Veil of secrecy over plans for Shanghai Disneyland is finally lifted

By Rebekah Pemberton for Mailonline and Katie Amey for Mailonline
New park will have biggest-ever castle, Pirates of the Caribbean land and a Tron ride (but you’ll have to wait till 2016 to visit)
The magical theme park is set to feature six themed lands, including one housing the largest castle in a Disney park
Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger revealed a scale model during a presentation at the Shanghai Expo Centre
The $5.5 billion complex will include two hotels, a Disneytown entertainment district and Wishing Star Park
Walt Disney Company has lifted the veil on its plans for the highly anticipated Shanghai Disneyland, revealing many details that had up to this point, remained a closely guarded secret.
The magical theme park is set to feature six themed lands, packed full of family attractions and live entertainment features – including the largest castle in a Disney park.
Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger revealed a scale model of the world-class theme park at a presentation held today at the Shanghai Expo Centre.
‘We are building something truly special here in Shanghai that not only showcases the best of Disney’s storytelling but also celebrates and incorporates China’s incredibly rich heritage to create a one-of-a-kind destination that will delight and entertain the people of China for generations to come,’ said Iger.

‘We are taking everything we’ve learned from our six decades of exceeding expectations – along with our relentless innovation and famous creativity to create a truly magical place that is both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.’
The six themed lands will include Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove and Fantasyland, with its Enchanted Storybook Castle.
Mickey Avenue is the first main entry at a Disney park to be inspired by the colourful personalities of Mickey Mouse and his pals.
Take a photo with your favourite characters or shop in one of the many stores along the Avenue M Arcade.
Gardens of Imagination celebrates the wonders of nature and will be the location where guests can try the Fantasia Carousel, soar on the back of Dumbo the Flying Elephant and enjoy the Castle stage shows and evening light spectacular.
Mickey’s Storybook Express, a parade with its own musical soundtrack, will also make its way through this particular land.
Fantasyland is inspired by Disney’s animated films and will be the largest of the six as well as the home to the Enchanted Storybook Castle.
Here, familiar rides such as Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan’s Flight will take up residence, along with Winnie the Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood and Alice’s Wonderland maze.
Adventure Isle, on the other hand, is a newly-discovered lost world filled with hidden treasures. It’s also where visitors will be able to embark on the thrilling rafting adventure, Roaring Rapids.
The first pirate-themed land in a Disney park, Treasure Cove, will be a place to join the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. One of the land’s signature rides will be Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure, a boat ride into a journey with cutting-edge innovations in robotics, animation, set design and multimedia.
The entire park is meant to ‘showcase the best of Disney’s storytelling but also celebrate and incorporate China’s incredibly rich heritage’
Limitless possibilities and optimism of the future in Shanghai will be the topic at Tomorrowland, which boasts Toy Story-themed rides and attractions, and the TRON Lightcycle Power Run, a coaster-style train that is sure to be one of the most thrilling adventures at any Disney park.
And near Tomorrowland, there will be two one-of-a-kind experiences created especially for Shanghai Disney: Star Wars Launch Bay and Marvel Universe.
Star Wars fans will love meeting the heroes and villains of the saga, visiting the intergalactic set-pieces, and immersing themselves in a state-of-the-art cinematic experience.
In Marvel Universe, guests can attend a multimedia briefing and take on the role of comic book artist as they learn how to draw their favourite characters.
The $5.5 billion park, which will include two hotels, Disneytown shopping and entertainment district and Wishing Star Park, is set to open in Spring 2016.
The joint venture between Disney and its partner Shanghai Shendi Group is hoped to extend the 60-year legacy of Disney Parks around the globe.
Other key features of the park include a Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and themed Toy Story Hotel, adjacent to the theme park.
There will also be an international shopping, dining and entertainment district called Disneytown, and a Walt Disney Grand Theatre, home to the first-ever Mandarin production of the Broadway hit Disney’s The Lion King.
Guests will be able to wander through a picturesque garden at the centre of the resort, named the Wishing Star Park, all before taking in the final light display of the evening.
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Walt Disney Company has just unveiled the first look at its highly-anticipated Shanghai Disneyland theme park, to open in spring 2016
The magical park is set to feature six themed lands, including the first-ever section solely dedicated to Pirates of the Caribbean
Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed a scale model of the world-class theme park at a presentation held today at the Shanghai Expo Centre
Fantasyland is inspired by Disney’s animated films and will be home to the Enchanted Storybook Castle, the largest in any park
Gardens of Imagination celebrates the wonders of nature and will be the location of the Fantasia Carousel and Dumbo the Flying Elephant
When guests first enter the park, they will be able to visit Mickey Avenue and shop along the Avenue M Arcade
Limitless possibilities and optimism of the future in Shanghai will be the topic at Tomorrowland (pictured to scale)
In Tomorrowland, guests will be able to see Toy Story-themed rides and attractions, a well as the TRON Lightcycle Power Run
Fantasyland will be the section of the park inspired by Disney’s animated films – and will be the largest of the six
There will be some familiar rides, such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but there will also be new attractions like Alice’s Wonderland maze
The entire park will also house two hotels – one based on Toy Story – and plenty of lush gardens and wandering walkways
As well as the sprawling castle, Adventure Island will offer guests the chance to explore a lost world filled with hidden treasures
Meanwhile, the first pirate-themed land in a Disney park, Treasure Cove, will be a place to join the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow
During its unveiling at the Shanghai Expo Centre, visitors were eager to take photographs of the impressive to-scale storybook castle
The international shopping, dining and entertainment district will be called Disneytown and will also house the Walt Disney Grand Theatre
The $5.5 billion park, which will include two hotels, Disneytown shopping and entertainment district and Wishing Star Park, is set to open in Spring 2016
The joint venture between Disney and its partner Shanghai Shendi Group is hoped to extend the 60-year legacy of Disney Parks around the globe
An aerial view of the Shanghai Disney Resort shows just how expansive the complex really will be
The castle can be seen from the distance from this aerial view of the park, which is currently under development in mainland China
The entire park is meant to ‘showcase the best of Disney’s storytelling but also celebrate and incorporate China’s incredibly rich heritage’
Guests to the park will be able to take in stage shows, as well, such as the first-ever Mandarin production of The Lion King
Upon entering the park, guests will be greeted with an impressive gate and clock tower, as well as a Mickey garden out front
TRON Lightcycle Power Run is Tommorowland’s coaster-style train that is sure to be one of the most thrilling adventures
Near Tomorrowland, there will be two unique experiences created especially for Shanghai Disney: Star Wars Launch Bay and Marvel Universe.
Star Wars fans will be able to immerse themselves in a cinematic experience, while in Marvel Universe, guests can take on the role of comic book artist
For more on this story and video go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3162630/Veil-secrecy-plans-Shanghai-Disneyland-finally-lifted-New-park-biggest-castle-Pirates-Caribbean-land-Tron-ride-ll-wait-till-2016-visit.html#ixzz3g4UNxfip