Shanghai Disneyland opened with a grand affair, with the worldwide
media descending on the newly built $5.5 Billion amusement park last month.
However, amidst all the pomp and flair, most of the stories written skipped
over what the average park goer would experience. I was curious to see how a
typical day at the park would entail and whether it was truly possible to
recreate the Disney magic in China.
Where is Shanghai
Disneyland located?
Shanghai Disneyland is located on the eastern part of
Pudong, which means it’s actually closer to the airport then the downtown area
of Shanghai.
Google Maps is actually blocked in China, which is why if
you’ve tried searching for Shanghai Disneyland it actually points to a
completely different amusement park.
Instead enter in the following: 31.1440°N 121.6570°E or click here.
To get to Shanghai, you’ll need to apply for a Chinese visa beforehand
which costs around $130. However, if you don’t feel like applying for a visa,
you can stay up to 72 hour visa free as long as you are connecting to another region
outside China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan.
How do I get to
Shanghai Disneyland?
A taxi ride from the downtown area will cost you between
100-150 RMB, which is around $20.
You can alternatively take the Metro, as there is a Disneyland station at the end of Line 11. Be aware Line 11 doesn’t go through downtown Shanghai, and you’ll have to transfer at least once if not twice. This can add
a considerable amount of time to your commute and I’d budget in two hours.
It’s also important to note that during rush hour the metro
can become quite literally packed and you may not have much personal space. You
can purchase a one day metro pass at any service counter for 18 RMB.
If you are arriving from the airport, a Taxi should cost no
more than 100 RMB.
Essential Items to
Bring
Shanghai Disneyland allows sealed water bottles and
pre-packaged food to be brought in. The summers in Shanghai are notoriously hot
and humid, so I’d suggest bringing lots of water. I also highly suggest downloading the Shanghai Disneyland App for Android or Iphone, which has current standby times and an interactive map of the park.
How much are tickets?
Prices for the one day tickets during the peak summer season
and weekends are 499 RMB, around $75. Non Holiday off peak tickets will cost
350 RMB.
Where to Stay?
If you rather not commute, there are two on site hotels that
provide direct complimentary shuttle service. The luxurious Shanghai Disneyland
Hotel, starting at a eye popping 1650 RMB (around $240) a night, and the more
reasonable priced Toy Story Hotel which starts at 900 RMB (around $134).
Unfortunately, both hotels were both sold out during my
visit. However, I’d recommend staying at a hotel in downtown, as the commute by
taxi is manageable and there isn’t much to do in the surrounding area.
I only have time to
visit Shanghai Disneyland for one day, how should I plan my visit?
Click here for my guide on how to plan your one day trip in
order to experience all the unique attractions that Disneyland Shanghai has to
offer.
Up Next: My Trip to Shanghai Disneyland
Previous Post: Hyatt on the Bund – Postcard Views of Shanghai
