The Gala Night at the Walt Disney Studios Park,

The Gala Night at the Walt Disney Studios Park
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Throughout the evening, the various park attractions were open to guests until 11pm, when all guests were asked to join the park’s cast members to conclude the evening with A Starry Night. Everyone was gathered in front of three stages immediately behind Studio 1, which is now the Plaza Disney Brothers. As the park lights were extinguished, the back wall of Studio 1 was brought to colourful life with a series of gigantic projections before fading away to allow some video footage to be projected onto the wall. As the film concluded, a series of cast members dressed in colourful suits and dresses, took to the stage before hundreds of other cast members, each dressed in different and unique costumes flooded into the arena to the refrains of famous Hollywood show tunes.

At the conclusion of the first dance number, the cast members all turned to face Studio 1, were a series of gigantic projections of Disney heroines including Pocahontas, the Blue Fairy and Mulan were displayed as Tina Arena was lofted on a covered lift platform, delivering the ballad, When You Wish Upon a Star.

As Tina Arena concluded her performance, a recognisable tune was being pumped out of the sound system, as the dancers began to perform once more. The song used was the Grand Opening song written specifically for Tokyo DisneySea, albeit that the lyrics had been entirely rewritten. Back in September 2001, Come with Me heralded the entrance of Michael Eisner and the inauguration party onto the waters of Mediterranean Harbor. The conclusion of the event was a huge fireworks display that was released from the north side of the park, as the dancers continued to entertain the mass of guests crowding the plaza.

The evening was a perfect debut for a Studios theme park. The event was staged throughout as an elegant premiere party and that was precisely the result. As guests began to filter out of Studio 1 beyond midnight, the custodians were beginning the arduous job of preparing the Walt Disney Studios for the Grand Opening that was barely 8 hours away.

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    The Stars Arrive
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    An Expectant Air
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    In the Spotlight
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