Soarin' Over Californian Grand Opening
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Jeana Yeager and Richard Rutan

Jeana Yeager
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RealVideo: Jeana Yeager, Richard Rutan and military jet flyover . 5 minutes, 55 seconds.
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Yeager: Thank you, Mr. Pressler. It is more than a pleasure to be here today and to be a part of this California Adventure. The one thing that Voyager did for me was validate that anything is possible, even the impossible. The seeds of tomorrow are more than just random thoughts, they are what we build tomorrow with. Our dream was to circumnavigate the world non-stop, non-refueled. We took an idea and formulated on paper, from paper we rolled up our sleeves and built the vehicle of our dreams, that was the Voyager. We spent years testing the aircraft, testing ourselves and on December 14th through 23rd we did go around the world non-stop, non-refueled in 9 days, 3 minutes, 44 seconds. We landed back at Edwards Air Force Base and achieved our goal and what many considered the impossible. Dreams can be true.

Richard Rutan
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Rutan: My first day spent soaring over California seems like yesterday. I was 6 years old and the days of barnstorming were upon us. I begged and begged my mom take me and one day, armed with a fistful of one-dollar bills, we found our plane. I still remember the smell of that old plane and its sun eaten seats. I pleaded with my mom to let me stand during the flight so I could see out of the windows. It took just moments of seeing the earth from the air that would change my life forever. My brother Burt and I spent a lot of time building and flying model airplanes. I’d fly ‘em until they crashed. Burt entered a lot of contests and won many awards in model airplanes. And one letter written almost 43 years ago to my mother from a Beech aircraft executive who said I hope too since Burt is so air minded that he can use his talent and perhaps someday become an aeronautical engineer.

We talked our dad into buying a plane. And we spent as much time as possible flying with Pop. We went to many air shows and I would see the big fighter jets. "I want to fly one of those planes one day" I would tell my mom. And she would say Dick, you can do anything that you set your mind to and she was right. I took lessons when I was 15 and the day I turned 16 and before I even got my driver’s license I was in command of an airplane flying solo. I went on to fly those big fighter jets in Vietnam and after I returned from the Air Force I did some test pilot work for the most ingenious aircraft designer in the world. He went on to design and build, dozens of different airplanes including the Voyager and today it is my distinct pleasure to introduce that ingenious aircraft designer my brother, Mr. Burt Rutan. (applause)

The designer of the Voyager and RIchard's brother, Burt Rutan
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Rutan: Burt’s design of the Voyager made the impossible, possible. Jeana and I flew around the world without stopping and without refueling. I later went on to fly another one of Burt’s designs, a Long EZ, around the world - this time with many stops on the EAA’s Spirit of Friendship tour. Burt also designed a capsule so I could fly around the world in a balloon but that project was halted when another team captured the world’s record. But I don’t think we’re through dreaming of setting records. We’ll never be through. I’ve learned that if you can dream it you can do it. One can only wonder how many other aviation dreams will be launched with this Soarin’ Over California attraction. All it takes is seeing the earth from the sky. Thank you for joining us today as this exciting new piece of Disney history begins. And remember, you are only limited by what you can dream. (applause)

Jeana Yeager, Richard Rutan and Paul Pressler
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Pressler: As a pioneer aviator and builder of the Spirit of St. Louis T. Claude said “I remember my very first flight as the beautiful rolling hills of California spread out below me I felt freedom. Perhaps years to come others can be helped to enjoy the sight of clouds all around you, of sunrise, of sunsets, while soaring above the cities, farms and rivers of Cal, unfettered.” May today you discover this same freedom of flight as you embark on our newest adventure, Soarin’ Over California.

Announcer: “Ladies and Gentlemen please join us on the inaugural flight of Soarin’ Over California.”

(after a short pause two military jets flew over Soarin' Over California)

A military jet flyover
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Related Links

• More Information on Voyager
• Muppet*Vision 3D (2/15): Transcript and video featuring a hilarious opening with Kermit, Beaker and more the Muppet gang!
• Golden Dreams Grand Opening (2/14): Transcript and video featuring Whoopi Goldberg and a live performance of Just One Dream.
• Grand Californian Opening (2/13): Including a complete transcript, complete video of the event, lots of pictures, a tour of the hotel and an interview with Peter Dominick, the architect of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel.
• DCA Sleepover (2/12): John Frost reports on the sleepover in the parking structure and inside Disneyland the night before DCA's Grand Opening.
• Celebrity Red Carpet (2/9): More than 50 pictures of celebrities arriving for a private DCA party.
• Grand Opening (2/8): Video of the entire opening ceremony, interviews with Cynthia Harriss and Barry Braverman and more than 80 high resolution pictures of the opening ceremony, VIPs and everything else surrounding DCA's opening day!

-- Posted February 16, 2001
-- Story and Pictures by Rebekah and Doobie Moseley
-- Video by Rebekah Moseley