Shanghai Disney Resort to Open June 2016

It's official! The Shanghai Disney Resort will celebrate its grand opening with a multi-day celebration, culminating in a spectacular welcoming ceremony for the resort's first official guests on 16 June 2016.

The Shanghai Disney Resort, located in the Pudong District of Shanghai, will be Disney's first destination resort in mainland China.

"When it opens in June, Shanghai Disney Resort will be a one-of-a-kind, world-class destination that is authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese," said Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company. "The resort reflects Disney's legendary storytelling along with China's rich culture, and showcases some of the most creative and innovative experiences we've ever created. We're looking forward to showing it to the world and sharing it with the people of China for generations to come."

In 2014, Disney and Shanghai Shendi Group, joint shareholders of the resort, announced an accelerated expansion plan to capitalize on the tremendous growth in China's tourism sector – adding additional attractions, entertainment and other offerings to increase capacity at the theme park. On opening day, Shanghai Disney Resort will include:

- Shanghai Disneyland, a theme park with six themed lands: Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove and Fantasyland, all centered around the Enchanted Storybook Castle, the largest and tallest castle at any Disney theme park. Guests will be able to enjoy numerous thrilling attractions and live entertainment spectaculars – many of them first-of-a-kind for a Disney park.

- The Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel, imaginatively themed resort-hotels located near the theme park. The Shanghai Disneyland Hotel is an Art Nouveau-inspired resort with a touch of Disney magic and imagination, while the Toy Story Hotel immerses guests in a world inspired by the toys from the Disney-Pixar series of Toy Story animated films.

- Disneytown, an international shopping, dining and entertainment district, adjacent to the entrance of Shanghai Disneyland. Disneytown will include the Walt Disney Grand Theatre, home to the first-ever Mandarin production of the Broadway hit Disney's The Lion King. The World of Disney Store will offer an impressive collection of Disney merchandise, including many products designed especially for Shanghai Disney Resort.

- Wishing Star Park, a recreational area with gardens, a walking path and a glittering lake.

Shanghai Disney Resort broke ground in 2011 and has celebrated numerous construction milestones since then, including the topping off of the iconic Enchanted Storybook Castle in spring 2015. In October, the resort kicked off the first of several large-scale job fairs aimed at ultimately recruiting thousands of cast members from across China.

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