Marne-la-Vallée ( French: [maʁn la va.le] ) ( English : Marne Valley ) is a new town located near Paris , France .
119-521: Disneyland Paris , Walt Disney Studios Park , Val d'Europe , Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée , ESIEE Paris , and École des Ponts ParisTech are located in Marne-la-Vallée. Marne-la-Vallée has been gradually built up since the first plans in 1965 and now covers an area of over 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) and includes 31 communes , in the départements of Seine-et-Marne , Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne . Total population (2007)
238-488: A 24 percent stake in Euro Disney. On 1 October 1994, Euro Disney changed its name to Disneyland Paris. On 31 May 1995, a new attraction opened at the theme park. Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune had been planned since the inception of Disneyland Paris under the name Discovery Mountain , but was reserved for a revival of public interest. With a redesign of the attraction (which had premiered as Space Mountain at
357-619: A Disney Parks West regional division was formed with Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World in Florida, and Disneyland Paris under Catherine Powell, outgoing Disneyland Paris president. This mirrors the Disney Parks East regional division consisting of Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Walt Disney Attractions Japan and headed by Michael Colglazier. In September 2019, Powell exited her post as president of
476-515: A Safer Economy phased re-opening. Prior to this, Disneyland was operating at reduced guest capacity since it re-opened on April 30, 2021, after 13 months of closure due to the pandemic. On January 27, 2023, Disneyland kicked off the year-long celebration of the centennial of The Walt Disney Company , Disney100. Disneyland Park introduced the Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway attraction and Wondrous Journeys fireworks show. On April 13, 2023, it
595-419: A Small World . In addition, Sleeping Beauty Castle features a walk-through telling the story of Disney 's 1959 film Sleeping Beauty , in the style of the film's production designer Eyvind Earle . Mickey's Toontown opened in 1993 and was partly inspired by the fictional Toontown from the 1988 Touchstone Pictures film Who Framed Roger Rabbit . Mickey's Toontown is based on a 1930s cartoon aesthetic and
714-528: A camera caught Cummings kissing a dancer. When Disney started to read the plaque for Tomorrowland, he read partway when an off-camera technician stopped him, and Disney responded, "I thought I got a signal", and began the dedication again. At one point, while in Fantasyland, Linkletter tried to give coverage to Cummings, who was on the pirate ship. He was not ready and tried to give the coverage back to Linkletter, who had lost his microphone. Cummings then did
833-425: A construction budget of US$ 2.3 billion. The construction manager was Bovis . To provide lodging to patrons, it was decided that 5,200 Disney-owned hotel rooms would be built within the complex. In March 1988, Disney and a council of architects ( Frank Gehry , Michael Graves , Robert A.M. Stern , Stanley Tigerman , and Robert Venturi ) decided on an exclusively American theme in which each hotel would depict
952-746: A decrease in revenues by 7% and a net loss of €63 million followed by stable revenues at €1.2 billion in fiscal year 2010. Euro Disney S.C.A. refinanced their debt to Walt Disney Company again for €1.3 billion in September 2012. A study done by the Inter-ministerial Delegation reviewing Disneyland Paris' contribution to the French economy was released in time for the Resort's 20th anniversary in March 2012. It found that despite
1071-464: A group of French farmers blockaded Euro Disney in protest of farm policies supported at the time by the United States. A journalist at the centre-right French newspaper Le Figaro wrote, "I wish with all my heart that the rebels would set fire to [Euro] Disneyland." Ariane Mnouchkine , a Parisian stage director, named the concept a "cultural Chernobyl ", a phrase which would be echoed in
1190-434: A longtime interest in transportation, and trains in particular. Disney's passion for the "iron horse" led to him building a miniature live steam backyard railroad —the " Carolwood Pacific Railroad "—on the grounds of his Holmby Hills estate. Throughout all the iterations of Disneyland during the 17 or so years when Disney was conceiving it, one element remained constant: a train encircling the park. The primary designer for
1309-440: A minority ownership stake in the resort. In early 2017, the company purchased 9% of Euro Disney S.C.A., buying 9% from Kingdom Holding and issued a tender offer of €2 per share for the remaining stock. This brought The Walt Disney Company's total ownership to 85.7%. The Walt Disney company also invested an additional €1.5 billion to strengthen and develop Disneyland Paris. In June 2017, Disney completed its tender offer and at
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#17327726105031428-761: A nightly drone show entitled 'Disney D-Light' in partnership with the Bordeaux-based company Dronisos. The visual spectacle was realized with the use of 200 drones. In fact, Disney D-Light won the Park World Excellence Awards' title of the 'Best Live Entertainment of the Year' in 2022. In the summer of 2022, to mark the park's anniversary in France, Disneyland Paris inaugurated the Marvel Avengers Campus, an area dedicated to
1547-602: A planned protest against the Vietnam War . The protestors held grievances with specific aspects of the theme park itself, such as the Aunt Jemima -themed pancake restaurant in Frontierland and the park's association with Bank of America , a subject of controversy at the time for its lending to military contractors such as Boeing . The Yippies were met by an estimated 100 riot police who established lookouts within
1666-416: A play-by-play of him trying to find it in front of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride . Traffic was delayed on the two-lane Harbor Boulevard. Famous figures who were scheduled to show up every two hours showed up all at once. The temperature was an unusually high 101 °F (38 °C), and because of a local plumbers' strike, Disney was given a choice of having working drinking fountains or running toilets. He chose
1785-489: A projected daily attendance of 55,000, Euro Disney planned to serve an estimated 14,000 people per hour inside the Euro Disneyland park. To accomplish this, 29 restaurants were built inside the park (with a further 11 restaurants built at the Euro Disney resort hotels and five at Festival Disney). Menus and prices were varied with an American flavor predominant and Disney's precedent of not serving alcoholic beverages
