Disney has
finally revealed the designs for its upcoming Shanghai Disneyland, scheduled to open next
spring.
Bob Iger, Disney
chief executive, says that the Shanghai
Disneyland will
feature six themed lands -- Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland,
Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove and Tomorrowland.
Tron,
Skywalker and all the usual princesses
Guests can meet "Star Wars" heroes and villains while
checking out sets and props from the sci-fi saga.
There will also
be a cinematic Skywalker experience.
At Marvel
Universe, guests can attend a "mission briefing" and meet the likes
of Iron Man and Spider-man.
There will also
be new additions to the six classic themed lands that Disney diehards have come
to expect in a park.
Fantasyland will
feature a new version of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the Voyage to the
Crystal Grotto ride, which will run underneath the iconic Enchanted Storybook
Castle.
As for the
castle, it will be bigger than the ones in all of Disney's other theme parks
and the first to include all of the brand's beloved princesses.
Tomorrowland
will house a new Buzz Lightyear attraction, a jet pack simulator and a
fast-paced "Tron" coaster, on which visitors ride futuristic
two-wheeled "Lightcycles" under a massive color-shifting canopy.
There will also
be a new pirate-themed attraction in Treasure Cove.
Shanghai
Disneyland also promises to offer the world's longest parade route of all the
Disney parks, as well as the most collectibles and gifts.
Appealing
to local Chinese visitors
Like other Disney parks, Shanghai's version will have a classic
420-room Shanghai Disneyland Hotel as well as an 800-room Toy Story Hotel.
Disneytown, next
to the amusement park, will be a shopping, dining and entertainment district
with the Walt Disney Grand Theater, which will feature the world's first
Mandarin version of the musical, "The Lion King."
The town will
incorporate Shanghai's traditional Shikumen-style architecture.
Chinese zodiacs
will be re-imagined as 12 Disney and Pixar characters at the Garden of the
Twelve Friends.
"We are
building something truly special here in Shanghai that not only showcases the
best of Disney's storytelling but also celebrates and incorporates China's
incredibly rich heritage to create a one-of-a-kind destination that will
delight and entertain the people of China for generations to come," said
Iger.
Shanghai
Disneyland is a joint venture between Disney and China's Shanghai Shendi Group.
'Grandeur and vast scale'
Located in Shanghai's Chuansha town, it
will be the company's sixth Disney resort and third in Asia.
The last Disneyland
opening was almost a decade ago, in Hong Kong.
Stefan Zwanzger,
AKA the Theme Park Guy, says the
new artwork confirms the grandeur and huge size of Disney's latest project.
"What's
clear is that Shanghai Disneyland will have much more of a wow factor than the
Hong Kong park that opened in 2005," he says.
"Hong Kong
opened with minimal attractions, but Shanghai right from the start has had a
bigger budget and will be much more complete."
Zwanzger
predicts off-the-charts popularity for the park, warning that the two planned
hotels are likely to be insufficient to meet massive demand.
"I wouldn't
want to be the guy in a Mickey Mouse costume in front of the castle in the
first week after opening with all those people coming at me," he adds.
"I would be scared."
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