D23 Expo 2015: Shanghai Disneyland Booth and Parks & Resorts Presentation

Shanghai Disneyland Exhibit

While at D23 Expo 2015, one of the main attention grabbers for me was Walt Disney Imagineering’s main showcase on the show floor, which featured a whole bunch of concept art and work in progress samples of what is coming to Shanghai Disneyland when it opens in 2016.

Shanghai Disneyland will be divided up into six “lands”, all akin to other lands at other Disneylands, but a few with a twist.

~ Mickey Avenue, similar to Main Street.

~ Gardens of Imagination, instead of a traditional hub, this 11 acre area will host seven different gardens with rides and attractions.

~ Adventure Isle, a new take on Adventureland.

~ Treasure Cove, a Pirates of the Caribbean and pirate themed land.

~ Fantasyland, containing the largest castle at a Disney Theme Park.

~ Tomorrowland, featuring a Tron inspired ride.

Let’s take a look at the lands.

Mickey Avenue

Stores in this land include:

• Remy’s Patisserie (Ratatouille themed bakery)
• Chip & Dale’s Treehouse Treats (Chip & Dale snack market)
• Sweethearts Confectionery (Minnie Mouse candy store)
• Avenue M Arcade (looks like Carthay Circle Theater, largest gift shop in park)
• Il Paperino (Donald Duck gelato shop)
• Michey & Pals Market Cafe (counter service restaurant)

 

 

 

 

Gardens of Imagination

 

• Garden of the 12 Friends

• Melody Garden

• Romance Garden

• Woodland Garden

• Garden of the Magic Feather

• Fantasia Garden

 

• Storybook Castle Garden
• Ignite the Dream nighttime spectacular
• Mickey’s Storybook Express parade

This land is also home to the Wandering Moon Teahouse, which is a traditional Chinese restaurant view beautiful views of Enchanted Storybook Castle.

Tomorrowland

 

• Tron Lightcycle Power Run

• Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue

Fantasyland

Centerpiece is Enchanted Storybook Castle, which is not only the largest Disney castle, but not themed after a single Disney Princess, but from a multitude.

• Voyage to the Crystal Grotto- boat ride underneath the Enchanted Storybook Castle

 

Inside the castle there is the Rotunda, featuring the “Princesses of the Four Seasons” in mosaic murals.

• Peter Pan’s Flight

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh- Honey Pot Spin

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

• Alice in Wonderland Maze

Treasure Cove

Adventure Isle

In addition to Shanghai Disneyland, right outside the main entrance is Disneytown, which includes a World of Disney.

 

 

Also opening in Shanghai is two hotels: Toy Story Hotel and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel

 

 

 

Here are maquettes of statues gracing the three story lobby of the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel.

 

 

Parks & Resorts Panel

In addition to having the Shanghai Disneyland setup on the main floor, on Saturday of the Expo, the Parks & Resorts team had a panel where they talked about some of the upcoming and exciting things happening at Disney Parks around the world. Here is a rundown.

Star Wars

New Land

That’s right! A new land is coming to both Disneyland in California, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. Themed after the Star Wars Universe, this new world, one of the last outposts before the Outer Rim, will be a fully immersive experience in Star Wars, from the cast members to the food to the merchandise. it will all be Star Wars themed.

Inside this new land will be two major attractions. The first will be a Millenium Flacon ride, and the second will be an interactive combat experience.

Existing Attraction Additions

In addition to the new lands coming, current attractions will be getting updates for the new movie The Force Awakens. We have already seen the additions to the new World of Color: Celebrate, and we can expect to see new segments added to the updated Star Tours… which means I will have to refigure my ride configuration charts to see if I can ride all of the combinations eventually.

Season of the Force

In both parks, a new multi-week event, bringing together the popularity of Star Wars Weekends and the format of events like the Food and Wine Festival, will be taking place in both parks. Special experiences will take place during this time. At Disneyland, Space Mountain will get a Star Wars makeover and become Hyperspace Mountain.

While at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there will be a special nighttime firework show themed to the popular franchise.

Star Wars Launch Bay

As part of both of these events, a new area called Star Wars Launch Bay will open. An area for all things Star Wars, this will debut in what was once Innoventions at Disneyland, and where The Magic of Disney Animation was a staple for years at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In addition to having a look at the progress of the new lands being built, the area will also have exclusive content for games such as Disney Infinity.

Toy Story Land

Building upon the popularity of Toy Story Mania and the idea of Andy’s toy-sized backyard, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be getting a new land called Toy Story Land. In addition to Toy Story themed dining and retail, two new rides will debut.

The first is a Little Green Men and The Claw inspired spinner ride (reminds me of the Mater ride at DCA).

The other ride is a family-coaster ride fashioned from Slinky Dog and a bunch of parts Andy threw together to make said roller coaster, which winds his way through the back yard.

Frozen at Epcot

Over at Epcot, work is already underway to bring the citizens of Arendelle to the Norway pavilion at Epcot, in the first World Showcase country expansion since the 1980’s. First off, the former Maelstrom ride is becoming Frozen Ever After. (I’m not necessarily a fan myself, but the ride needed an update.)

In addition, there will be a Meet & Greet area for Anna and Elsa at their “summer cottage”, which is being built in the space that was between the Mexico and Norway pavilions.

Animal Kingdom at Night

A lot is being done at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida to make it a destination park for the night time. The biggest of which is a new nighttime show Rivers of Light. Using sights, sounds, lasers, lights, and the Discovery River, a tale will be told of the beauty and wonder of nature.

In addition, work is being done to extend the Kilimanjaro Safaris into the evening, including adding Hyenas to the attraction’s mix of animals.

Pandora: the World of Avatar

To me, this new world within Disney’s Animal Kingdom is still iffy (especially since we are missing entire ecosystems and continents like Australia inside and animal park), but James Cameron and crew came out to take about the polarizing addition of Pandora to the park.

Disneyland Paris’ 25th Anniversary

Nothing much was announced special for Disneyland Paris’ 25th Anniversary, but the Imagineers are still riding high after the positive feedback from the newest ride to debut at the resort, Ratatouille: The Adventure.

Frozen at Tokyo DisneySea

In addition to the Frozen characters officially coming to Epcot, Tokyo DisneySea will be getting a Scandinavian/ Frozen port added to it’s roster.

Iron Man at Hong Kong Disneyland

Probably one of the highlights of this panel was the announcement of the Iron Man Experience coming to Hong Kong Disneyland. After getting a look at the new area in the park, the ride vehicle, and even a video of part of the ride itself, none other than Stan Lee himself got up on stage and had en encounter with Iron Man.

Shanghai Disneyland

I know I already talked about this park at length earlier, but here are some more pictures of concept art and progress.

Soarin’ Around the World

Debuting at Shanghai Disneyland and film updates to the Soarin’ rides at Disneyland and Epcot, Soarin’ Over the World is using breathtaking imagery and groundbreaking technology to bring a beautiful new experience to this popular attraction.

Finale

Of course, the team at Parks & Resorts had to send us all off with a “good-night kiss”, so cast members from around the world gathered to celebrate, in song, all of the nighttime show songs that we all know and love. I will admit that I teared up with this tribute, as some of these shows are must-sees for me when I head to the parks.

And that’s a look at what Disney Imagineering and the Disney Parks had in store for us at D23 Expo 2015. Any of you still there? Good… I hope you enjoyed.