Duffy & Friends set sail in FriendSHIP!, a special pre-parade, and a new Zootopia float joins the train of Mickey’s Storybook Express parade to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Shanghai Disney Resort. Here’s a full tour of these new offerings:
FriendSHIP! Duffy and Friends’ Special Pre-Parade
The new Duffy & Friends FriendSHIP! float is part of a special 10th anniversary pre-parade ahead of Mickey’s Storybook Express parade.
The float is preceded by a 10th anniversary banner and a group of dancers in rainbow pastel sailor outfits.
Select guests also get to join this procession, holding blue anchor- and ship’s wheel-shaped signs and walking in rhythm with the dancers as the 10th anniversary theme song “Magic Together” plays.
“Honorary Magic Ambassadors” (also lucky guests) ride behind them in a blue car with the 10th anniversary “With You, It’s Magic” slogan on the sides.
The FriendSHIP! then sails into view! The bow is equipped with a telescope so that LinaBell can navigate the parade route.
The ship is resplendent with pastel colors and golden accents and leaves a trail of bubbles as it sails along.
All seven friends — LinaBell, Duffy, ShellieMay, Gelatoni, StellaLou, CookieAnn, and ‘Olu Mel — are on board, wearing new birthday costumes and dancing and waving. They also share dialogue in Mandarin, punctuated with laughter.
Playful waves appear to lap at the boat’s sides below golden paddlewheels with pastel rainbow Mickey silhouettes in the center.
Duffy stands at the helm, which is adorned with a wishing star which is a major part of the theme of this anniversary celebration.
Mickey’s Storybook Express Parade with New Zootopia Float
All aboard for a train-themed parade that’s loaded with fantasy, fun and music—led by Mickey Mouse himself! A brand-new Zootopia float joins Mickey’s Storybook Express – where Judy, Nick, Gary, and Clawhauser appear alongside Gazelle’s tour bus – inviting all Zootizens to dance along to her hit songs!
Train Engine Lead Float
As its name implies, Mickey’s Storybook Express is themed to a magical train that rolls its way down Main Street, U.S.A.
Dancers dressed in colorful Victorian-era costumes and as train signals precede Casey Jr. the circus train, who has added a 10th Anniversary logo on his “nose.”
Dumbo, with Timothy Q. Mouse in his hat, rides on top, waving a 10th Anniversary flag. (There’s also a shellshocked bird from the classic Pixar short “For the Birds.”) Mickey and Minnie — now dressed in their 10th Anniversary costumes — wave from inside.
Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Chip, and Dale wave from the open passenger car being pulled behind the engine, which features diamond-accented gold railings and the Disney D and Mickey silhouettes within the “machinery” around the base.
The characters are also all wearing their blue and gold 10th Anniversary finery.
As “Whistle While You Work” plays, the Seven Dwarves chase after the float, wielding tools and pushing a wheelbarrow full of gems.
‘Toy Story’ Float
Up next is the Toy Story unit. Jessie joins the Green Army Men marching and dancing along the route.
They’re followed by a mini float made of three “wooden” blocks: a yellow R, a purple W, and the top block with a “10” with the Pixar ball as the zero. Another Green Army Man keeps watch from a lookout tower constructed of K’nex. The sides of the blocks feature illustrations of other Toy Story characters.
Hamm and Slinky Dog are at the front of the float. Woody (riding on Rex) and Buzz wave from the top.
Another Pixar ball “10” is painted on the covered wagon toy chest, which props up the skateboard on which Rex and Woody are riding.
Other items from Andy’s Room on the float include a pair of Fisher-Price Little People (a policeman and a firefighter), Barrel of Monkeys, Pixola crayons, an articulated snake, and Lenny.
Lotso is also on the float, waving from the back next to Wheezy.
‘Tangled’ Float
Preceded by dancers dressed as the pub thugs and dancing to “I’ve Got a Dream,” Flynn Rider and Rapunzel wave from the Tangled float, which is themed to the Snuggly Duckling.
Giant steins of each of the Pub Thugs with their passions prop up a massive keg.
