The launch ceremony marking the start of construction at Shanghai Disney Resort on April 8, 2011 included a performance featuring children and beloved Disney characters. [Photo/Xinhua]

Shanghai Disney Resort is set to open in the spring of 2016, and will offer discounted tickets to various groups of visitors, according to the head of the city's tourism administration.

Ticket prices will be set according to Disney's international practice and the project's operation, said Yang Jinsong, director of the Shanghai Tourism Administration during an interview on April 15.

Yang said that the management team is conducting market research to help decide ticket prices and discounts for different groups. According to Disney's international conventions, children, seniors and special groups usually enjoy a good discount.

While the major construction work is expected to be completed by the end of this year, the current focus has been on combined operations work with ongoing construction. A series of projects to improve the environment and manage traffic such as retail, an ecological green park and lakes, are being processed along with the theme park.

Shanghai Disney Resort, of which the theme park is a part, is a joint venture between the state-owned Shanghai Shendi Group, which holds 57 percent of the project, and Disney, with 43 percent.

The park was initially scheduled to open later this year, but a decision to invest a further $800 million rescheduled its opening. The extra spending covers an increase in the park's size and is expected to attract 30 percent more visitors than originally forecast.

Upon completion, the world-class destination will be the first Disney park on the Chinese mainland and the sixth around the world, after Los Angeles and Orlando in the US, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong.