Disney – Shanghai – Nanjing Parent-Child Tour ~ Hope to provide some references for friends and avoid pitfalls

Day 1: Arrival and Disney Town Adventure Departure & Arrival: We departed in the morning on Augu[...]

Day 1: Arrival and Disney Town Adventure

• Departure & Arrival:
  We departed in the morning on August 19. Our flight from Pudong Airport took off at 7:20 and landed at 9:40. We took a taxi directly to our hotel, opting to stay at one nearby Disney rather than at a Disney hotel. The cost of staying at a Disney hotel was quite high, and since we weren’t particularly keen on Disney’s accommodations, we decided to save money. This extra savings was better spent on souvenirs for our child.
• Hotel & Rest:
  Upon arrival at the hotel, we checked in, rested, and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. Afterward, we headed to Disney Town around 1:00 PM, taking a taxi to avoid the hassle of long queues.
• Disney Park:
  Once inside the park, we used the Disney app, which was incredibly helpful in showing real-time wait times for rides and helping us navigate the park. Given the summer crowd, we knew we wouldn’t be able to experience everything, so we focused on the attractions we were most excited about. Our top priority was Zootopia, which had a manageable queue. It was an indoor ride and very enjoyable, especially if you love the movie. A tip: If you’re with a young child, be sure to bring some light sunscreen clothing, as the indoor environment can get a bit chilly.
• Other Attractions:
  We also rode the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (an hour-long wait for just a minute of fun!), the Thunder Mountain Rapids (not as thrilling as expected, but definitely bring a raincoat—if you buy one on-site, it’s cash-only), and Pirates of the Caribbean, which had no wait and was a pleasant experience. We didn’t rush to do everything—just the rides that interested us.
• Souvenir Shopping:
  After the rides, we explored the stores and bought some fun souvenirs, including carrot-shaped voice recorders, paw-shaped ice creams, and walkie-talkies. These items are unique and made for great memories, though personal preferences will certainly vary.
• Return to Hotel:
  After a fun-filled day, we took a taxi back to the hotel. The taxi queue outside the park was quite organized, making it easy to head back without any issues.

Day 2: Shanghai – Nanjing Road, Shanghai Tower, & The Bund

Morning:
After breakfast, we took a taxi to downtown Shanghai and arrived around 10 AM. It was summer vacation, so there were crowds everywhere. We couldn’t check in at our hotel until 2 PM, so we deposited our luggage and headed to Nanjing Road. Honestly, there wasn’t much to see—just shopping malls. However, we did stop at one mall to try some local food but didn’t find anything that piqued our interest, so we just took a quick look around.

Lunch:
We had lunch at Shen Dacheng, which was decent, and then proceeded to check in at the hotel. After resting, we visited the Shanghai Tower, which has 118 floors. The elevator ride to the top costs 150 yuan per person. At the top, we enjoyed the distant views of the city, though it felt like more of a “tourist trap” experience for the price.

Evening at The Bund:
Afterward, we took the subway to the Bund. We were told the night views here are spectacular, so we made sure to visit in the evening. Despite the crowds, we managed to find a good spot for photos. We then took a taxi back to our hotel and grabbed some food nearby before calling it a day.

Day 3: Travel to Nanjing – Presidential Palace & Confucius Temple

Morning:
On August 21st, we took the train from Shanghai Station to Nanjing Station, which was a short taxi ride from our hotel. Upon arrival in Nanjing, we took another taxi to our hotel, conveniently located near Xinjiekou. Even though we arrived early, we couldn’t check in yet, so we left our luggage at the hotel.

Lunch:
We had lunch at Huifei Duck Blood Fan Soup near Exit 8 of Xinjiekou underground. The food was great, though we wouldn’t recommend buying the gift boxes as they didn’t taste as good as the restaurant version. We also tried their whole salted ducks, which needed to be pre-ordered. While it was tasty, it didn’t quite live up to the restaurant’s flavor.

Afternoon:
After checking in, we visited the Presidential Palace, which we enjoyed after reading some background information. Later, we took a taxi to the Confucius Temple, the Jiangnan Imperial Academy, and the Imperial Examination Museum. We didn’t go for the popular street foods but opted for meals near our hotel instead. Xinjiekou offered plenty of great dining options, and the subway made travel convenient.

Day 4: Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum & Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Morning:
On August 22nd, we visited the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. The weather in Nanjing was very hot, so we took a break in the afternoon to cool off at the hotel.

Day 5: Jiming Temple, Nanjing Museum, Xuanwu Lake & Ming City Wall

Morning & Afternoon:
On August 23rd, we visited Jiming Temple in the morning, followed by the Nanjing Museum in the afternoon. Xuanwu Lake was nearby, so we also explored the lake and the Ming City Wall. We checked out the lotus plank walk at Xuanwu Lake, which is located at the end of the entrance path (not accessible by sightseeing car, so don’t take one). Afterward, we took a taxi to the Nanjing Museum for some cool respite.

Evening:
After the museum, we returned to the hotel to relax and reflect on our day.

Day 6: Departure – Souvenir Shopping & Return

Morning:
On the final day, August 24th, we bought some souvenirs and had lunch in Nanjing. Then, we took the train back home in the afternoon, marking the end of our trip.