Disney and Me

Shanghai

So, Shanghai Disneyland has been open about 2 months now. I thought I'd write about the good, the bad, and the interesting from the new park. I need to fill out this paragraph so I'll leave some short notes here. The new park notably lacks a berm, and has a Mickey Avenue instead of Main Street. Pirates got its own land. Tomorrowland was reimagined. All of this combines to bring a Chinese flair to the new Disney park.

Let's start with the lack of a berm. There is no train because there is no berm. You do not feel isolated from society. This omission is something I will call a short term plus. My assumption is that, like Hong Kong, the park will need expansion. No other Disneyland has fewer rides. Hong Kong would have less if they hadn't expanded that park. Only Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom have less. The park will likely (hopefully) see a Fantasyland expansion. Once it expands, however, the lack of berm will detract from the experience significantly enough to make it a negative. Expansion is already being discussed, with an Autopia being thrown around in rumors for Shanghai.

Pirates of the Caribbean is the best ride at the park, easily. It is by far the best version of the ride, using new technology and building off the Pirates franchise. Naturally, Treasure Cove would be dedicated entirely to it. Treasure Cove could use some expansion, but its theme doesn't allow for much of that. Possibly a Pirate Ship swinger, which wouldn't go down well with Disney fans.

Fantasyland is extraordinarily small. It features Peter Pan, Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, Winnie the Pooh, Hunny Pot Spin, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The park needs to build a Pinocchio's Daring Journey, It's a Small World, and Kiddie Coaster like other Disney Parks. Hunny Pot Spin really could've been the Tea Cups, but they voted on Winnie the Pooh for uniqueness. I wish Gardens of Imagination was absorbed into this land to give it some size.

Tomorrowland is one of the most unique versions of the land I've seen. There is no Space Mountain or Astro Orbitor. It's difficult to have a successful Tomorrowland without them, and yet, Shanghai did. Tron Lightcycle Power Run is an amazing replacement for Space Mountain. The Jet Packs are fantastic. Planet Rescue is an amazing take on the Astro Blasters rides. This Tomorrowland needs a Peoplemover, but that's getting picky. Autopia is rumored to be coming. I also have to wonder if they'll bring Iron Man Experience to Shanghai. Iron Man Experience is a simulator that is testing at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Main Street is extraordinarily unique at Shanghai Disneyland. Mickey Avenue is the same basic concept, but without the small town USA theming. It is far more resemblant of a European City than an American one, something not done in any other Disneyland, including Paris, the actual European one. It may also be the most disgusting due to poor guest behavior in Shanghai Disneyland. The problem with placing a major amusement park in China is that it's not a post-industrial society. Regular technology hasn't caught up there, so people don't always know proper decency when it comes to needing to relieve yourself or charge your phone. All the electrical protective panels were destroyed due to people trying to charge their phones where their plugs didn't fit. People sleep in the middle of Mickey Avenue. Courtesy hasn't caught up with technology in China, and it shows in a place where technology is up to date.

So Shanghai's rides are top-notch. Mine Train, Tron, Roaring Rapids, and Pirates are four of Disney's best. Disney also made some failures when planning the park. It needs a berm, and people need to be trained on how to behave. Shanghai is not the place where this should've been built. The park is beautiful and should be expanded upon. I hope Disney continues to invest in their Chinese parks. They need work, but they're top notch.