1904-454: A region of the United States. At the time of the opening in April 1992, seven hotels collectively housing 5,800 rooms had been built. An entertainment, shopping, and dining complex based on Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney was designed by Frank Gehry. With its towers of oxidised silver and bronze-coloured stainless steel under a canopy of lights, it opened as Festival Disney . For
2023-474: A shopping, dining and entertainment complex named Downtown Disney , a remodeled Disneyland Hotel , the construction of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa , and the acquisition and re-branding of the Pan Pacific Hotel as Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel (known today as Pixar Place Hotel ). The park was renamed "Disneyland Park" to distinguish it from the larger complex under construction. Because
2142-470: A short-term increase in shareholder returns, they drew widespread criticism for their lack of foresight. The retail backgrounds of Harriss and Pressler led to a gradual shift in Disneyland's focus from attractions to merchandising. Outside consultants McKinsey & Company were brought in to help streamline operations, resulting in many changes and cutbacks. After nearly a decade of deferred maintenance,
2261-528: A show named Disneyland . It was broadcast on then-fledgling ABC . In return, the network agreed to help finance the park. For its first five years of operation, Disneyland was owned by Disneyland, Inc. , which was jointly owned by Walt Disney Productions , Walt Disney , Western Publishing and ABC. In addition, Disney rented out many of the shops on Main Street, U.S.A. to outside companies. By 1960, Walt Disney Productions had bought out all other shares, but
2380-541: A site near Toulon in southern France , not far from Marseille . The pleasing landscape of that region, as well as its climate, made the location a top competitor for what would be called Euro Disneyland. However, shallow bedrock was encountered beneath the site, which would have rendered construction too difficult. Finally, a site in the rural town of Marne-la-Vallée was chosen because of its proximity to Paris and its central location in Western Europe. This location
2499-580: A visit to the " Grand Canyon / Primeval World " dioramas before returning passengers to Main Street, U.S.A. One of Disneyland's signature attractions is its Disneyland Monorail , a monorail service that opened in Tomorrowland in 1959 as the first daily-operating monorail train system in the Western Hemisphere . The monorail guideway has remained almost exactly the same since 1961, aside from small alterations while Indiana Jones Adventure
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#17327726105032618-575: Is 282,150. For administrative purposes, the area has been divided into four sectors: As of 1990 fewer than 10,000 persons of East/Southeast Asian origin resided in six communes of Marne-la-Vallée. 26% of the population of Lognes was Asian, and other percentages were 8% in Noisiel , 5-6% in Noisy-le-Grand , and 5-6% in Torcy . In 1982 there were 6,000 Asians in Marne-la-Vallée, making up 3-4% of
2737-668: Is a theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California . It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney , and opened on July 17, 1955. Disney initially envisioned building a tourist attraction adjacent to his studios in Burbank to entertain fans who wished to visit; however, he soon realized that
2856-489: Is an entertainment resort in Marne-la-Vallée , France, located about 32 kilometres (20 miles) east of Paris. It encompasses two theme parks, seven Disney-owned hotels, two convention centers, a golf course, an arena, and a shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Opened on 12 April 1992, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences , a division of The Walt Disney Company . It is the second Disney park outside
2975-399: Is being developed under a master agreement with French governmental authorities. About half of the land has been developed, including a planned community, Val d'Europe . Disneyland Paris is Europe's most-visited theme park, and the largest single-site employer in France with 17,000 employees. It generated $ 343 million in profit for Disney in 2023. By 2022, 375 million people had visited
3094-419: Is home to Disney's classic cartoon characters. Toontown features three rides: Chip 'n' Dale's GADGETcoaster , Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin . The land also includes Mickey's House and Meet Mickey , Minnie's House, Goofy's How-To-Play Yard, and Donald's Duck Pond. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opened in 2023 and increased the size of Mickey's Toontown as well as
3213-482: Is now home to Walt Disney Animation Studios and ABC Studios . Roy O. Disney hired Wood away from SRI as executive vice president to undertake the task of actually building Disneyland. When Walt told Wood that he wanted a paddle steamer in Disneyland, it was Wood who introduced Walt to his good friend Joe Fowler , a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral. Difficulties in obtaining funding prompted Disney to investigate new methods of fundraising, and he decided to create
3332-918: Is set within the Star Wars universe, in the Black Spire Outpost village on the remote frontier planet of Batuu . Attractions include the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars : Rise of the Resistance . The land opened in 2019, replacing Big Thunder Ranch and former backstage areas. Fantasyland is home to the dark rides Snow White's Enchanted Wish , Peter Pan's Flight , Mr. Toad's Wild Ride , Pinocchio's Daring Journey , and Alice in Wonderland . The area also includes King Arthur Carrousel , Mad Tea Party , Storybook Land Canal Boats , and It's
3451-768: The Actors' Equity Association , with 79% voting in favor. The decision marked the first time these workers have unionized since Disneyland's opening in 1955. Disneyland Park consists of nine themed "lands" and a number of concealed backstage areas, and occupies over 100 acres (40 ha) with the new addition of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway that came to Mickey's Toontown in 2023. The park opened with Main Street, U.S.A. , Adventureland , Frontierland , Fantasyland , and Tomorrowland , and has since added New Orleans Square in 1966, Bear Country in 1972 (now known as Bayou Country ), Mickey's Toontown in 1993, and Star Wars : Galaxy's Edge in 2019. In 1957, Holidayland opened to
3570-577: The COVID-19 pandemic . After nearly four months of closure, Downtown Disney reopened on July 9, 2020. The parks had been scheduled to reopen on Disneyland's 65th anniversary on July 17, 2020, but due to rising cases in California , the parks' reopening was once again postponed. It was expected to stay closed until at least December 31, 2020. In February 2021, Disneyland announced a limited-capacity ticketed event called "A Touch of Disney", which would offer guests to shop at stores and enjoy eateries around
3689-561: The Frank Gehry -designed Team Disney Anaheim , where most of the division's administration currently works, as well as the Old Administration Building, behind Tomorrowland. Photography is forbidden in these areas, both inside and outside, although some photos have found their way to a variety of web sites. Guests who attempt to explore backstage are warned and often escorted from the property. Walt Disney had
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3808-577: The Give a Day, Get a Disney Day volunteer program, in which Disney encouraged people to volunteer with a participating charity and receive a free Disney Day at either a Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World park. On March 9, 2010, Disney announced that it had reached its goal of one million volunteers and ended the promotion to anyone who had not yet registered and signed up for a specific volunteer situation. In July 2015, Disneyland celebrated its 60th Diamond Celebration anniversary. Disneyland Park introduced
3927-475: The Indiana Jones Adventure , and Adventureland Treehouse, inspired by Walt Disney's 1960 film Swiss Family Robinson . Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room , which opened in 1963 and is located at the entrance to Adventureland, was the first attraction to employ Audio-Animatronics . New Orleans Square is based on 19th-century New Orleans , opened on July 24, 1966. It is home to Pirates of
4046-528: The King Arthur Carrousel . In later years, Disney and his 1955 executives referred to July 17, 1955, as "Black Sunday". After the extremely negative press from the preview opening, Walt Disney invited attendees back for a private "second day" to experience Disneyland properly. At the time, and during the lifetimes of Walt and his brother Roy, July 17 was considered a preview, with July 18 the official opening day. Since then, aided by memories of
4165-613: The November 2015 Paris attacks . In 2015, Euro Disney announced major renovations for 2015, 2016 and 2017 in preparation for the complex's 25th anniversary. The Themed Entertainment Association considers Disneyland Paris to be the leading European resort in 2016 with a total of 13.37 million visitors. With two amusement parks and 5,800 rooms, it is followed by the Europa-Park resort with 5.6 million visitors and 953 rooms. The Spanish complex PortAventura World completes
4284-543: The Paint the Night parade and Disneyland Forever fireworks show, and Sleeping Beauty Castle was decorated in diamonds with a large "60" logo. The Diamond Celebration concluded in September 2016 and the whole decoration of the anniversary was removed around Halloween 2016. Disneyland Park, along with Disney California Adventure , Downtown Disney, and the resort hotels, closed indefinitely starting March 14, 2020, in response to
4403-585: The Sailing Ship Columbia , Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island , and Frontierland Shootin' Exposition. Frontierland is also home to the Golden Horseshoe Saloon , an Old West -style show palace. On October 31, 2007, author Ray Bradbury attended the presentation of a Halloween Tree in Frontierland, to be included as part of its annual park-wide Halloween decorations every year. Bayou Country opened in 1972 as Bear Country. It
4522-572: The Stanford Research Institute (SRI) to identify the proper area in which to position the planned theme park based on future population growth. Based on Price's analysis (for which he would be recognized as a Disney Legend in 2003), Disney acquired 160 acres (65 ha) of orange groves and walnut trees in Anaheim, southeast of Los Angeles in neighboring Orange County . The small Burbank site originally considered by Disney
4641-597: The Walt Disney Studios , he realized that a functional movie studio had little to offer to visiting fans, and began to foster various ideas about building a site near the Burbank studios for tourists to visit. His ideas evolved to a small play park with a boat ride and other themed areas. The initial park concept, the Mickey Mouse Park, was originally planned for a sixteen-acre (6.5 ha) plot to
4760-536: The Walt Disney World Resort 's Magic Kingdom in 1975) including a "cannon launch" system, inversions, and an on-ride soundtrack, the US$ 100 ;million attraction was dedicated in a ceremony attended by celebrities such as Elton John , Claudia Schiffer , and Buzz Aldrin . On 25 July 1995, Disneyland Paris reported its first quarterly profit of US$ 35.3 million. On 15 November 1995,
4879-771: The Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion , with nighttime entertainment Fantasmic! . This area is also the home of the private Club 33 . Frontierland recreates the setting of pioneer days along the American frontier and is home to animatronic Native Americans, who live on the banks of the Rivers of America . Entertainment and attractions include Big Thunder Mountain Railroad , the Mark Twain Riverboat ,
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4998-454: The Caribbean , and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room . Attractions that had been in the park on opening day had one ride vehicle painted gold, and the park was decorated with fifty Golden Mickey Ears . The celebration started on May 5, 2005, and ended on September 30, 2006, and was followed by the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, lasting twenty-seven months and ending on December 31, 2008. Beginning on January 1, 2010, Disney Parks hosted
5117-583: The Central Plaza (also known as the Hub), which is a portal to most of the themed lands: the entrance to Fantasyland is by way of a drawbridge across a moat and through the castle. Adventureland , Frontierland , and Tomorrowland are on both sides of the castle. The lands that are not directly connected to the Central Plaza are; New Orleans Square , Bayou Country , Star Wars : Galaxy's Edge and Mickey's Toontown . The design of Main Street, U.S.A. uses
5236-502: The Disney product that people would be expecting." Euro Disney opened for employee preview and testing in March 1992. During this time, visitors were mostly park employees and their family members, who tested facilities and operations. The press was able to visit the day before the park's opening day, 12 April 1992. On 12 April 1992, Euro Disney Resort and its theme park, Euro Disneyland, officially opened. Visitors were warned of chaos on
5355-503: The Disneyland Resort, including about 20,000 direct Disney employees and 3,800 third-party employees ( independent contractors or their employees). To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with
