WDS....What Was Management thinking?

[Figmentforever24]

Ok this is my first time posting a thread so bear with me. Anyway you know Magic Kingdom at Disneyland Paris is one of the prettiest Disney parks in the world. The details and little touches make it a great theme park. Unfortunately right next door to this beautiful park is arguably one of the worse Disney parks on Earth. Walt Disney Studios seems to be a mismatch of random themes and ideas. The park is a concrete jungle with hardly any water features or greenery. Don’t get me wrong it has some great rides like Crushes Coaster and Tower of Terror. I am just saying does anybody know what Disney management was thinking when they were building this park? I mean did they really think it was going to be a huge success or was it a quick way to build a second gate for Paris? Thanks!

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

Seems very sucessful to me? Especially considering the vast investment in the new Ratatouille area. I suppose it is down to personal opinion.

 

[DLPdaft]

if you get the chance, take the guided tour of the Walt Disney Studios park. I found it fascinating, and it really tied the whole park together for me.

 

[JustJonathan]

I have to say I agree to some extent.. but, to me it just feels like it's a neglected uglier child...

For instance, at Christmas.. (our favorite time to visit).. it only gets a few small decorations at the entrance square, then you go into the Studio to access the park itself (which is amazing, I love it).. only to come out to a really bare looking park... something is just missing with it.

That's why I'm guessing they are trying to create more themed areas such as Toy Story Playland and the upcoming Ratatouille... I just hope they re-do other areas to make them feel more "themed" also.

 

[Danauk]

I agree that the Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris is the most beautiful of all the Disney Parks, but I don't think the WDS is as bad as people make it out to be. The park is supposed to emulate a Hollywood studio, if you have ever been to them then there are very few green spaces, just lots of buildings and sound stages. The buildings in these studios are often built in different styles, so whilst they are practical and may house business offices, they can also be used for exterior shots for shows and movies. The guided tour of the park is really informative, it really helps you to understand why the park was built in the way it was. I do think the details in the new Toy Story Playland and the soon to open Ratatouille area are great additions to the park. Whilst I do think the park needs to be bigger and contain more attractions, I do think it is a very misunderstood park.

On a side note, my 5 year old nephew actually rerferred the Studios over the Disneyland park last summer as there were more rides in the Studios that he was interested in riding. That also made me see the park differently too!

 

[Figmentforever24]

I agree that the Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris is the most beautiful of all the Disney Parks, but I don't think the WDS is as bad as people make it out to be. The park is supposed to emulate a Hollywood studio, if you have ever been to them then there are very few green spaces, just lots of buildings and sound stages. The buildings in these studios are often built in different styles, so whilst they are practical and may house business offices, they can also be used for exterior shots for shows and movies. The guided tour of the park is really informative, it really helps you to understand why the park was built in the way it was. I do think the details in the new Toy Story Playland and the soon to open Ratatouille area are great additions to the park. Whilst I do think the park needs to be bigger and contain more attractions, I do think it is a very misunderstood park.

On a side note, my 5 year old nephew actually rerferred the Studios over the Disneyland park last summer as there were more rides in the Studios that he was interested in riding. That also made me see the park differently too!

I guess I see your point, but there is something about this park that is weird to me. It just seems like building a bunch of sound stages and adding rides inside is very cheap. Like I said there are some great rides there and I know they are investing, but I don't know. Maybe I should take the tour lol. Does anyone have a link or page that tells the history of the park seeing I wont be able to make any trip over there anytime soon?

 

[Figmentforever24]

I have to say I agree to some extent.. but, to me it just feels like it's a neglected uglier child...

For instance, at Christmas.. (our favorite time to visit).. it only gets a few small decorations at the entrance square, then you go into the Studio to access the park itself (which is amazing, I love it).. only to come out to a really bare looking park... something is just missing with it.

That's why I'm guessing they are trying to create more themed areas such as Toy Story Playland and the upcoming Ratatouille... I just hope they re-do other areas to make them feel more "themed" also.

To me Walt Disney Studios and Disney California Adventure have a lot in common. Both seemed to have been built very cheaply with little thought about themeing in mind. During the time when Eisner thought the Disney name was enough for people to come to a theme park. Now maybe this isn't the case with the studios but it just seems that way. Like you know it wasn't fully thought out like the other parks.

 

[lilacgems23]

For years I felt the same but the past 2 years I have come to like it. I used to avoid it if possible but now like to spend a full fat here. I find the studios tend to have more random meet and greets with different characters such as stitch, lilo, mulan, cruela etc. I also find the shop near the entrance sells things that you can't buy in the main park.

Since discovering the shows like animagique, stitch etc we are never short of things to do. We also love restaurant des stars and always eat here when in the studios.

 

[RoseBug]

I have grown to love it. This trip it felt different; it looked different and had more atmosphere and feel to it. We met so many fabulous characters this trip in the Studios and it just felt fab, we even said we wished we had a bit more time to go back for another half day to the studios!

 

[Miss_Lumiere]

I love the main park, but I equally enjoy the studios. It's so nice to pop next door away from the crowds (we were there a new year). We met about 25 different characters in the studios, compared to about 8 in the main park; the interaction was also much better because there were less people waiting. I love Animagique and most of the rides there too. It's a very different park, but I don't think that's a bad thing.

 

[Ware Bears]

I've always loved WDS, also loved California Adventure too! Maybe I'm easily pleased!

 

[Jonjo]

If you have ever walked around a real movie studio, trust me the WDS park is a lot nicer. Real production studios are just a bunch of huge hangers and shabby office blocks, with a very expensive cafe.

We went on the WDS Tour last year and it was really interesting, I highly recommend it. I like WDS and with the introduction of Toy Story Playland which I think is fantastically themed and the forthcoming Paris section for the new Ratatouille ride the park is expanding in the right direction.

 

[Lisa_C]

I love the Studios, and at one point spent more time in there than the main park because of the shows and things for younger children. Now we spent more time in there for the big rides because the kids are older
I'm not a huge fan of TSPL, I think it's too squashed - especially when you compare it to the new Ratatouille expansion! But I will always have a huge soft spot for the Studios and the last trip had us going there first before the main park

 

[Figmentforever24]

Thanks for all of the replies! Does anybody know how much money went into building the park? I would to see how much they spent on it.