Disneyland Brings out Paris

Disneyland Resort Paris is a Complexe of leisures of the Walt Disney Company developed via a named European company Euro Disney SCA (of which it holds more of the third of the capital), then through Euro Disney Associés (a SNC).

Disneyland Resort Paris is the name given to the complex following the financial problems of Euro Disney Resort between the opening the April 12th 1992 and 1995. This name was selected on October 1st 1994 in order to revitalize the park and the shareholding.

The field extends on 1943 ha, with thirty two kilometers in the east of Paris, in the new city of Marne-the-Valley, mainly on the territory of the village of Chessy. A station TGV was financed by the French State, the line the RER has was prolonged with the expenses of the area as well as the highway strap carrying out of the A4 to the park.

Euro Disney SCA developed with the image of the complex of Walt Disney World Resort, of many activities around parks with topics.

In 2004, the sales turnover was established to 1,048 billion euros, with a rise of 5%. The park is the first European tourist destination with 12,4 million visitors per annum.

History of Disneyland Brings out Paris

Genesis of the project

Thanks to the success of the American park Disneyland of California, open in 1955, the Walt Disney Company started to seek new sites to establish others “magic kingdoms”. That led to the opening of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in 1971, then with that of the Tokyo Disney Resort with the Japan in 1983.

The establishment of a Disney park in France is a very old project since as of the end of the Années 1970, the firm Walt Disney Productions had started negotiations with the Datar but these last had not ended. In January 1984, at the time of a voyage to the the United States of Edith Cresson, then Minister for the Foreign trade and Tourism, its principal private secretary, Patrick Subremon, introduced by Charles de Chambrun which was Minister for the Foreign trade of Charles de Gaulle, meets one of the most important American property developers, who at the time of a lunch in a club very select, enquiert of the political situation and social of France, worrying about “the permanent revolution”, the “trade-union processions” and its “tentacular administration”.

The following day, Patrick Subremon meets with the 40° stage of the Bank off America, Ray Watson, president de Walt Disney Productions and Frank Stanek which had just carried out first Disneyland abroad, Tokyo Disneyland. They spend together long hours at the time about which, French, who does not speak English, will discover the philosophy of company of Disney and his culture. He discovers also the general lines of an ambitious project in Europe, for which they seek a flat ground of 500 hectares, located close to a node of communication and an international airport, in an environment able to accommodate more than 10 million visitors each year.

Some time after, American gives to French, various discussion papers. Edith Cresson, puts at the current the president of the Republic (François Mitterrand), but the number of people being informed of the project is at least reduced and will remain it: the secretariat of the new Cities, the bank of businesses Lazard, for the financial questions, and the Bourdais cabinet, for a study on the sites. The Minister of Interior Department, Gaston Defferre, also ends up being put at the current in spring 1984, when helicopters chartered by American begin, in many occasions, to fly over the potential territories of establishment, this strange activity not passing unperceived, and imagines on his side to have the future park with the doors of Marseilles.

In parallel, French begins, in catimini, a very tight negotiation, while at the same time Michael Eisner and Frank Wells coldly named with the direction of Disney, following a strong stock exchange battle, is interested by an establishment in Europe and began, fine 1984, to discuss again seriously the idea of a “Disneyland Euro”. The heads of the division of park with topic of Disney, Dick Nunis and Jim Cora, then presented to them a list of almost 1200 possible places in Europe.

The project becomes public

Beginning 1985, the French newspapers discover in their turn the project and popularize it, whereas Carl G. Bongino, the vice-president of Walt Disney Productions is received by the Prime Minister, after having given a file specifying the intentions of Disney and including/understanding three potential sites in France, one in Ardeche, one in the VAr and the last in the East of the Paris region. The French create an abstract work group, without legal existence, including/understanding ten people representing in particular the State and the Area Ile-de-France, where the site of Marne-the-Valley is which seems to have the most important potential. The composition, at the time was secret, but among them: Gerard Mestrallet of the bank Indosuez, Patrick Subremon of the ministry for Tourism, Jean-Christmas Chapalut high-civil servant in load of the new cities, Michele Dayries and the principal private secretary of president RPR of the District council of Ile-de-France, Michel Giraud.