5474-929: The Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad, the DRR was presented by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway until 1974. From 1955 to 1974, the Santa Fe Rail Pass was accepted in lieu of a Disneyland "D" coupon. With a 3 ft ( 914 mm ) gauge, the most common narrow track gauge used in North America, the track runs in a continuous loop around Disneyland through each of its realms. Each 1900s-era train departs Main Street Station on an excursion that includes scheduled station stops at: New Orleans Square Station; Mickey's Toontown Depot; and Tomorrowland Station. The Grand Circle Tour then concludes with
5593-528: The Environment, Disneyland Paris would generate 63,000 jobs by 2022. Overall, in 2022, Disneyland Paris was still Seine-et-Marne's largest employer. The prospect of a Disney park in France was a subject of debate and controversy. Critics, who included prominent French intellectuals, denounced what they considered to be the cultural imperialism of Euro Disney and felt it would encourage an unhealthy American type of consumerism in France. On 28 June 1992,
5712-807: The Parks West division, with the division dissolving, and Disneyland Paris transferred to Disney Parks International, while the East region reverted to its prior name. On 1 June 2019, Disneyland Paris sponsored the Magical Pride Party , an LGBTQ celebration. Previous similar events have taken place at the park since 2014, but were not officially sponsored by Disney. Natacha Rafalski was promoted from chief financial officer to president for Disneyland Paris in December 2018. On 15 March 2020, in line with other Disney parks and resorts, Disneyland Paris
5831-513: The United States, following the opening of the Tokyo Disney Resort in 1983, and the largest. Disneyland Paris is also the only Disney resort outside of the United States to be completely owned by the company. Disneyland Park , opened in 1992, is the original theme park of the complex. A second theme park, Walt Disney Studios Park , opened in 2002. The resort is located on approximately 2,100 hectares (5,200 acres ) of land which
5950-426: The Walt Disney Company announced another annual profit for Disneyland Paris. However, it then incurred a net loss in the three years following. By March 2004, the Walt Disney Company had agreed to write off all debt that Euro Disney S.C.A. owed to the Walt Disney Company. On 1 December 2003, Euro Disney S.C.A launched the 'Need Magic?' campaign, which lasted until March 2006 to bring new, first-time European visitors to
6069-490: The area's population. In 1987 the number increased to 9,000. Louise, the main character in Éric Rohmer's 1984 film Full Moon in Paris , shares an apartment with her partner Rémi in Marne-la-Vallée. [REDACTED] Media related to Marne-la-Vallée at Wikimedia Commons 48°51′33″N 2°35′55″E / 48.85917°N 2.59861°E / 48.85917; 2.59861 Disneyland Paris Disneyland Paris
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#17327726105036188-488: The banks so that they could get some help for their debt. As a last resort, the Walt Disney Company threatened to close the Disneyland Paris park, leaving the banks with the land. In May 1992, entertainment magazine The Hollywood Reporter reported that about 25% of Euro Disney's workforce, approximately 3,000 people, had resigned from their jobs because of unacceptable working conditions. It also reported that
6307-500: The company announced a plan titled DisneylandForward to expand the park with more rides, restaurants, and shops with The Anaheim City Council expected to receive the development plans for approval by 2023. On June 15, 2021, Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and other theme parks in California were permitted to return to full capacity with most COVID-19 pandemic restrictions lifted per California governor Gavin Newsom 's Blueprint for
6426-574: The direct RER railway connection to Euro Disney from the centre of Paris made the park inaccessible. Due to the European recession that August, the park faced financial difficulties as there were a lack of things to do and an overabundance of hotels, leading to underperformance. The failure of Euro Disney caused the cancellation of several projects like WestCOT , Disney's America , Tomorrowland 2055 at Disneyland and Beastly Kingdom at Disney's Animal Kingdom . A new Indiana Jones roller coaster ride
6545-455: The early 1960s. There was mild controversy over the lack of African American employees. As late as 1963, civil rights group the Congress of Racial Equality , was in discussions with Disneyland officials about hiring more black people, with Disneyland telling the group they would consider their requests. Unlike other amusement parks at the time, Disneyland was never racially segregated , and
6664-471: The exception of Wood. In September 1959, Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev spent thirteen days in the United States, with two requests: to visit Disneyland and to meet John Wayne , Hollywood's top box-office draw. Due to the Cold War tension and security concerns, he was famously denied an excursion to Disneyland. The Shah of Iran and Empress Farah were invited to Disneyland by Walt Disney in
6783-524: The existing parking lot (south of Disneyland) was repurposed by these projects, the six-level, 10,250-space Mickey and Friends parking structure was constructed in the northwest corner. Upon completion in 2000, it was the largest parking structure in the United States. The park's management team during the mid-1990s was a source of controversy among fans and employees. In an effort to boost profits, various changes were begun by then-executives Cynthia Harriss and Paul Pressler . While their initiatives provided
6902-700: The financial situation, Fitzpatrick ordered that the Disney-MGM Studios Europe project would be put on halt until a further decision could be made. Prices at the hotels were reduced. Despite these efforts in May 1992, park attendance was around 25,000 (some reports give a figure of 30,000) instead of the predicted 60,000. The Euro Disney Company stock price spiraled downward and on 23 July 1992, Euro Disney announced an expected net loss in its first year of operation of approximately 300 million French francs . During Euro Disney's first winter, hotel occupancy
7021-589: The firehouse is where Walt Disney had his personal apartment, where it still exists today, off-limits to the public. Main Street is also home to the Disney Art Gallery and the Opera House which showcases Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln , a show featuring an Audio-Animatronic version of Abraham Lincoln . At the far end of Main Street, U.S.A. is Sleeping Beauty Castle , the Partners statue , and
