4. Shanghai Disney Resort

Image: DisneyI fear this might be the most controversial choice. The positives of Shanghai Disneyland are undeniable. It’s the most forward-thinking of Disney parks, as it should be since it’s also the newest. Its attractions are always in the conversation for the best overall. They’re generally futuristic versions of classic Disney rides.

Perhaps the most famous example is Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, an amazing ride that starts conventionally. Once you’ve accepted that you’re on an old staple, the new Pirates ride drops you deep underwater and sticks a giant Kraken in your face. It also has new attractions like TRON Lightcycle Power Run, one that’s so good that Disney’s adding to Magic Kingdom.

Image: DisneyPutting this in simpler terms, Shanghai Disney Resort has redefined the expectations for a modern theme park. Why isn’t it ranked higher? Every new Disney park should set the standard the moment that it opens its gates for the first time. The key is how well it holds up over time. We’ve already seen with Hong Kong Disneyland that parks can go from popular to hugely disappointing over a few years.

Also, Shanghai Disneyland is still in a transitional state. It didn’t add all of its attractions immediately, instead phasing some in as part of a more gradual rollout. The most recent example is Toy Story Land, which debuted in April of 2018. This park will be easier to evaluate in a few years than it is right now. A proven track record should matter. I do want to point out the impressive value of this place, though. The highest ticket at time of publication is the equivalent of less than $80 in American dollars.

3. Disneyland Resort

Image: DisneyLet me start by saying that the four resorts listed here are all damn near perfect. I would go so far as to say that two of them are. The brutal choice is narrowing down the list in a way that excludes the Happiest Place on Earth. Yes, that seems blasphemous, even to me.

Here’s my thought process on ranking Disneyland. It came first. It matters the most because of this. It’s a monument to the vision and idealism of Walt Disney. Several of the most famous theme park attractions ever built have a built-in identity because of this place. And the nickname, the Happiest Place on Earth, technically only belongs to this resort.

Image: DisneyGiven the above, it deserves top ranking, right? Not so fast. By the late 1950s, Walt Disney already worried that he wouldn’t have enough land for his grand ambitions for the park. More than 60 years later, yeah… It’s a problem. Today, the construction of something new at Disney inevitably requires the elimination of something old. It’s a zero-sum form of park expansion.

Also, Disney’s already faced the pink elephant dancing in the living room. The other half of Disneyland Resort was a failed concept from day one. Disney’s since improved it thanks in large part to Cars Land and Pixar Pier plus some Marvel additions. It’s still very much a work-in-progress, though. I can’t in good conscience rank ahead of parks that are fully formed even if it THE most significant of all Disney theme parks.