This week, Disney Imagineer and Art Director Sylvie Massara was honored at Disneyland Paris with her very own window.
The Details
Sylvie Massara began her Walt Disney Imagineering career during the construction of Disneyland Paris back in 1988, when it was Euro Disney, working mainly on developing the layout and interiors in Fantasyland.
Sylvie shared with Disney Parks, “I went to both Italy and England to follow the production of the furniture. In particular, I worked on La Chaumière des Sept Nains, La Bottega di Gepetto, as well as Le Chalet de la Marionette – which we called Village House at the time.”
Following the park’s opening, she spent a brief year in Glendale, California, working on early concepts for what would become the resort’s second park. When she came back to France, she became a part of Design and Show Quality, the team that maintains Disney magic.
In 1996, she was offered the opportunity to work specifically on Disneyland Paris hotels, a role she has held ever since.
In 2010, an ambitious transformation plan gave Sylvie and her team the opportunity to reimagine each hotel of the destination, starting with Disney Sequoia Lodge in 2010 up to the royal transformation of Disneyland Hotel earlier this year.
“It is far more challenging to work and transform an existing hotel rather than start from scratch and build a new one. For Disneyland Hotel, we pushed the boundaries of creativity further, with an extra level of detail. We also adapted the technology to add special effects, which I had never done when redesigning a hotel before,” shared Sylvie.
Looking back at her career, Sylvie reflects, “My absolute highlight all those years has been the collaboration with Imagineers and cast members to turn dreams into reality and create emotions for our guests. Seeing the look on their faces as they enter a freshly reinvented space makes me proud to have been part of this experience, alongside all other teams.”
The Window
An honor reserved only for those who have made their mark on Disney parks, receiving a window on Main Street U.S.A., is quite the rare tribute.
Celebrating 35 years at Walt Disney Imagineering, this special tribute acknowledges the legacy of her passion and creativity forging unforgettable memories for generations of guests.
Sylvie’s window is located at the beginning of Main Street above Ribbons and Bows Hat Shop.
Just like the other dedicated windows found in the park, her window has a theme. In this case it’s the three decades of her interior design work and states “New Century Interiors, Sylvie Massara, Proprietor, ‘All-time designs for all times!’” across it.
“I was so surprised, I must admit, when I received the news.” Sylvie said. “I was very honored, of course, and very, very moved, because I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
So next time you’re visiting Disneyland Paris, keep an eye out for Massara’s window.
