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disneyland paris

The Park with the Dragon in the Basement

Disneyland Paris has always been the most beautiful of the Magic Kingdom parks which leaves us U.S. theme park based fans jealous. The number one item that turns us green with envy is the dragon lair under Sleeping Beauty Castle. Over the years, the shine… Read More »The Park with the Dragon in the Basement

Disneyland Paris Castle Recreated in Origami

Okay, it’s not exactly Origami, but they did use an Origami expert to recreate Sleeping Beauty castle from Disneyland Paris. It’s now in a London mall attracting potential tourists to learn more about the destination. It took three weeks of work and more than 50,000… Read More »Disneyland Paris Castle Recreated in Origami

Disneyland Paris at Christmas (Photos)

I had the luck of having a work trip in Paris, and I was able to sneak off to Disneyland Paris for a day. Below are a few photos, but if you want to see more (including a full trip report) you can find that on my personal blog. ( apologize that some of the photos are lower quality; my camera died and I had to use my iPad.)

I think this little boy thought I was taking his picture. He saw me with my camera (trying to take a picture) and stopped for a few moments. I snapped one, and then walked ahead of him to take more. But I just live this picture so much! (More below the jump)Read More »Disneyland Paris at Christmas (Photos)

Castle Topping – Disneyland Paris

A similar video made the rounds a few years ago, but it’s always fun to watch how Imagineering makes the magic. In this case it’s the “Castle Topping” ceremony when the highest spire of The Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle)… Read More »Castle Topping – Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris Reports Improved Revenue

After accounting for a one time real estate deal, the finances at Euro-Disney SCA, the operating company for Disneyland Paris, are still looking relatively rosy. Revenues for the 3rd quarter of 2011 grew 6.7% over last year. The parks and hotels segments both improved driving… Read More »Disneyland Paris Reports Improved Revenue

Promotions Shake Up Disney Parks & Resorts under Tom Staggs

In a long internal memo today, Tom Staggs made official the organizational shakeup everyone knew was coming after Staggs took over the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division. It’s nothing earth shattering, but it does flatten some of the levels of hierarchy that were said to have frustrated Staggs since he took over.

In short, current WDW president Meg Crofton expands to oversee all the domestic parks and the two parks in France. Karl Holtz, who a few years ago was rumored to be leaving Disney, is instead adding DVC to his DCL and Adventures by Disney responsibilities. Leslie Ferraro becomes executive vice president, Global Marketing and Sales combining those two closely related departments and Erin Wallace, executive vice president, Operations Integration also adds revenue management to her desk. The move also creates a new executive council under Staggs.

While Staggs’ reorganization did not cut any of the deadwood certain segments of Disney fans wanted to see go, I believe the general movement here is a good one. It will allow for efficiencies where they need to exist and independence, with oversight, as required for the parks. Combining marketing and sales is a no-duh in my book, they are both measured by the same final metrics (butts in beds and asses through the gates), so unifying them is good. The only move that looks questionable to me is giving the extra power of revenue management to operations. However, they are the yin and the yang of theme park operations. Having one person keep a close eye via her myriad of spreadsheets and minions (and I mean that in the nicest possible way), could be very positive.

Let’s keep a watch on this for the next 3-year planning cycle and see if there really is any improvement. Meanwhile, the pressure is kicked up a notch for these people to get things done or they too could be reorganized right out of a job.

The full text of Tom Staggs’ announcement is below the jump:

Read More »Promotions Shake Up Disney Parks & Resorts under Tom Staggs

The Big Thunder Mountain Defense works in Court

“Thunder Mountain is a very fast, frightening roller coaster ride. After being on there Ramplin was terrified and worried there was going to be an accident and all of a sudden memories of the accident when he was ten came flooding back.” With those words… Read More »The Big Thunder Mountain Defense works in Court