Hello everyone,
Today the full Shanghai Disney Resort website went live for the first time, complete with park information, hotel information (with prices coming soon, apparently) and character and entertainment listings!
Yesterday Disney announced that the resort would open on June 16th this year, and so launching the official website today was a smart move.
So, let's take a look at what character offerings and entertainment we can expect at this brand new park!
Entering the park on Mickey Avenue, you will find the Shanghai Disneyland Band. No other characters or entertainment are currently listed on the site for Mickey Avenue (though, see below for further details about "other Disney friends").
Heading into the central area of the park, where you'll find the Gardens of Imagination, you will be able to meet Captain America and Spider-Man, and potentially other "super heroes" - though the website currently doesn't specify who they might be.
Mickey Mouse will have his own indoor greeting location, which sounds as though it will have a really neat queue filled with magical pictures and scenes.
There is a little confusion over Minnie Mouse's location. On the main entertainment page, she is listed as 'Minnie Mouse and Friends' in the Gardens of Imagination, but when you click to go to more information, the artwork is on Mickey Avenue, and the details say Mickey Avenue. We shall have to wait and see what happens on opening day, including to find out who else will be appearing besides Minnie.
Heading through the Gardens of Imagination to the Enchanted Storybook Castle, we will be able to watch "Golden Fairytale Fanfare", which is the new stage production, exclusive to Shanghai Disneyland. According to the website, "Snow White, Anna and Elsa, Jasmine, Ariel and Merida invite you to join them for this delightful daytime showcase at the Gardens of Imagination in front of Enchanted Storybook Castle!"
There will also be a Disney Princess character greeting location at the Castle, 'Storybook Court', where according to the website, you'll be able to meet Cinderella, Rapunzel, Belle and Snow White - and perhaps others, although they aren't listed or confirmed as yet.
On the other side of the Castle, and into Fantasyland, you will be able to watch this new park's own version of the Frozen Sing-Along. The website confirms Anna, Elsa and Kristoff, and two "festival guides", which makes it sound very much like the current US or Paris versions.
To the west of Fantasyland we come to Tomorrowland, where there will be "Club Destin-E", which will transform the Tomorrowland Stage "into an incredible futuristic experience where androids, a cybernetic DJ and an anime pop star electrify the night with decades of rock hits and hot dance grooves."
Tomorrowland will also be home to its own version of the new Star Wars Launch Bay that opened late last year at the US parks. The Shanghai version sounds very interesting though, listing characters such as C-3PO, Darth Vader (who is in the US versions) and "other" characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens!
On the east side of the park in the new Adventure Isle area, we can expect to find "Disney Jungle Characters", which sounds like it will feature King Louie, Baloo, Rafiki and Timon.
"Tarzan: Call of the Jungle" will be a brand new show based on the Disney animated classic, featuring music from the movie. Although not specifically listed, I would imagine the show would have to feature at least Jane Porter, as well as of course Tarzan himself.
In the Treasure Cove area, you will be able to meet Jack Sparrow. The website is a little ambiguous on the details, instead detailing the new show (which I'll mention in a moment) and other pirate themed experiences, but he definitely is listed under the characters section, and it does at least say this: "You’ll come across him and his rowdy crew of scoundrels at this action-filled pirate haven overflowing with fun adventures and blood-curdling danger."
"Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular" is a brand new show produced exclusively for this new park, and will feature Captain Jack discovering an imposter playing him on stage, only to find himself under siege from British naval forces.
Throughout the park there will of course be a day parade. Titled "Mickey’s Storybook Express", it will have a distinct train theme. No other details have been specified as of yet.
Finally, at night the Enchanted Storybook Castle will come to life with "Ignite the Dream - A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light". The show doesn't feature live characters, but does feature "projections, lasers, fountains and much more", which makes it sound very similar to Disney Dreams! at Disneyland Paris and Once Upon a Time at Tokyo Disneyland.
UPDATE - January 14th:
Since I posted the news above yesterday, I was asked by several people about character dining, and I realised that I hadn't checked on that when I did my initial searching around the Shanghai Disney Resort website. So, today I searched the dining options, and indeed there are two character meals listed!
Inside the Enchanted Storybook Castle you will be able to dine at the Royal Banquet Hall. There are no prizes for guessing who will be present at that one! The Disney Princesses are expected to meet diners inside the restaurant, and although the official page doesn't specify who, it does give us a clue with some of the wording, for example: "Your banquet begins in one of 5 themed dining halls decorated to reflect the worlds of Cinderella, Mulan, Tiana, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty."
Lumiere's Kitchen at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel is a Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant, but the meal sounds more like it'll be Hollywood themed - though this is only my interpretation of it. This is what is says: "While memorable meals are the hit of this show, you won’t believe who’s stealing the spotlight! Special appearances by popular Disney Characters add a bit of star-studded magic for the real "Bravo!" moment. Take cues from the paparazzi and make sure your camera’s ready for a close-up you’ll always remember."
Overall the park sounds like it will have a lot of really good entertainment offerings, and familiar greetings. I'm curious to see who else will appear once the park opens, but for now the line-up does sound very much comparable to the the US parks, with the Mickey and Friends characters, princesses, Star Wars and Marvel.
If any more news comes out, I'll be sure to update you all here on the blog.
Have a great week everyone,
Dan.
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