Robert Niles
Editor
Robert Niles

Racing into the New Year at Shanghai Disneyland

January 24, 2017, 7:46 PM · It's the first Lunar New Year at Shanghai Disneyland, and fans on holiday are packing the resort, which already has attracted more than five million visitors in its first six months of operation.

Reader Adriel Tjokrosaputro Tweeted video of the rope drop.

That rush reminds me of the morning sprint at the Tokyo Disney parks — the most adrenaline-pumping moment I've ever experienced at a theme park. Heck, on a B&M Hyper, at least I know that no one's going to be crashing into me!

Honestly, that entry was one of the few times I've ever felt fear in a theme park - hundreds of people in a full-speed-ahead run, flowing in front two entry plazas, as cast members simply smiled and bowed toward them, making no attempt to slow anyone. My first reaction was to tense and brace for an inevitable impact, then I noticed that even with so many people running so fast, no one was colliding. The crowd simply was moving as one, at breakneck speed. So this is what Pamplona is like. You're gonna run with the bulls, baby, 'cause you don't want see what it's like to stop.

So I ran.

So why the hurry in Shanghai? This...

Of course, if being in an IMAX-style flying theater isn't important to you, there's no wait to watch the new version of Disney's Soarin' wherever you are, right now.

Okay, that's the Disney California Adventure ending there, not the Shanghai one, but hey, you didn't have to wait for it!

Rate and Review:

Replies (6)

Disfan
Disfan
January 24, 2017 at 10:10 PM · Thank goodness for the Shanghai crowds, it eases my mind somewhat of the financial doom and gloom that many had predicted when it first opened.

It might concern me though, that Soarin' is the popular ride, because it is the one most easy to copy by other Chinese parks, including the ones owned by the guy who threatened to destroy Disney in China.

ChadH
Chad H
January 25, 2017 at 1:12 AM · Looks like that fast pass queue needs a fast pass queue...
anonymous
86.129.205.165
January 25, 2017 at 2:37 AM · I've been to Tokyo last year and there were Cast Members to stop people from running at opening. They had signs and said to everyone who was running to stop and walk. Being unruly westeners, we may or may not have fast walked/run to the Toy Story Mania Fast Passes and may or may not have been reprehend multiple times, but for sure Japanese people were following instructions.
Anonymous878
Anon Mouse
January 25, 2017 at 2:08 PM · I guess Shanghai Disneyland will be a success with the huge crowds. They need Soarin' in Hong Kong to improve their attendance. Maybe they can do a Soarin' Over Hong Kong, but maybe that's already covered in the Iron Man ride. So do a Soarin' Over Asia ride. It'll be the most popular ride in Hong Kong Disneyland. I love the new Soarin' Around The World at DCA. I don't get the criticism. It's excellent improvement over the original ride.
anonymous
166.216.157.47
January 25, 2017 at 12:44 PM · I visited Shanghai Disneyland this past September. It was an awesome experience. There was definitely a little adjustment due to differences in culture, but I really didn't experience any negetaives ins De the park. Disney still needs to teach cast members there about crowd control because it seemed like in instances where a large crowd was gathering or queueing up for something, cast members just stood there and didn't care. I also did not like the way Disney is going with fastpass distribution - the model in Shanghai will be implemented here soon, I'm sure. Instead of obtaining fast passes at individual attractions, you now get them at a few kiosks throughout the park. The bad thing with this is that it creates monster sized lines at the kiosks. You end up waiting 45 minutes to get a pass so you don't have to wait in an hour long line.
anonymous
136.62.30.200
January 25, 2017 at 2:09 PM · Unfortunately, I do not like the new Soarin' Around The World movie at all. It's a disappointment.

I'm over Soarin' in general,and I never thought I'd miss the Over California version, but I do.

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