“Coulson and his team race against Hydra to get to Donnie Gill – a dangerous gifted with the ability to freeze objects – while Simmons is caught in the crossfire.” It looks like another packed episode this week. ABC’s official synopsis talks about the return… Read More »Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S2-E3 Preview: Making Friends and Influencing People
from Instagram The castle is always calling me to take its picture. It’s the most photographed building in the world. Even with the holiday lights installed, it still looks beautiful.
Looks like I will get to take that Disneyland Paris vacation after all. No one seriously expected the Walt Disney Company (or France for that matter) to let the park close. With around 15,000 employees and 15 million yearly visitors, it’s a huge boost to the French economy. In addition to a black-eye for Disney, a closure would spell bad things for an economy, which is, admittedly, at the beginning of a delicate recovery. That just wasn’t going to happen.
The park debt, much of it the result of building too many hotels when the park opened, has been an albatross around the resorts neck since its beginning. Multiple refinancings and capital investment have floated the park through restructurings that the company hoped would finally put it in the black.
Early this morning, Euro Disney SAS, the parent company of Disneyland Paris, sent out a letter to its shareholders announcing yet another debt restructuring and capital investment. They also released this oddly optimistic explanation from Mark Stead, SVP and CFO of Euro Disney:
Yes, that’s a $1.25 billion recapitalization of the company (think of it as a mini-bankruptcy, we’re increasing the number of shares, which makes your shares worth less, but less is better than none, which would result in a full bankruptcy).
The details were outlined in a letter sent to Shareholders from the recently appointed President of Euro Disney SAS Tom Wolber:
Read More »Disneyland Paris survives to live another day thanks to investment from TWDC
At the recent Gay Days at Disneyland, Imagineer Bob Gurr spoke at a special D23 chat titled, “An Intimate Conversation With Disney Legend Bob Gurr.” He also gave an interview to the website Goweho.com where he talked about what it was like to be gay… Read More »Disney Imagineer reveals what it was like to be gay and work for Walt.
A plane crash on an island, a mystery hatch, and intertwined personal stories told through backflash were the bones of LOST. Propelled by online buzz, just as the cybersphere of social media was talking off, LOST drew fans to its weekly mystery like moths to… Read More »Would you watch if ABC revived LOST?
Update: the other shoe dropped for Disneyland Paris, the good news? It was a glass slipper from TWDC: http://bit.ly/1xVukOG
What is going on at Disneyland Paris? It’s the most popular theme park in Europe in terms of attendance, but it continually struggles with profitability. This year has been particularly rough. It lost its president Phillipe Gas to Shanghai Disneyland, has been in the news for the shoddy condition of many of its attractions, and is down over a million visitors from the previous year. There is no way to put a silver lining on it. The situation is not good.
On the other hand, the park’s second gate recently opened a Ratatouille attraction that has breathed some life into that park, there are rumors of a major Star Wars addition being planned, and it’s having a Halloween Festival that is getting good reviews. All signs that the park is on the right track.
So which is it? Unfortunately, it appears that the storm clouds are gathering for the park. It will be holding a special meeting with the workers’ council on Monday to discus the park’s cash crunch. The meeting is timed for just before the Paris Stock Exchange opens.
Read More »Disneyland Paris holding emergency meeting re: its very future
from Instagram: I have no idea what Duffy is thinking in this photo… do you?
Looking for an alternative Halloween experience that’s actually included with your theme park admission and not a seperate ticket event? I recommend SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular. It starts today, Oct. 4. This daytime event immerse you and your family in an underwater “fantasea” filled with trick-or-treating,… Read More »SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular kicks off with inclusive fun