My Favorite Moments at Shanghai Disneyland

I recently had the opportunity to visit Shanghai Disneyland Resort in China, which means my husband and I have been to all 6 Disney theme parks in the world! Shanghai Disneyland was "authentically Disney and yet distinctly Chinese"...so many beautiful differences! One of the most beautiful differences is that admission was only $50 USD for a single-day ticket!

Even though we were obviously in a super touristy place, we learned so much about Chinese culture. For example the massive castle is topped with a golden peony, which is their national flower. And if you're looking for sunscreen lotion in their gift shops (like I did)? Don't bother! People in China rigorously approach sun protection, but don't typically wear sunscreen for a number of reasons. Instead they opt for UV Protective Clothing, including lightweight jackets, gloves, and sun-protective sleeves. And even parasols!

We did it! My husband and I have visited all 6 Disney resorts around the world, including Disneyland Park, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Shanghai Disneyland Resort.

Anyways, we walked nearly 10 miles on the steamy summer day we visited. I wore my favorite red and white polka dot dress and a pair of comfy sneakers. After all, the resort is a massive 963 acres, making it one of the largest Disney theme park resorts in the world!

Here are my favorite memories from Shanghai Disneyland Resort:

1. Dining at the Enchanted Storybook Castle

   Be sure to make a lunch reservation at the Royal Banquet Hall restaurant. Totally worth it! The Enchanted Storybook Castle is actually the largest, tallest, and most complex castle in any Disney park globally and is also the first castle to represent all of the Disney Princesses, rather than being dedicated to just one. What a fantastic experience to "meet" and dine with several of the characters, including Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy. We splurged on the three-course meal and I enjoyed the traditional Duck Confit with Cherry Red Wine Sauce and Frisee Salad with a gorgeous Little Mermaid inspired dessert. Josh has a gluten allergy, but he was also able to safely enjoy his meal since Disney chefs rock at ensuring food safety!

   
   
   

   

   

   

   

   

2. Eating the Winnie the Pooh Pizza

   It was VERY hot when we visited Shanghai Disneyland so let's just say I was a tad grumpy throughout the day...but let me tell you, the Winnie the Pooh pizza cheered me up big time! The Winnie the Pooh Ham and Pineapple Pizza is sold at the Pinocchio Village Kitchen. How cute are the crunchy little ears?! I ate the entire thing in like 6 minutes. No more rumbly in my tummy. And there's most definitely caffeine in that cup!

   
   

   

   
   

3. Eating Gelato from a Gondola at Il Paperino

   We ate gelato twice here! This Donald Duck-themed shop is a delicious way to cool off on Mickey Avenue during a hot day. And we even got our gelato sundae in a souvenir gondola! We brought it all the way back home to Los Angeles and my son loves to eat his breakfast with it. There's even a tiny oar as a spoon!  Fun Fact: Il Paperino translates to "The Little Duck" in Italian.

   
   
   

   

4. Taking Silly Photos with Josh

   It's well-known that tourists love taking ridiculous photos! And Shanghai Disneyland Resort is no exception. We witnessed countless unique poses and had to replicate them as comedically as possible...including one where Josh "proposed" to me in front of the castle! When we were dating, I always thought he might pop the question in front of a castle since we love exploring them so much :)

   
   
   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   
   
   

5. Drinking from a 'Olu Mel Coconut

   Anything to stay hydrated! I spontaneously purchased an entire coconut from a sidewalk vendor and downed the entire thing. My coconut water featured a popular turtle character named 'Olu Mel, which is from Duffy and Friends. These characters are extremely popular at Tokyo Disney, Hong Kong Disney and Shanghai Disney but I'd never heard of them in the USA! 'Olu Mel is a super cute, ukulele-playing turtle known for composing songs inspired by the natural world, which fits perfectly with the tropical theme of a coconut-based drink!

Drinking from the cutest little coconut that ever existed!

Okay, so after careful analysis it looks like my favorite moments ALL included eating! So come hungry, wear lots of sunscreen (they don't sell it in the park!), stay hydrated and enjoy your adventure in Shanghai Disneyland Resort.

And pack your passports, because The Walt Disney Company recently announced that the first ever Disney theme park and resort is coming soon to the Middle East. Looks like we'll be headed to Walt Disney Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates! I guess our worldwide conquest isn't quite finished after all :)

See ya at Disney Abu Dhabi Park & Resort in UAE, my friends!