Do you think Shanghai will go for another expansion next or go for a second gate?

[BrianLo]

A few more random thoughts:

-DCL Adventure is receiving advertisement in India (Mumbai). I have encountered both a billboard and a commercial. So I guess they feel Singapore falls within its bubble.

-Is Zootopia accidentally boxed in? Maybe not, they’ve left some space behind the train station facade.

-There’s quite the funny little pad left against SDMT that seems to align with Spider Man pavement treatment.

 

[Haymarket]

-Is Zootopia accidentally boxed in? Maybe not, they’ve left some space behind the train station facade.

-There’s quite the funny little pad left against SDMT that seems to align with Spider Man pavement treatment.

Are you thinking they might expand Zootopia through the train station (red arrows)?

And the little pad - is that the green arrow?

 

[marni1971]

The little pad is more a service yard and backstage access. But good catch on the Zoo possibility

 

[BrianLo]

View attachment 894583

Are you thinking they might expand Zootopia through the train station (red arrows)?

And the little pad - is that the green arrow?

Yes to red, no to green.

Zootopia is more the quandary of its clearly the hottest thing they’ve got and the current land isn’t that large.

See the purple spot, I’m not sure if the Spider-Man plans cover this. Note the pavement treatment that delineates Zootopia and fantasyland from Spiderman. It could just be a future bathroom.

 

[Haymarket]

Yes to red, no to green.

Zootopia is more the quandary of its clearly the hottest thing they’ve got and the current land isn’t that large.

See the purple spot, I’m not sure if the Spider-Man plans cover this. Note the pavement treatment that delineates Zootopia and fantasyland from Spiderman. It could just be a future bathroom.

View attachment 894669

I'd love it if they expanded Zootopia that way.

Something about a popular land having just one ride is annoying to me.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

According to Twitter the Shanghai Lavender Park will close on December 31, 2025, assumedly for "second park construction."

Has anyone heard more about this?

 

[wityblack]

Haven't heard anything more, but given that they are building two more hotels and expanding the shopping district, I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Haymarket]

Yes to red, no to green.

Zootopia is more the quandary of its clearly the hottest thing they’ve got and the current land isn’t that large.

See the purple spot, I’m not sure if the Spider-Man plans cover this. Note the pavement treatment that delineates Zootopia and fantasyland from Spiderman. It could just be a future bathroom.

View attachment 894669

Next to the train station (red arrows below) is a blocked-off entrance to Sahara Square (green arrows below).

Theoretically the entrance can open into an expansion of Zootopia. It really does look like they intended to make that an option.

 

[Haymarket]

According to Twitter the Shanghai Lavender Park will close on December 31, 2025, assumedly for "second park construction."

Has anyone heard more about this?

That's wild. (Sad the lavender park is going to be destroyed, however, of course.)

 

[BrianLo]

According to Twitter the Shanghai Lavender Park will close on December 31, 2025, assumedly for "second park construction."

Has anyone heard more about this?

It already appeared closed to me in November, unless it just was weekends or was seasonally open in the spring and summer?

Where the twitter user that @Haymarket above quoted dropped the pin is not the lavender park. That’s the ecological park. Lavender park is across the street at the little green arrow.

The ecological park (the second gate location) I’m confident was abandoned in 2019 at the pandemic onset. It was very abandoned in appearance. Lavender would need to close though inevitably for the plaza installation. Early would probably be for construction facilitation.

 

[JaKnight]

Any ideas about what the second gate of Disney in Shanghai might be like? Could they possibly use Chinese IPs? What Disney properties are popular in China, besides Zootopia?

 

[Haymarket]

Any ideas about what the second gate of Disney in Shanghai might be like? Could they possibly use Chinese IPs? What Disney properties are popular in China, besides Zootopia?

My impression is that Avatar, Duffy and Friends, Frozen, Marvel (Avengers and Spider-Man in particular), and Toy Story are at the top.

Stitch, Moana, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Winnie the Pooh are also pretty popular. Coco did well in theaters.

Notably (to me), Mulan and Star Wars aren't popular in China.

I've seen some stuff about a "Disney Galaxy" concept for the second park, featuring IPs related to, e.g., space travel, other worlds, aliens.

If that's the concept, I bet Avatar and Marvel will be featured, among other IPs.

Maybe Stitch for younger guests as well.

