Photo taken on May 6, 2016 shows a general view of the Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai, east China. (Photo: Xinhua/Niu Yixin)
Shanghai Disney Resort, a new family entertainment destination, will be an exciting international Disney experience, incorporating unique Chinese characteristics and elements that reflect Chinese consumer preferences, and years of collaboration between Disney experts from China and around the world.
The blend of Disney magic and China's cultural spirit will be apparent in a wide variety of ways, with some Chinese influences immediately recognizable and some more subtly incorporated throughout Shanghai Disneyland, the two themed hotels and the Disneytown entertainment district.
The result is a resort that offers a distinctive Disney experience reflecting the beauty and unique identity of today's China.
The special nature of this resort will be visible in classic Chinese design, from Wandering Moon Teahouse in Shanghai Disneyland to the Shikumen architectural features in Disneytown. It will be tangible in the experiences, including celebrations of seasonal festivals and stage shows which incorporate Chinese language, performers, theatrics and acrobatics. It will be delectable, with food and beverages that reflect the Chinese desire for diversity of flavor and traditional favorites. It will even be found in the lush green environment, which encompasses the overall resort, including a variety of exotic trees and shrubs from across China.
All of those pieces will be the result of collaborative teamwork that has been essential in developing, designing and building the resort since the groundbreaking in 2011. Disney's cast and Imagineers have sought out local talent and hired renowned Chinese designers, engineers, artists and cultural advisors to join their ranks or work as advisors alongside them. The team also has benefited from the local knowledge and support of its Chinese partner, Shendi, along with guidance from hundreds of online Chinese consumer community advisors.
The design of Shanghai Disney Resort also takes into account Chinese travel habits, which include a desire for peaceful surroundings and family bonding time for multiple generations, something that may be missing in everyday life. In Shanghai Disneyland, the Gardens of Imagination will be the first land at a Disney park designed as a garden, with 11 acres of lush, green space at the center of the park for families to gather together, relax and enjoy the entertainment.
