Design Detail: Disney's Shanghai Street in China

China is timeless. The ancient civilization has rapidly been discovered by the West as the internet, easy travel, and massive numbers of movies began to make the once far and exotic commonplace. Almost 40 years ago, Disney Imagineers knew that giving EPCOT Center guests the option to "visit" China would be a guaranteed hit. Not only was the elegant Wonders of China film a rich cultural experience, walking around the World Showcase pavilion allowed visitors to feel immersed in the land. The design detail throughout is incredible! From the carefully copied roof tiles to the duplication of the patterns found in local architecture, this is what differentiates Disney from Six Flags (and what used to differentiate them from Universal). 

This photograph is from Summer of 2007 when my wife blessed me with a solo trip as a special present. Long before Shanghai Disneyland and just shy of two years after Hong Kong Disneyland opened. Being it was toward the end of August in Walt Disney World, the parks were emptier than I'd ever seen them. Those days would be gone for good- until COVID-19 stopped the world.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Wonders of China

Now that Shanghai Disneyland is up and running, the suits must be relieved as they have been courting China for a park for at least a decade- if not longer - when you look at what it took to get the Chinese government to work with them for EPCOT Center. 

This attraction poster for Wonders of China captures a bit of the magic the filmed adventure brings to World Showcase. If you look closely,  it is actually a poster for Disneyland. Looking for something to replace the American Journeys Circle-Vision 360 film (itself coming from Florida), the suits plucked Wonders of China.  

A more recent revision caused the film to be renamed Reflections of China. Still a beautiful if shortened presentation in the Temple of Heaven recreation. There's much more to be discovered in this beautiful corner of World Showcase. A decent restaurant, a pretty good fast service cafe, acrobatic performances, and a plethora of shopping.

China makes her place known in Future World as well. Soarin' Around the World takes guests over the Great Wall. It's not Ride the Dragon, the proposed coaster for the once proposed Westcot, but its a much more authentic slice of the country.

(Art and images copyright The Walt Disney Company.)