As opening day for Shanghai Disneyland gets closer and closer, we are beginning to see images of the newest Disney park surface! How exciting, right? Well kind of. Trust me, I would be much more excited if Disney had handled this massive project better. Instead, I’m hesitant to be thrilled about a park I probably won’t visit for a very long time, if ever. Here are my three reasons why I already hate Shanghai Disneyland:
3) Shanghai Locals Are Already Destroying The Property
Although Shanghai Disneyland won’t be open until June 16th, 2016, the locals have already destroyed Disney Town, which is just outside the park. Graffiti has already been scratched into lamp posts, trash is being left all over, people were found trampling the flowers, and children were found defecating in the bushes. Treating a Disney park with such disrespect is so perplexing to me, because I treat the domestic Disney parks like they are my home. American tourists have a bad reputation as being inconsiderate guests in international cities. We certainly aren’t perfect, but the images I’ve seen from Disney Town in Shanghai of some locals destroying their own park must be embarrassing for the Chinese locals who didn’t partake in the destruction. The spotlight of the Disney community is on Shanghai, and it probably will be for the next year or so, so I hope this was just a one time incident.
2) Domestic Budget Cuts
It is well documented at this point that Shanghai Disneyland went way over budget. This has caused cut backs at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Meet-and-greet opportunities are being cut, attractions cast members are noticing that they are receiving less hours per week, and some positions are being cut all together. And it isn’t just in the theme parks. The hotels are being affected as well. Front desk, concierge, and curbside cast members have all noticed that they aren’t getting the hours per week that they used to. Less cast members generally means worse service in my experience, so this is not good for anyone. Being a former cast member, I can tell you the hardest days of work were the ones where we weren’t fully staffed, because it was harder to give the guests the attention they need.
1) It’s Going To Make The Domestic Parks Look Old
Okay, maybe this is an unfair complaint, but selfishly I am jealous of how breathtaking this park is going to be. Tron Lightcycle Power Run, Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure, and even the new castle show Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic & Light! look stunning just from the videos and pictures I’ve seen. The scope looks so much larger than anything seen at any other Disney park. Yes, Walt Disney World might be bigger land wise, but the attractions, the castle, Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, and so much of what has already been shown look massive when compared to anything seen at in the domestic parks. I hope this park can push forward some of the outdated attractions and shows in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, but I’m not going to hold my breath. So, maybe the root of anger towards Shanghai comes from the fact that I won’t be able to visit anytime soon, and it looks amazing.
Photo: dailymail.co.uk, The Happiest Blog on Twitter