Pascal sits on top of the barrel, and Shorty balances atop a carving of the crescent moon with lanterns flying behind him. A spinning target with various weapons is attached to the side of the barrel.
A disgruntled Maximus rides on the back, holding Flynn’s Wanted poster.
A pair of Corona-themed Lantern Festival dancers join the Mime Pub Thug to wrap up the unit.
NEW: ‘Zootopia’ Float
The brand-new Zootopia unit is themed to Gazelle’s tour bus and is actually made up of three separate floats.
The unit starts with Nick and Judy walking and dancing in front alongside performers wearing bright costumes, animal headpieces, and tails king them the Zootizens of Zootopia.
A quartet of Gazelle’s backup dancers precedes the unit’s first float.
This is a mini float of Gary De’Snake hanging out on top of a pink and purple marquee with large versions of Gazelle’s horns on either side; it also has a sparkling silver silhouette of Gazelle singing on the front.
The second and largest float is Gazelle’s bright purple, star-studded tour bus. Nibbles Maplestick and Finnick ride in the front with Jeremy, who is wearing a headset and a purple Gazelle-branded vest over a collared shirt.
Gazelle stands atop a shimmering pink platform supported by her four tiger backup dancers and accented with water spouts. She sings a medley of “Try Everything” and “Zoo” in Mandarin.
On the side of the float are Chief Bogo, Officer Higgins, several lemmings, and a suitcase full of Pawpsicles. A digital display features song lyrics and character images.
Nanji (wearing a Gazelle antler headband) relaxes in lotus position below palm trees at the back of the bus.
A trio of lemming fans dressed in turquoise Gazelle jackets printed with multicolored donuts runs after the bus.
Officer Clawhauser mans the third and final float in the unit, a DJ booth with Gazelle’s name in lights across the front. He stands under a purple sequined arch with Gazelle’s portrait in a star at the top.
More lemmings dance on the back of the booth, holding up gold letters that spell out “Gazelle.”
‘Frozen’ Float
Snowflake dancers lead the Frozen unit.
Olaf drives a sled pulled by Sven at the front of the float, with Elsa’s ice palace rising behind them.
Anna and Elsa wave from the balcony above.
Icy 10th Anniversary emblems are hidden within snowflakes and translucent “flurries” throughout the float.
A snowy portrait of Olaf below a star-shaped snowflake is on the side.
Marshmallow, the snow giant, closes out the unit.
‘Mulan’ Float
Armored soldiers wielding shields and dragon flags announce the arrival of Princess Mulan.
Mulan rides in on a giant sculpture of her horse Khan.
The black Ferghana stallion’s body is composed of an openwork lattice of leafy vines. He wears a red bridle and breastcollar, a golden- and red-patterned saddlepad, and a brown saddle.
Mulan is ready for battle in her turquoise and red warrior armor.
Drummers beat rhythms on a pair of Tanggu drums in front of a colorful Chinese temple flanked by Fu Dog statues. Mushu features on a large gong hanging inside.
More dragon flags fly from the back of the float, above yellow, blue, and green smoke clouds and a fan featuring Mulan practicing swordwork between Cri-Kee and Little Brother, accented with sakura blossoms.
Character Caboose (Final Float)
Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyore join more train passenger dancers in front of the last unit, which is themed like the train’s caboose.
The Genie emerges, larger than life, from the top of the caboose. Sadness and Joy wave from the front of the float, which has another 10th Anniversary emblem.
Six classic Disney characters — Pinocchio, Marie, Stitch, Lilo, Timon, and Rafiki — hang out and dance on the final float, which is essentially a repeat of the one Mickey’s friends rode on at the parade start.
A pair of train signal dancers holding a logo banner officially concludes the parade.
Watch our video of the full 10th anniversary Mickey’s Storybook Express parade with the Duffy & Friends Special Pre-Parade and new Zootopia float here:
Shanghai Disneyland 10th Anniversary
Shanghai Disneyland opened its gates to the public on June 16, 2016. The 10th anniversary celebration also includes a new castle stage show, “The Heart of Magic,” and a reimagined “Illuminate! A Nighttime Celebration.”
Are you going to see Duffy & Friends and Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland soon? Let us know on social media.
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