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Credit: DisneyA recent announcement from The Walt Disney Company has basically confirmed what many already suspected: a brand-new theme park is on the way.
Disney’s theme park lineup has expanded significantly since Walt Disney debuted Disneyland in Anaheim in 1955. What began as a single park inspired by childhood imagination and nostalgia has evolved into a global network of immersive resorts, each combining the best of storytelling with the limitless ambition of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Since then, Disney has established a total of six resort destinations across the world, from Orlando’s massive Walt Disney World to the castle-dotted landscapes of Tokyo (which is technically owned by The Oriental Land Company but operated via a Disney licensing deal), Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
Each property continues to evolve, with expansions, new hotels, and lands that bring beloved franchises like Frozen, Star Wars, and Encanto to life.
Next in line is Disneyland Abu Dhabi. Details remain scarce, beyond the fact that it will be located on Yas Island, a destination already home to Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and Ferrari World. The park is expected to blend classic Disney storytelling with Middle Eastern culture, offering a distinct take on Disney’s global formula while also standing as its first indoor theme park.
For years, fans have lobbied for Disney to add a fifth gate in Orlando or a third park in Southern California. However, all signs now point east. New developments indicate that Disney’s next major park project will be in Shanghai, where expansion plans have quietly gained traction.
Shanghai Disneyland’s Next Chapter
Shanghai Disneyland recently announced a massive expansion that includes a fourth themed hotel and a larger shopping, dining, and entertainment district.
The new hotel – which joins Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Toy Story Hotel, and a third hotel that’s currently under construction on the south shore of Wishing Star Lake – will sit immediately adjacent to the park’s entrance, providing convenient access for guests while expanding the resort’s capacity to accommodate its fast-growing attendance.
Notably, the expansion bridges the existing resort to an open plot of land that has long been said to be reserved for a second park.
Here is where these future additions are in terms of the resort’s location. Shanghai Disneylands future looks bright and has some massive areas of expansion including a 2nd theme park that are planed out nicely and just waiting the greenlight!
Here is where these future additions are in terms of the resort's location. Shanghai Disneylands future looks bright and has some massive areas of expansion including a 2nd theme park that are planed out nicely and just waiting the greenlight! https://t.co/XpKM3pHYmv pic.twitter.com/fjiWIsnEcC
— Park Mind (@AParkMind) November 3, 2025
This isn’t the first time Shanghai Disneyland’s potential second gate has surfaced.
Former Walt Disney Imagineering President Bob Weis previously described a proposed concept for the park, saying, “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.”
In other words, it sounds like Walt Disney Imagineering had something akin to WestCOT – a canceled plan for Disneyland Resort that was eventually axed in the wake of the financial plague that was Euro Disney, then later replaced with the concept of Disney California Adventure Park – in mind for Shanghai Disneyland.
Recent updates suggest that what Imagineering once teased could soon become reality.
In January 2025, the Shanghai municipal government approved a planning adjustment for the area surrounding the resort, reclassifying the land for commercial services, parking lots, and transportation hubs, which many (ourselves included) considered the first step toward theme park development.
The park also revealed plans for a brand-new, multi-functional residential community designed exclusively for cast members and interns in July.
Shanghai Disneyland has more than proven its success since opening in 2016. The park recently welcomed its 100 millionth guest and continues to outperform expectations in both attendance and guest satisfaction. Unlike Hong Kong Disneyland – which faced years of sluggish growth and financial issues – Shanghai’s resort has hit its stride.
Expansion efforts are also extending to attractions. Disney has confirmed a new Spider-Man roller coaster for Shanghai Disneyland. Walt Disney Imagineering broke ground on the coaster in May, with the attraction set to sit within an entirely Spider-Man-themed area.
The addition will strengthen the park’s relatively minor Marvel presence, which currently includes popular experiences like Marvel Universe, home to meet-and-greets with iconic Marvel Cinematic Universe characters, such as Captain America and Iron Man.
The park’s Zootopia-themed land, which debuted in 2023, was a major milestone. It became the first land based entirely on the 2016 animated film and features Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, an advanced dark ride that blends animatronics, projection mapping, and trackless vehicle technology. The land also includes themed shops, restaurants, and interactive character experiences.
Shanghai Disneyland has also revealed plans to increase capacity for one of its most popular attractions, Soaring Over the Horizon.
If all indicators hold true, Shanghai’s next park could be Disney’s boldest project yet, one that blends cultural artistry with forward-thinking design. Watch this space.
Have you visited Shanghai Disneyland yet?