
China's version of the happiest place on earth is fast taking shape, as new aerial photographs taken yesterday reveal.

Images show Shanghai Disneyland's lofty 196-foot-tall castle and resort buildings undergoing their final stages of construction.

And it appears that fans are excited about the developments, as tickets for the June 16 opening day sold out within hours of being listed on the company's official ticketing website at midnight today.

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The park can be seen in the final stages of construction, with its lofty 196-foot-tall castle and resort buildings looking spectacular

Tickets for the June 16 opening day sold out within hours of being listed on the company's official ticketing website at midnight today

The 963-acre Shanghai Disneyland is the company's sixth park worldwide. It has promised that it will pay homage to traditional Chinese culture as well as showcasing Disney's favourite films

And rooms are fully booked at the Toy Story Hotel and the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel for the first two weeks, according to the booking website.

The 963-acre Shanghai Disneyland is the company's sixth park worldwide. It has promised that it will pay homage to traditional Chinese culture as well as showcasing Disney's favourite films.

Despite being eight times the size of the 126-acre Hong Kong Disneyland, the park, which cost $5.5billion (£3.8billion) to build, is said to be the cheapest out of all the Disneyland resorts.

Off-peak tickets will cost visitors 370 yuan (£39) and then rise to 499 yuan (£51) during peak times.

The company hopes to attract the 330million Chinese who reside within a three-hour train or car trip of Shanghai, and Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger has cited the resort as Disney’s greatest opportunity since Walt himself invested in land in central Florida in the 1960s.

Despite being eight times the size of the 126-acre Hong Kong Disneyland, the park, which cost $5.5billion (£3.8billion) to build, is said to be the cheapest out of all the Disneyland resorts

The company hopes to attract the 330million Chinese who reside within a three-hour train or car trip of Shanghai

The Enchanted Storybook Castle is the tallest out of the six Disney venues and the park will feature six themed lands, packed full of family attractions and live entertainment offerings

Off-peak tickets will cost visitors 370 yuan (£39) and then rise to 499 yuan (£51) during peak times, distinctly less than other Disney parks

Even though it is the cheapest ticketed Disney park, it is aiming for record-breaking features.

The Enchanted Storybook Castle is the tallest out of the six Disney venues and there will be six themed lands, packed full of family attractions and live entertainment options.

In other Disney parks, the castle is the home of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. However, this new 'sorority' castle is dedicated to all the Disney princesses, including Snow White.

It will form the focal point of the evening spectacular fireworks display, which will also feature a laser show and projections on the castle.

The Enchanted Storybook Castle, as it is properly known, will house a table-service restaurant, Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique, a store and two attractions: the Once Upon A Time adventure, following the story of Snow White, and a boat ride, Voyage to the Crystal Grotto.

In other Disney parks, the castle is the home of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. However, this new 'sorority' castle is dedicated to all the Disney princesses, including Snow White

The idea of creating a park in mainland China has been planned since the 1990s with the park eventually given the go ahead in 2011

Star Wars will also feature in the new park with a ride in Tomorrowland along with a Tron themed ride where thrill seekers climb aboard motorcycles

Walt Disney Co. also says the park will reflect China's own culture - something Chinese officials sought to ensure before permitting the icon of US entertainment to enter the country.

'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,' Disney chairman and chief executive Robert Iger said in a statement.

'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,' he said.

The idea of creating a park in mainland China has been planned since the 1990s with the park eventually given the go ahead in 2011.

Star Wars will also feature in the new park with a ride in Tomorrowland along with a Tron themed ride where thrill seekers climb aboard motorcycles.

The Lion King the musical will make its debut in China with the entire show performed in Mandarin.

Walt Disney Co also says the park will reflect China's own culture - something Chinese officials sought to ensure before permitting the icon of US entertainment to enter the country

Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger has cited the resort as Disney’s greatest opportunity since Walt himself bought land in central Florida in the 1960s

A man uses his mobile to film fireworks near the Enchanted Storybook Castle at the Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai on Monday

Fireworks are set off near the Enchanted Storybook Castle, which is very closed to being completed

The joint venture between Disney and its partner Shanghai Shendi Group is hoped to extend the 60-year legacy of Disney Parks around the globe

Towering success? Officials hope that the park will draw crowds of around 17million per year

A PARK OF FIRSTS: SHANGHAI DISNEY RESORT HOPES TO WIDEN ITS APPEAL Treasure Cove is the first pirate-themed land at a Disney park, created especially for Shanghai Disneyland. The land will feature five neighbourhoods In the park there is set to be the first carousel in a Disney park that features the symphonic music and mythical creatures from the Disney film Fantasia Visitors will journey through the adventures of Pooh and his friends with oversized storybooks telling the story in Chinese Aside from the tallest castle, Shanghai Disney Resort will also feature 'Treasure Cove,' the first ever 'land' exclusively dedicated to The Pirates of the Caribbean films. A new take on the classic boat ride, 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure,' will see guests spin and swirl to synchronised music, and encounter pirates, mermaids and a kraken. Meanwhile, there will also be a live stage show where Captain Jack Sparrow shows off his swordfighting skills. If pirates aren't your thing, there are plenty more attractions to be seen, including the Alice in Wonderland maze - the first attraction dedicated to Tim Burton's version of the classic tale. Hungry guests won't be disappointed, as there will be a massive range of themed restaurants serving a variety of culinary delights, including Remy’s Patisserie, a French-inspired bakery styled on Ratatouille, and Sweethearts Confectionery, a sweet shop representing Minnie Mouse's childhood home. Officials expect that the park will draw crowds of around 17 million per year and to widen its appeal, the park isn't limiting its target audience to small children. Staying at the fantasy world: There are two hotels at the new resort including the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and the Toy Story Hotel Star Wars Launch Bay will be a celebration of the Star Wars Galaxy, where guests will meet heroes and villains of the saga, visit iconic intergalactic set-pieces, view props and memorabilia from the most recent Episode, and be immersed in the Skywalker story through a cinematic experience For those bored of princesses and Mickey Mouse, Shanghai Disney Resort also offers some high-tech attractions based on its supernatural and sci-fi films. Star Wars fans will be able to meet the movie's heroes and villains and look at its intergalactic set pieces. Thrill-seekers can enjoy the 'Tron Lightcycle Run,' a roller-coaster attraction based on Disney's beloved sci-fi classic. Meanwhile, budding artists can try their hand at comic book animation in Marvel Universe. While the Shanghai park celebrates Disney's newer films, it doesn't neglect the company's origins. The Steamboat Mickey fountain, which will be located at the park's entrance, is a tribute to the 1928 animated film that first introduced Walt Disney's marvellous creations to the world. The joint venture between Disney and its partner Shanghai Shendi Group is hoped to extend the 60-year legacy of Disney Parks around the globe. Disney is extremely popular in China and in May last year the world's largest Disney store, which is also in Shanghai, was forced to close after only one hour because so many Chinese fans packed themselves inside. Hundreds of people had queued for over three hours to get inside the 54,000 square foot shop. Cool! A Tron themed ride where visitors sit on motorbike carriages will be included in Tomorrowland at the newest Disneyland park Disney construction teams painting the Enchanted Storybook Castle earlier this year (right), the tallest, largest, and most complex Disney castle ever built. Ride testing started taking place a few months ago at the Roaring Rapids (left), where guests will embark on a rafting ride straight through the heart of Adventure Isle Fantasyland will be the largest of all the lands in Shanghai Disney Resort and home to the Enchanted Storybook Castle Bronze statues of Mickey and Minnie in formal attire will welcome guests to the Shanghai Disney Resort Hotel Advertisement