Construction of Shanghai Disneyland began in April 2011, covering a first phase area of 3.9 square kilometers—including a theme park spanning 1.6 square kilometers. The park is scheduled to open in the spring of next year.
The development of Disney Resort and its surrounding areas is planned in three phases. Upon opening, the park expects to welcome around 10 million visitors, with 95% being domestic tourists. Notably, over 70% of these visitors are anticipated to come from the Yangtze River Basin.
Before the park’s debut, we gathered all publicly available information. Here’s a comprehensive overview of Shanghai Disneyland’s design and attractions.
This image shows the overall layout of the Disney Resort.
Here is the functional zoning map of the entire resort area.
1. Surrounding Environment
Before entering Shanghai Disneyland, visitors will encounter a stunning pool of blue waves—an artificial lake covering 400,000 square meters. This water feature is one of the largest ever created for a Disney project.
One of the most remarkable sights near the park is a giant “Mickey Mouse” design created in the surrounding rice fields. This 12-acre rice painting features different varieties and colors of rice—including green, black, and white—that ripple with the wind, creating a lively and vivid display. This unique artwork celebrates Shanghai Disneyland’s arrival and attracts many tourists eager to take photos.
The rice painting project began in May, with planting starting in June. Twenty farmers manually planted the design over a week. The rice painting will be harvested by late November, after which wheat will be planted to create a “crop circle” design for the following spring.
Disney Dream Subway Station
For the Shanghai Metro Disney Station design, the winning proposal titled “Your Dream Journey” was selected by online vote. The concept emphasizes transforming the subway ride into a magical experience, akin to stepping into a fantastical world like Alice in Wonderland. The goal is to surprise visitors as the train doors open, immersing them in a dreamy atmosphere.
This is the current construction status as of now.
2. Welcome Avenue: Mickey Town
While the traditional “American Town Street” is a popular feature in Disneyland parks, it has proven less popular in Hong Kong Disneyland. Shanghai Disneyland’s team decided to innovate by creating the world’s first “Mickey Avenue.” This avenue transforms into “Mickey Town,” welcoming guests with beloved cartoon characters and classic Disney stories.
Mickey Town is divided into four blocks where visitors can meet and take photos with their favorite Disney friends. The “Happy Square” serves as the central plaza, while the “Garden Square” lies at the back, adjacent to the “Wonderland Garden.” The “Market District” is located on the outskirts, opposite the “Theater District.”
Characters like Minnie, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto will greet guests here. Mickey Avenue will be the first welcoming avenue in any Disney park worldwide, themed entirely around Mickey Mouse and his companions.
Sweetheart Candy House
Run by Minnie Mouse, the Sweetheart Candy House showcases many photos depicting Minnie’s life journey from childhood to adulthood, including moments of her meeting Mickey. Inside Paparino Ice Cream Shop, murals depict the Italian family heritage of its owner, Donald Duck.
Inspired by a French bakery, this shop features wooden blinds, flower boxes, outdoor seating, and a charming café atmosphere reminiscent of Parisian streets.
Mickey’s Good Friends Delicious Market
Guests can choose from four themed restaurants here: Mickey’s Kitchen, Tony’s Restaurant, Daisy’s Cafe, and Three Knights. The market resembles an open-air market, with murals depicting Mickey and friends sowing and harvesting together in pastoral scenes.
On Mickey Avenue, the French-inspired bakery based on the character Xiaomi from “Gourmet” delights visitors with its authentic design elements. According to Woodward, the creative director, Mickey Avenue aims to immediately immerse guests in a joyful atmosphere, allowing them to continue their dream journey with a happy heart.
In honor of Walt Disney’s 1928 animation that introduced Mickey Mouse to the world, the Steamboat Mickey Fountain will debut at Shanghai Disneyland.
3. Fantasy Castle
The “Fantasy Fairy Tale Castle” is the tallest and most elaborate Disney castle worldwide, standing 69 meters tall at the heart of Shanghai Disneyland. It’s the tallest structure in the park and the tallest Disney fairy tale castle globally.
The castle will feature dining venues, scenic spots, interactive areas, and even host princess-themed weddings.
Unlike castles with a single theme like Sleeping Beauty or Snow White, the Fantasy Fairy Tale Castle uniquely brings together all Disney princesses. Visitors can meet the princesses at the “Welcome Pavilion” and capture memorable photos. The castle’s tallest golden spire is adorned with a crown symbolizing every Disney princess. At the highest point, the “Roaming Fairy Tale Time” attraction offers a specially crafted experience exclusive to Shanghai Disneyland.
4. Imaginative Garden
The Imaginative Garden spans over 3 hectares, featuring seven distinct gardens. It is planted with flowers, plants, and trees suited to Shanghai’s climate but rarely found in other Disney parks.
