Disneyland
“Walt Disney World is tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney … and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place … a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn – together.”
- Roy O. Disney, October 25, 1971 -
“To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Here you will discover enchanted lands of Fantasy and Adventure, Yesterday and Tomorrow. May Tokyo Disneyland be an eternal source of joy, laughter, inspiration, and imagination to the peoples of the world. And may this magical kingdom be an enduring symbol of the spirit of cooperation and friendship between the great nations of Japan and the United States of America.”
Euro Disneyland
“To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Once upon a time … a master storyteller, Walt Disney, inspired by Europe’s best loved tales, used his own special gifts to share them with the world. He envisioned a Magic Kingdom where these stories would come to life, and called it Disneyland. Now his dream returns to the land that inspired it. Euro Disneyland is dedicated to the young and the young at heart … with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration for all the world.”
“To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Many years ago, Walt Disney introduced the world to enchanted realms of fantasy and adventure, yesterday and tomorrow, in a magical placed called Disneyland. Today that spirit of imagination and discovery comes to life in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Disneyland is dedicated to the young and the young at heart – with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration, and an enduring symbol of the cooperation, friendship and understanding between the people of Hong Kong and the United States of America.”
- Michael Eisner & Donald Tsang, September 12, 2005
I love all of the dedication plaques, at whatever the park may be, but the most interesting piece I found here was that Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom was the only park to not include “To all who come to this happy place, welcome.”
I knew it wasn’t part of the WDW plaque, but I hadn’t realized that the quote had made it into Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong plaques.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful glimpses into the Kingdoms!
Indeed it’s interesting how they kept the “happy place” but used it later on. I think WDW dedication plaque is indeed quiet unique (they even mention the employees as the “organisation”)
Very nice post. I never stopped to consider the dedications beyond what Walt and Roy said. Thanks for sharing.
“To all who come to this happy place, welcome.” I have that written on the front door of my apartment.