A Fairytale Journey Through Disney

**Trip to Shanghai Disney: A Thrilling Adventure** **Duration:** 3 days **Time:** July **Cost per pe[...]

**Trip to Shanghai Disney: A Thrilling Adventure**

**Duration:** 3 days
**Time:** July
**Cost per person:** 700 yuan
**Companions:** Friends
**Places visited:** Shanghai’s Thunder Mountain Rafting, Frozen Ever After, Tron Lightcycle Run, and Disney Town.
**Published on:** August 5, 2020, at 17:19.

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**Daybreak Excitement and Preparations**

I woke up very early in the morning, too excited to sleep. Checking the weather forecast for cloudy skies and moderate temperatures, I decided to wear a jacket. This turned out to be a wise decision as the evening temperature dropped to just above ten degrees with a strong wind. I kept my belongings to a minimum, carrying only a small shoulder bag with a disposable raincoat inside. Opting not to bring an umbrella, I instead packed a large canvas hat that could shield me from both sun and rain. I brought a water bottle from Beijing, having heard that there were many water stations inside the Disney park. Skipping breakfast, I waited in the lobby for the shuttle bus. While others were in groups, I was alone, but I didn’t feel lonely at all.

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**Arrival and Initial Experiences**

Within half an hour, the bus arrived at the Disney parking lot. The driver explained the meeting point and the bus schedule, and we dispersed. Walking on the bridge towards Disney, I was filled with excitement, accompanied by the background music from the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ animated film. Upon reaching the entrance queue, I felt a splash of cold water as there were just too many people. After a long wait for security and ticket collection, I calculated that it took over two and a half hours from my arrival at the entrance to my first ride, Soaring Over Horizon.

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**Navigating the Park and Attractions**

After obtaining the ticket, I truly entered the Disney park and began to link it to the official Shanghai Disney APP to get the FP (Fast Pass, up to three per person per day). Unfortunately, the Fast Pass for Soaring Over Horizon was already gone, but I got one for the Tron Lightcycle Run, with a time slot of approximately 9:30-10:30. Since there was still some time before that, and the queue time for Soaring Over Horizon on the APP was less than an hour, I decided to queue there first, thinking I could make it in time to use the Tron Lightcycle Run card.

During the queue for Soaring Over Horizon, one could scan QR codes on the walls to participate in a trivia game and even choose which team to join. Being indoors, the high walls around projected the scoring of each team’s answers. I joined the Serpent team, which gave me a feeling of being transported into the Harry Potter world. The questions were challenging, but I ended up ranking third in my team, which was quite entertaining.

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**Soaring Over Horizon: A Sensory Experience**

Finally, it was my turn. The staff first showed us a video about the Thunderbird, and then we entered the ride’s main hall with several rows of seating. I was assigned to the last row. As the device lifted us, the huge circular screen enveloped us. This ride combined visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile experiences. I won’t reveal the specifics as it’s something you must experience for yourself to appreciate. However, I can say that my acrophobia and thalassophobia almost kicked in (note: there were no underwater scenes). Coupled with not eating anything in the morning, I felt a bit nauseous when I came out and had to hold back.

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**Exploring More Attractions**

After finally completing the first attraction, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to make it to the Tron Lightcycle Power Run before 10:30. So, I began to stroll leisurely, taking in the sights and capturing numerous photos, with the previous research I had done proving to be virtually worthless.

The Battle for the Sunken Treasure is a popular Disney attraction, and upon reaching the Pirates of the Caribbean area, I joined the queue. Surprisingly, despite the crowd, I only waited for about twenty minutes. Compared to Soaring Over Horizon, the waiting time for Sunken Treasure was incredibly considerate.

During the queueing process, I also managed to secure a FastPass for the Thunder Mountain Rafts ride, scheduled for approximately 15:30-16:30 in the afternoon. I truly relished the adventure of the Sunken Treasure, with Captain Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl, Davy Jones, and the massive sea monster, making me feel as if I was part of the intense naval battle. Incidentally, there’s a small surprise at the end, though somewhat unsatisfying, I moved on to the next attraction.

By luck, when I stumbled upon the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, the performance was about to start. As I was alone, I managed to catch the tail end and was let in. Although I had to settle for a seat at the back, and the performance wasn’t as spectacular as I had imagined, the children were truly enthusiastic. They sang loudly to the music, dressed in Elsa’s queen dresses, and circled the stage led by the actors, their interaction with the performers was delightful and enviable.

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**Tron Lightcycle Power Run: The Highlight and the Regret**

Finally, I come to my favorite and most regrettable attraction – the Tron Lightcycle Power Run. By then, I was feeling quite hungry but had wandered near the Tomorrowland. I hesitated, partly because I thought the attraction was rather thrilling, and partly because I feared I might actually vomit after riding it.

