let's start planning your unforgettable adventure in Shanghai!