Disney Sparks Magic … and Comfort … Around the World

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Disney aims to make guests feel at home everywhere in the world, and in that mission it succeeds. When you pass through the gates of a Disney property, you know just what you’re going to get, whether in Anaheim, California, or Shanghai, China. Guests are always welcomed at a grand flower garden. From there, they walk down a charming avenue where they can buy a fun treat, and then they find themselves at the foot of a landmark pastel-colored castle. From here, paths branch out toward different lands: something for the past, something for the future, and something beckoning to a mild state of adventure. There might be a number of jarring unknowns outside the gates, but inside Disneyland people feel a consistent spirit of nostalgia, optimism and magic.

Whether you’ve put international Disney parks on your radar because you’re a true-blue Disneyphile or you just want to tack a Disney day onto your trip, you can use that Disney feeling to your advantage when traveling internationally. Especially when going with children or reluctant travelers, spending one of your first days at a Disney park can help everyone get emotionally oriented before they expand to more challenging tourist adventures.

Disney operates six “castle parks” around the world: two in the United States (Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida), and one each in France, Japan, Hong Kong and China. These are the parks we think of as Disneylands, with a princess-themed castle in the middle acting as the park’s emotional center and its tallest, most important wayfinding point. Many Disney properties also include an add-on park guests can hop to. California, Paris and Tokyo all feature two parks. Florida’s Walt Disney World is king with four. The last two are single parks: Hong Kong Disneyland is the smallest, and Shanghai Disneyland is the largest single park, requiring three days for a thorough visit.

English usage varies, but Disney’s insistence on cohesion means the basics are always covered. You can count on English signage for trains, toilets, restaurants and rides. The language of parades, shows and songs can vary, but the truth is a Tarzan acrobat bonanza needs no translation, and guests can hum along to The Lion King in any language. American foods like corn dogs, pizza, burgers and turkey legs can be found throughout every park, and so can a chocolate-dipped ice cream Mickey Bar.

It’s not just Americans who want Mickey Mouse treats and comforting characters. Disney’s reassuring atmosphere is why more than 100 million people visit Disney parks every year and why Disney is able to entice about 70 percent of first-time guests to return.

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Disney tourism is for everyone, but it also has some exclusive elements baked in, and that’s part of the appeal. Some snacks, for example, can only be found at their home parks. And while Disney food is more about being cute than delicious, most guests don’t seem to mind. Disneyland Paris offers themed French pastries like Mickey Madeleines and Mickey Macarons. The pastries might not rival those you can get on any street corner in Paris, but they are adorable.

For some, the culinary science involved in creating the treats makes them worth the perusal. For others, it’s just the cuteness factor. Tokyo Disneyland appeals to both. The Little Green Army Men from Toy Story make their appearance as mochi ice cream balls, Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. makes a lovely melon bread, and the popular Baymax robot shows up everywhere. Tokyo Disneyland is also known for its popcorn flavors, which change often, making guests yearn for the chance to taste them all. Flavors might include sweets like milk tea or matcha white chocolate or savories like garlic shrimp, soy sauce and butter, or herb tomato.

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At Hong Kong Disneyland the specialty is Disney Dim Sum, and the smiling faces of the Winnie the Pooh crew peer out of their bamboo steamers at Crystal Lotus restaurant. Dumpling geometry makes it possible for every beloved character to arrive at your table in a steamer. And while it’s not particularly Asian-inspired in its flavor profile, the Donald Duck Duckberg Ice popsicle is exclusive to Shanghai Disneyland, and it has fans flocking.

Other treats, such as marshmallow pops that wear Mickey’s overalls, are Disney bounding — not quite dressed in costume, but calling a character to mind with their color palette and design elements. This is a part of Disney culture frequent guests often take into account when dressing for the parks. While it’s against the rules for anyone but Mickey to wear his costume, it’s just fine for a guest to show up in particularly red pants, a white shirt and very mouselike suspenders.

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While Mickey and Minnie are give-me-goosebumps stars in the United States, in Asia they are overshadowed by Mickey’s own teddy bear, Duffy the Disney Bear. He debuted in 2002 at Orlando’s Disney Springs shopping area but didn’t find a fanbase until his introduction at the opening of Tokyo Disney Resort in 2004. Now his backstory is the basis of Tokyo DisneySea’s musical show My Friend Duffy. He’s so popular, Duffy’s face greets guests from the flower garden at the entrance to the park, and some say he’s an example of how the Japanese made the Disney phenomenon their own.

If you’re feeling loyal to Mickey Mouse, you should know the shape of Duffy’s face is a “hidden Mickey,” a representation of Mickey tucked into the design of something else. You can find hidden Mickeys everywhere in Disney parks. Disney uses these elements to emphasize the history and folklore of the fandom for their guests and to keep them interested over multiple trips.

Although all Disney rides have the same certain something, they exhibit different cultural influences at different parks. The castle at Disneyland Paris is a particular favorite. Sleeping Beauty’s Le Château de la Bell au Bois Dormant is a walk-through attraction with stained glass and its own imagineered dragon, harking back to Europe’s dragon- haunted castles of the past. And speaking of hauntings, a cultural taboo about ghosts prevents Hong Kong Disneyland from having a Haunted Mansion. Instead, it offers Mystic Manor, the home of Lord Henry Mystic and Albert, his monkey. It’s considered one of Disney’s best attractions.

Some rides share a name across nations, but they’re different in reality, so guests shouldn’t assume they’ve been there, done that when going to a new park. For example, the Soarin’ ride usually culminates with a bird’s-eye view of the Disney park, but in Shanghai Disneyland the fly-over gives China the opportunity to show off the newly built city of Pudong.

Disney works hard to make its parks feel magical, accomplished by placing an emphasis on storytelling and creating a sense of shared history and folklore. Frequent use of hidden details makes observant fans feel like insiders. For repeat visitors, Disneyland can be a place of ritual — a tangible world connected to childhood movies and warm memories. For new or infrequent guests, a trip to Disneyland can prove a pleasant respite from an overwhelming arrival in a new place.

BEFORE YOU GO
• Check crowd calendars for local school breaks and holidays.

• Figure out the park’s version of the Fast Pass.

• Get to know the app and plan ahead for WiFi.

• In China you need a local phone number to use WiFi, so purchase your own method before you go.

• Buy tickets well ahead of time and consider using a travel agent.

• Some parks don’t sell tickets at the gate; they require an online purchase and reservation.

• If it matters which rides, shows and parades you see, make lists and note operating hours and showtimes. Plan geographically so you don’t have to run across the park to catch the next performance.