European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 12, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                At right the g. Washington steam locomotive prepares for a test run. Below this 20-foot Tali Geppetti will pull pinocchio s strings during his daily ride Down main Street. The reality behind the magic kingdom by Gary Pomeroy staff writer sleeping Beauty s Castle looms silently at the end of euro Disney s main Street . But although the 1 50-foot-High Centrepiece of the $4.4 billion project was completed five months ago there s a lot of work to be completed All around it before the april 12 opening of Disney s latest magic kingdom. Main Street bustles with activity As workmen put the finishing touches on its 12 shops and 10 restaurants. Around the perimeter of the 5,000-acre Park landscapes dig holes for some of the 360,000 Trees and shrubs that Are to be planted. Crews at the entertainment production Complex Rush to Complete a dozen or so floats that will appear in daily parades Down main Street among the scenes coming to life Are the workshop where Geppetti created pinocchio the mine where the seven dwarfs went off to work Captain Hook s pirate ship and an undersea world a each containing its own state of the Art sound system in another part of the same facility modern music blares As dancers rehearse for the shows they will perform daily in a Large auditorium featuring four screens that show videos Between the live performances. Down the Road a huge blast of steam pours from the c. Washington steam locomotive one of three euro Disney trains that will tour the Park. A glance inside the wardrobe department reveals some of the 400,000 separate costume items ranging from 14th-Century Royalty and victorian gowns to Jungle safari attire wild West Cowboy gear and spacesuits. But before any of the 12,000 permanent employees known As Quot cast members Quot who have been hired for the show can get into their costumes they must get past their first Stop the Disney University. There As part of its training the cast a which includes people from 37 countries All of whom can Converse in at least two language becomes acquainted with company traditions and the Disney philosophy of customer service. 1 when the Gates open next month seven years of work will be Complete. Quot we set out to create for Europe a Complete Disney vacation resort unlike anything anywhere else in the world Quot said Michael Eisner chairman and chief executive officer of the Walt Disney co. Quot unless you have been to Disneyland Walt Disney world or Tokyo Disneyland you have no idea what lies  a amps photos by Gary Pomeroy a dragon sparkling with lights will be one of the features of the evening parades. Christine Duvivier styles one of the 800 wigs in the wardrobe department while Arnaud decoster stretches during a dance rehearsal. Discounts make Disney a thrills a Little cheaper Isabelle Roehrig hoses Down Bonjour a Percheron who will pull a Streetcar Down main Street. A family of four paying a one Day visit to euro Disney will Fork Over about $140 to enter the magic land. The same family a if it stays in one of the six Disney resort hotels a will pay Between $106 and $360 to spend the night. But various package deals Are now available for department of defense employees and their families aimed at making the stay longer and More affordable. . Government employees in Europe Are eligible for year round discounts and trip packages through free memberships in the magic kingdom club. The magic kingdom club is a 30-year-old Disney program that provides a variety of Disney benefits to employees from Large companies club chapters have been set up at morale welt.m1 and recreation offices recreation centers and information ticket and Tours offices on military installations in Europe a Disney official said. The euro Disney version of the club will be Dnn Lai to the More than 300 chapters that already exist at military installations throughout the United states. Quot we Are going to provide a variety of different kinds of packages. From fully loaded with meals coupons and All of that All the Way Down to a fairly simple Type Quot the official said. Although magic kingdom club membership is not required to Book reservations through base travel offices members who do so will be eligible for discounts of 10 percent on euro Disney tickets hotel accommodations trip packages and rental cars. Hotel discounts will also be offered for local hotels in the area around the euro Disney grounds. Packages can be tailored to the needs of club members. The Basic package is two Days and two nights but extensions Are available and some extensions May include tickets for attractions in Paris. Additionally scheduled airline ticket offices and itt offices at military installations in Europe Are contracting with european tour companies to provide an assortment of trip packages. They include different rates for flying driving Riding a bus or taking a train. Some group rates Are available. Check with local base travel offices to see which companies they Are using. Additional information is available by calling the Central reservations office at Marne la vally at 1 -4941 -49-90. If calling from outside France be sure to add the country code. Additionally a toll free number has been set up in Germany that will connect americans directly with the Central reservations office. That number is 01 30661 5. Magic kingdom club members can also Call the dub travel Center toll free from Germany at 01 30661 9. A Gary Pomeroy 12 stripes Magazine March 12, 1992