The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland

Image Cache: The new Disneyland in Shanghai doesn’t open until June 16, but we’ve got a new drone’s-eye view of the progress at the new park. It will be the first Disney park in mainland China, and we can expect three things from it: It’s going to be busy, it’s going to have some cool new rides and it’s going to make Disney a ton of money.

Browse through the cool photos, animations and diagrams in Gizmodo’s Image Cache here.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
A bird’s eye view of construction on the new Disneyland Shanghai theme park from February 2016 (Getty Images)

A bird’s eye view of construction on the new Disneyland Shanghai theme park from February 2016 (Getty Images)

Below, we see a map of Disneyland Shanghai with each of the new lands, including “Mickey Avenue”, a space known in Disneyland California as “Main Street USA”.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Map of the new Disneyland in Shanghai (Disney)

Map of the new Disneyland in Shanghai (Disney)

As any Disney nerd knows, the opening of the original Disneyland in 1955 was kind of a disaster — a disaster televised on live TV, no less. With any luck, things like the water fountains and pavement will be functional by opening day in Shanghai.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Tomorrowland at Shanghai Disneyland under construction (Getty Images)

Tomorrowland at Shanghai Disneyland under construction (Getty Images)

This is Tomorrowland, which will house five main attractions: Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue, Jet Packs, Star Wars Launch Bay, Stitch Encounter and, the crown jewel, TRON Lightcycle Power Run.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Concept art for the new TRON attraction at Disneyland Shanghai (Disney)

Concept art for the new TRON attraction at Disneyland Shanghai (Disney)

We’ve seen the TRON attraction’s concept art, and it look like it’s going to be a lot of fun.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Ride vehicles for the new TRON attraction (Inside the Magic)

Ride vehicles for the new TRON attraction (Inside the Magic)

The ride vehicles appear to put you in the position of riding a real lightcycle, as you can see from this preview event back in July.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland under construction (ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland under construction (ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)

This is the Seven’s Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland. A version of this attraction is already at Walt Disney World in Florida, but it’s a safe bet that the new one will have at least slightly different features.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland

Fantasyland will also include Peter Pan’s Flight, a suspended-track ride in both Disneyland California and Disney World which should be pretty impressive, if the latest suspended carriage tech is used.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Treasure Cove rendering (Disney)

Treasure Cove rendering (Disney)

This is Treasure Cove, the home of attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, and the pirate-themed live stunt show Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Rendering of the New Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Shanghai Disneyland (Disney)

Rendering of the New Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Shanghai Disneyland (Disney)

The stage show renderings from Treasure Cove look pretty humble. But if the actual new Pirates ride is anything like the illustrations, it’s going to be heads above California’s version. No word yet on if they’re getting a robo-Johnny Depp.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Voyage to the Crystal Grotto from a drone’s eye view (Getty images)

Voyage to the Crystal Grotto from a drone’s eye view (Getty images)

This appears to be the Voyage to the Crystal Grotto attraction just behind the castle. The rendering makes it look like an open-air boat tour, and one you’ll want to take in at night.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Voyage to the Crystal Grotto rendering (Disney)

Voyage to the Crystal Grotto rendering (Disney)

We don’t have great aerial views of how construction is going on the Roaring Rapids side of the park, but if this rendering is any indication it’s going to be an exciting ride.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Roaring Rapids rendering at Shanghai Disneyland (Disney)

Roaring Rapids rendering at Shanghai Disneyland (Disney)

Renderings are always more impressive than the real thing, but provided they get everything done on time, this is going to be one hell of a park.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Adventure Isle rendering at Shanghai Disneyland (Disney)

Adventure Isle rendering at Shanghai Disneyland (Disney)

And, of course, we can’t forget the Star Wars Launch Bay.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Star Wars Launch Bay for the new Shanghai Disneyland park (Disney)

Star Wars Launch Bay for the new Shanghai Disneyland park (Disney)

There doesn’t appear to be a massive expansion of Star Wars attractions at Disneyland Shanghai like we’re seeing in California and Florida. But that might have something to do with the fact that theme parks are planned out years in advance and Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm was probably just a twinkle in Walt’s cryogenically frozen eye.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland

Even the Marvel rendering looks kind of pathetic with just stanchions and a presumed meet-and-greet with characters. Personally, I’d take badarse dinosaur monsters on Roaring Rapids over meeting some guy dressed as Hawkeye any day.

The Coolest Rides Coming To Shanghai Disneyland
Rendering of the Shanghai Disneyland entrance (Disney)

Rendering of the Shanghai Disneyland entrance (Disney)

I don’t expect to be able to visit Shanghai Disneyland any time soon, but with brand new rides like TRON and Roaring Rapids, along with updated versions of Pirates and Peter Pan, this new park is probably going to be a huge success for the Mouse House.

Top image: Construction of Shanghai Disneyland on 26 December 2015


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