Where to stay? A quick trip on the metro from the city centre gets you to the Shanghai Disneyland Resort. Before you get to the parades and rides, you need to find a place to stay.
For that, there’s the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, an Art Nouveau-style flagship hotel with lake views and enough carved wood to satisfy a manor house. Pricier than the nearby Toy Story Hotel (though you are paying for proximity and, well, a level of polish), it’s a well-appointed place to collapse at the end of the day. One of its guest room is Disney’s version of turn-of-the-century style.
Here’s what to expect if you book a stay.
A Look Inside Your Room
Shanghai Disneyland Hotel
Before you swipe your key card, you’ll have seen the detail: the carpeted hallway leading to your room. Once inside, it’s all about the twin bed, with carved wooden headboards like European manor design and a soft runner on top. There’s plenty of space.
You won’t stumble over your suitcase as you wheel it in. There is a little seating area by the window, and there is enough room around the furnitures. But when you begin to look around, the details stack up.
There’s a carved crest between the beds. If you get close enough, it may just be the Enchanted Storybook Castle.
There is also a painted frieze above the headboards. The walls display Disney character prints, not so many that they overpower the appearance, but just enough to keep reminding you of your location. Underneath the gold-framed mirror is the desk…
Useful for spreading out a park map, or answering emails if necessary.
Between the two bed is the typical bedside setup: alarm clock, lamp, and a tissue box, while the mirror above sends back some more of that decorative detail. When you turn on the TV, mounted above the cabinet, it welcomes you with its own welcome screen.
And yes, the carved theme continue in the frame around it, tying everything visually together even when the screen is dark. For coffee lovers, there’s a Nespresso machine hidden on the counter. Pull open the drawer in the cabinet and you’ll find everything you need: saucers, cups, tumblers, even a collection of ceramic mugs featuring Mickey’s silhouette.
If you’re looking for a little caffeine before running out the door to meet the crowds at the park gates, it’s practical enough.
There’s also a robe and pair of slippers waiting for you in a wooden rack next to the door. It’s nothing fancy, but they’re there if you’d like to put them on after a long day on your feet.
If your room is facing the right way, you’ll see the Enchanted Storybook Castle peeking over the water. Depending on which wing you’re staying in, the view change, but all of them give you at least a glimpse of the castle’s turrets or some greenery. The view opens up to the grounds and lake of the hotel when you pull back the sheer curtain.
The bathroom trades wood for stone. There’s marble everywhere, including on the vanity, which contain the standard supplies, stored in a pull-out drawer. The sink is inside a carved frame.
This frame is made of a darker material that feels cooler to the touch. It matches the style of the bedroom.
There’s also a washlet toilet with a side-mounted control panel, useful if you’re accustomed to them, otherwise somewhat baffling. Pull up the lid, and it heats the seat.
And then there’s the tub, big enough for a long soaker bath, complete with chrome grab bars lining the perimeter. It does what it’s supposed to do after a day running from one attraction to another.
A marble niche hold three pump bottles of body wash, shampoo and conditioner. The floor below your feet is a mosaic, decorated with some gold, continuing the design all the way down to where you’ll be walking around barefoot. If you want to stay on-site at Shanghai Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland Hotel offer the theming that you expect, and the level of comfort and convenience that makes it worth the price tag.
It’s not rushed, but feels like a thoughtfully designed room, and having a view of the castle from some windows is certainly a bonus. However, remember that you’re really here for the park, the hotel is simply a nice spot to crash after a long day. Have you been to either of the Shanghai Disneyland Resort hotels yet?
Are you still trying to decide which one to book? Leave a comment below.
