Nmoody1
Well-Known Member
Well, just like that I am back in England from my 2 days in Shanghai.
I was 15 people from the front of line for park opening, then, despite having e tickets we were sent to ticket windows to pick up paper tickets .. We then headed to the turnstiles and missed an opportunity to be in coral 1a. ..but made it into 1b. Aside from this hiccup (and 3 western suits giving us false info), everything was set out very well... and it very much felt like they had anticipated much larger numbers. I didn't see an body walking around with a number 4 (donald) wristband, but peering through a fence by the metro, an area had been set up.
The park opened slightly earlier than announced, all the Cast lined along Mickey Avenue was a lovely touch... Most looked genuinely excited and despite hating that boxy looking castle for as long as I can remember, in person I was in awe! It really needs to be seen to be appreciated. Headed to get a fastpass for Soarin(g) and went straight on Pirates. I was blown away - there are some amazing effects, whilst we moan about screens - these were on point and transitions between screen and set was perfect. We had a small blip in the scene between the boat battle - but most people didn't realise. I'll say it again, I stepped off of that ride and was literally speechless. If Avatar boat ride ends up like that, I am all for it!
We caught the parade... it has a nice energy and some good costumes. It's also a mostly a good mix of dancer to character ratios - I'd like to see a couple more characters in the parade - mushu would have been good. I didn't see Mickey, but I may have missed him in the excitement. I stood next to where the parade steps off... right in front of the toy story toilets and peered through the fence at a ground cleared expanse!
Fantasyland is huge - with quite obvious areas for expansion (I'm sure you've seen the picnic spots). We did Peter Pan and Crystal Grotto after fireworks and walked on both. Peter pan was good, smooth and had a classic feel about it... almost too classic in a park that is so modern. Crystal Grotto we were told to do at night. It's pretty and cute.you won't see me petitioning for it to come to the US, but it makes for a very good alternative to Storybook canal.
Tomorrowland has done something I wish they had done in New Fantasyland - built am attraction and added dining on top. Genius! Imagine a ride through beat and the beast underneath be our guest! Buzz was ok. Industrial looking. I won't rave about it, but the lasers and the light up targets were welcome! With fountains, and Tron, the land is very kinetic and once they replace Marvel Universe (I didn't see many approach) the land will feel a bit fuller. When we got fastpasses for Tron there was a 30 min wait for tron and a 60 minute wait for jet packs. Tron desperately needs more lockers!
We fastpassed Soaring - which was the slowest moving line of the day. I think it was having tech issues. Pre show woman seemed annoying - but she was speaking Mandarin! Just an observation - through pre show video was shot at DCA (it has the round buttons on the seat belts) but they use the florida style button in Shanghai. .. just an observation!
I like the new smells... although it's very bath and body works. I do miss the orange and fir though! Like the nods to Disneyland - I won't spoil it for anyone.Did look for a cameo from Bob Iger like Michael Eisner had, but I didn't notice it on this trip!
Food in the park was good. We ate in Barbosa's bounty. I had ribs and most of the group had chicken. There were no complaints. But there were Shanghai themed napkins!
Later in the day I had a muffin at Remy's patisserie - it was ok. Not ground breaking as muffins go. I'd have like there to have been a few more pastry options here. Everything looked nice, but seating was sparse. We had to sit with some random folks, who didn't appreciate sitting with strangers. On that note, most westerners and visitors from Tokyo were all so excited to be there and there were many conversations, hello's and good feeling.
To wind up (I need my bed!) Gardens of Imagination was smaller and less garden - like than I had thought it would be. It needs some fountains or something.
Fireworks show was too long and lacking impressive pyro. I am a fan of old, less eco friendly pyro though! The lasers were great but the fountains were lost on such a big castle.
Adventure Isle has great theming and the entrance to Treasure Cove looking toward the land has so much depth. .. you really are pulled in - something that due to positioning of Roaring Mountain there isn't much pull in from Gardens of Imagination... I'm guessing if an everest mountain makes it there, that will be the weenie, at least from outside the land.
I love tomorrow land's design, it just needs more substance.
FANTASYLAND needs more in the way of dark rides, but for the size of it, more attractions will be welcome when they arrive.
Disney have done a fantastic job here. I actually have very few negative things to say. And I took the fastpass system as acknowledgement that MyMagic+ is dead!
