Celebrities ranging from Disney Channel star Vanessa Hudgens to actor Wayne Brady strolled a blue carpet Thursday night before a major show premiered at Disney California Adventure. (UPDATE: Story was updated at 9:50 p.m.)
“World of Color,” a major water-and-light show, officially debuted at 9 p.m. Thursday in the major waterway at the Anaheim park. The show, with a platform that is larger than a football field, is part of a $1 billion expansion of the 9-year-old park. General park visitors can see the show for the first time Friday.
The opening ceremony began with emcee Mickey Mouse, who greeted actress Teri Hatcher and songwriter Richard Herman, before launching the 25-minute show. Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said this is a show unlike any done by Disney.
“Believe me, we’re not being subtle with this one,” Staggs said.
The show, which has 1,200 fountains that reach as high as 200 feet, drenched some guests in the front of the viewing area, but many cheered anyway. See a video of a dress rehearsal earlier this month:Before the show, some stars, including Hatcher and actress Jamie Lee Curtis, talked about how Disney always brings a magical touch to its productions. Most said they had big expectations.
Vincent Martella, who provides the voice of Phineas on the cartoon “Phineas and Ferb,” said he hoped to see the “Avatar of theme-park rides.”
any said they have been to Disney parks many times, including Brady, who used to play characters at Walt Disney World in Florida. Actor Jason Segel, who is co-writing and starring in the upcoming Muppet movie, said he is a long-time annual passholder and uses Disney as inspiration.
But the premiere party gave actor Rico Rodriguez, 11, an opportunity to go to a Disney park for the first time. Rodriguez, who plays Manny on “Modern Family,” planned to go on his first ride with co-star Nolan Gould, also 11, after walking the blue carpet. They agreed on Toy Story Mania.
Nearby fans were mesmerized by the stars’ arrivals. Martin Mitchell, 20, of Anaheim, shouted “Oh, my God, she’sSusan Mayer!” — the name of Hatcher’s character on “Desperate Housewives,” when the actress began her walk. “I’m just very star struck with everybody,” said Mitchell, a Disneyland employee, after the blue carpet event ended.