7140-556: The hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world. Walter E. Disney , July 17, 1955 The concept for Disneyland began when Walt Disney was visiting Griffith Park in Los Angeles with his daughters Diane and Sharon. While watching them ride the merry-go-round , he came up with the idea of a place where adults and their children could go and have fun together, though this idea lay dormant for many years. The earliest documented draft of Disney's plans
7259-452: The latter, leaving many drinking fountains dry. This generated negative publicity since Pepsi sponsored the park's opening; disappointed guests believed the inoperable fountains were a cynical way to sell soda, while other vendors ran out of food. The asphalt that had been poured that morning was soft enough to let women's high-heeled shoes sink into it. Some parents threw their children over the crowd's shoulders to get them onto rides, such as
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#17327726105037378-520: The leaders of the Walt Disney Company and the French government and territorial collectivities on 24 March 1987. Construction began in August 1988, and in December 1990, an information centre named "Espace Euro Disney" was opened to show the public what was being constructed at the time. Plans for a theme park next to Euro Disneyland based on the entertainment industry, Disney-MGM Studios Europe , quickly went into development, scheduled to open in 1995 with
7497-464: The leadership of E. Cardon Walker , Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 in Japan with instant success, forming a catalyst for international expansion. In late 1984 the heads of Disney's theme park division, Dick Nunis and Jim Cora, presented a list of approximately 1,200 possible European locations for the park. Britain, France, Italy and Spain were all considered. However, Britain and Italy were dropped from
7616-641: The list due to both lacking a suitable expanse of flat land. By March 1985, the number of possible locations for the park had been reduced to four; two in France and two in Spain. Both nations saw the potential economic advantages of a Disney theme park and offered competing financing deals to Disney. Both Spanish sites were located near the Mediterranean and offered a subtropical climate similar to Disney's parks in California and Florida. Disney had asked each site to provide average temperatures for every month for
7735-438: The local French labour market". Disney sought workers with sufficient communication skills, who spoke two European languages (French and one other), and were socially outgoing. Following precedent, Euro Disney set up its own Disney University to train workers. 24,000 people had applied by November 1991. In 2011, the park provided 55,643 direct and indirect jobs in France. According to Damien Audric, Director of Development and
7854-609: The media during Euro Disney's initial years. In response, French philosopher Michel Serres noted, "It is not America that is invading us. It is we who adore it, who adopt its fashions and above all, its words." Euro Disney S.C.A.'s then-chairman Robert Fitzpatrick responded, "We didn't come in and say O.K., we're going to put a beret and a baguette on Mickey Mouse . We are who we are." Topics of controversy also included Disney's American managers requiring English to be spoken at all meetings and Disney's appearance code for members of staff, which listed regulations and limitations for
7973-466: The opening of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue – a new version of Star Tours – marked the start of Disneyland Paris' 25th anniversary. On 31 March 2017, forums announced plans for Marvel attractions at Disney Adventure World as well as renovations to the Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Hotel New York in the next ten years. On 14 May 2017, to celebrate Disneyland Paris' 25th anniversary,
8092-412: The original park was showing signs of neglect. Fans of the park decried the perceived decline in customer value and park quality and rallied for the dismissal of the management team. Matt Ouimet , the former president of the Disney Cruise Line , was promoted to assume leadership of the Disneyland Resort in late 2003. Shortly afterward, he selected Greg Emmer as Senior Vice President of Operations. Emmer
8211-526: The park and another 300 on standby just outside of the entrance gates. Around 4:00 p.m., many of the Yippies occupied Tom Sawyer Island , purportedly smoking cannabis and causing cast members to halt park guests from boarding rafts to the island. An hour later, the group of Yippies converged at Main Street, U.S.A. and became confrontational with other park guests and riot police after tearing down patriotic bunting while unfurling Viet Cong and Youth International Party flags. Standby riot police entered and
8330-428: The park by climbing over the fence. The following day, it opened to the public, featuring twenty attractions. The Special Sunday events, including the dedication, were televised nationwide and anchored by three of Walt Disney's friends from Hollywood: Art Linkletter , Bob Cummings , and Ronald Reagan . ABC broadcast the event live, during which many guests tripped over the television camera cables. In Frontierland,
8449-428: The park during business hours with members of their respective staff, wearing cast member name badges, standing in line for attractions, and welcoming guests' comments. In July 2006, Ouimet left The Walt Disney Company to become president of Starwood . Soon after, Ed Grier , executive managing director of Walt Disney Attractions Japan, was named president of the resort. In October 2009, Grier announced his retirement, and
8568-606: The park from March 18 through April 19, 2021. On March 5, 2021, it was announced by the California Department of Public Health that Disneyland could reopen with capacity restrictions beginning April 1, 2021. The following week, then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek said that the company was planning on officially reopening the park in late April 2021. Disneyland along with Disney California Adventure officially reopened on April 30, 2021, with limited capacity and social distancing/mask guidelines in effect. The following week,
8687-526: The park from above. Currently, the Mark VII is running with the colors red, blue and orange. The monorail was originally a loop built with just one station in Tomorrowland. Its track was extended and a second station opened at the Disneyland Hotel in 1961. With the creation of Downtown Disney in 2001, the new destination is Downtown Disney, instead of the Disneyland Hotel. The physical location of
