Opening Ceremony of the Walt Disney Studios Park,

Opening Ceremony of the Walt Disney Studios Park
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The ceremony began with dancers clad entirely in brilliant white suits and white dresses & coats with feather boas entering from both stage left and right to the refrains of various Hollywood themes, including “Hooray for Hollywood�? and “That’s Entertainment�?. The show itself was brief before the host invited Jay Rasulo, the President and Director-General (Chairman in U.S. terms) of EuroDisney S.C.A. onto the stage.

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Jay welcomed invited guests to the Grand Opening in perfect French. Jay commented on the development of Disneyland Paris into a true resort with not only a second theme park, but also the Val D’Europe development that includes a sprawling mall and outlet center and a new Town Center with a hotel and residential & office accommodation. Jay then welcomed the Chairman of Walt Disney Feature Animation, Roy E. Disney.

Roy had been particularly conspicuous at DLRP during the media events, considerably more so than at DCA and especially TDS, where Roy kept a low profile. A small ceremony in the Disneyland park on Thursday had celebrated the 10th birthday of the Resort (the actual anniversary is April 12). This event will be covered in subsequent articles.

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Roy suggested that by opening the Walt Disney Studios, the company was “coming home�? as animation and special effects had originated in France. Roy said that both his father and uncle found inspiration for most of their films in Europe and enjoyed numerous vacations to the continent. Roy concluded by saying that “it is only fitting that here in the heart of France that we are dedicating this celebration of film entertainment. It is here that we find our roots and it is here that we find our future�?.