Shanghai Disney Halloween Experience: A Family's 1-Day Adventure

Duration: 1 day
Time: October
Per person: 800 yuan
With whom: Parent-child
Play style: Gourmet, Free travel, Weekend trip

The author visited these places: Treasure Cove, Mickey Avenue, Fantasyland, Frozen, Golden Fairy Tale Ceremony, Tomorrowland, Dumbo, Garden of Imagination.

Published on 2020-10-26 12:57. Disney has different surprises all year round, and the Halloween season at Shanghai Disney is definitely worth visiting. It’s the only time you can see the night parade. For some reason, I’ve always been fond of night parades, both in Tokyo Disney and Shanghai Disney, but unfortunately, it’s only available in Shanghai during the Halloween month. October is also the birthday month of the little girl, so we had to go.

The original plan was to leave for Disney at 6:30, but the whole family dawdled until 7:00 am. By the time we arrived at Disney, there were already many people starting to line up, but the crowd was still manageable. After opening at 8:30, entry was still quite fast.

Let’s talk about the current ticket purchase process: After buying the ticket, you need to enter Disney’s reservation system to make a reservation, and you will get a code. You don’t need to take a screenshot of this code because the color is wrong, and it will turn green on the day of entry. You can only show this code to enter. On the day of entry, prepare the reservation code, health code, and ID card in advance. Disney now allows you to bring packaged snacks, but remember to handle your own garbage.

The crisp autumn air and the golden scenery of Disney are truly beautiful. Halloween coincides with the child’s birthday, so the first thing to do upon entering the park is to go to the service center on the right side of the gate and collect a birthday badge and a celebration badge from the staff. Some people say that wearing a badge doesn’t bring birthday wishes. Our child encountered several staff members who wished her a happy birthday. In fact, the biggest benefit of the badge is that when Disney characters see it, they will interact more, so it’s a must to get it during the birthday month. It’s best to get it as soon as you enter the park, or you might forget later.

On the way to Treasure Cove, we saw many Disney characters preparing for photos, but due to the epidemic, we could only show our love from a distance. There were already long lines at several photo spots on Mickey Avenue, but suddenly we saw that there were not many people near the location closer to the park, so we decisively took the child for a photo.

Soaring Over Horizon seems to be a difficult project. This time, when we entered the park, the queue time was 15 minutes, and later it was about 90 minutes. I once queued up to the point of wanting to cry, so I decisively gave up this time. Since the fast pass has been canceled, it seems that if you don’t want to queue for so long and want to play, there are a few ways to do it now: buy an early admission card to enter the park first and play, or buy a single project or several projects’ exclusive spots to play without queuing, otherwise, it doesn’t seem worth spending so much time.

This is an area that is only open during Halloween. Do you know where it is? This morning, we were in Treasure Cove and played Pirates of the Caribbean three times in a row. The speed was fast, and the experience was good. It’s really my favorite project in Disney, and this time we got two different endings. The ending is actually very simple, which is whether Captain Jack gets the treasure or not. Although it’s just one sentence and a difference in lighting, the joy is definitely doubled.

Then we had lunch at Barbossa’s, which usually opens between 10:00 and 10:30. Go early and there’s no queue, and you can choose any seat you want. If you’re not an annual pass holder, remember to purchase the 99 yuan popcorn and meal combo on the official website, which is more cost-effective than buying on-site. If you come across the sparkling beverage cup featuring the new character, LinaBell, buy it early as my friend mentioned they were sold out by the afternoon. Previously, our child was a fan of Elsa, but this time, they are a fan of LinaBell. Besides the drink, LinaBell’s cake is a must-try; it’s not too sweet and quite good.

