A Weekend of Magic: A First-Timer’s Guide to the Best of Shanghai Disneyland

As you all know, I love theme parks and will visit any while traveling. Once I learned that I would be moving back to the U.S. after three years of living in Okinawa, Japan, I made plans to visit different countries, including Chiang Mai in Thailand, Taiwan, and China. I took a long holiday weekend from work to visit China to explore the Disney parks there.

The first park I visited that weekend was Shanghai Disneyland. The park opened not too long after I moved to Japan, and I knew I would have to see it when I had the chance. Who knew when I would be in Asia again once I moved back to the U.S.? 

The park had all-new experiences with rides that can’t be found anywhere else, spectacular structures such as their wondrous Alice in Wonderland maze, a theme used in many of the Asia parks, and more. The Disney magic was palpable once I entered the park, and I didn’t know where to start. I enjoyed this visit so much, but there were some highlights that everyone should experience at Shanghai Disneyland.

Enchanted Storybook Castle

When I walked into the park, I walked straight to the Enchanted Storybook Castle. The significant part of Disney parks is that they have a photo pass that allows guests like me who traveled alone to get photos with the castle in front of the park.

My favorite part of all the Disney parks is how different every castle is for each. The Enchanted Storybook Castle in Shanghai had a soft pink brick texture with stone embellishing and blue and gold accents on the roof. 

The castle also allows guests to walk through it, where stained glass from various Disney movies and stores is displayed. I explored the different shops in the castle and found a tiara store where I could buy a tiara that looked like Princess Tiana’s. It is definitely a must-visit.

New Rides at Shanghai Disney

Before going to the park, I knew I wanted to experience the TRON Lightcycle Power Run—presented by Chevrolet. It was worth all the hype. It’s now available at Walt Disney World but was once only at the Shanghai park. The queuing space has this super futuristic vibe with graphics about the Tron suits, the technology, and more. The impressive part is that no matter where I was near the ride, I could see people being launched for their adventure. 

When getting on the Tron motorcycle, the cast member locks the safety bar on the back. The visuals are incredible as the motorcycle speeds through space. It feels like a pinball game with flashing arrows and glowing graphics. The ride then transports the riders into a racing scene with the red Tron bike. Seriously, it was one of the most thrilling rides I’ve experienced.

Then, I went to the Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure. I thought it would be very similar to the one in Disney World with its kooky animatronics and some Jack Sparrow pop-ups. Boy, was I wrong. This ride was INCREDIBLE. The one section that is so vivid for me is the battle scene, where we are taken into a large room. The screen depicts the ship coming out of the water and two ships shooting cannons at each other. I felt fully immersed in the story and the scene. It is a family-friendly ride but a darker ride that can be scary for some people.     

Amazing Character Interactions 

Even as I get older, I get super excited to interact with the characters throughout the parks. At Shanghai Disneyland, I took many photos with the characters and received the pictures on the photo pass. It was worth it since they sent all the photos I took. 

I met Mickey Mouse, Belle from Beauty and The Beast, and Nick Wilde from Zootopia. Each experience was different but so unique in its own way. Whenever I visit Disney, I must get a photo with Mickey Mouse and at Shanghai Disneyland, he was so sweet and a proper gentleman!

Belle is one of my favorite princesses and another character I searched for when I visited Disney. She asked about my trip and how far I traveled to visit the park. We took millions of photos with different poses. 

But taking the cake was definitely Nick Wilde. Immediately when I walked up to meet him, he started an impromptu dance party with me. It felt so fun to be free and just dance with a character. The photos were outstanding, too.

Voyage to the Crystal Grotto

Another hidden gem at Shanghai Disneyland is Voyage to the Crystal Grotto. After walking around the park for so long, I was looking for a simple and slow ride to relax. While exploring, I stumbled upon this ride. It is a slower ride that showcases scenes from various movies, including Aladdin, Mulan, Fantasia, Tangled, and more. I took so many photos on this ride. It was a delightful, gentle ride that was very scenic.

Tangled Tree Tavern

If you know me, you know Tangled is my number one Disney Princess movie (Meet the Robinsons is my number one Disney movie of all time). When deciding where to eat, I chose the Tangled Tree Tavern.

It is designed just like the tavern in the movie and has its own quirky touches. I love the little duck-shaped keyholes on all the chairs. The wooden furniture was also the best accent for this restaurant. 

I ordered the Fish and Chips, and they were delicious. The basket had paper printed with a newspaper pattern, which was cute, too. It was a great experience to sit and watch all the park-goers excitedly going to their next ride as I relaxed and dined.  

Overall, Shanghai Disneyland provided a new experience unlike any other. You should definitely buy a ticket and take the trip right now. Have you been to Shanghai Disneyland? If so, comment on your favorite experience there below.