EuroDisney

[Sarangel]

Here's an Editorial on SaveDisney.com that goes into some of the problems with the DLP Resort. Much of it is stuff we've discussed ad nauseum here on the DIS, but there are some interesting points:

[Jay] Rasulo started his Disney career by joining the Strategic Planning fraternity in 1986. At the time, he lobbied against hefty investment in large scale E-ticket attractions.

Sarangel

 

[manning]

Jay Rasulo sounds kind of scary.

 

[manning]

Bean counters have contributed greatly to bringing down companies along with bad management. Always the bottom line.

Thank god Frank Wells was around when Splash Mountain was introduced. The bean counters and Eisner said they couldn't afford to build it. Wells said they couldn't afford NOT to build it!!!

 

[DisneyKidds]

I'd have to agree that The Disney Studios Paris is the reason for the failures. The decision to build that park, and the manner in which it was built, should be criticised.

We just returned from our trip to France, including one day at Dinseyland Paris, and I can say without hesitation that it is a better park than WDW's Magic Kingdom.

The first thing that struck me as we approached the main entrance that branches into two directions (one leading to Disneyland and the other the Studios) is that NOBODY was going to the Studios. Disneyland, on the otherhand, was very well attended. I'd imagine that Disneyland could overcome the weather and cultural barriers that exist, but saddled with the cost and debt of the Studios the overall complex is being dragged down.

On a somewhat unrelated note, I'm not even sure the cultural barriers are as significant as mentioned. While the French may not like Bush and the US Government in general, they don't seem to have much of a problem with American products or concepts. The number of French people wearing American clothing, wearing things with American sayings, and generally consuming American products was astounding. They may not like America, but they seem to have no problem being American.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Hey kidds!

I was just thinking about you!

Hope you had a great trip to France!

 

[DisneyKidds]

Thanks Snacky...........and we did.

As for DLP, the park is beautiful. Since they had the benefit of knowing what did and didn't work in previous parks they could make some changes that were really good. Larger lands and wider paths were notable. Newer versions of some fave rides were an improvement. BTMRR is faster and better, for instance. Fantasyland at DLP was just amazing. Had to be twice the size of WDW's. We can only hope that Small World at WDW is as nice after the rehab. It was neat to see the parades at DLP. The Princess Parade was very nice, and Fantillusion was very good.

The only thing that really sucks in DLP is paying 3.60 Euro ($4.30) for a coke.....and 40 Euro ($48) for a meal of hot dogs and fries for a family of 4 at Casey's!!!

 

[KNWVIKING]

You've mentioned the failure of the Studios. Is it fixable ? On a scale of "bad", where would it compare to DCA ?

 

[DisneyKidds]

Vike - My position on the failure of the Studios is based purely on anecdotal evidence. We didn't go to the park. We only had one day to do Disney Paris and it was spent at Disneyland.

I have read many places that the Studios is a disappointment. The editorial only reinforces what I have read. What we observed in Paris (not one person headed for the Studios while there was a steady stream of people headed to Disneyland) demonstrates lack of appeal. They also seem desperate to get people to visit the park. One of the admission options was a one day ticket to the Studios which included access to the Disneyland park for 3 hours prior to closing. To me, this reinforces the fact that there is just not enough to do at the Studios. It doesn't seem that attracting visitors to EuroDisney is the big problem. The Disneyland hotel, and a few others, were sold out around the dates we wee in Paris.

I'm sure that the Studios could be fixed, it would just take money to do it. Money is something that is in short supply at EuroDisney these days.

 

[mb20fn26]

I just want to say that I recently returned from a trip to DLP. I have to agree with what's being said on both sides. I spent a few hours in the studio and although the entrance way is quite impressive the rest of the part left a lot to be desired. Although Rocking RollarCoaster was much better than MGM, it was also really the only ride there. Unbelievably small.

DisneyLand on the other hand was wonderful. Very clean and well kept. The attention to detail at this part blows away that of WDW MK. They def. got a lot of things right when building this. The dragon on the castle itself was an amazing site. Space Mountain, HM and POTC where wonderful. Scenes were different which made them much more impressive...

 

[DisneyKidds]

Hey mb - we are practically neighbors.

Since I really haven't thrown them out there yet, here are my DLP observations:

Didn't visit the Studios, so nothting to say there other than repeating how stricking the fact was that not a soul was headed in that direction in the morning when we arrived at DLP.

Disneyland.......an improvement on the MK in almost every way. The park is great, service is another story.

Park first.