To bring guests closer to nature, extensive efforts have been made to source suitable plants from various regions of China over the past three years. The “Wonderland Garden” serves as both a transportation hub and the park’s central area, designed to appeal to families across three generations.
In the film “Fantasia,” 62 horses appear, and the “Fantasia Carousel” reflects this by featuring 62 Pegasus figures—dads, moms, babies—and two carriages that spin and soar.
This carousel is handcrafted by Chinese artisans and hand-painted by a skilled team using 72 vibrant colors.
Twelve Friends Garden: A World First
Within the Wonderland Garden, the “Twelve Friends Garden” is a unique feature exclusive to Shanghai Disneyland.
This magical garden displays twelve large mosaic murals depicting Disney and Disney Pixar characters representing the Chinese zodiac. The mosaics, crafted by local artisans, measure between 2 to 2.5 meters wide and 2 meters high. The intricate details even show the texture of the animals’ fur.
Characters like Tiggo (representing the tiger) and Pluto (representing the dog) bring the zodiac to life in this beautiful tribute.
Chinese Restaurant: Manyue Xuan
Inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, Manyue Pavilion features symbolic decorations representing mountains, seas, deserts, forests, and rivers. The interior showcases calligraphy, paintings, and sculptures by renowned Chinese artists, with Disney characters thoughtfully integrated into the design.
5. Adventure Island
This area offers thrilling experiences designed for the brave. Themed around an ancient tribe, Adventure Island promises excitement for history buffs exploring mysterious ruins. The family-friendly ride “Soaring Over the Horizon” is a highlight here.
Featured Attraction: Leiming Mountain Drifting
Leiming Mountain is one of the park’s highest points and exudes a powerful presence. Guests can experience an exhilarating ride drifting down from this sacred mountain through wild terrain and mysterious caves. The thrill is unforgettable.
Recommended Show: Ape Mount Taishan – The Call of the Jungle
Adventure Island’s environment perfectly suits the style of Mount Taishan the Ape, inspiring an original musical by Shanghai Disney. Guests can imagine hearing the mighty roars echoing through the ancient rainforest—a truly spectacular experience.
6. Treasure Bay
The centerpiece attraction here is the high-tech, shipborne ride “The Battle of Fallen Treasures,” inspired by the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series. Visitors embark on an epic adventure to uncover Captain David Jones’ hidden treasure.
7. Tomorrow’s World
This zone features futuristic and surreal architecture and attractions, where guests can experience the freedom of flight and perhaps even glimpse into the future.
Highlight: Marvel Heroes Headquarters
Superhero fans can finally immerse themselves in the world of Marvel’s iconic heroes and their impressive gadgets. Visitors can also learn about filmmaking, character design, and more—offering an exciting, interactive experience.
While construction of Shanghai Disneyland Resort progresses steadily, the resort recently announced its first group of tenants for Disneytown—a vibrant shopping, dining, and entertainment district. This lineup includes well-known domestic and international brands such as Shanghai Xiaonanguo, Feicui, The Cheesecake Factory (operated by Hong Kong Meixin Group), as well as retail stores including I.T Group’s i.t and BAPE STORE, and LEGO retail outlets.
Additionally, popular local dining and retail brands like Dashidai, Coconut Fragrance Paradise, Nanxiaoguan, Yinquan, Blue Frog Western Restaurant and Bar, Xinwang Tea Restaurant, Bread New Language, Tusi New Language, and Chow Tai Fook are among the first confirmed tenants. These brands will collaborate closely with Shanghai Disney Resort to deliver world-class shopping and dining experiences.
Disneytown covers a 46,000 square meter pedestrian area open to the public free of charge. It is conveniently located adjacent to Shanghai Disneyland and just a short walk from the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel. At the grand opening in spring 2016, Disneytown will feature nearly 50 tenants offering a diverse selection of shopping options—from luxury and premium brands to youthful fashion—as well as numerous high-quality restaurants perfect for family and friends gatherings.
Disneytown is thoughtfully designed for Chinese visitors, incorporating familiar local elements such as Shanghai’s traditional Shikumen architectural style, colors, and signage. The Walt Disney Grand Theatre, located within Disneytown, will debut the Mandarin version of the acclaimed Broadway musical, The Lion King, with tickets sold separately. Another highlight is the innovative Disney World Store, offering a wide array of Disney merchandise, many of which are specially designed and customized for Shanghai Disney Resort.
Adjacent to Disneytown lies the “Wishing Star Park,” a tranquil green space with sparkling lakes, perfect for visitors to relax and connect with nature. Covering approximately 40 hectares—equivalent to 56 football fields—the park features the “Star Wish Lake,” a 2.5-kilometer lakeside trail, and beautiful gardens scattered throughout, making it an ideal spot to enjoy natural scenery and stunning sunsets.
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