Duration: 2 days
Timing: May
Cost per person: 300 yuan
Companions: Family
Style of Travel: Free and easy
Weekend getaway
Published on June 11, 2020, at 17:29. As soon as Disney announced its reopening, I started planning, preparing to book tickets and a homestay. Haha, this Disney princess is packing up to go home, super excited! We are locals from Shanghai, and since the pandemic has been quite suffocating, we took the opportunity to take a break and let the kids have some fun at Disney for two days.
The author visited the following attractions: Thunder Mountain Rafting, Tron Lightcycle Run, Peter Pan’s Flight, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Winnie the Pooh’s Adventure, Disney Town.
There are so many homestays around Shanghai Disney that it’s hard to choose, but we were fortunate to find one that we were very satisfied with. Although some activities were suspended and the operating hours were much shorter when the park first opened, the number of visitors was not high, allowing us to enjoy our favorite attractions. In the morning, there were quite a few people, but in the afternoon, the crowds increased slightly. The waiting time for popular attractions was at most 30-50 minutes.
We departed from our homestay at eight in the morning, and the driver picked us up at the doorstep. It took only 15 minutes to arrive, and due to traffic control around Disney, it took about 15 minutes to walk to the ticket checkpoint. If you want to enter the park earlier, you can also queue up early. The actual入园 time is much earlier than the stipulated 9:00. Check the weather in advance, and if it’s rainy, make sure to buy raincoats and boot covers, as it’s really uncomfortable to play all day with wet shoes.
Arrangements for the visit:
1. Prepare your identification card, health code, and masks (bring a few extra masks) in advance. Note! You can bring unopened water and snacks! Disney now allows food! Yes, it’s allowed!!! (This is an important point, so it’s worth repeating three times).
2. Prepare costumes in advance to save a lot of money; wear comfortable shoes; parents with children should rent a stroller, which we got for free from the homestay.
3. Download the ‘Disney Resort’ app to see the waiting times for various attractions and adjust your route accordingly. The displayed times are usually shorter than the actual times.
4. After entering, open the app to link your tickets and grab your Fastpasses (FP). One phone can link up to five tickets, and you can grab a new one every two hours. Create a游玩 group, and if one person gets a FP, everyone in the group will have it. A游玩 group can have up to five people. You can also purchase a VIP experience.
5. Attractions available for FP: Soaring over Horizon (great experience); Thunder Mountain Rafting (fun, prepare your raincoat as the level of wetness varies); Tron Lightcycle Run (amazing technology); Seven Dwarfs Mine Train; Peter Pan’s Flight; Winnie the Pooh’s Adventure (entry only with FP); Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
6. Must-experience attractions: Soaring over Horizon, Tron Lightcycle Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Pirates of the Caribbean. Note: Many strategies may not be applicable on the day of the visit. Treat this guide as a reference, and adjust your plans as needed. Check the app frequently and choose the attractions that have shorter waiting times and are also on your wish list.
Due to the epidemic currently, there are half-day tickets. Therefore, the queuing time for all projects in the afternoon will be very long, especially for popular projects and projects that children like. After finishing popular projects, you can easily play some small projects, take photos, or experience them a second time. For lunch and dinner, you can go to Disneytown.
Regarding accommodation: There are many homestays around Disneyland. When choosing, refer to the following points:
1. Geographic location: Disneyland is in a relatively remote location in Pudong. Except for the hotels and homestays around it or along Metro Line 11, the locations of other selectable homestays will be somewhat remote. For this reason, many homestays will provide vehicle transfer services. Remember to ask when consulting. Free service is of course the best.
2. The surrounding environment of the homestay: People will be relatively tired after playing in Disneyland and very much need a quiet environment. Those with noisy environments can be filtered out.
3. The hygiene of the homestay: In recent two years, many hotels have been exposed
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**Three Penguins Parent-Child Inn: A Family-Friendly Getaway**
When looking for a place to stay that caters to families with children, the Three Penguins Parent-Child Inn is a top choice. This homestay, with two branches located close to each other, offers a range of amenities that make it an ideal destination for a family vacation.
**Location and Accessibility**
To find the inn, simply search for the store name on the map. The two branches are managed by the same owner, ensuring consistency in service and quality.
**Children’s Entertainment**
The homestay boasts a dedicated children’s area complete with an ocean ball pool, a slide, a paddling pool, and a sandcastle. The guest rooms are designed with children in mind, offering a worry-free experience for parents.
**Accommodation Highlights**
Upon arrival, I was informed that there were two branches, and I opted for the one with a spacious courtyard. The inn offers a free transfer service with multiple time slots, making arrival and departure hassle-free. Ordering takeout is also convenient, with delivery times averaging just 30 minutes.
**Surrounding Environment**
The inn is situated in a pleasant environment, perfect for evening strolls or playing in the courtyard. During my stay, it was strawberry season, and a picking garden was just a five-minute walk away, offering fresh strawberries, tomatoes, and watermelons.
**Room Comfort and Hygiene**
The rooms are furnished with white bedding, ensuring cleanliness and a comfortable scent. The hygiene standards are high, with all areas meticulously cleaned daily. In the mornings, the cleaning staff can be seen tending to the public areas.
**Room Amenities**
We stayed for two nights, and each evening the room was cleaned with fresh towels and amenities provided. The room was designed as a bunk bed treehouse, which delighted the children. Safety features like anti-collision strips on the slide added to the comfort.
**Courtyard and Style**
The spacious courtyard is equipped with a swing, a wading pool, and a sandcastle, providing plenty of entertainment. The decor is fresh and natural, with color schemes that are pleasing to the eye. High-quality brands are used for rooms, toiletries, and kitchenware, reflecting the owner’s attention to detail.
**Service and Hospitality**
The housekeeper is on-site and responsive to any needs via WeChat. They even provided children’s slippers with a cute dinosaur design. The staff recommended delicious takeout options and personally delivered the food to our room.
**Breakfast Offerings**
Breakfast is priced at 30 yuan per person, but our order included a double breakfast with free children’s meals, so we didn’t incur any additional costs. The breakfast consisted of sandwiches, hot milk, and a balanced meal, with coffee available upon request.
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