Speaking of Shanghai Disney, it has been through its ups and downs. From the initial boom when it first opened to the gradually stabilizing visitor flow, I’ve heard that current attendance is now falling well short of expectations. However, based on various guides and travel blogs, it seems Disney mainly offers a few entertainment attractions, most of which are geared more toward adults. Personally, I’m not particularly interested in these kinds of rides, especially given the expensive tickets combined with long queues—it just doesn’t seem worth the effort. That said, I was quite keen on seeing the fireworks; after all, I grew up watching Disney movies. But how could I enjoy the fireworks separately without entering the park?
To address this need, I did some research online. Right outside the park is Disneytown. After checking out the restaurants there, I discovered a holy grail for fireworks viewing: Wolfgang Punk. This is an American chain restaurant operated in China by Xiao Nan Guo, with another branch in Xintiandi. The restaurant features a terrace on the mezzanine level. Not only is it the closest restaurant in Disneytown to the park, but the terrace practically extends right into the resort grounds—truly a perfect spot for watching the fireworks.
I booked a spot on the terrace a day in advance. There’s a minimum spend of 200 RMB per person for the terrace at night, but the food is genuinely good—even without the fireworks, it would be worth the price. Upon arrival, I found the terrace to be quite spacious. We were seated in the front row along the edge, offering a full, unobstructed view of the entire castle.
We quickly ordered and started eating. Since we arrived a bit late, the fireworks began before we had even finished our meal. Actually, timing it so you finish your dinner and then sip a drink while watching the fireworks is a pretty great option.
The show isn’t just simple fireworks; it’s a combination of lights, projections, fountains, and pyrotechnics, all synchronized with music to revisit classic scenes from Disney films. Although this viewing angle is slightly off-center rather than perfectly straight-on, it’s definitely far better than being packed in the crowds inside the park, and you’re actually closer to the action too. Photos can’t really capture the experience—you’ll have to go see it for yourself~~~
The whole show lasted about 20 minutes. Afterward, seeing the massive crowds streaming out of the park, I set my camera on the table and took a long-exposure shot. Once most of them had dispersed, I headed over to catch the subway~~~~
Afterwards, I wandered around Disneytown for a bit. There’s a huge LEGO store featuring many incredible creations that are truly amazing, as well as a massive Disney merchandise store that’s also well worth browsing.
Photos in this post taken with a SONY A5100 + 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, post-processed in Lightroom.
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