Larger lands, wider paths, more themed play areas for the kids, wonderful attention to detail. Old favorites had newer and exciting treatments. As my 5 yo daughter said, BTMRR is faster and Autopia has pink cars. What more improvements could you ask for . Didn't have a chance to do Space and Pirates, unfortunately. Phantom Manor (Haunted Mansion) was a bit darker and more macabre than Florida's version - not quite as fun. Kind of wierd to have Star Tours outside of the Studios. Indiana Jones ride was ok, but not great. Completely backwards coaster, which was cool, but built for short Europeans I guess. I couldn't put my head back as the signs indicate as the head rest was at my shoulders. Kind of got a headache and stiff neck, but it didn't last long. That's what 6'4" Americans in Paris deserve I guess . This was a feature ride so I paid a lot of attention. The queue wasn't all that special. The general themeing was good, but not great and not to the level of Splash Mountain. No special effects here either. Good, but not great, ride. Main Street was very nice. Wider, but maybe a little shorter. All done in pavers and no pavement - nice (and expensive) touch. Very familiar and similar to the MK in many ways. Even Casey's on the same corner - but we dropped $50 for 5 hot dogs, two fries, two sodas and two juices. DLP is not cheap!! More sit down restaurants than the MK.....and nice ones.

Fantasyland deserves it's own paragraph. HUGE, compared to the MK. This is what a real Small World is supposed to be. I read rumors that they want to recreate this classic facade inside the MK version as part of the rehab. I hope they do. The "children" who come out and go around the facade every 15 minutes were way cool. Only bad thing.....the Small World song plays in the open air so it can drive you nuts without going on the ride!!! Teacups were nicely done. Rides like Peter Pan and Dumbo had as long a lines as they do at the MK. Casey Junior Circus Train was very well done, as was the Storybook boat ride. Wonderful details. Missed the Pinocchio ride, unfortunately. Everything was bigger and brighter.......as it was newer and improved.

Parades.....very well done. The Princess Parade was on par (or better than) the Share a Dream parade. Fantillusion was very well done as well, but not as good as SpectroMagic, IMHO - but the floats and dancing were great and very detailed. Crowds similar to the MK on a summers night.

So what does all this mean, besides the park being VERY nice? Well, it means that someone can still put together a great Disney park, and not do it on the cheap, during a time when the US parks were entering their "decline". I guess the question is - who was responsible. They didn't scrimp, cheat or cut and put forth a top notch product. Anyone know the details on whose money was spent and who made the decisions?

Now for that service. Slow, slow, slow......and not nearly as many CM's as at the MK. I wanted to ask a question and in 10 minutes couldn't really find a CM on main street. Perhaps staffing level are low due to the poor financial situation. On the bright side, noone was really rude.

So those are my observations. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Sarangel]

I guess the question is - who was responsible. They didn't scrimp, cheat or cut and put forth a top notch product. Anyone know the details on whose money was spent and who made the decisions?

This was done early in Eisner's watch, while Frank Wells was still there. It was supposed to blow the Europeans away, which (I suppose) is why there is so much detail work. The problem is that, initially, DLP (or EuroDisney, as it was then called) was *not* a success. When the park first opened, the (as in DL & MK) didn't allow alcohol. This did not go over well with the Europeans. There were other tweaks that were made to make the park more appealing to local visitors, but I don't know all of them.

DLP wasn't a success until 1992, when it began bringing in modest returns. As you can tell from the original post, DLP is back to not being a success. And the Studios (built on the "hey, let's throw some rides together & call it a Disney Park" model) aren't helping in any way.

Someone really needs to remind the current management that quality will bring repeat guests & schlock won't...

Sarangel

 

[DisneyKidds]

When did Wells leave?

EuroDisney was conceived during the early part of the Eisner era. Agreements with the French Government were signed in 1987. However, the majority of the planning and implementation for the park took place at about the same time as Disney MGM Studios in Florida.

DLP Announced 1987, Opened 1992.
MGM Studios announced 198?, Opened 1989.

So these parks were largely developed at the same time, but clearly they followed different tracks and a different approach. Someone at the time was capable of making a Disney worthy park, and doing it without the perceived model that the Studios was based on. That's why I wondered whose money was being spent and if there were folks in Europe who had more say in how it was spent. I do think that DLP does show that there was someone who "got it" at the time. True that is wasn't profitable for three years, but there were some hurdles to overcome and I doubt it was because of the lack of quality or attraction of the park. Interesting that the park remained profitable until the Studios came along. Terrible decision, terrible implementation.

 

[Bork]

Frank Wells was killed in a helicopter crash on March 24, 1994. After this, you have the Katzenburg and Ovitz messes, the ABC merger, etc.

So the First decade went well with Eisner and Wells, but Eisner hasn't done as well by himself in the 2nd decade.