A photo shows the conceptual design of Shanghai Disney Resort's new float "Mouse Party" which will debut at the parade of the Shanghai Tourism Festival on Sept. 15, 2018. (Photo/courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort)
A total of 25 domestic and international floats will be paraded at the Shanghai Tourism Festival set to open later this month, including Shanghai Disney Resort's newly designed float.
Shanghai Disney Resort will participate in the festival for the fifth consecutive year, marking the occasion by leading the float parade with its "Mouse Party." The parade is planned as a spectacular celebration, led by the most iconic mouse in the world -Mickey Mouse.
Twenty of Disney's dynamic performers will also be dancing alongside the float to the tune of hit song "It Began with a Mouse." After its debut, the float will cross the city from Sept. 16 through Oct. 6.
"With Shanghai attracting millions of tourists every year, we are so proud to see that Shanghai Disney Resort has rapidly become one of the country's most popular destinations, benefiting significantly from the success of the city's booming tourism industry," said Philippe Gas, general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort. "The theme of this year's float is 'Celebration', and we look forward to helping our guests celebrate many of their important milestones with us for years to come."
This year, 38 performing groups have confirmed their participation in the opening parade of the festival on Sept. 15, among whom, 27 groups consist of 1,300 performers from overseas. In particular, 12 groups are from countries and regions along the Belt and Road. Performers from Ecuador and Peru will participate in the event for the first time, according to the Shanghai government's official website.
To celebrate China-EU Tourism Year and the China-Canada Year of Tourism, floats representing the EU and Quebec in Canada will also debut at the parade of the festival.
Shanghai Disney Resort is not the only theme park to join the tourism festival. Shanghai's Happy Valley and Haichang Ocean Park will also attend with their carnival-styled floats.
The three-week festival will feature more than 70 special activities, with some designed for overseas tourists. The Shanghai Tourism Festival has been held annually since 1999, and last year's festival attracted over 12 million visitors.
The festival will last until Oct. 6. On that day, the 2018 Shanghai Tourism Festival's closing ceremony will be held at Shanghai Disney Resort's Disneytown for the first time ever.
