As Shanghai Disney Resort approaches its 10th Anniversary this Summer, there is a growing chorus of whispers that a second park could be announced soon. Early plans have always called for more than one theme park at the resort, and recent leaks could offer up an idea of what we could expect from a second theme park at Shanghai Disney Resort. Here’s the latest, along with our commentary on how likely we think it is that Disney makes an announcement this year.
Shanghai Disney Resort Could Be Close to Announcing a Second Theme Park
With the 10th Anniversary of Shanghai Disney Resort coming up this June, the stars could be aligning for an announcement of a second theme park. Whispers have been few and far between over the years, but they’re starting to gain steam a bit following a possible leak of Blue Sky concept art for an early version of a second theme park at Shanghai Disney Resort.
Before we get to this new leak, we should lay the groundwork a bit. News that a second theme park was in the works for Shanghai Disney Resort is not new. In fact, former Walt Disney Imagineering President Bob Weis wrote about early plans in his 2024 book, Dream Chasing. In this book, Weis offers a glimpse into the work that was done by Walt Disney Imagineering back when he was President of the division. Here’s what he had to say.
…at first, the enthusiastic direction was put toward the development of a second park – a compliment to the first, and an exponential expansion of the resort. The team presented a highly creative, new kind of park. With elements of nature, culture, the arts, and an overall deeply immersive environment that suggested a new-generation version of EPCOT.
Many viewers who witnessed the presentation gave it a standing ovation, but the full-on park we presented was deemed too early in the development cycle for Shanghai, and other options were quickly explored.
Weis went on to say that plans shifted from a full second theme park to a themed land based on Zootopia instead. During early sharing sessions with teams from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Imagineers decided to leverage the tech going into Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios into a ride experience themed to Zootopia instead.
With Zootopia now open and highly popular, it’s possible that Disney Shanghai Resort could be returning to the concept of a second theme park.
In fact, an image is circulating on social media that is reportedly early concept art for the park.
While we have not been able to independently verify the leaked image, we have independently heard increased chatter that a second park could be announced this Summer. The image is incredibly blurry, but from what we can tell, the theme park would be located to the east of the existing Shanghai Disneyland theme park. The concept art, if authentic, is very likely Blue Sky, which means that it could contain elements that would be cut or modified as the development cycle continues. Here’s a look at the image, followed by our commentary on the possibility of a second theme park.
We’re presenting the image unmodified, which includes watermarks. The watermarks have the codename for the project, which we have independently heard is Project Atlas. That leads to some authenticity for the image. Other text or individual theming elements are difficult to determine.
A reported zoning document, partially pictured below, highlights the area of interest for where a second theme park could be located. The area in red would be where a second theme park would go, and it aligns with the leaked image above. The existing Shanghai Disneyland theme park is in the white space to the left of the red area of interest in the photo below.
Here’s an overlay of where the second theme park would be, with a satellite image of the current Shanghai Disneyland theme park as well.
Last year, Shanghai Disney Resort officially announced a fourth themed hotel. Concept art, seen below, shows this hotel wil be located to the south and east of the current entrance to Shanghai Disneyland. This would place the hotel right between both the existing theme park and the rumored second theme park. It makes a ton of logistical sense to place this hotel where it is, especially if Shanghai Disney Resort is on the precipice of announcing a second theme park in the location shown in the reportedly leaked concept art above.
There are other indicators, too, that Disney is gearing up for the development of a second theme park at Shanghai Disney Resort. It’s too early right now for me to discuss those indicators, but we’re going to keep an eye on them over the next couple of months as Disney reportedly prepares to make plans public.
In terms of a wrench in the plans, there is the fact that Disney has announced that they have plans to build Disneyland Abu Dhabi. While plans for Disneyland Abu Dhabi appear to be moving forward, the Middle East is still a fluid situation due to the current war with Iran. If Disneyland Abu Dhabi plans are, indeed, moving forward, and Disney announces plans to create a second theme park at the Shanghai Disney Resort, that would mean that two new theme parks could be under development at the same time.
Of course, Walt Disney Imagineers wouldn’t be out there swinging hammers and soldering steel, but the development of two theme parks at the same time would very likely stretch internal resources quite a bit. Not saying that it’s impossible, but it seems like that could be a hurdle to both projects moving forward at the same time.
As for my gut check on this, I think a second theme park at Shanghai Disney Resort is an inevitability. The only question is that of timing. If I had to guess, a bullish timeframe would be to announce plans for a second theme park on the park’s 10th Anniversary (June 16th). One thing that this rumored second theme park has going for it is that we’re in the midst of an incredible run from Disney Experiences as it turbocharges land and sea. A second theme park at Shanghai Disney fits the bill.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!