In a momentous milestone for the Shanghai Disney Resort, the world's first Zootopia-themed land officially opened today inside Shanghai Disneyland. The first set of official guests found themselves immersed in the colorful and vibrant mammalian metropolis after a grand opening celebration that went on well into the evening.
Bringing to life the fictional world of the same name, the Zootopia land debuted with a spectacular inauguration event and an outdoor ceremony held in front of its iconic skyline. This was attended by Shanghai city officials, senior leadership from The Walt Disney Company, the Shanghai Shendi Group, Shanghai Disney Resort and invited guests from around China and the world.
A group made up of Zootopia’s most well-known citizens from the film, led by protagonists Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, also joined in the celebration, welcoming guests in attendance and encouraging them to “try everything”. Embracing their newfound status as “residents” of Zootopia, many of the visitors donned animal species-inspired apparel and accessories.
The new real-world version of Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland also incorporates many local cultural references, reflecting the park’s motto of being “Authentically Disney, Distinctly Chinese”.Notably, “Zootopia” remains the highest-grossing foreign animated film in China to date and its popularity paved the way for this groundbreaking resort expansion, underscoring Disney's ability to resonate with diverse audiences worldwide.
Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, at the opening of Shanghai Disneyland's new Zootopia land. (Photo Credit: Shanghai Disney Resort)
The Zootopia area constitutes the second major expansion of Shanghai Disney Resort since its grand opening back in 2016 and becomes the park’s eighth themed land. This fresh addition features state-of-the-art technology throughout, including a new generation of Audio-Animatronics and a cutting-edge trackless ride system within its one-of-a-kind attraction, ‘Zootopia: Hot Pursuit.’
"Storytelling is what we do best...and our cast and Walt Disney Imagineers excel at bringing favorite stories to life in a way only Disney can," said Josh D'Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. "Zootopia is a place where the outside world falls away as you enter an immersive, story-driven environment brimming with rich detail and fun everywhere you look."
"For 100 years, The Walt Disney Company has been entertaining, thrilling, and inspiring audiences and fans through exceptional storytelling that transcends generations and geographies," said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. "Our popular Zootopia film continues to delight fans across the globe, especially in China, and we're excited to give guests at Shanghai Disney Resort the chance to interact with the stories and characters they love in innovative new ways when they visit this spectacular new land."
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