6 Best Hotels Near Shanghai Disneyland

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Sleep near the park. If Disney is why you’re in Shanghai, book the hotel you can walk to the gate from. The rest run shuttle buses and cost less, so they suit anyone who’d rather save the money. Away from Disneytown, cafes are scarce, so a good hotel breakfast matters whichever you pick.

Hotels Near Shanghai Disneyland

Getting From Your Hotel to the Park Gate

The last stretch to the gate decides how a park day starts.

• Walking to the Gate: Walking from Meliá Shanghai Parkside means no shuttle timetable at all. Allow extra time for the security check at the entrance.
• Reserving a Shuttle Seat: The other hotels run shuttle buses to the park. Book seats in advance with your hotel, because the early runs fill first. Ask for the last return departure too, since a late finish at the park needs a taxi as backup.
• Taking Metro Line 11: Line 11 ends at Disney Resort station, which is a 5 to 10-minute walk from the entrance. Follow the signs once you leave the train.

Eating Around a Resort Hotel

Meals near the park happen at the hotel, at Disneytown or through delivery.

• Ordering In: Food-delivery apps work at almost all hotels near the resort. A guest at Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone had the concierge order food delivery for them.
• Breakfast Before the Gates: The hotel buffet is the easy start to a park day. Pick a rate with breakfast included when it’s offered.
• Eating on Arrival Night: Novotel Shanghai Clover has its own restaurant on site and a small shop outside the entrance. Both save a trip into Disneytown after a late check-in.

When Crowds Peak

Disney’s crowds follow China’s holiday calendar more than the weather.

• National Day Week: The first week of October is the busiest week of the year, with park tickets selling out in advance and the longest queues you’ll see. Book months ahead, or pick another week.
• Lunar New Year and Labor Day: Lunar New Year and the early-May Labor Day break are the other holiday peaks, and waits double or triple in Labor Day week. Book rooms months ahead for Lunar New Year.
• Summer and September: July and August bring school-holiday crowds. Early to mid-September weekdays are among the quieter warm-weather days, and the Mid-Autumn holiday weekend is the exception. Mid-January weekdays have some of the shortest waits of the year.

FAQs

1. How long does the Metro take from central Shanghai to Disneyland?

From People’s Square the Metro takes 50 minutes to an hour, and the Bund takes close to an hour. Line 11 ends at Disney Resort station, and from People’s Square or the Bund you change onto it. A hotel near the resort swaps that ride for a short shuttle or taxi.

2. How far is Pudong Airport from hotels near Shanghai Disneyland?

Plan on 15 to 30 minutes by app-based taxi from most hotels near the park. A guest at Meliá Shanghai Parkside reports 25 minutes. Wyndham Shanghai Pudong, Novotel Shanghai Clover, Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone and Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone run airport shuttles too, while Shanghai Marriott Hotel Kangqiao does not.

3. Are there hotels within walking distance of Shanghai Disneyland?

Disney’s own hotels, including Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel, sit inside the resort and are a walk from the park. Meliá Shanghai Parkside is the one outside hotel within a walk of the gate, and every other hotel near the park relies on a shuttle bus or a taxi. Disney’s hotels book through Disney itself, so compare them on drive time to the gate before you compare rates.

4. Which hotel near Shanghai Disneyland has a swimming pool?

Shanghai Marriott Hotel Kangqiao has an indoor pool and a kids club on site. Novotel Shanghai Clover has a seasonal outdoor pool. Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone has no pool, so families who want a swim after a park day should book Shanghai Marriott Hotel Kangqiao.

5. What is there to do near Shanghai Disneyland besides the park?

Disneytown, the dining and shopping street beside the park gates, is the first stop outside the park. Shanghai Wild Animal Park sits on Metro Line 16. Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone runs a shuttle to it, which makes a second-day outing easy from that hotel.

6. How hot does Shanghai get on Disneyland days in summer?

Summer park days run well into the 30s Celsius with high humidity and heavy rain. Pack a poncho and plan a midday break at the hotel. Spring and autumn give the best weather for a full day on your feet, as long as you dodge the national holiday weeks and the school-break crowds.

7. Do hotel staff near Shanghai Disneyland speak English?

English at the front desk is limited, and teams use translation apps. Guests at Meliá Shanghai Parkside and Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone describe staff who use the apps to sort out requests, while a guest at Shanghai Marriott Hotel Kangqiao met no one who spoke English. Save your hotel’s name and address in Chinese for taxis, and download an offline translation app before you land.