It's time for the D&M Shanghaî Disneyland week-end update and this week, in addition to some great aerial shots we'll have a look at SDL future. I know it can seems a bit odd to talk about the future of a park which is not even officially open yet but the two first weeks of Shanghaî Disneyland are already sold out and the park will most certainly be a huge success from day one.
But, and it's a big "but", does the park has enough capacity for the dozens of thousands of guests who will rush in starting June 16? That's the big question and from what we can see of the waiting times during SDL trial days - up to 195 minutes for the Soaring ride, for instance - when the park didn't even reached its full capacity we can doubt that it will be the case when 60000 guests will be in. I think that everyone knows it, from SDL Imagineers to the folks at Shendi Group and the phase two to add new rides and attractions should come probably pretty quickly, although it always take time to build them. Thanks to pictures showing SDL backstage we'll have a look at the room available for a park expansion, not to mention the land also available in the park here and there. So, let's have a look at all this, shall we?
We'll start by some new aerial pictures shot at night over the park. Above, SDL Castle and Gardens of Imagiantion, below Treasure Cove and Adventure Isle.
Let's have a look now at another kind of aerial pictures, showing SDL backstage areas.
Now, on the two above pics the backstage area may look huge in comparison to the park, but first there is a wide angle lens effect which makes them looking bigger and the park itself being in the picture background looks of course smaller than the backstage in the foreground. So, and although there is a big part of optical effect, Shanghaî Disnyeland has plenty of room for an expansion as you'll see also on the Google Earth satellite shots below.
On the picture above showing SDL Tomrrowland the available backstage room don't seem that big - though they do have some - but behind Fantasyland and Treasure Cove - picture below - it's a whole different story as here they DO have plenty of land available.
And apparently from what a Disney fan has discover on a SDL map recently released online they apparently intend to build Expedition Everest mountain there, nothing less. If you look at the two pics below you'll see that the track in both cases ( from a SDL map and an aerial view of Animal Kingdom ride ) look exactly the same. This one should be located behind Treasure Cove and POTC fortress.
They also have some bits of land available inside the park here and there, which can be big enough for small dark rides but probably not for a big E-Ticket attraction. And of course there is the big land located between Adventure Isle Roaring Rapids and SDL Lake, supposed to be kept for a third hotel though they may change their mind and use it for a park expansion, who knows?
In addition to Expedition Everest which seems to be a done deal rumors of an Alice in Wonderland trackless ride and aMarvel super-hero coaster - probably themed or Spiderman. These must be considered as rumors until an official announcement.See you soon for a new SDL week-end update!
