On April 12th 2024, Disneyland Paris cast members and fans got to celebrate 32 years of magic at the resort with a unique event where cast member Beatrice had the chance to sing along a symphonic orchestra!
April 12th, 1992: an iconic date at Disneyland Paris
Thirty-two years ago, this very special day marked the opening of the place where dreams come true in the heart of Europe and remains, to date, the perfect spot in the continent to experience all the magic Disney has to offer.
As the resort goes through its greatest transformation yet, this year the iconic date became the perfect opportunity to not only celebrate its present and honor the past, but also to reveal some exciting details about the bright future ahead.
Earlier that day, a conference took place in Studio Theater in Walt Disney Studios Park, where important announcements, like the new name the park will receive after its long-term transformation, or the opening date of the brand-new show “Alice & the Queen of Hearts: Back to Wonderland”, were made.
Later in the evening, cast members and fans gathered at the Grand Ballroom of Disney Newport Bay Club Convention Center for a very special, and exclusive, event: “Disneyland Paris in Concert”, a musical journey through all-time Disney classics and some of the resort’s very own melodies celebrating its past, present and future.
For the very first time in Disneyland Paris, over 2500 cast members and fans were invited to a one-and-a-half-hour symphonic concert magisterially performed by 60 musicians and 6 singers. Among them, there was a very special one: Beatrice Faranna, a Disneyland Paris cast member who had been given the opportunity to be part of this unforgettable event!
Beatrice’s story: a lifetime of Disney magic
Beatrice always had a very deep and special connection with Disney. As a little girl, she loved singing songs from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, her favorite movie. Growing up, she became curious about Walt Disney’s life and heritage. A curiosity that drove her to visit Marceline, his childhood town, to learn more about him on what she recalls was “an unforgettable trip to the past”.
Today, Beatrice continues to find inspiration in Disney stories, magic and music, which she perfectly combines every day. Our talented cast member has been making magic at Disneyland Paris for 7 years now, since she came all the way from Italy to join the Disney Live Entertainment teams. A couple of years ago, she also received the Walt Disney Legacy Award – the highest recognition an employee can obtain within The Walt Disney Company – and that says a lot about her!
“I’m beyond grateful and proud to be part of this celebration and to sing for my colleagues in such a unique setting, surrounded by so many talented musicians”, said Beatrice, who had been rehearsing for weeks to make sure her voice was on point for the special occasion.
Beatrice sung “Part of your World” from her favorite Disney movie, The Little Mermaid, in Italian, her mother tongue, and received a standing ovation from her fellow cast members in the audience, who were truly proud of her and deeply moved by her beautiful voice and extraordinary performance.
“There are no words to describe how fortunate I feel to be able to work in a place that allows us to be part of such incredible moments!”, said Beatrice, with a special sparkle in her eyes. “If I could say a few words to Disneyland Paris on this anniversary day, I would express my gratitude for all the magic and all the unforgettable things I got the chance to experience, for being a home to so many people, and, I hope, a forever home to me.”
To bring the concert to a close, Beatrice joined the other singers and the orchestra on stage to perform the closing song from “Disney Illuminations!”, Disneyland Paris night-time show spectacular that took place every evening from 2017 through 2023, putting the cherry on the cake to this very successful event with a truly emotional ending.