8806-508: The park transportation vehicles was Bob Gurr who gave himself the title of Director of Special Vehicle Design in 1954. Encircling Disneyland and providing a grand circle tour is the Disneyland Railroad (DRR), a 3 ft ( 914 mm ) narrow gauge short-line railway consisting of five oil-fired and steam-powered locomotives, in addition to three passenger trains and one passenger-carrying freight train. Originally known as
8925-564: The park was evacuated around 5:00 p.m. when some of the insurgents approached the park's Bank of America branch, sparking concern that the building could be burned in a similar fashion to the arson of a Bank of America in Isla Vista in February 1970. Police arrested 23 park guests and it was only the second unexpected early closure in park history, the first being in response to the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. The incident
9044-481: The park was unveiled during a special televised press event on the ABC Television Network on July 17, 1955. Since its opening, Disneyland has undergone expansions and major renovations, including the addition of New Orleans Square in 1966, Bear Country in 1972, Mickey's Toontown in 1993, and Star Wars : Galaxy's Edge in 2019. Additionally, Disney California Adventure Park opened in 2001 on
9163-489: The park welcomed actors from Pirates of the Caribbean ;: Dead Men Tell No Tales , for the film's European premiere. On 27 February 2018, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced that company would invest €2 billion into the Disneyland Paris resort. The Disney Adventure World will be expanded with three new areas between 2021 and 2025, based upon Marvel , Frozen and Star Wars . In March 2018,
9282-494: The park's attendance was far behind expectations. The disappointing attendance can be at least partly explained by the recession and increased unemployment, which was affecting France and most of the rest of the developed world at this time; when construction of the resort began, the economy was still on an upswing. Euro Disney S.C.A. responded in an interview with The Wall Street Journal , in which Robert Fitzpatrick claimed only 1,000 people had left their jobs. In response to
9401-538: The park's earliest attractions received major changes or were replaced in the mid-to-late 1970s. The Flight to the Moon attraction was rethemed as Mission to Mars in March 1975, five years after Apollo 11 had successfully landed humans on the Moon. Construction of Space Mountain began that same year adjacent to the new Mission to Mars attraction but was delayed by El Niño -related weather complications. The ride opened in 1977 to much acclaim as lines would often stretch all
9520-490: The park. The Walt Disney Company announced a € 1 billion plan (equivalent to US$ 1.25 billion at the time) to rescue the financially struggling Disneyland Paris resort, the Financial Times reported on 6 October 2014. The park was burdened by its debt, which at the time was calculated at about €1.75 billion ( US$ 2.2 billion ), roughly 15 times its gross average earnings. Up to that point, Disney only held
9639-411: The park. Main Street, U.S.A. is patterned after a typical Midwest town of the early 20th century, and took much inspiration from Walt Disney 's hometown, Marceline, Missouri . Main Street, U.S.A. has a train station, town square, movie theater , city hall, firehouse with a steam-powered pump engine, emporium, shops, arcades, double-decker bus, horse-drawn streetcar, and jitneys. The second-story of
9758-424: The partnership had already led to a lasting relationship with ABC which would eventually culminate in the Walt Disney Company's acquisition of ABC in the mid-1990s. Construction began on July 16, 1954, and cost $ 17 million to complete (equivalent to $ 153 million in 2023 ). The park was opened one year and one day later. U.S. Route 101 (later Interstate 5 ) was under construction at the same time just north of
9877-514: The previous 40 years, which proved a complicated endeavour as none of the records were computerised. The site in Pego, Alicante became the front-runner, but the location was controversial as it would have meant the destruction of Marjal de Pego-Oliva marshlands, a site of natural beauty and one of the last homes of the almost extinct Samaruc or Valencia Toothcarp, so there was some local outcry among environmentalists. Disney had also shown interest in
9996-538: The proposed site was too small for the ideas that he had. After hiring the Stanford Research Institute to perform a feasibility study determining an appropriate site for his project, Disney bought a 160-acre (65 ha) site near Anaheim in 1953. The park was designed by a creative team hand-picked by Walt from internal and outside talent. They founded WED Enterprises, the precursor to today's Walt Disney Imagineering . Construction began in 1954 and
10115-405: The public with a nine-acre (3.6 ha) recreation area including a circus and baseball diamond , and was closed in late 1961. Throughout the park are " Hidden Mickeys ", representations of Mickey Mouse heads inserted subtly into the design of attractions and environmental decor. An elevated berm supports the 3 ft ( 914 mm ) narrow gauge Disneyland Railroad that circumnavigates
10234-458: The rank top three in Europe. It features three themed-parks as well as 2,100 rooms. On 19 June 2017, the resort's operating company, Euro Disney S.C.A , was acquired by The Walt Disney Company , giving them full control of the resort. In December 2018, Natacha Rafalski took over as CEO. On 1 September 2017 the resort's second nature resort opened as Les Villages Nature Paris. On 26 March 2017,
10353-508: The resort's 200 millionth visitor, and made for the third consecutive year of growth in revenues for the resort as well as a record 15.3 million visitors in attendance. In 2009, the resort demonstrated dedication to the recruitment of new employment positions, especially for the Christmas and summer seasons, which continued in 2010 and 2011 when 2,000 and 3,000 employment contracts being offered, respectively. The 2009 fiscal year saw
10472-520: The resort's financial hardships, it had generated "37 billion euros in tourism-related revenues over twenty years", supports on average 55,000 jobs in France annually, and that one job at Disneyland Paris generates nearly three jobs elsewhere in France. For the first time in the resort's history, both the Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World closed from 14 to 17 November 2015, as part of France's national days of mourning following
10591-475: The resort. In March 2006, Disneyland Resort Paris launched the advertising campaign "believe in your dreams" and paired with the TGV East European Line to encourage European family attendance to the resort. Shortly after announcing a 12% increase in revenues for the fiscal year of 2007, Euro Disney S.C.A. implemented a "reverse split" consolidation of shares of 100 to 1. August 2008 brought
