Book your online date for Disney's big day

Up to 12,000 tickets for Disneyland's grand opening will be available for sale through the internet from July 1, the theme park operator announced yesterday.

Online purchases at www. hongkongdisneyland.com will be the main method for credit-card buyers to secure tickets for visits up to 90 days in advance.

Around three-quarters of the daily ticket allocation of 30,000 will normally be available to the public, while the remainder will be reserved for overseas tour groups through inbound tour agencies. No individual tickets can be bought through local travel agents.

Walk-in visitors are advised to check the availability of tickets on the park's website or sales hotline one day before visits as online advance bookings will get priority.

The ticketing arrangements have been announced ahead of the park's official opening on September 12, when only 12,000 visitors will be allowed in from 1pm to 10pm following an opening ceremony in the morning. The park will also host a fund-raising charity event for the Community Chest during a rehearsal day on September 4. About half of up to 29,000 tickets for the charity event will be sold online from June 28.

Don Robinson, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland, said the online ticketing arrangements were in line with those at other Disneyland theme parks. He said the system was efficient, robust and accessible, given the city's high internet usage rate.

Online ticket buyers can secure their tickets by using their credit cards at eight machines or 24 ticket windows at the park's main entrance on the day of their visit.