Disney and Hong Kong’s SAR government has announced that Hong Kong Disneyland will be open for guests from 25 September 2005, earlier than originally projected.

Announced in 1999 as a joint venture between Walt Disney and the Hong Kong government, the theme park will be located on Lantau Island and represents Disney’s first theme park in China.

The theme park has a projected economic benefit to Hong Kong as a whole of HK$148bn ($19bn, £9.8bn, 111bn euros) over the next 40 years and Disney has confirmed that it will be completed within budget.

It is estimated that the park will create 18,000 jobs in the area and is expected to attract 10 million annual visitors.

Featured attractions within the park will include the Jungle River Cruise – where exploration boats will travel along an expansive river complete with frolicking elephants, erupting geysers and mischievious hippos – and Festival of the Lion King that will combine song, dance, puppetry and speciality performances.

Admission tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland will include a full day’s programme across the Main Street USA section and the three themed lands – Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Adventureland. There will be no additional charges for individual attractions or entertainment.

There will also be eight themed restaurants – from Wok, curry and noodle to BBQ – totalling 2,900 seats plus two Disney-style hotels.

The Hong Kong government’s financial secretary, Henry Tang, said: “Never has a Disneyland been built so fast, achieving the same quality as other Disney theme parks and resorts.”