>> Bill Logan: It's a famous American in Paris, well about 20 miles east of Paris anyway.
As Euro Disney springs to life in Marne-la-Vallée, on a site nearly one-fifth the
size of Paris some 5000 acres. 29 attractions, 29 eating establishments, and
37 merchandise locations comprise Euro Disneyland. A theme park on the order of
Mickey's California, Florida, and Tokyo home. Guests here can expect a typical Disney affective.
>> I think surprise I know enjoyment I
think the same way as Americans always have is the Japanese have for the last seven or eight years.
>> Bill Logan: There are some differences though uniquely European
influences at that continental charm which is expected to enchant a number of first-year visitors.
>> Certainly I'll be here with my family and then hopefully it'll be about 10 or 11 million others.
>> Bill Logan: Transportation to and from the park couldn't be easier.
Aside from personal vehicles guests can
use the regional rail line RER or by June of 1994, the TGV high-speed train,
additionally the site lies almost equidistant less than 20 minutes from Paris's two major airports.
>> 310 million people live within two-hour flight.
Plus Paris has his own 10 million permanent permanent residents, plus
27 million or so tourists that come through Paris every year. Before we're here so to
be near Paris and have this kind of tourist base and resident market is a gift from heaven.
>> Bill Logan: A gift for visitors six Disney themed
resorts from the Northwest inspired Sequoia Lodge to the Newport Bay Club.
That's more than 5200 rooms and the guests who stay at the Disneyland Hotel
get a special treat, it's right at the theme parks front door.
Festival Disney, a recreation, entertainment, food, and shopping venue lights up the night here.
As will the longtime Walt Disney World favorite, The Main Street Electrical Parade.
Now that sounds like a lot but there's more. Golf is set for play later
this year. There's tennis and camping at Camp David Crockett
and the future? Well let's just say... stay tuned, This is Bill Logan reporting.
>> The Euro Disney Resort a magical story years in the
making and relying on the talents of thousands of skilled workers to create.
Nearly 40 miles of pipe supply water to the park.
360,000 trees were planted throughout the resort.
It took 9.5 million kilos of cement to
create 68,000 cubic meters of artificial Rock. The talents of skilled artists were
necessary to create even the tiniest details. To creating entire mountains and fairy tales.
>> Things which would have actually been in a castle it just so
happens that in a sequential manner they're telling the story of Sleeping Beauty.
This is a totally new a totally new idea a totally new way of
telling the story.
>> Authenticity is important, even details that the average guest may overlook are a must.
From building new brick streets that look old, to checking 700,000 bulbs in the
Main Street Electrical Parade, things must be just right.
Testing audio-animatronic figures like Timekeeper.
(speaking in French)
>> Well here on Main Street, the details are just around the corner.
We chose our details carefully we thought you know since Walt
Disney was the kind of person who always educated. At the same time that he entertained people.
>> In all more than 23-thousand special props and
memorabilia were brought in. It's this attention to detail that creates the
fantasy and allows the guests to leave the real world outside the gate.
Another result of the Disney magic.
[music]
>> Bill Logan: No doubt about it, this is a Disney theme park such as reminiscent of the
California, Florida, and Tokyo properties abound. This is France and things are a
bit different here. For starters, you enter through a hotel
the Disneyland Hotel. Check out the Château d'Ussé, the Sleeping Beauty Castle.
It's the visual and thematic centerpiece for Euro Disneyland's Fantasyland.
>> Going back and looking at a couple of the fantasy lands that we've created in the past
after having to do Europe. It became obvious that we had to go one step beyond.
>> Bill Logan: Actually, they've gone a number of steps beyond.
From stained glass upstairs to a dragon in the dungeon this castle is truly unique.
Another unique attraction here Alice's curious labyrinth.
>> The hedge maze in Fantasyland which is based on Lewis Carroll's story of Alice
Through the Looking Glass, takes visitors on their own journey that they can set at their own pace.
And in a way it's like a video game. You can program yourself through it in any way you'd like.
Discovery land with its DaVinci Verne and Welles
imagery takes guests into the future like no other Disney attraction can.
>> Come on in everybody.
>> Bill Logan: Swashbucklers an adventure land look more real than ever. Thanks to advances
in audio animatronics technology and in the American West inspired Frontierland.
There's Big Thunder Mountain, even more lively in this its fourth reincarnation.
>> Each one gets a little bit different a little bit better. This one posed a
particular challenge, because we decided to put it out in the middle of the rivers of the Far West.
>> Bill Logan: And no question that placement makes quite a splash here.
Add to that, the Main Street USA arcades. Functional covered walkways and exhibits
designed to help guests get around more comfortably when the weather's have been hard.
It all equals Euro Disneyland part American icon park new French landmark
a theme-park like no other. This is Bill Logan reporting.
[music]
>> For decades, fairytale castles and the name Disney have been synonymous.
For Walt Disney, and his creative team of animators. The castle represented the
ultimate symbol of fantasy.
With the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Walt Disney took this symbol
a step further creating a three-dimensional castle,
whose portal beckoned to a dream world of endless possibilities.
Now over three decades later and with the advent of Walt Disney World in Florida and Tokyo
Disneyland the fourth and newest Disney Castle has a completely new look and a
new home in the heart of Europe. Its Sleeping Beauty Castle the hearts of the
Euro Disneyland theme park.
This classic Disney Park is the crown jewel of a total destination resort.
The Euro Disney Resort featuring six themed hotels,
Festival Disney, an entertainment center with a Wild West dinner show. Clubs, shops
and restaurants a wooded campground,
and a golf course.
It's in the context of this family resort setting that the Disney
Imagineers said about one of their biggest creative challenges.
Creating an intriguing castle in the heart of a continent renowned for its castles.
They were inspired by the castle in the Disney Animated Classics Sleeping Beauty.
And the drawings from French literature's the Book of Hours by the Duke of berry.
>> The castle in a Disney theme park I think is the true symbol of
both Disney and fantasy and fairy tale qualities. It's sort of the ending of
every living happily ever after dream that was spun by Walter the writers like
Hans Christian Andersen or the Grimm's Brothers or whomever Perrault in terms
of a Magic Kingdom being at the happiest place on earth as Disneyland is termed
in California. The castle I think is a symbol of all those dreams.
>> Now with the final touches applied to even the tallest spire. The Euro Disneyland castle
towers above five themed lands of the park like a giant pink confection,
the castle is a reminder to all a new realm of fantasy fun and adventure has opened its
doors to a European audience.