Today, Shanghai Disney Resort announced that a “Zootopia”-themed land is coming to Shanghai Disneyland - artwork above - marking the second major expansion since the resort opened in 2016. Based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ hit animated movie, this exciting development will be the park’s eighth themed land and the first-ever “Zootopia”-themed land at any Disney park.
Zootopia will be unique to Shanghai Disneyland and will feature a new, major attraction that seamlessly blends Disney’s storytelling and state-of-the-art technologies in order to bring this fan-favorite movie and its characters to life. Guests will be invited to experience the mammalian metropolis of Zootopia “where anyone can be anything,” with a new major attraction that will seamlessly blend Disney storytelling and state-of-the-art technology to bring this fan-favorite movie and its characters to life – including Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Entertainment, merchandise, and food and beverage offerings will invite guests to fully immerse themselves in the Academy-Award-winning animated movie.
There’s plenty of reasons to be wildly excited for this expansion: When it opens, Zootopia will become the eighth themed land at the world’s newest Disney park and the first-ever Zootopia-themed land at any Disney park worldwide! Park guests will be able to enter the world of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde for the very first time and discover what it is like to visit the place where animals can be anything they want.
“We are thrilled to announce that Shanghai Disneyland will be home to the world’s first Zootopia-themed land,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products, The Walt Disney Company. “The rapid rate of expansion at Shanghai Disney Resort demonstrates our confidence and commitment to the Company’s future development in China.”
The development of the world’s first “Zootopia”-themed land follows the huge success of the “Zootopia” animated movie globally, particularly in China where it broke box office records to become the country’s No. 1 animated feature film in history. Of course, no matter where you travel, you’re sure to find a fan or two—Judy and Nick can currently be found greeting guests at Disney parks worldwide, and will soon be joined by other Zootopia friends at their very own land at Shanghai Disney Resort.
“Since the resort’s Grand Opening in 2016, Shanghai Disneyland has gone from strength to strength – continuing to expand and enjoying ever-rising attendance rates while also providing a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests,” said Yang Jinsong, Chairman of Disney’s Chinese joint venture partner for Shanghai Disney Resort – Shanghai Shendi Group. “Shanghai Disneyland has rapidly become one of the fastest growing Disney parks and has been key to the development of the Shanghai International Resort as one of the most visited leisure destinations in the country. This new expansion will provide our guests with an even richer selection of offerings, and will further boost our market competitiveness.”
Construction on Zootopia is targeted to begin later this year, no land opening date has been announced yet, neither what kind of attraction will be built. And if you wonder why this SDL new land was announced today, coming apparently out from nowhere in the middle of January, there is a reason for that and it's because the long holiday for the Chinese New Year is starting in China and all over Asia. The biggest human migration on the planet is now officially underway with close to 3 billion trips expected to be made between January 21 and March 1! By announcing this major news for Shanghai Disneyland now, and even if the Zootopia land is not built yet, Disney bring back SDL in the top news and remind SDL to the hundred of millions of Chinese moving now for this major holiday. Learn more about this on CNN HERE.
Stay tuned on Disney and more for more infos about the Zootopia land when available!
Why spend expansion money on this? I liked the movie, but I don't see how it merits its own land. I can think of a number of other franchises with broader or longer lasting appeal. But better option would be fewer lands based on specific franchises. Sometimes the franchise based land works, with an important IP like Star Wars. But most of the time, a less franchise specific theme works better. Just my $0.02.
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Tanzirian, it's because Zootopia is the animated film which has been the most successful in China EVER. That's why they do a Zootopia land at SDL.
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