From: anlst2@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Arthur N. Lilley)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Euro-Disney...been there
Date: 14 Apr 92 16:38:38 GMT
Distribution: all
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

Wow!  Last month I had the chance of a lifetime.  My mom's brother has been
a special effects dude for Disney for the last 6 or so years.  He started out
in Orlando and eventually got transferred out to California.  For the last year 
or so he has been over in Paris.  7 or 8 months ago, Ed made the offer to my
sister and myself that if we could scrape up the money, we could stay with him.
So, after saving every penny I could, and a few bucks from my parents, I had
enough.  My sister, the bitch, is on a full scholarship, and had no problems
saving her money.  Anyway, we left Feb. 15, and stayed for a week with Ed in
Camp Davey Crockett.  
   Enough with all the personals, more about Euro-Disney.  Two different days
Ed got us on the site.  We had to dress up like construction workers and fake
some ID badges, but overall we had no problems.  When I saw the pictures on
TV of opening day, it was hard to believe it was the same place.  There was
SO much work to be done when I was there, I never thought they would make the 
deadline.  I mean, every one of those little seperators with bushes and stuff
was just a hole in the ground, no bushes, no mulch, bare electric wires with
no lamp posts.  There were guys running around EVERYWHERE, screaming stuff
in 20 different languages.  There were painters, electricians, brick layers,
pavers...you name it.
     Since Ed is special effects, that's what we mostly focused on.  He is
the chief special effects coordinator for Star Tours(Second Gate I think it's
called over there) and for Peter Pan.  We got in on practically all the
attractions that were done, and got to behind the scenes of each, which was
my favorite part.  We got to go under Second Gate and sit in the computer
room which looks out at all the different cars and the hydrolics that move
them.  BTW, each of those things is up on three different hydrolic pistons
that only move 6 feet up and down.  You'd think you drop about 30 feet when
you're on the attraction.  Ed worked on all the pre-show stuff for when
you're waiting in those long lines.  All the sparks and smoke and lasers and
robots and LCD's and all that, that was him.
    Well, I've got to run to class here so I just give you guys some stuff
that I thought was real cool:
         - The big dragon in part of the castle.  It's just a big dragon in
this real dark cave, napping on a rock by this cool lagoon.  It's all smokey
and the dragon yawns with smoke coming out of his mouth, and there's little
eyes all over the place peering out at you, way cool.
         - Ed's friend was in charge of this one attraction(forget the name)
that is just a pond in the park.  It is supposed to be a fire on water effect
with propane and smoke, but it was WAY behind schedule, and when I left,
they were talking about cancelling it because the project was so mismanaged.
If they ever get it to work, it will be awesome.  I could go on forever about
this one.

     Well, I've really got to get going.  I could go on forever about a lot of
stuff, so if any body reads this and wants to know more, let me know and I'll
post some more stuff.


                                                          Later,
                                                            Chip
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney