Complete Record of 17 Attractions in One Day at Shanghai Disney

Duration: 1 day, Date: August, Cost per person: 3700 yuan, Companions: Family, Travel style: Free and easy. Published on 2023-09-05 […]

Duration: 1 day, Date: August, Cost per person: 3700 yuan, Companions: Family, Travel style: Free and easy. Published on 2023-09-05 at 15:58.

The long-awaited trip to Shanghai Disney for the children finally came to fruition at the end of August after almost the entire summer vacation. Completing 17 attractions in one day is quite an achievement and worth recording!

I didn’t plan much beforehand and simply purchased a one-day tour package on Ctrip, which included 8 VIP Fastpass entries. Arriving at the subway station at 6:30 AM, I noticed many people were already there. The guide instructed us to enter through a special early entry card slot. It was then that I learned about the Disney app, which allows for early entry starting at 6:30 AM for queuing, ticket exchange, and waiting for the park to open. After entering, we queued for ticket exchange amidst a large crowd, but with many channels available, it took about 10 minutes to start exchanging tickets and allowing people into the park. Seeing many people running, I wasn’t sure what they were running for, so I leisurely walked with the child towards the less crowded area to the right, which turned out to be Pirates of the Caribbean. The child was a bit scared of the dark environment, but overall, this 5D experience was really well done. It’s not thrilling but when the boat enters the seabed and the sudden appearance of the massive sea creatures is quite astonishing. I actually didn’t use a Fastpass for this attraction; I just walked over and was able to play. Later, I wanted to use the Fastpass to play again, but the child refused, so I had to let it go, which was a bit regrettable.

After leaving Pirates of the Caribbean, it was just a short walk to Winnie the Pooh, a pure fairy tale atmosphere that children love. For adults, it’s an uneventful experience, but for children, it’s a very immersive adventure. When the sudden wind blew, the child was very tense. After the ride, the child, still immersed, said they wanted to play again, but by then the crowd had grown, and the queue was 20 minutes long, so I decided against it.

Proceeding from Winnie the Pooh, we arrived at the Toy Story Land. It was still before 8:30 in the morning, and the Woody’s Roundup was virtually accessible without any wait. I quite enjoyed this attraction, where the donkey pulls the cart around, and there’s a bit of thrill when the cart swings out. Children absolutely adore it. Adjacent to Woody is the Slinky Dog Dash, which took us about 10 minutes to get on. It goes around twice with moderate ups and downs, suitable for children under 10. There’s also a roller coaster-like attraction in the Toy Story Land. Although there weren’t many people at this time, the attraction looked quite thrilling, which deterred us from trying it and we just moved on after observing it.

After finishing with the Toy Story Land, our guide appeared and led us straight to Buzz Lightyear. It was probably around 9 o’clock, but the regular line was already showing a 60-minute wait, while we used the Fastpass and waited for about 10 minutes. This is a parent-child shooting game, and the children were very engaged. They were extremely delighted when the final scores were announced.

Behind Buzz Lightyear is the Peter Pan’s Flight, which is also suitable for younger children. Overall, it’s better if you are familiar with the story of Peter Pan, as you can introduce it to the children while flying. We used the Fastpass for this attraction, and the 5 to 6 minutes of waiting time matched the excitement of the attraction. However, I personally think it’s not worth the value if the queue time exceeds 30 minutes.

After Peter Pan’s Flight, across from it is the Journey to the Enchanted Forest, another attraction that can use the Fastpass. This is a boat ride attraction, where you sit on a boat and watch various Disney fairy tales. If you are not familiar with these stories, it might be a bit boring. However, children enjoy it because walking around the previous attractions in the summer can be tiring, and it’s a good opportunity to rest on the boat. The regular line queue time is about 40 minutes, and I personally think it can be considered as a last resort.

After the boat ride, our guide suggested we watch the 11 o’clock Frozen show. Since we didn’t have a Fastpass for this, we queued up with everyone else.

Here’s the list of attractions completed in chronological order: 1. Pirates of the Caribbean, 2. The ManyThere were many people, but the order was acceptable. After about 20 minutes, we were allowed into the theater. The entire performance was quite dreamy. When it snowed from the ceiling, all the children in the audience screamed in excitement. However, probably due to the generally reserved mentality of the local people, the response to the actors’ invitation to sing along was relatively quiet. Nevertheless, it was still very pleasant to sit for half an hour in the summer and enjoy the air conditioning.

After the show, our guide arranged for us to watch the afternoon parade, but the children were a bit hungry, so we decided to watch the afternoon show and first solve the meal problem. We wandered around the pirate area, but the restaurant was closed, so we had to rely on two turkey legs for sustenance. At a cost of RMB80 each, it’s quite expensive, but it’s satisfying enough to get full. I’ve been to Disneylands in Hong Kong and Tokyo, and the turkey leg here in Shanghai is probably the most expensive.