From January to June, French multiplies the voyages towards the the United States, but without much of organization, moreover they do not manage to train a true team, the traditional individualism, supplied with many internal quarrels for financial questions and different political sensibilities carries it. The Americans benefit to make assemble the pressure and require concrete engagements from it.

A Franco-Spanish battle

In March 1985, after a first preselection, only two Spanish sites and two French sites are preserved like viable candidates. During this time, the French who entredéchirent in particular about the Financement prolongation of the RER to the future park, are not able to engage concretely front in the project and try at all costs to save time, but the Americans wanted to stop the negotiations at the beginning of the summer 1985. In Spain, the public authorities and the Presse are filled with enthusiasm with the idea to receive the future park and affirm high and strong that Mickey prefers the Sombréro with the Béret. They decide " to put the paquet" and align the subsidies in order to draw the attention of Uncle Picsou.

Vis-a-vis this higher bid of the Spanish competitors, the four principal members of the work group decide to restore the negotiations with the persons in charge of the project at Disney. One of them goes in California, but the Americans listen to it only in one total and icy silence. The Spaniards are then certain of their Victoire. But, through perseverance and of persuasion, the French negotiator manages to restore the negotiation, the Americans appreciating his dynamism. As of July 1985, the French reorganize and from now on only one man will represent them, it acts of Jean Peyrelevade, then president of the Finance company of Suez.

But the situation is serious, the Spaniards have a very important advance in their file, however, he manages to make push back until the end of September the time authorized by Disney to present a solid financial proposal. Consequently, the French, putting side their political sensibilities, from now on will make common front and progress at blows of concessions, but this time even too fast. Michel Giraud, president of the Area Ile-de-France, gives a serious nudge in the right direction in favor of the prolongation of the RER, and the French government grants allowances for Crédit S to 9,75% - at the time the Inflation was very high - and promises tax reductions. But in precipitation, because of escapes, of important information find themselves catastrophiquement in the press, in full negotiation, as for example that on the surface of 1.600 hectares which France would be laid out to give on 2 400 qu ' they seek.

In October, the French proposals are this solid time and the visit of the person in charge of the purchases of Disney with Rungis, in order to make sure that the area has the capacities to nourish without logistic difficulties, ten million visitors, marks the end of the negotiations. It sets out again convinced, and the December 12th 1985, eight frameworks of Disney arrive at Paris, of which Richard Nunis, the director of division " Park of attractions" and Jim Cora, person in charge of the negotiations.

The sites in Spain had for them the advantage of the climate and the proximity of the the Mediterranean. But the site close to Alicante was abandoned when it was noted that it blew there of the strong winds every year during several weeks. In the same way, the French site near to Toulon was rejected because of the geology of its basement, too hard. Lastly, Barcelona was not retained because of its too offset European situation, attracting the summer for the holidays but too little the winter - the terrorist threats of the ETA also contributed to draw aside it from the list. This site is however partly viable, the park Port Ventured settled there. Later, Universal bought this park to name it Universal Mediterrannea then resold it.

A battle until the last days

The French are satisfied of completed work and think that the last points of detail will not prevent the final signature of the fabulous contract before Christmas. But, as of the shortly after their arrival, Friday December 13rd, the Americans claim a financial extension on behalf of the department of the Seine-et-Marne, and chair it General advice, Paul Séramy, burning defender of the project, gives his agreement to put a few tens of additional million francs, especially when the French discover that the President of Disney, Michael Eisner, was always negotiating directly with the Spaniards. This last arrived in Paris, and the December 18th, it signs the draft-agreement with the French government and the Île-de-France area for the realization of a Disneyland park to Marne-the-Valley; the final agreement having to be initially concluded before the legislative elections from March 1986.

