[6] The resort features Shanghai Disneyland, an entertainment district, two themed hotels, recreational facilities, a lake and associated parking and transportation hubs.

However, in order to help Hong Kong Disneyland grow, the Chinese national government deliberately slowed the development of Shanghai Disney.

[11] The project was financed by several large Chinese state-owned enterprises in Shanghai, who formed a joint venture with the Walt Disney Company.

[15][16] On April 28, 2014, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced an extra US$800 million investment to add additional rides and entertainment by opening day, bringing the total budget to US$5.5 billion.

Analysts attributed this to fewer mainland Chinese tourists visit, hurt by a combination of China's slowdown, political unrest, and a weak yuan relative to the Hong Kong dollar, as well as the upcoming opening of the Shanghai Resort.

[21][22][23] One of the dignitaries, Vice Premier Wang Yang, joked that the wet weather foretold good luck for the resort because it represented a “rain of U.S. dollars and RMB”.

[26] The resort partially reopened on March 9, with the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Disneytown, and Wishing Star Park resuming limited operations with new health and safety protocols in place.

[31] The original theme lands, or areas with the park are Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove and Fantasyland.

[32] The Shanghai Disneyland Hotel has 420 rooms and offers a free water taxi service across the Wishing Star Lake to the theme park.

The Toy Story Hotel, with 800 rooms, features the Sunnyside Cafe, which is decorated with Chinese-style kites flown by Disney characters.

[37] Another station, named Shanghai International Resort, will be served by the Airport link line, which is slated to be opened by the end of 2024.