Disney Reveals More from Shanghai Disneyland

March 10, 2016, 11:22 AM · Disney has dropped a new batch of publicity photos to promote the upcoming debut of Shanghai Disneyland, on June 16. Disney's 12th theme park takes the company's classic Disneyland/Magic Kingdom template and refreshes its with an almost completely new line-up of attractions, including a Tron Lightcycle Power Run coaster and Roaring Rapids Mountain. Even the old favorites that do appear, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, are getting twists, such as new ride systems or creatives.

Here's a look at the Davy Jones animatronic that will be in that new Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle of the Sunken Treasure ride.

Davy Jones animatronic
Photos courtesy Disney

Pirates is getting its own land in the new park. Next door, Roarding Rapids and the new Soarin' movie will call Adventure Isle home.

Adventure Isle

One of Fantasyland's new rides will be the Voyage to the Crystal Grotto boat ride, which will feature this encounter with Mulan.

Voyage to the Crystal Grotto Mulan

Many fans are looking forward to seeing Disney's newest roller coaster, one that will bring the lightcycles from Tron to life.

Tron Lightcycle Coaster

Finally, let's close with a look inside the new resort's top hotel, the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel.

Shanghai Disneyland Hotel

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Replies (10)

March 10, 2016 at 1:01 PM · It's nice to know that all of that money we spent at WDW has found a nice home in Shanghai's Disney Park with glitzy new improved attractions. I really don't want to see new stuff at WDW anyway. I like all the old stuff, except for Stitch.
March 10, 2016 at 1:03 PM · As primarily a WDW fan, my wonder is only matched by my jealousy. Gotta just keep breathing.... Avatar is coming... Star Wars is coming.... Just breathe.
March 10, 2016 at 2:00 PM · My problem with the design of SDL is it looks massive and tries to impress with scale, but never looks iconic, or particularly pleasing to the eye.

Especially the castle looks bulky and on steroids but what bothers me more is that the concept art and these pictures above do not convey wonder or magic.

When you compare the concept art of SDL with what was done for Euro Disneyland or when you look at how well everything is perfectly matching in Tokyo Disney Sea, this park just doesn't convince as a magical place so far.

I hope it will when everything is finished and maybe as a European I don't “get“ the Chinese taste Disney is aiming for. But so far: not impressed.

March 10, 2016 at 2:07 PM · "looks massive and tries to impress with scale"

That's how Walt Disney World looks to me. A lot of space, but nothing to ride. I expect SDL to under perform at least initially, but who knows how long.

March 10, 2016 at 5:10 PM · Interesting. That mosaic ceiling in the hotel looks almost exactly like the lobby of Barcelona's Museum of Music.
March 11, 2016 at 5:43 AM · I don't want to count my chickens before they're hatched, by my wife and I are talking about going on opening day. If I do, I'll be sure to take a ton of photos and write up a review! :)
March 12, 2016 at 4:19 AM · Just compare the (hand drawn) concept art for Adventure Island for „Euro Disney“:

http://webcot.free.fr/imagineering/art/adventure-isle.jpg

with the dull color scheme of Treasure Cove in Shanghai Disneyland:

http://www.insidethemagic.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/full-treasure-cove.jpg

Somehow all these artworks look as if they're not done by the Disney Imagineers themselves but by a B-Team of freelancers.

To me the claim: "Authentically Disney yet distinctly Chinese“ doesn't hold up. Where is the magic in these renderings?

Or compare the first image of adventure-isle with this rendering:
http://hype.my/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/%E6%8E%A2%E9%99%A9%E5%B2%9B%E5%85%A8%E6%99%AF%E6%95%88%E6%9E%9C-Overview-of-Adventure-Isle-rendering.jpg

can anybody tell me why such imagery is related to Disney? It must have been an extreme task to make such a detailed drawing and it takes an enormous skill and talent. But still it doesn't evoke excitement or wonder. It's just big and the mountain humongous.

So far the material which has been published looks bland and random and could have been coming from any other themepark (if you leave out the Mickey ears).

@Anon Mouse: if you count the amount of attractions in WDW and compare them to the actual scaringly little amount of opening day attractions at SHDL, I think WDW is okay. Could be better, but at least it's distinctively Disney.

March 12, 2016 at 9:59 AM · $5.5 billion to build Shanghai Disney? Iger and his greedy bean counters are investing money in all the wrong places.
March 13, 2016 at 1:40 PM · 5.5 billion, built using labourers who are hardly paid a thing?! Utter nonsense and drivel. If that's how much it actually cost someone needs firing.
March 13, 2016 at 4:05 PM · FACT: DIS owns roughly 43% of Shanghai Disneyland Resort. As such, they pay for 45% of all costs and gain 43% of all profit.

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