 

[marni1971]

Notably (to me), Mulan and Star Wars aren’t

We were surprised by the lack of Star Wars anything. Even Illuminate had removed any SW reference as seen in Ignite.

 

[Gusey]

My impression is that Avatar, Duffy and Friends, Frozen, Marvel (Avengers and Spider-Man in particular), and Toy Story are at the top.

Stitch, Moana, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Winnie the Pooh are also pretty popular. Coco did well in theaters.

Notably (to me), Mulan and Star Wars aren't popular in China.

I've seen some stuff about a "Disney Galaxy" concept for the second park, featuring IPs related to, e.g., space travel, other worlds, aliens.

If that's the concept, I bet Avatar and Marvel will be featured, among other IPs.

Maybe Stitch for younger guests as well.

From that list, what's not represented at all or that much by attractions:
Moana, Avatar (they had the Avatar walkthrough for about a year), Duffy, Frozen (just the sing-along show), Stitch (Stitch Encounter only) and Coco

Spider-Man is getting a rollercoaster and the past 2 major additions were Zootopia and Toy Story so unless they expand those lands, can't see those properties at the 2nd gate

And Star Wars seems to be really unpopular. Launch Bay and Tarzan were the first two attractions to close at Shanghai, right?

 

[Haymarket]

Launch Bay and Tarzan were the first two attractions to close at Shanghai, right?

I believe so - Launch Bay and Tarzan: Call of the Jungle.

 

[Haymarket]

It already appeared closed to me in November, unless it just was weekends or was seasonally open in the spring and summer?

View attachment 895470

Where the twitter user that @Haymarket above quoted dropped the pin is not the lavender park. That’s the ecological park. Lavender park is across the street at the little green arrow.

The ecological park (the second gate location) I’m confident was abandoned in 2019 at the pandemic onset. It was very abandoned in appearance. Lavender would need to close though inevitably for the plaza installation. Early would probably be for construction facilitation.

Apparently the lavender park has northern and southern sections, with the northern section located in the plot for the second park.

The most recent post here explains it.

The northern section of the lavender park seems to be the same ecological park you mentioned.

If this is correct, it looks like very significant evidence suggesting a second park announcement is coming soon.

 

[Haymarket]

Chat GPT updated assessment (75–80%):

Shanghai Lavender Park Closure (Finalized with Parcel Overlap Confirmation)

Document Title:

• Announcement Regarding the Closure of Shanghai Lavender Park

Issuing Entity:

• Shanghai Shendi Landscaping Investment & Construction Co., Ltd.
  • A Shendi Group subsidiary responsible for land development within the Shanghai International Tourism & Resorts Zone, including Disney Resort expansion parcels.

Date Issued:
1 December 2025

Closure Date:
31 December 2025

***

Geographical Significance (Confirmed Overlap)

New mapping and image evidence confirms:

✔ Shanghai Lavender Park spans TWO zones:

1. Northern section — inside 02PD-0001

• This portion is directly within the second-park plot (units 1–4) identified in the zoning adjustment document 沪府规划〔2025〕69号.
• This land must be vacated for the second theme park and cannot remain operational during construction.

2. Southern section — outside 02PD-0001

• This area sits in the ecological/greenbelt buffer zone south of the future park site.
• Likely needed for infrastructure relocation, utility corridors, backstage/service areas, or site-preparation staging.

✔ Closure of the entire park rather than just the northern section strongly implies:

• A coordinated, large-scale redevelopment that affects both the main parcel and its support perimeter.
• This is consistent with how Shanghai prepares large land tracts before major construction (similar to the Phase I Disney build-out cycle 2011–2012).

***

Summary of Announcement

The official notice states closure due to:
“园区规划调整及新项目发展需要”
= “Planning adjustments and new project development needs.”

This language is standard terminology used prior to major construction projects in Pudong.

***

Assessment

High-significance indicator

Because part of Lavender Park lies within the actual second-park parcel:

• This is direct pre-construction land clearance for the future second gate.
• The closure timing (late 2025) positions the land to be available for grading, utilities, and early works in 2026—the Shanghai Disney Resort 10th anniversary year.

Signal Strength: VERY HIGH

This is the strongest on-the-ground indication so far that the Phase II project is moving forward beyond planning and into site preparation.

