Princesses Take Center Stage at Disney Shanghai
Here's what Disney princess fans can expect from the new Shanghai park.
— -- Disney princess fans will find their favorite ladies taking center stage at the new Shanghai Disneyland, opening this week.
Though the park will feature distinctive Chinese touches out of respect to the park's locale, princesses are cast from all over the world. So the Elsa or Anna you see in Florida should resemble closely the one you see in any other Disney park.
The Disney auditions website, for example, is casting in Australia for "lookalikes" to play princess roles in Hong Kong.
At cast member previews of the park, employees were treated to a sneak peek of some of the park's offerings, including a "Frozen Sing-Along. While the language may not be familiar, Frozen fanatics the world over will recognize the tune.
There are plenty of reasons for princess fanatics to visit Shanghai Disney Resort, however. The main attraction is Enchanted Storybook Castle, the largest castle in Disney history and the "crowning jewel" of the park.
It's the only theme park castle dedicated to all the princesses, differing from say, Cinderella Castle or Beast's Castle at Walt Disney World, which are dedicated to one character or storyline. Guests will be able to explore the multilevel castle that features a princess meet-and-greet.
It also houses the first-ever Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique princess makeover experience inside a castle and Once Upon a Time Adventure, a large-scale, walkthrough experience focused on the story of Snow White.
Also at Enchanted Storybook Castle: Golden Fairytale Fanfare, a live, 17-minute daytime show right outside the castle featuring Snow White, Anna and Elsa, Jasmine, Ariel and Merida. At night, the 20-minute "Ignite the Dream" transforms the sky above castle through a fireworks display.
Beneath the castle, on the other hand, is the Voyage to the Crystal Grotto where the "tales of Aladdin, Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, Mulan and the Sorcerer’s Apprentice come alive," according to the park's website.
The castle features Chinese touches to connect it to its locale. It was, according to the Disney parks blog, "designed specifically for the people of China, with input from many collaborative partnerships with international and local experts."
A golden finial, made locally, tops the highest of the castle's eight spires and a peony -- the flower of China -- is placed atop a cascade of Disney stars.
Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here.
Related Stories
ABC News Live