Disney, Macron celebrate ambitious Disneyland Paris expansion
By Lyle Fitzsimmons
A $2.47 billion, multi-year expansion for Disneyland Paris will include a transformation of the Walt Disney Studios Park — adding three areas based on Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars — along with multiple new attractions and live entertainment experiences.
The expansion plan is one of the most ambitious projects at the resort since its opening in 1992 and underscores the Walt Disney Company’s commitment to the long-term success of Disney’s brand beacon in Europe.
The expansion announcement came after Disney’s chairman and CEO, Robert A. Iger, met with French president Emmanuel Macron. Macron celebrated the information via Twitter, posting “Your confidence shows that France is back!”
“We’re very excited about the future of Disneyland Paris and continue to invest in its long-term success,” Iger said. “The resort is already the leading tourist destination in Europe, and the transformative expansion (we’ve planned) will add even more of our beloved characters and unparalleled storytelling to create new lands, attractions and entertainment that further elevate the guest experience and drive new opportunities for tourism in this dynamic region.”
The new areas will infuse some of Disney’s most popular stories and characters into the unique destination, building upon the success of the resort’s 25th anniversary celebration and continuing to enhance the guest experience for millions of Europeans.
Disneyland Paris has recorded more than 320 million visits since 1992 and represents 6.2 percent of France’s tourism income, playing a key leadership role in tourism for the region. The resort continues to be a powerful driver of economic and social development with more than 16,000 employees representing 100 nationalities. The expansion will help make the region even more dynamic and appealing and open up more opportunities for French and European citizens in the tourism industry.
The multi-year development will roll out in phases beginning in 2021, significantly expanding the Walt Disney Studios Park. The creative vision also includes a new lake, which will be the focal point for entertainment experiences and will also connect each of the new park areas.
Disneyland Paris kicked off its 25th anniversary celebration in the spring of 2017 with new entertainment and experiences for guests. The resort also completed a two-year refurbishment program, updating and renovating many of the classic attractions in the parks, as well as opening multiple new entertainment shows such as Mickey and the Magician — which won a 2017 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions theme park industry award for “Best Theatrical Production.”
Several major renovations took place at the resort’s hotels including Disney’s Newport Bay Club, which is now a four-star hotel.
Disneyland Paris recently announced plans for a new Marvel-themed attraction that will be coming to the Walt Disney Studios, part of the new Marvel area development. In 2020, the resort will open Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, a reimagining of Disney’s Hotel New York that will showcase the inspiring worlds of Iron Man, The Avengers and Spider-Man, among others. The Marvel Summer of Super Heroes seasonal event will take place at Disneyland Paris later in 2018, allowing guests to meet their favorite heroes and experience new live entertainment.
Europe’s No. 1 tourist destination, Disneyland Paris boasts two spectacular theme parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park) and seven themed Disney hotels with 5,800 rooms (more than 2,700 rooms are available in selected and associated hotels). Two full-service convention centers and a world-class, 27-hole golf course are present, too. The destination is also home to Disney Village — one of the largest entertainment complexes in the Ile-de-France region — which spreads over more than 322,000 square feet — and includes themed dining, shopping and cinema experiences.
Overall, Disneyland Paris, which is about 20 miles east of the city, comprises 59 attractions, 63 shops, and 55 restaurants. Disney’s global parks and resorts divisions also includes properties in the United States and China and has been one of the company’s most productive business lines.
Previously, Disneyland Paris had recorded losses in all but seven of the last 25 financial years.
Disney regained full control of the park in 2017 after buying back all shares of the previous subsidiary, Euro Disney, that it didn’t already own. Euro Disney had encountered myriad problems – including terrorism events in France — that necessitated multiple financial boosts from investors.