UPDATE September 5 – It was at last year’s D23 Expo in 2022 that we heard further details about the upcoming Zootopia expansion at Shanghai Disneyland. Although we expect more information to be announced this weekend, Disney has recently released a number of new images and videos.
You can see a number of new photos of the land as well as actual video footage from what will be the headlining attraction, “Zootopia: Hot Pursuit” in the tweets below, posted to Twitter by reporter Scott Gustin.
And here’s a look at actual ride footage of “Zootopia: Hot Pursuit”pic.twitter.com/gJnoSqfJ6m
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) September 5, 2023
There has also been new concept art of the queue for “Zootopia: Hot Pursuit” as well as a video showing the Chief Bogo animatronic which was announced at D23 in 2022.
A new look at the Chief Bogo animatronic as seen in the queue for “Zootopia: Hot Pursuit” – the main attraction in the upcoming Zootopia-themed land opening later this year at Shanghai Disney Resort. pic.twitter.com/Kzc9X1M5bX
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) September 5, 2023
We will bring you further updates about Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland when they are announced. What are you most excited about? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
September 11, 2022 – D23 Expo previewed a few exciting elements of Shanghai Disneyland’s upcoming Zootopia expansion, but perhaps the most interesting new reveal came from the Parks, Experiences and Products panel.
During the panel, a short video was shown that showcased one of the incredible animatronics that will feature in Shanghai Disneyland’s new land. The incredibly detailed Officer Clawhauser animatronic is unbelievably life-like, boasting some fluid movements that make it hard to believe it isn’t a real living creature. The animatronic will feature within the land’s attraction and it has most certainly left many wondering what other sort of fantastic elements will await guests in this upcoming Zootopia expansion. You can check out the clip below.
Shanghai Disneyland reveals an Officer Clawhauser animatronic in the upcoming #Zootopia attraction ahead of #D23Expo Day3. pic.twitter.com/EnHG0btMl2
— RiverDai (@RiverInvisible) September 11, 2022
September 10 – With so many details expected to be announced about upcoming attractions at the D23 Expo it isn’t surprising that further details are already being revealed about the new Zootopia-themed land which is coming to Shanghai Disneyland Resort.
A model of the ride vehicle for the attraction is on display at the D23 Expo and can be seen in the tweet below by Disney Magical Kingdom Blog. It has two rows of five seats and based on the design is likely to use Disney’s trackless system similar to that of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. The vehicle looks to be a police car which means the story is likely going to be an adventure around Zootopia with perhaps Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde at the wheel!
2022: #Disney fans and attendees from across the world at this year’s highly anticipated #D23Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, will have access to a sneak peek of exciting new details of #Zootopia, Shanghai Disneyland’s eighth themed land that is currently under construction. pic.twitter.com/gLFyENq3z6
— Disney Magical Kingdom Blog (@DMK_Blog) September 9, 2022
Check out our featured article, Everything We Know So Far About Shanghai Disneyland’s Zootopia, from November 2021 and we will keep you posted about further details as they are announced over the coming weekend here on Theme Park Tourist.
January 23, 2019 – Shanghai Disneyland has only been open since 2016, but already this park is announcing its second major expansion, confirming this week that the park will be adding an eighth themed land to its lineup: the world of Zootopia! And though this new film-inspired land has been rumored to be in development since last year, Disney has also now confirmed not only that this land is indeed coming soon to Shanghai Disneyland, but also some exciting new details about this upcoming new land, including a hint about the future of Zootopia that might just involve Walt Disney World…
There will be plenty to do in Shanghai’s newest land
Image: Disney
According to a statement released by Disney, this new themed land will invite guests to fully immerse themselves in the metropolis of Zootopia, where anyone can be anything. This new land will have brand-new entertainment, merchandise, food and beverage offerings, and of course, most excitingly, this land will feature a new major attraction. This new ride is being described as an experience that will seamlessly blend Disney storytelling and state-of-the-art technology to bring the world of Zootopia and its characters to life – including Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Though not confirmed, this certainly sounds like a dark ride, and given the family-friendliness of the Zootopia IP, we’d guess something trackless like Ratatouille or Pooh’s Hunny Hunt will be powering this new attraction.
Though only one piece of concept art was released alongside this new land announcement, it looks like Disney is definitely going to be recreating the look of Zootopia from the film, and rumors seem to indicate that guests will be able to explore the different “neighborhoods” seen in the movie, including Sahara Square, Tundratown, Little Rodentia, Rainforest District, and Downtown.
Construction will start this year
Image: Disney
Disney will be wasting no time getting started on the Zootopia project at Shanghai Disneyland, and will begin construction on this new expansion some time this year. While no official opening target has been released, current speculation is that Disney is hoping to have Zootopia ready for guests to explore for Shanghai Disneyland’s 5th anniversary in 2021. This is a bit of a tight construction timeline for such an immersive land, but Disney has dealt with some pretty harsh deadlines when it comes to Shanghai Disneyland before, so it’s certainly not an out of the question opening target for this new area and would coincide nicely with an important anniversary.
Zootopia could come to other Disney Parks
Image: Disney
Though Zootopia has been rumored to be coming to Shanghai Disneyland since last year, rumors have also swirled about this land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom as well, potentially as a replacement for the now-closed Rafiki’s Planet Watch area of the park. And while nothing has been officially announced yet, the press release confirming this new land at Shanghai Disneyland does mention that this is the “first” Zootopia land in the world, which could be a hint that another Zootopia land could open in subsequent years, after this land opens (again, presumably in 2021).
Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time that Walt Disney World got a copy of something from Shanghai Disneyland, with the most famous example of a Disney park borrowing from its younger Shanghai sibling being the Tron Lightcycle Power Run attraction, which was an opening day ride at Shanghai Disneyland and is now under construction and on track to open in 2021 at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
Though Shanghai Disneyland’s first expansion was the sparse Toy Story Land area (which was met with mixed reviews when it opened last year), this newest effort looks like it will be a truly immersive and spectacular new land that will help keep Shanghai Disneyland going strong through its first few years. While we only have a few small details about what to expect from this new land right now, with a focus on immersion and a brand new dark ride-style attraction that focuses on characters, it seems like this is going to be quite the exciting new land to explore, and we’ll be interested to learn even more about this new land (as well as prospects for transplantation outside Shanghai Disneyland) as plans are finalized and more information is released.