A project of scale

The american company skilfully knew to make play competition between the sites in order to obtain capacities public of the concessions that aucuns judged exorbitant. But it is only the March 24th 1987, which the French State signs a 30 year old contract for the development of the complex of Euro Disney Resort, work can begin. Thus the new Disney park was born with Marne-the-Valley, with less than 40 minutes of Paris in the RER, on the communes of Bailly-Romainvilliers, Chessy, Coupvray, Magny-le-Hongre and Serris.

According to the final project, the park was to reach 1.800 hectares in the year 2000 including one weak part for the amusement park itself, the remainder having to receive, of the offices, a theater, commercial and sporting arts centres. The amount of the initial investment envisaged was of 15 billion francs (that is to say 2,3 billion euros) more 5 billion francs for infrastructures (roads, the RER, etc). A second section is considered as of this time. The building site should employ nearly 10.000 people, and with its opening, the park should employ 23.000 people permanently and 5.000 others into temporary. The additional and peripheral activities should in the long term generate, according to the most optimistic forecasts of the experts, the creation of almost 100.000 employment.

Since its first opening

The complex is large and includes/understands in addition to the hotels and a center of entertainments, Disney Village.

Since the March 16th 2002, the Resort is supplemented by a second park with topics, the Parc Walt Disney Studios, the spring has blow still changed of name and is baptized since Disneyland Resort Paris. Located first park on the right, along the line of the RER, this park comprises only 10 attractions and is based on the visit and the discovery of the slides of the cinema, drawing-animated and television. It has to know new enlargings as from 2007.

The complex

The complex currently includes/understands:
  • 4 hotels " advised DRP" :
    • International Vienna Dream Castle Hotel on the topic of the Castle.
    • Holiday Inn on the topic of the circus.
    • MyTravel' S Explorers Hotel on the topic of the Explorers.
    • Kyriad Hotel on the topic of the French Countryside.
  • 2 hotels " associated DRP" :
    • Hotel the Elysium Valley of Europe on the topic of the Parisian hotel.
    • Radisson SAS Hotel on the topic of the golf.

  • 1 residence " associated DRP" :

    • Résidence Pierre & Vacances Val of Europe proposes apartments for the night or more.

  • And several residential zones, increasing the communes bordering on the field.

Organization of the complex

The complex is organized mainly in a road circle baptized Circular Boulevard , located at the north of the field of 1943 ha. It is in this circle that the majority of the elements are constituting the complex. The center of " gravité" complex is not that of the circle but is to 500 m in the North-West on the axis highway coming from the A4 and called Avenue Paul Séramy . This long avenue in straight line allows as Walt Disney World Resort to see with far the castle from the magic kingdom, only Disneyland Hôtel masks the bottom of the building.

Around this center of gravity is:

  • in the North-West the Fantasia Gardens with the foot of Disneyland Hotel marking the entry of the Disneyland park.
  • in the west the Place of the brothers Lights , marking the entry of the park Walt Disney Studios
  • in north the station of the RER (a canopy makes it possible to overhang the ways) and parks it TGV. Right in front of, a building for the tourist office was built in 2001.
  • in the North-East, along station TGV is the station of taxi and bus (intern, airport and suburbs) as well as a driving pedestrian passage to the carpark of 11.200 places. It is right at the beginning of this way that the surface of picnic is.
  • in the east it is the entry of Disney Village then other dimensioned, the lake Disney framed by several hotels.
  • in south-east is the Gaumont cinema of Disney Village, with its room IMAX. It is this zone which will be used to increase Disney Village.
  • in the south a carpark conceded with Vinci Park mark the first stage of the extension of Disney Village. Between this carpark and the cinema, an esplanade makes it possible to prolong the avenue Paul Séramy.

The parks with topics are located on the left of the avenue while the hotels are on the line. But the marks of the financial problems of Disney on the current organization of the complex are deeply visible. Thus the Val shopping mall of Europe, which has being built to bring money and a source of revenue to Euro Disney SCA, is built in the perimeter of the circular boulevard, at the origin designed to contain only elements of " Disney" magic;. More in the south Arlington Business Public garden is a zone with vocation of offices.

