Disneyland Paris Kicks Off Its 25th Anniversary Celebration

Disneyland Paris has begun the celebration of its 25th anniversary. The kickoff took place at noon last Saturday in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Disneyland Paris President Catherine Powell and the President of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Bob Chapek served as masters of ceremonies and joined iconic Disney characters in a ceremony filled with music and color, in true Disney style. "Since opening its doors in 1992, Disneyland Paris has been the place where both adults and children enter the world of their favorite stories, meet beloved characters, and become part of the Disney magic," Chapek stated before hundreds of journalists from around the world and thousands of attendees who packed the park that day.

Throughout the day, Disneyland Paris continued to unveil more of its new offerings, including the new attraction Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, in 3D, which features over 70 different stories; the show The Starlit Princess Waltz, which several times a day brings together eight Disney princesses dancing a waltz at the foot of the castle; and the new parade Disney Stars on Parade, with eight all-new floats, one of which is themed after the movie Toy Story, designed and built entirely by a company from Orihuela (Alicante), Spain.

As night fell, while thousands awaited the debut of the new nighttime show, the park surprised guests with a special appearance by Oscar-winning artist John Legend, who performed three songs on a grand piano under Sleeping Beauty Castle, including his own version of "Beauty and the Beast." The grand finale of the inauguration came with the Disney Illuminations show, which for the first time in Disneyland Paris history included images from the Star Wars universe.