Today is a day we will depart from our new family of 40 and venture into the city of Shanghai and then into the magic kingdom. I have already posted pictures so will just entertain you with a few details. When booking our tour and determining that there were several days in Shanghai there was never a doubt in our minds that the newest park needed exploring after all we were in the same city. I did speak with the tour company and they assured me there would be no problem if we struck out on our own for the day. The group was going to a senior community and then a home hosted lunch and then a museum. That night they were seeing an acrobatic performance. Disney sounded much more inviting.
Logistics fairly simple. I knew what metro line and that I would need to connect. Weather called for rain but we now have 2 umbrellas and credit cards. I doubled checked the route. Got the station name written in English and the connection worked out. I was assured by the local guide and our tour leader that the ticket machine was easy to use. We left at 8AM only 30 minutes after my planned departure time. We found the station took pictures of the gate and in China the exits are numbered. We only had to find exit 2 when we came back.
The ticket machine was a snap once we figured out to put in the final destination. Good thing the line ends at Disney This is also a bonus when coming home. No confusion on what train or line to choose walk to the gate train arrives within 1 minute. No confusion or going the wrong direction, the connection works the same way and directions to the other line clearly marked. Unfortunately it took more than an hour to there
Arrive at the station, it is beautiful a big lake, wide walkways and clean. A little walk to the park where there are no fewer than 12 lines with 200 or more people in each line. Dan starts to worry assuming they are ticket lines or entrance into the park. So ask a Disney employee who has little English and he says just get in line. Good thing no rain yet. Turns out this is just security and bag check. Now to the ticket line. There is no one there. Seems everyone already has tickets. We got into the park for the senior rate which was about $40 each
When Dan and I go to Disney we go to people watch and evaluate the park in general. Rides are t really important. Off to Tomorrow Land. They have the fastest roller coaster of any of the parks. The wait is only 25 minutes but we decided to get a fast pass and go later. Fast passes for each land are grouped together at a "service center ". Well between the ride and the service center I lost my ticket. No problem except we weren't able to use the fast pass system the rest of the day
Impressions: we loved the park, it is big but manageable. Wide walkways and everything planted like Disney does. Lots of bathrooms, groundskeepers stopping to take pictures for people and lots more adults than children. This is probably due to the 1 child rule in China. The children are happy and well behaved; the teens not so much. Lunch was probably the biggest challenge and expensive by everyone's standards. No hot dogs and hamburgers.
Best ride of the few we went on: Pirates of the Caribbean, moving boat 4 D IMAX screen, absolutely terrific. Longest wait: 110 minutes for soaring type ride. Overall I think less rides but a great park. Would definitely go again. Got home with a little detour in the station, left Disney early due to rain....Great Day!
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