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This trip was filled with excitement, adventure, and a few unexpected challenges. Each attraction brought its own unique experience, making the entire journey unforgettable.

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**Recollections and the Tron Lightcycle Experience**

Recalling the boasts I had made to my friends, I still lined up. In fact, when I had seen pictures of the Tron Lightcycle online before, I felt a sense of familiarity because I had watched the movie ‘Tron: Legacy’ in high school, which was really cool, even with a hint of cyberpunk. Remembering a friend’s mention of a single rider line, I found myself swiftly moving to the innermost part while the other line stretched into a long dragon. There were only two people ahead of me, and since the Tron Lightcycle has two seats in a row, we single riders were arranged by the staff to fill the single seats. I was really nervous at the time, my palms were sweating, and with no one around me, it was one of the only two moments I felt lonely in Shanghai. While the regular queue took about 45 minutes, I managed to get to my seat in just a few minutes.

The ride was quick, and I was cheering as our ride reached the finish line. This attraction was incredibly exhilarating, with a perfect blend of thrill and entertainment. I had previously ridden the world’s fastest roller coaster at Ferrari World, which was truly terrifying, with the entire ride at high speed accompanied by a sense of weightlessness, as if my soul was always a step behind my body. However, the Tron Lightcycle’s combination of speed and visual effects was exquisitely brilliant, with minimal weightlessness, and as the wind howled past my ears, I felt as if I had truly traveled to a futuristic world.

**Disneytown and Marvel Headquarters**

Thinking that I could experience the Tron Lightcycle again in the afternoon, I went to Disneytown for a quick meal. Incidentally, there are numerous restrooms in Disney, yet I found myself searching for quite some time when I urgently needed one at night. Next, I visited the Marvel headquarters where there were staff dressed as Captain America available for photo opportunities, which didn’t pique my interest. The Iron Man suit was quite dazzling, and I took numerous photos. In fact, I am a fan of the Avengers series, but the Marvel headquarters inside Disney wasn’t as thrilling as expected.

Unexpectedly, as I walked out, a light rain began to fall. Wearing my wide-brimmed hat, I was able to fend off the drizzle, which was oddly pleasant.

**The Disney Castle and Attractions**

Before I knew it, I found myself at the Disney castle, where few people were on the platform in front of the castle. I seized the moment to take a panoramic picture of the castle. Unfortunately, the overcast sky added a touch of desolation to the atmosphere. Upon checking, I found that the afternoon parade would start at half past three, giving me just enough time to enjoy another attraction.

I returned to the Pirates of the Caribbean area and visited the Sea Demon, a ship with a massive mermaid figurehead. Finally, I found the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and waited in line for about an hour. During this time, the sun came out, bringing some much-needed warmth. I rode the mine train with my eyes wide open, screaming throughout the experience. Although this kind of ride is common in other amusement parks, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train added an emotional touch, making it much more enjoyable. It’s a delightful experience, particularly suitable for children.

**Alice in Wonderland Maze and Parade**

On my way to the parade area, I took a stroll through the Alice in Wonderland maze. The maze was simple, as the walls made of greenery were quite low. This also counts as a small amusement attraction with a Red Queen sculpture standing tall, providing opportunities for great photos.

I arrived at the parade area about half an hour early, with crowds lining both sides of the road. I found a spot with a good view of the parade and made sure no one blocked my sight. Accompanied by joyful music, familiar Disney animated characters and floats with large props passed by, and everyone raised their phones to capture these beautiful moments. Rapunzel and Eugene looked so happy, Elsa was stunning, Mulan riding a large horse appeared so valiant, and the girl waving the military flag was truly sweet…

**Thunder Mountain Rafts and Sinking Treasure**

By the time the parade ended, it was nearly four o’clock, and I didn’t want to miss out on the Fastpass. So, I hurried over to the Thunder Mountain Rafts. During the wait, I put on the disposable raincoat I had prepared in advance, only to find that the hood of my raincoat was broken (the raincoat was given for free when I participated in a long-distance run last year), which was frustrating and helpless. The raft ride was not thrilling at all; our boatmates were chatting and laughing throughout. It wasn’t until the end, with a low slope, that water poured into my seat, drenching me instantly. My hair got wet, and my shoes filled with water. Fortunately, the sun was out, so I could dry off.

Seeing a rope course in front of the artificial mountains and waterfalls, I was tempted to give it a try. But I really wanted to experience the Sinking Treasure and the Lightcycle again, so I continued on. Next, I retraced my steps to the Pirates of the Caribbean area and experienced the Sinking Treasure once more.

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