10710-424: The restrictions are requisite to the job and do not exceed what is necessary. Disney countered by saying that a ruling that barred them from imposing such an employment standard could threaten the image and long-term success of the park. "For us, the appearance code has a great effect from a product identification standpoint," said Thor Degelmann, Euro Disney's personnel director. "Without it we couldn't be presenting
10829-463: The results for the fiscal year ending 30 September 1995 were released; in one year the theme park's attendance had climbed from 8.8 million to 10.7 million, an increase of 21%. Hotel occupancy had also climbed from 60 to 68.5%. After debt payments, Disneyland Paris ended the year with a net profit of US$ 22.8 million. In March 2002, Disneyland Paris underwent a second name change to Disneyland Resort Paris. In 2002, Euro Disney S.C.A. and
10948-420: The roads. A government survey indicated that half a million people carried by 90,000 cars might attempt to enter the complex. French radio warned traffic to avoid the area. By midday, the car park was approximately half full, suggesting an attendance level below 25,000. Explanations of the lower-than-expected turnout included speculation that people heeded the advice to stay away and that the one-day strike that cut
11067-438: The site of Disneyland's original parking lot. Disneyland has a larger cumulative attendance than any other theme park in the world, with 757 million visits since it opened (as of December 2021). In 2023, the park saw 17.25 million visitors, making it the second most visited amusement park in the world that year, behind only Magic Kingdom , the very park it inspired. According to a 2005 Disney report, 65,700 jobs are supported by
11186-444: The site; in preparation for the traffic Disneyland was expected to bring, two more lanes were added to the freeway before the park was finished. Disneyland was dedicated at an "International Press Preview" event held on Sunday, July 17, 1955, which was open only to invited guests and the media. Although 28,000 people attended the event, only about half of those were invitees, the rest having purchased counterfeit tickets, or snuck into
11305-550: The size of Disneyland Park from 99 to 101 acres (40 to 41 ha). Tomorrowland currently has a "retro-future" theme reminiscent of the illustrations of Jules Verne . Attractions include Space Mountain , Star Wars Launch Bay , Autopia , the Disneyland Monorail Tomorrowland Station, Astro Orbitor , Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters , Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Star Tours–The Adventures Continue . Major buildings backstage include
11424-743: The south, across Riverside Drive from the studio. Besides Greenfield Village and the Chicago Railroad Fair, Disney was also inspired by Tivoli Gardens in Denmark, Knott's Berry Farm , Colonial Williamsburg , the Century of Progress in Chicago, and the New York's World Fair of 1939 . His designers began working on concepts, though the project grew much larger than the land could hold. Disney hired C. V. Wood and Harrison Price of
11543-560: The streets bordering Disneyland as part of the Skyfest Celebration. In the late 1990s, work began to expand the one-park, one-hotel property. Disneyland Park, the Disneyland Hotel, the site of the original parking lot, and acquired surrounding properties were earmarked to become part of the Disneyland Resort . At that time, the property saw the addition of the Disney California Adventure theme park,
11662-469: The summer of 1994, Euro Disney was burdened with $ 3 billion worth of debt. Disney CFO Richard Nanula and Wall Street financier Steve Norris worked with Alwaleed 's business advisor Mustafa Al Hejailan to rescue the overleveraged company. In that deal, Disney's 49 percent stake was reduced to 39 percent, the banks agreed to forego interest payments until 1997, Disney wrote off royalties and fees until 1999, and Alwaleed agreed to pay $ 345 million for
11781-688: The superheroes of the Marvel Universe, with the presence of the actress Brie Larson who plays Captain Marvel. At the Expo of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), Disneyland Paris' 30th Anniversary Celebration was elected for the 'Most Creative Property-Wide Event, Amusement Parks and Attractions, Including Water Parks, Annual Attendance More than 1 million'. Disneyland Disneyland
11900-439: The technique of forced perspective to create an illusion of height. Buildings along Main Street are built at 3 ⁄ 4 scale on the first level, then 5 ⁄ 8 on the second story, and 1 ⁄ 2 scale on the third—reducing the scale by 1 ⁄ 8 each level up. Adventureland is designed to recreate the feel of an exotic tropical place in a far-off region of the world. Attractions include Jungle Cruise ,
12019-485: The television broadcast, the company has adopted July 17 as the official date, the one commemorated every year as Disneyland's birthday. Within a year after Disneyland's opening, increasing friction between Walt Disney and Wood resulted in Wood's termination. Most of the executives who led the development of Disneyland are now commemorated in window signs as proprietors of fictional businesses along Main Street, U.S.A. , with
12138-535: The time owned over 97% of Euro Disney. It then implemented a full buyout of the shares they did not already own. In 2018, after taking full control of Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney reported its plans to invest €2 billion ( US$ 2.47 billion ) into the Disneyland Paris resort. Following the success of Disneyland in California, plans to build a similar theme park in Europe emerged in 1966 with sites in Frankfurt , Paris, London or Milan under consideration. Under
12257-461: The time people kept telling us, 'Do your own thing. Do what's American'." Unlike Disney's American theme parks , Euro Disney aimed for permanent employees (an estimated requirement of 12,000 for the theme park itself), as opposed to seasonal and temporary part-time employees. Casting centres were set up in Paris, London, and Amsterdam . However, it was understood by the French government and Disney that "a concentrated effort would be made to tap into
12376-405: The use of makeup, facial hair, tattoos, jewellery, and more. French labour unions mounted protests against the appearance code, which they saw as "an attack on individual liberty". Others criticised Disney as being insensitive to French culture, individualism, and privacy, because restrictions on individual or collective liberties were illegal under French law , unless it could be demonstrated that
