“To infinity…and beyond!”
Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase suddenly makes so much sense, especially when Andy’s bedroom is moving beyond borders and relocating itself in the new Disney Shanghai resort. Yup, you heard that right. Andy’s bedroom is moving to Shanghai! We are talking about Disney’s plans to build a “Toy Story”-themed hotel in the new Disney Shanghai Resort, of course.
According to Comic Book Resource, Disney’s Shanghai Resort is a $4.4 billion project that is expected to cover 963 acres, which is about 3 times the size of Hong Kong Disneyland. The project was first announced in 2009 and it is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Chinese government-owned Shanghai Shendi Group. It is an upcoming expansion of their collection of Disney Parks.
Scheduled to open in 2016, Disney Insider Blog debuted the official concept art of the new Disney Resort, which also includes a Toy Story Hotel. However, the Toy Story Hotel isn’t the only themed hotel in the resort as Disney stated that the resort will contain 2 themed hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment district called “Disneytown”.
The signature hotel of Shanghai’s Disney Resort will be “designed in elegant Art-Nouveau style with a touch of Disney magic and imagination”. As for the Toy Story Hotel, Disney described that it will “transport guests to a world inspired by the toys from the Disney/Pixar series of Toy Story animated films”. From what we can see from the poster, the hotel bears a striking resemblance to Andy’s bedroom with a classic Pixar ball at its entrance.
In the Disneytown district, a world-class entertainment will be featured at the Walt Disney Grand Theatre. Visitors can enjoy a distinctive dining experience at its central lake area and shop for their favourite Disney merchandise at Marketplace. As for the Spice Alley, visitors can indulge in the Asian cuisines and go shopping at the Beverly Hills-inspired shopping streets. China’s highest-grossing Broadway show, the Mandarin version of “The Lion King”, will have its global premiere at the Art Deco theatre in Broadway Plaza as well.
No further details have been revealed about the theme park yet but take a look at the world’s new magical place below:
The interior of the Toy Story-themed hotel hasn’t been revealed but we can’t wait to find out what it’s going to look like! Since John Lasseter’s “Toy Story 4” is scheduled for release in June 2017, will Disney drop an Easter egg in the new Shanghai Disney Resort? We certainly hope so!
While we eagerly await the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort, there’s also the Harry Potter themed hotel that you might want to consider visiting if you’re ever in London. Just saying!