After the break, our guide took us to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We were fortunate to be the first in line. The experience of sitting at the front of the train was particularly cool. Compared to large roller coasters, this attraction is really suitable for children and adults who are afraid of heights. I found it very enjoyable myself, feeling the thrill without the heart-pounding fear. The children were a bit scared, but not to the point of terror. Everyone in the car was screaming and having a great time. The regular line for this attraction was over 1.5 hours long. I was a bit hesitant to queue up again immediately after finishing, as it was really fun.

After the dwarfs, we headed straight to Thunder Mountain. This attraction is incredibly popular, with a regular line waiting time of 2 hours. We used the FastPass and only waited about 15 minutes. During which we were wearing raincoats, which was really hot. I enjoyed this attraction. It’s not too thrilling, just right for my tolerance to heights and impacts. The water flow isn’t too turbulent, nor does the splash make you feel completely soaked. In summary, it’s at a very suitable angle. The children were a bit scared, saying they wouldn’t play this attraction again, perhaps because it’s a bit stressful for kids.

Still excited after Thunder Mountain, we arrived at Soaring Over Horizon. This was my favorite attraction during this Disney trip. I’m a bit afraid of heights, so I was a little nervous when I sat down, and I felt a bit dizzy when my feet left the ground. However, as soon as the screen came on, I was immediately immersed. Seeing so many familiar scenes appear as if I were really flying over them, both novel and shocking. The children laughed excitedly at the sight of whales and African elephants, even trying to reach out to touch them, which was really well done. Soaring Over Horizon was an attraction that both the children and I wanted to play again as soon as it ended, but the regular line was 3 hours long, so we had to give up.

After playing three exciting attractions in a row, our guide suggested we go to the Vagabond Theater to watch a performance. There were many people in line. Because the theater was smaller than the Frozen show in the morning, it was a bit chaotic when we entered. After entering, we first stood to watch a performance, and then we went into the main theater to watch the show. Overall, the atmosphere was very good, especially the sudden scene change after the cannon fire, with Jack flying over the theater, which was particularly impressive. Initially, the child was a bit scared, but later became very engrossed in the experience. A performance that lasted over 20 minutes provided a perfect break.

After the show, it was nearly time for the afternoon parade. Seeing that the front row spots were mostly taken, we found a gap to stand in, which was quite baking under the hot sun. However, when the music started and the crowd erupted into cheers, it was quite exciting. Seeing so many familiar cartoon characters in person, carrying the emotions of our youth, was truly thrilling.

After the parade, the main events of the day were essentially over. Due to fear, we skipped the FastPass for the high-speed roller coaster, only observing it from outside. Just watching it was exhilarating. We chose a shorter queue on the app, and even the shortest, Dumbo, took 45 minutes. For the child, it was worth it. It’s a very ordinary amusement ride. But when Dumbo reaches its highest point, you can see different views of the Disney castle. I enjoy the feeling of circling high up, which makes the 45-minute wait worthwhile.

After Dumbo, the child said they were hungry, so we tried Disney’s pizza and Stellalou cake. The taste was acceptableA fruit cup cost 25. So we consoled ourselves by thinking that it was hot and necessary to replenish with fruits. After dinner, the child wanted to try more attractions. So we chose the shorter queues on the app for Stitch Encounter and Winnie the Pooh’s Honey Pot Hunt. The former is an indoor interactive experience, lively and favored by children. The latter took 40 minutes to queue, which was manageable. The first fireworks and light show at night was at 8 PM. But by 7 PM, many people were already waiting. Lacking experience, we continued to wander in the park until nearly 8 PM. When we realized it was packed with people, making it hard to find a spot. A staff member, noticing the child’s birthday badge, kindly made room for us. And the child happily watched the entire fireworks show. In summary, Disney is truly a dream-making paradise, a place where children and adults can forget their worries. From the moment we entered the park, I felt the relaxed atmosphere. Every staff member was kind. Seeing the child with a birthday badge, they wished a happy birthday, which made the child extremely happy.

The Fastpass (FP) card is well worth the purchase, as it saves a significant amount of time that would otherwise be spent in queues. Queuing in the high temperatures of summer is far from pleasant. Although I understood that a one-day tour essentially combines the benefits of an early entry card and a premium pass, the guide indeed planned our route and the order of attractions, allowing us to walk less and experience more. For first-time visitors to Shanghai Disney like us, I believe this service is worth the cost. Thanks to the time saved with the FP card, we were also able to enjoy a 20-minute outdoor show in the pirate area. Where the children laughed heartily at the comedic performances of two actors. I found it very enjoyable as well.

I personally think that the Disney PhotoPass is a worthwhile purchase. There are professional photographers at many locations ready to take your picture, and you receive all the photos. I was very satisfied with the photos taken in front of the castle using the PhotoPass.

The prices at Disney are indeed not cheap. If you can carry them, it might be worth bringing water and food. However, since you’re at the park, trying some of the food is part of the journey, and it makes the children very happy. After all, the Lingnaibelle ice cream is only available at Disney. You might consider buying some souvenirs. I found that the cheapest souvenir is actually the Disney shopping bag, which costs only 3 RMB, is quite large, and has a decent design. Overall, I believe Disney is worth visiting again. It’s quite good.