12495-531: The way to Main Street, U.S.A. The final major change of the decade came in 1977 when the slow-paced Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland was closed and replaced by the similarly themed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad rollercoaster in 1979. Fantasyland was closed for refurbishment in 1982 and reopened to the public in 1983 as "New Fantasyland." On December 5, 1985, to celebrate Disneyland's 30th year in operation, one million balloons were launched along
12614-467: Was a long-time Disney cast member who had worked at Disneyland in his youth prior to moving to Florida and held multiple executive leadership positions at the Walt Disney World Resort . Ouimet set about reversing certain trends, especially concerning cosmetic maintenance and a return to the original infrastructure maintenance schedule, in hopes of restoring Disneyland's former safety record. Similarly to Walt Disney, Ouimet and Emmer could often be seen walking
12733-703: Was announced that Disneyland would be holding its first official "Pride Nite", supporting the LGBTQ community. This comes 25 years after the first celebrated 'Gay Day' at Disneyland, which is identical to the Gay Days at Walt Disney World celebration. In May 2023, a male employee of Disneyland was dressed as 'Fairy Godmother's apprentice' welcoming the visitors to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland , generating both criticism and support on social media. On May 18, 2024, Disneyland character performers voted to join
12852-467: Was being built. Five generations of monorail trains have been used in the park since their lightweight construction means they wear out quickly. The most recent operating generation, the Mark VII, was installed in 2008. The monorail shuttles visitors between two stations, one inside the park in Tomorrowland and one in Downtown Disney . It follows a 2.5-mile-long (4.0 km) route designed to show
12971-474: Was cited as a clash of the park management's perceived appeal to tradition following the death of Walt Disney and the growing counterculture movement among young people in the United States. Despite the opening of the more expansive Walt Disney World resort in 1971, Disneyland continued to set attendance records and maintained its status as a major tourist attraction. In 1972, the Bear Country land
13090-436: Was continued in the park. 2,300 patio seats (30% of park seating) were installed to satisfy Europeans' expected preference of eating outdoors in good weather. In test kitchens at Walt Disney World, recipes were adapted for European tastes. Walter Meyer, executive chef for menu development at Euro Disney and executive chef of food projects development at Walt Disney World noted, "A few things we did need to change, but most of
13209-453: Was estimated to be no more than a four-hour drive for 68 million people and no more than a two-hour flight for a further 300 million. Michael Eisner signed the first letter of agreement with the French government for the 20-square-kilometre (4,940-acre) site on 18 December 1985, and the first financial contracts were drawn up during the following spring. The final contract was signed by
13328-487: Was open to all races since opening day. As part of the Casa de Fritos operation at Disneyland, " Doritos " (Spanish for "little golden things") were created at the park to recycle old tortillas that would have been discarded. The Frito-Lay Company saw the popularity of the item and began selling them regionally in 1964, and then nationwide in 1966. On August 6, 1970, an estimated 300+ anti-war Yippies entered Disneyland in
13447-582: Was opened and the Main Street Electrical Parade was introduced. Disneyland underwent several changes in preparation for the United States Bicentennial . In 1974, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress was replaced with America Sings , an audio-animatronic theater show featuring the history of American music. America on Parade debuted in 1975 and ran through 1976 in celebration of the bicentennial. Several of
13566-459: Was opened at Euro Disney in 1993. A few weeks after the ride opened, there were problems with the emergency brakes which resulted in guest injuries. In 1994, the company was still having financial difficulties. There were rumours that Euro Disney was getting close to having to file for bankruptcy. The banks and the backers had meetings to work out some of the financial problems facing Euro Disney. In March 1994, Team Disney went into negotiations with
13685-468: Was renamed Critter Country in 1988, and in 2024 it was renamed Bayou Country. Formerly the area was home to Indian Village, where indigenous tribespeople demonstrated their dances and other customs. Bayou Country's main attraction is the log flume ride Tiana's Bayou Adventure . Other attractions include The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes . Star Wars : Galaxy's Edge
13804-432: Was replaced by George Kalogridis. The " Happiest Homecoming on Earth " was an eighteen-month-long celebration (held through 2005 and 2006) of the fiftieth anniversary of Disneyland Park, also celebrating Disneyland's milestone throughout Disney parks worldwide. In 2004, the park underwent major renovations in preparation, restoring many attractions, notably Space Mountain , Jungle Cruise , the Haunted Mansion , Pirates of
13923-618: Was sent as a memo to studio production designer Dick Kelsey on August 31, 1948, where it was referred to as a "Mickey Mouse Park", based on notes Disney made during his and Ward Kimball 's trip to the Chicago Railroad Fair the same month, with a two-day stop in Henry Ford 's Museum and Greenfield Village , a place with attractions like a Main Street and steamboat rides, which he had visited eight years earlier. When people wrote letters to Disney to inquire about visiting
14042-590: Was shut down due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic . Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World reopened to the public on 15 July with the rest of the resort. On 29 October 2020, the resort closed again due to a second nationwide lockdown. Disneyland Paris reopened on 17 June 2021. In 2022, Disney's shares in Villages Nature Paris were sold. In 2022, Disneyland Paris celebrated its 30th anniversary. In March 2022, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, Disneyland Paris marked its 30 years with
14161-487: Was so low that it was decided to close the Newport Bay Club hotel during the season. Initial hopes were that each visitor would spend around US$ 33 per day, but near the end of 1992, analysts found spending to be around 12% lower. Efforts to improve attendance included serving alcoholic beverages with meals inside the Euro Disneyland park, in response to a presumed European demand, which began 12 June 1993. By
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