***

Updated Probability Estimate (2026 Announcement)

Revised Likelihood: 75–80%

• Land inside the Phase II parcel is being vacated.
• Shendi is clearing both primary and support zones.
• All timing aligns perfectly with a mid- to late-2026 announcement window.

This represents the highest confidence level to date.

 

[BrianLo]

Apparently the lavender park has northern and southern sections, with the northern section located in the plot for the second park.

The most recent post here explains it.

The northern section of the lavender park seems to be the same ecological park you mentioned.

If this is correct, it looks like very significant evidence suggesting a second park announcement is coming soon.

View attachment 896407View attachment 896419View attachment 896409
View attachment 896410

This is kind of silly semantics. Yes, I understand the eco park was a thing. It was open in 2016 and you could ride golf carts through it. It predates lavender, but appears to have been bundled or combo ticketed at some point.

In its current state that does not appear to have been recently utilized.

It doesn’t really matter though; the whole thing needed to close (both the second gate eco park pad and the newer lavender park plaza and Gateway to support major redevelopment). I’m not second guessing that. They already closed this part was what I was getting at.

 

[Haymarket]

This is kind of silly semantics. I don’t require random aerials from an external site (not directed at you), I was just there. Yes, I understand the eco park is a thing. It was open in 2016 and you could ride golf carts through it. It predates lavender, but appears to have been bundled or combo ticketed at some point.

In its current state that does not appear to have been recent.

It doesn’t really matter though; the whole thing needed to close (both the second gate eco park pad and the newer lavender park plaza and Gateway to support major redevelopment). They already closed.

View attachment 896456
View attachment 896453View attachment 896454View attachment 896455

I'm not criticizing your terminology, questioning you, or challenging you or anything like that.

My understanding is that, if the ecopark weren't part of the lavender park, the notice of the lavender park's closure for future development would have encompassed only what I now know is just the southern part of the lavender park (outside the second-park plot), making it slightly less likely that redevelopment of the lavender park would involve building a second park.

Because I now know that the ecopark is part of the lavender park, it makes it more likely for me that the lavender park's closure does indeed involve development of the plot for the second park (as opposed to just a parcel outside the second-park plot).

The question was what the lavender park notice formally encompasses. Now I know.

It seems that you might be operating from an understanding like "I saw the state of the ecopark: of course it's going to be redeveloped, as it was closed and falling apart; it doesn't matter if it's included in the notice regarding the lavender park because it's obvious it's being redeveloped whether or not it's part of the lavender park."

I simply wanted to confirm that the notice formally includes what I now understand is the northern section of the lavender park. It affects my little hobbyist Chat GPT assessment significantly (60–65% vs. 75–80%).

[Grok says 85–95%, Kimi says 92–95%, Qwen says ~99% ("effectively certain").]

 

[BrianLo]

I'm not criticizing your terminology, questioning you, or challenging you or anything like that.

My understanding is that, if the ecopark weren't part of the lavender park, the notice of the lavender park's closure for future development would have encompassed only what I now know is just the southern part of the lavender park (outside the second-park plot), making it slightly less likely that redevelopment of the lavender park would involve building a second park.

Because I now know that the ecopark is part of the lavender park, it makes it more likely for me that the lavender park's closure does indeed involve development of the plot for the second park (as opposed to just a parcel outside the second-park plot).

The question was what the lavender park notice formally encompasses. Now I know.

It seems that you might be operating from an understanding like "I saw the state of the ecopark: of course it's going to be redeveloped, as it was closed and falling apart; it doesn't matter if it's included in the notice regarding the lavender park because it's obvious it's being redeveloped whether or not it's part of the lavender park."

I simply wanted to confirm that the notice formally includes what I now understand is the northern section of the lavender park. It affects my little hobbyist Chat GPT assessment significantly (60–65% vs. 75–80%).

Yes sorry, not shooting the messenger. Folks on themeparx should usually know better that trying to parse out Chinese ops from online information is generally a very inaccurate or outdated endeavor.

I think it is more significant that they are closing the Southern plot-globally. Since it is ticketed and the eco park is not, there was a world that I could have seen there being pressure to build or adapt around it. I’m glad they are forcing closure to level the strip mall, reroute the road access and build a proper promenade in support of a new park. Presumably.

As you say, I already had started from a space that the second gate site and front entry infrastructure was already closed and abandoned. Regardless, the forced closure of lavender park is major sign.