After enjoying the most desired attractions and having a meal, it’s time to stroll around, playing as the mood strikes and waiting for the performances. While wandering through Fantasyland, we happened upon an open-air show, marking another newSo, these two attractions remain unexperienced by our family. After enjoying the pony and the spring dog rides at 12:50, we had time for one or two more attractions before the Golden Fairy Tale Festival. I was eager to try the popular Stitch ball toss game in Tomorrowland. It was indeed challenging, and I understood why people who succeed at it become popular online. It’s really hard to score. Nevertheless, for 30 yuan, you get four balls, and even if you don’t score, you can receive a badge worth 49 yuan, which can be exchanged for other designs later. Scoring one or two balls earns you a shoulder strap. The tall, skilled basketball player in front of me said his best was two balls in one game, and scores do not accumulate. If you score three balls, you can win a huge Stitch plush toy. After failing to score, I left with two badges (I didn’t like them and planned to exchange them next time, but my child cherished them, saying they were earned through effort).

We then moved towards the castle and, checking the time at 1:45, passed by Dumbo with a short queue, so we spent 20 minutes enjoying the ride. It was a pleasant experience, reminiscent of the over an hour wait at Tokyo Disney for the same ride.

At 2:15, we had to choose between the Golden Fairy Tale Festival and the 2:00 Frozen sing-along. Choosing the festival with more princesses was definitely more joyful, and we managed to secure a front-row spot 15 minutes early. Wearing our badges, even Mickey Mouse interacted with us, which was incredibly exciting. The princesses’ performance was as enchanting as ever.

After the fairy tale festival, we had two options: the Seven Dwarfs show and Frozen. Since I booked the Seven Dwarfs too late and only got a queue slot from 3 to 4, we opted for Frozen instead.

The past certainly lived up to expectations. The original show has been watched almost ten times, and this time it incorporated elements from the second part, featuring dual queens, which is a must-see.

After the show, we were planning to dine on turkey legs or turkey meals, but upon reaching the turkey wing stand, we were unable to move on. We tasted the turkey wings, which were also quite substantial. After finishing, we were full and couldn’t eat anything else. Some popcorn would suffice before preparing for the night parade.

A reminder to arrive early at the castle’s front for the light show, as we watched from the side this time and could only see a glowing, music-playing castle in the distance.

The parade began with a fantastic atmosphere, with several cast members and cartoon stars interacting with (and teasing) our child, which was extremely delightful. Later, others also came to interact, which was thrilling, all thanks to the birthday badge’s enhancement.

After the parade, our child wanted to play in Alice’s maze, but unfortunately, it was already closed after several twists and turns. However, we still had a bountiful day.

Our child was eager to collect candy today, but only received a piece from a staff member during lunchtime. Other staff members didn’t have any. On the way back to the castle, we encountered a staff member at a less crowded spot. Our child approached, looking pitiful, to ask for candy. The staff member, having no candy, gave our child many stickers to prevent the little princess from being upset. She also advised going to the Mickey Avenue shops for candy, where the chances were higher. I discovered that the store staff had distributed all their candy. At that moment, I turned to see a roadside cart and encouraged our child to try their luck. They were rewarded with several pieces of Mickey soft candy. The Halloween joy of ‘trick or treat’ was finally achieved.

We then hurriedly met up with our child’s father at the rumored best spot for fireworks viewing, to the left of the Garden of Imagination. I must say, unless you stand by the railing very early, this spot is not ideal. Children can’t see at all, and it’s better on the nearby bridge where everyone must sit to watch. Although staff members will ask the front row to sit down, people in the front won’t care once the fireworks start and will stand up for a better view. So, don’t worry about which spot is best for fireworks; the secret is to line up early or directly sit in a restaurant where you can watch the fireworks.

No matter how many times you visit Disney, every entry is filled with love, and all troubles can be temporarily forgotten. It’s like a temporary boost for an exhausted mother, improving the strained parent-child relationship in academics. Only here can I become the mother who, like Disney, wishes for her child to grow up slowly. After leaving, I return to being the anxious mother urgingRemember to buy tickets early for early bird prices. Or you can contact me privately as some of my friends have discounts.

Also, frequently check various information on official accounts. There are coupons from time to time. Recently, the 99 yuan and 8.8 yuan food coupons are very cost-effective.

Of course, if you have time and are in the mood to take your child to Disneyland frequently, it is still the most cost-effective to get an annual pass.

These little surprises when we go home can still make us reminisce for a long time. This is the magical Disneyland.