LEFT : Pirates of the Caribbean is a must-ride at Shanghai Disneyland . RIGHT : Mulan gets a special float in the daily parade . PHOTOS BY TDR EXPLORER
CULTURAL ELEMENTS INCORPORATED INTO THE PARK To live up to the “ authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese ” promise , the park contains many Chinese cultural elements throughout .
For those of us who are Disney Park enthusiasts , some of the most noticeable elements are the omission of a railroad , no Main Street U . S . A ., and the inclusion of the Gardens of Imagination . That ’ s right : There ’ s no steam train in Shanghai Disneyland . The entrance instead has a large archway , which is used for live shows and character appearances .
Main Street U . S . A . is also not present in this park . Instead , you ’ ll find Mickey Avenue , which introduces classic characters as you enter the park . Instead of a central hub , like in Magic Kingdom , you ’ ll find Chinese gardens called the Gardens of Imagination . This lush area features classic Disney characters representing the Chinese Zodiac .
In restaurants , you ’ ll notice more options for familystyle meals , which makes food easier to share . There are also large picnic areas in parts of the park for eating and relaxing .
These tips are only a fraction of what there is to know about Shanghai Disneyland . We have a full trip-planning guide up on our website at TDRExplorer . com if you want to fine-tune your travel itinerary .
There ’ s no shortage of things to experience at Shanghai Disneyland . It ’ s definitely worth the trip to Asia . In fact , seeing the biggest castle at any park is almost worth it alone .