DCA's Opening Day, Cynthia Harriss

DCA's Opening Day
Page 7 of 22

Interviews
After the ceremony, LaughingPlace.com had the opportunity to interview Cynthia Harriss, President of the Disneyland Resort, Barry Braverman, Senior Vice President, Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Steven Davison, creator of "Believe ... There's Magic in the Stars" and DCA's opening ceremony.

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Disneyland President Cynthia Harriss
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LaughingPlace.com: The day has finally arrived. How do you feel?

Cynthia Harriss: Charged with emotion. This was an incredible day for all of us. And frankly seeing Roy Disney and Michael and Mickey welcome the very first family into the park was really when I got a big tear in my eye.

LP: There must have been a lot of pressure on you building a park next door to Walt Disney's masterpiece.

CH: The last three and a half years have been the most fun I’ve ever had only to be capped by today as the best day and what I’m really looking forward to more importantly now is being able to welcome guests. To come and enjoy this because as we’ve seen with the grand opening activities that people are loving it. So I can’t wait for all those guests who have been anxious to get in to get a chance.

LP: Some even waited overnight just to get in here.

CH: Those are our favorite fans. Those who actually.will come out extra early with us. There were about 2,000, I was told, that came and stood there for quite a long time. And actually got to be the first group of guests coming into Disney’s California Adventure.

LP: What are some of your favorite little details in Disney's California Adventure?

CH: I think the attention to detail in architecture is exquisite, in particular area where we are right now, as you look around at the Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier area and just the attention to detail that makes it just so special and exquisite is pretty incredible.

LP: What has been the guest response so far with the previews and such?

CH: Certainly it has been extraordinary. Everything from people coming up to tell us to the surveys that we’ve done as people have left have all been a thumbs up. Hopefully the rest of the world will think the same thing, too.