Shanghai Disneyland
Before going to any Disney park, I recommend downloading the park app and observing the wait times on the day you plan to visit. For example, if you go on Saturday observe Saturdays before your trip. This will help you determine which rides are busy and when. You can also order an early entry pass through the app no sooner than 7 days before your visit.
They recommend you arrive 90 minutes before early entry time, which is what we did. There was already a significant line forming. The early pass let us ride at least 2-3 extra E-ticket rides, so if you know you’ll be short on time, we think it’s worth it. If you want to know what we ate check out our food blog, otherwise this was our itinerary for the day.
Soaring Over the Horizon
We started off with Soaring, which usually has a very long wait time. Luckily with the early pass, we only had to wait 10 minutes. This is one of Michael’s favorite rides at Epcot. You sit in a flight motion stimulator and the ride takes you “in the air” as you soar through countries of the world. It was my first time riding it so I was surprised how realistic it felt. I don’t recommend it if you’re afraid of heights because your feet dangle. But I’m glad I soared through the experience!
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is another popular ride that also has quite a long wait time. We decided to use our early pass to skip the line. This is a rollercoaster that takes you through the hard work of the dwarfs from Snow White.
I’m not a huge fan of roller coasters but this was fun for me. It’s not too intense, and the swinging cars are a fun feature. Of course, the animatronics are always great. I would happily ride it again.
Hot Pursuit
Zootopia was added to Disney Shanghai in December of 2023. The theming in this area is on a completely new level. Every tiny detail from the snacks to the signs are immaculate, and even if you don’t ride any rides it’s worth the detour.
The main ride of this park is Hot Pursuit. The ride seems to close often due to maintenance, usually in the morning. I would prioritize it as one of your main rides due to the inconsistency. Hot Pursuit generally has the longest queue as it is new and very popular.
As soon as we saw the ride open we rushed to queue as fast as we could. We got there first, so we were only in the queue for a few minutes. The theming is very detailed and amazing, so I wouldn’t have minded waiting in line a bit longer. The ride starts with you hopping in a police car and joining Judy and Nick on the chase to catch Bellwether.
Since this is a new ride the animatronics are fantastic and the storyline is excellent as well. The newer motion simulation rides like this are so immersive, so it really feels like you’re driving through Zootopia at top speed. This should absolutely be at the top of your list of rides.
Roaring Rapids
Roaring Rapids is the only wet ride at this park. There are raincoats that are available to purchase. In our experience, it’s not absolutely necessary since we barely got wet. Animal Kingdom in Florida has the only other rapids ride at a Disney park we’ve seen, and it was not great so expectations were low. Thankfully, we were surprised at how fun this ride was.
Meeting Mickey
On our way to lunch, we passed by the meeting house for Mickey Mouse. Normally, these queues would be several hours. However in Asia, Mickey isn’t all that popular, and the lines for Duffy and friends are far longer. We popped in on a whim, and within 10 minutes we were meeting Mickey. Neither of us knew it, but the overwhelming sense of nostalgia made both of us tear up. All of the childhood memories and love of Disney came rushing back, and it honestly felt magical getting to meet THE mouse!
Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure
We decided to ride a Disney classic Pirates of the Caribbean. However, this version of the ride is exclusive to Shanghai Disneyland and was built in 2016, with a lot of new features and a brand new storyline from the original ride. It definitely gets the vibe, and there are several very intense moments and extravagant displays that blew us away.
The wait is usually no more than 30-45 minutes, so it can fit easily anywhere in your schedule. We recommend this ride because of its fun value for such a short wait.
Peter Pan’s Flight
Since we had some extra time we decided to try Peter Pan’s Flight. As huge fans ourselves, we wanted to experience being a kid again. This is a carbon copy of the original Disney ride, and the wait is never long. We hopped on the flying ship and headed to Neverland. I would only recommend this ride if you personally want that nostalgia kick since the queue is very short. However, it’s a very simple ride compared to everything else in this newer park.
Alice in Wonderland Maze
Towards the middle of the day, we decided to go to the maze next to the castle. There are lots of things in the maze like the warp mirrors, the Mad Hatter’s tea party, and hedge mazes. We went there because it is one of the best places to take a picture of the castle. There won’t be people in the background because of the high railings and bushes, it’s the perfect photo spot!
Towards the back of the maze is the Mad Hatter’s tea party, a very whimsical area with a lot of quiet space. We really liked this area because it’s a good place to relax and get away from crowds, as the maze is never busy. This is probably one of the most underrated areas in Shanghai Disneyland.
Once Upon a Time Adventure
Once Upon a Time Adventure is listed as a ride, but I would describe it as a walkthrough experience. We got to see the story of Snow White and went up through the castle. We were more interested in the interior of the castle rather than the stories. You can walk all the way to the top, and there is an outdoor courtyard, as well as beautiful staircases. It really does feel like a Disney Princess lives there. It was magical.
Voyage to the Crystal Grotto
Towards the end of our day, we had ridden every ride we wanted to. We walked past this not knowing what it was, but the line was only 5 minutes. It is a boat ride through the lake with several water fountain scenes of Disney princesses. It’s a very simple ride, but nice if you just want to sit down. I recommend you ride this at night, as the fountains are meant to light up.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide helps you have a ✨Magical✨ time at Shanghai Disneyland. If you have a layover in Shanghai, we highly recommend considering a visit. We are happy to answer any questions to help you have a smooth Disneyland experience! Happy exploring.
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