Disneyland and Walt Disney World aren’t the only Disney theme parks targeted by ticket resale scammers, two people have been arrested in France on suspicion of reselling tickets bought via credit card fraud. According to police, the men were arrested while attempting to resell the… Read More »Disneyland Paris targeted by ticket resale scammers
This spring the vibrancy of the season will leap into life at Disneyland Paris in the “Swing into Spring” celebration. From March 1 to May 31, the park will feature beautiful floral sculptures, topiary, and a new swinging spring procession. Of course, there will be… Read More »Spring means music and flowers at Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris CEO Tom Wolber has a tough job, he has to get the French resort back on track. Not an easy assignment considering they just spent a ton of money building the Ratatouille attraction and attendance was still down over 2013. That said, there… Read More »Disneyland Paris CEO Thanks Cast
As a 10-percent holder of stock in Euro-Disney, Disneyland Paris’ parent company, Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed, potentially had the power to scuttle The Walt Disney Company’s $1.25 Billion bailout of Disneyland Paris. No one expected that action as the Prince had also supported previous debt… Read More »Saudi Prince will allow Disney’s rescue of Disneyland Paris
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
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
Although things are not perfect at Disneyland Paris, it’s no question things are a lot better today than they were 4 years ago. A lot of that is owed to the leadership of Philippe Gas. It makes sense that Disney would want him at their… Read More »Disney moves Disneyland Paris Chief to Shanghai Resort
The 60th attraction of the Disneyland Paris resort just opened putting a great big smile on the faces of guests. Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy (or Ratatouille: The Adventure) opened inside Walt Disney Studios on July 10th. It’s part of a mini-land themed to the cobbled streets of Parise and La Place de Remy right out of the Pixar movie – Ratatouille.
Guests on the attraction will experience audio-animatronic animation and larger-than-life projections that immerse them in the world of Rémy. The ride flies over the rooftops of Paris, through the kitchen, and into the rush of a French dining room all via your own “ratmobile.”
Here’s an early video ride-through:
La Place de Rémy is also home to a table-service restaurant, Bistrot Chez Remy. It features French specialties including ratatouille.
More fun facts about Ratatouille: The Adventure below the jump:
Read More »Ratatouille: The Adventure opens in Disneyland Paris’ Walt Disney Studios