A flagship Disney store in the Lujiazui area of Shanghai. The Shanghai Disneyland is set to open on June 16. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Move is aimed at better managing crowds and dealing with counterfeit entry passes

The Walt Disney Co's $5.5-billion theme park in Shanghai will be selling entrance tickets nearly 11 weeks before it opens in an aim to better deal with massive lines and counterfeit tickets.

Shanghai Disneyland, which will open on June 16, will begin selling tickets at 12:01 am on March 28 through several avenues: Its official website (shanghaidisneyresort.com); its official store on Alitrip, the travel site owned by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd; and via phone through the Shanghai Disney Resort reservation center.