In the beginnings of the project of Euro Disney arises, a third park with topic had been evoked, of the type EPCOT/WestCOT or other, but the current provision of the elements does not seem in favor of this safe project by building a transport system. Only two zones are available: the south-eastern quadrant of the circular boulevard or the extreme North-East of the complex close to the hotels partners. According to the " habitudes" Disney parks, the means of transport usable are the monorail but this last will have to serve the " center gravité" complex where space misses for such an infrastructure. Lease between Euro Disney the French SCA and State will end in 2017 by then the imagineeers of Disney will have the leisure to find ideas and solutions. Let us not forget a thing in 2005 the direction of Walt Disney Company considers a park in Shanghai for 2012, the decision to build a third park in France will have to be made before 2010 in order to leave the 7 years deadline necessary for the design and the construction of a park.

Slides

The complex has a whole of services gathered for the two parks. This unit is called " coulisses".

Thus the service of the costumes is located between the two parks behind the Disneyland Hotel and is one of the parts of attraction Studio Tram Turn. There also exists:

  • a service of maintenance which ensures the good performance of the parks
  • a service horticulture whose greenhouses are located behind attraction It' S.A. Small World.
  • a Driving course of drive for , Action! behind Star Turns with a breakage
  • a building of storage for the tanks of the parades located between the greenhouses and breakage
  • a hangar for the trains located behind Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Danger
  • a Stud farm with a horse-gear behind the Chaparral Training course
  • a 300 m length warehouse and 110 broad (to the maximum) for the foodstuffs and the objects on sale in the shops
  • a 250 m length warehouse and 90 broad for the maintenance of the equipment, decorations…

Web site and reservation on line

The official site of Disneyland Resort Paris is its calling card on the Net. This display case reflects the technical know-how of its originators data processing specialists, as well in the field of the page layout as of the animation of the images. The information of the customer suffers from it: the pages very in charge of the site are of a hard loading even under ADSL, and the absence of clear menus makes practically impossible fast obtaining, starting from the page of entry, of elementary information, like the schedules of opening or the methods of access per public transport.

The system of reservation of tickets inherits this lack of ergonomics: the bonds allowing for choice of options are generally molten in elements of image, and point even sometimes on another thing that the announced option, making particularly difficult the selection of an option given. The complaints of ticketting are treated with the entry of the park, with the Pluto counter.

Economic and tourist analysis

A difficult adventure

The park, open under the name of Disneyland Euro ( Euro Disney as a whole Arises being the name of the Resort ) before being renamed of a name judged more " prestigieux" , knew difficult beginnings, with a frequentation who was not with the height of the hopes. With the passing of years, in spite of a slow recovery of the multitude, the important debts accumulated by the group even make fear for the perenniality of the park; however, the financial solidity of the head office manages to convince the data banks their support in 2004. These last years (in a difficult economic context it is true), the number of visitors remained in on this side waitings of its promoters - in particular concerning the last openings which pain to find a public.

The park was qualified by ARIANE Mnouchkine of Tchernobyl cultural , expression become a mixing qualifier for the places of the cultural elements in an inconceivable way for part of the Intelligentsia.

An ambiguous symbol

The creation of the park in 1992 - and its advertisement a few years earlier - had caused many hopes in France touched by unemployment. But little by little, it became the symbol, for the public opinion, of the management to American, being often compared to the difficult work conditions, precariousness, the weak wages and a social dialog which would leave something to be desired. In 1998, the park knew besides one of its first strikes of importance. The spring remains nevertheless since its opening the first destination tourist of Europe, with an average of 12 million visitors per annum.

Anecdote

The press had raised a question with the director of the park Disneyland Paris in connection with the opening of the Park, namely if he did not think that work would have delay, if it were sure that the park opens on April 12th, 1992 with 9:00 well, question which the director answered that indeed the park would have a light delay and that the opening would not be done before April 12th, 1992 with 9:01. The park indeed opened on April 12th, 1992 with 9:01.

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