I was 15 people from the front of line for park opening, then, despite having e tickets we were sent to ticket windows to pick up paper tickets .. We then headed to the turnstiles and missed an opportunity to be in coral 1a. ..but made it into 1b. Aside from this hiccup (and 3 western suits giving us false info), everything was set out very well... and it very much felt like they had anticipated much larger numbers. I didn't see an body walking around with a number 4 (donald) wristband, but peering through a fence by the metro, an area had been set up.
The park opened slightly earlier than announced, all the Cast lined along Mickey Avenue was a lovely touch... Most looked genuinely excited and despite hating that boxy looking castle for as long as I can remember, in person I was in awe! It really needs to be seen to be appreciated. Headed to get a fastpass for Soarin(g) and went straight on Pirates. I was blown away - there are some amazing effects, whilst we moan about screens - these were on point and transitions between screen and set was perfect. We had a small blip in the scene between the boat battle - but most people didn't realise. I'll say it again, I stepped off of that ride and was literally speechless. If Avatar boat ride ends up like that, I am all for it!
We caught the parade... it has a nice energy and some good costumes. It's also a mostly a good mix of dancer to character ratios - I'd like to see a couple more characters in the parade - mushu would have been good. I didn't see Mickey, but I may have missed him in the excitement. I stood next to where the parade steps off... right in front of the toy story toilets and peered through the fence at a ground cleared expanse!
Fantasyland is huge - with quite obvious areas for expansion (I'm sure you've seen the picnic spots). We did Peter Pan and Crystal Grotto after fireworks and walked on both. Peter pan was good, smooth and had a classic feel about it... almost too classic in a park that is so modern. Crystal Grotto we were told to do at night. It's pretty and cute.you won't see me petitioning for it to come to the US, but it makes for a very good alternative to Storybook canal.
Tomorrowland has done something I wish they had done in New Fantasyland - built am attraction and added dining on top. Genius! Imagine a ride through beat and the beast underneath be our guest! Buzz was ok. Industrial looking. I won't rave about it, but the lasers and the light up targets were welcome! With fountains, and Tron, the land is very kinetic and once they replace Marvel Universe (I didn't see many approach) the land will feel a bit fuller. When we got fastpasses for Tron there was a 30 min wait for tron and a 60 minute wait for jet packs. Tron desperately needs more lockers!
We fastpassed Soaring - which was the slowest moving line of the day. I think it was having tech issues. Pre show woman seemed annoying - but she was speaking Mandarin! Just an observation - through pre show video was shot at DCA (it has the round buttons on the seat belts) but they use the florida style button in Shanghai. .. just an observation!
I like the new smells... although it's very bath and body works. I do miss the orange and fir though! Like the nods to Disneyland - I won't spoil it for anyone.Did look for a cameo from Bob Iger like Michael Eisner had, but I didn't notice it on this trip!
Food in the park was good. We ate in Barbosa's bounty. I had ribs and most of the group had chicken. There were no complaints. But there were Shanghai themed napkins!
Later in the day I had a muffin at Remy's patisserie - it was ok. Not ground breaking as muffins go. I'd have like there to have been a few more pastry options here. Everything looked nice, but seating was sparse. We had to sit with some random folks, who didn't appreciate sitting with strangers. On that note, most westerners and visitors from Tokyo were all so excited to be there and there were many conversations, hello's and good feeling.
To wind up (I need my bed!) Gardens of Imagination was smaller and less garden - like than I had thought it would be. It needs some fountains or something.
Fireworks show was too long and lacking impressive pyro. I am a fan of old, less eco friendly pyro though! The lasers were great but the fountains were lost on such a big castle.
Adventure Isle has great theming and the entrance to Treasure Cove looking toward the land has so much depth. .. you really are pulled in - something that due to positioning of Roaring Mountain there isn't much pull in from Gardens of Imagination... I'm guessing if an everest mountain makes it there, that will be the weenie, at least from outside the land.
I love tomorrow land's design, it just needs more substance.
FANTASYLAND needs more in the way of dark rides, but for the size of it, more attractions will be welcome when they arrive.
Disney have done a fantastic job here. I actually have very few negative things to say. And I took the fastpass system as acknowledgement that MyMagic+ is dead!
