Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia-themed land has set records over the past year, according to statistics released by Disney to mark its first anniversary.

Visitors explore the Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

Zootopia, the eighth themed land in Shanghai Disneyland and the world's first inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, has maintained high popularity and guest satisfaction since opening on Dec. 20, 2023.

The report shows that 97% of surveyed guests knew about Zootopia before visiting, with one-third citing it as their main reason. Since the land's opening last year, about two-thirds of Shanghai Disneyland's visitors have experienced its main attraction, "Zootopia: Hot Pursuit."

Guests on "Zootopia: Hot Pursuit" have collectively traveled about 350,000 kilometers, enough to circle Earth's equator eight times. In Zootopia Fitness, an animatronic giraffe display has logged 42,000 kilometers on its treadmill, equal to one lap around Earth's equator. The small audio-animatronic Lemming characters in the land's Transit Authority display have completed 2.1 million simulated trips through their "hyper-tube" transport system.

Top food favorites include the Disney Zootopia Pawpsicle, Corn Flavored Popcorn and The Big Donut. The Pawpsicle, inspired by the movie and made with local ingredients, is particularly popular, with a total weight sold reaching 210 tons. 

The resort offers nearly 260 Zootopia-themed merchandise items. Top sellers include the Judy Bucket Hat, Judy & Nick Walkie Talkies, Judy and Nick Hooded Blankets and Nick Fluffy Hat. Since opening, Zootopia merchandise has doubled in variety and increased more than fivefold in sales.

Guests ride "Zootopia: Hot Pursuit" at Shanghai Disneyland. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

Zootopia has garnered multiple prestigious awards within a year of its opening, including the 2025 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – Theme Park Land by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). Its Audio-Animatronics technology earned recognition on the 2024 National Excellent Cases of Cultural and Tourism Equipment Technology Enhancement list by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. "Zootopia: Hot Pursuit," which features the Chinese mainland's first trackless ride system, won the 2024 China Theme Park Excellent Attraction Award from the Institute for Theme Park Studies in China and gold at the Collision Awards.

The Zootopia franchise may see increased interest as "Zootopia 2" prepares for its November 2025 release. The original film earned 1.53 billion yuan ($214 million) in China, becoming the country's highest-grossing foreign animated film and inspiring the themed land.

The resort, committed to wildlife conservation, has enhanced its efforts with Zootopia's opening. Leveraging the theme and popularity of the new land, the resort aims to inspire more public involvement in preserving wildlife and their habitats. In December 2023, coinciding with Zootopia's grand opening, the resort donated 1 million yuan to the China Environmental Protection Foundation (CEPF) to launch "My Hometown Animals and Me," a national nature conservation education campaign.

Shanghai Disney Resort said in a statement that Zootopia's success demonstrates the appeal of high-quality entertainment experiences to consumers, furthering innovation in tourism development. The magic won't stop there. The resort is introducing a Spider-Man-themed attraction with a high-energy thrill coaster and a third Disney-themed hotel now under construction. These projects have generated excitement among tourists worldwide.

According to the 2023 Global Theme Index and Museum Index released in August by TEA and AECOM, Shanghai Disneyland ranked fifth globally with 14 million visitors in 2023, making it China's most popular theme park. The park's appeal is reflected in its high guest satisfaction and repeat visitation rates. The 2024 Shanghai Disney Resort Happiness Travel Trend Report by the China Tourism Academy revealed that 85% of guests plan to return, affirming its status as a top destination in Shanghai and China's culture and tourism sector.

Visitors sample a chocolate-covered marshmallow treat inspired by the "Zootopia" film at Shanghai Disneyland. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

The statement reads: "Shanghai Disney Resort will further facilitate efforts to build Shanghai into a world-famous tourist city, bringing more vitality to this international metropolis, promoting the thriving growth and development of the tourism industry, and making significant contributions to the city's economy and cultural exchange."

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