Ultimate Shanghai Disneyland Guide

Planning a trip to Shanghai Disneyland? So is everyone else. Don’t let the massive crowds ruin your experience at the happiest place on earth!To get more news about China scenic spots, you can visit shine news official website.

As a huge (read: borderline obsessed) Disney fan, Shanghai Disneyland was up there on my list of must-sees on our trip to Shanghai.Shanghai Disneyland has 33 attractions spread across seven different themed zones including the highly raved about TRON Lightcycle Power Run — only available here!As with just about every Disneyland in the world, we knew that crowds were inevitable and queues for rides could be unbearable.

Imagine spending your hard-earned money on a ticket and dedicating an entire day there only to spend it waiting in 100-minute long queues and covering just five or six rides. It’s like what they say, “if you fail to plan then you plan to fail.”This is our ultimate Shanghai Disneyland guide to help you get a head start on your Disney day — a compilation of pre-trip tips, a breakdown on the Disney Fastpass, must-see attractions, suggested routes and more!

1) Plan the best time to visit
Disney Castle (Backview) - Shanghai Disneyland Guide
Maximise your experience at Shanghai Disneyland by picking the best possible day to visit. It’s always packed in Disneyland. But on certain days it’s really packed. If you’re not a fan of spending most of your time in queues, be sure to avoid:
Weekends: Fridays and Saturdays tend to be more packed than Sundays. If your itinerary allows, the best time to come is between Tuesday to Thursday when the crowds are more manageable. Plus, tickets are cheaper on weekdays!

School Holidays: China has two main school holidays you should avoid — Winter Break (January to February) and Summer Break (July to September).
2) Save Time & Money by Pre-booking Your Tickets
Klook App - Shanghai Disneyland Guide
Pre-booking your tickets means you skip the hassle of queuing to buy tickets at the counter. One less thing to worry about! When the gates open, you want to be in the line to enter the park (not the line to purchase your tickets)!

Enjoy 8% savings by booking through Klook. A weekday ticket on the official site cost ~S$78 but we got ours on Klook at ~S$72; the weekend ticket costs ~S$112 but ~S$107 on Klook!All you have to do is get the QR code on your phone scanned at the entrance and you’ll receive a physical ticket (which is important for getting Fastpasses! More on that later)

3) Download the Shanghai Disneyland Mobile App
Shanghai Disneyland App (Waiting Time) - Shanghai Disneyland Guide
The Shanghai Disneyland Mobile App will greatly enhance your visit. You’ll be able to make Disney Fastpass selections (more on that later), view estimated waiting times for rides and check timings for parades and shows. Best part, it’s free!

4) Pack Only the Essentials

Your passport is required at the entrance of the park. Bring along sufficient cash as credit cards aren’t accepted at food kiosks. Do note that selfie sticks and tripods are strictly not allowed in Shanghai Disneyland — these will be confiscated during the security check.Having a water bottle is essential, especially when the weather gets hot. There are free water coolers scattered around the park for you to refuel.

5) Arrive at least an hour before the gates open

Ever heard of the phrase “On Time = Late”? At Shanghai Disneyland, this couldn’t be more true. We arrived 30 minutes before opening time and already were forced to join a seemingly never-ending queue.Note that there are two rounds of queuing before you get to enter — the security bag check and then scanning of tickets.

We recommend arriving at least an hour before the park opens. Opening hours are usually 9AM – 8PM, but differs slightly for holidays and special occasions. Check the official park calendar for exact hours before you visit.

6) Make use of Disney’s Fastpass
Disneyland’s Fastpass works differently from other theme parks where you pay a higher price for shorter queue times. Instead, Fastpasses here are free and work on a per-ride system. Here’s how it works:
2 Ways to Get a Fastpass:
(1) Via the Shanghai Disneyland App: Select “Get Fastpass” and scan the QR code on your park ticket to link it to the app. You can link up your friends’ tickets too by creating a “party” on the app and scanning their tickets. This way, you’ll get to make Fastpass bookings together. Note: You can only book a Fastpass once you’re in the park!

(2) Via Physical Kiosks: There are no Fastpass booths in Shanghai Disneyland so if you face difficulties using the app, head to one of the Guest Services booths scattered around the park to book your FastPass. Fret not — there’s hardly any queues at these booths thanks to the app!