SafekipediaDisneyland Paris
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Disneyland Paris is a fun place to visit in Marne-la-Vallée, France, not far from the city of Paris. It has two big theme parks, several hotels, places to meet for big groups, a golf course, an arena, and lots of shops and restaurants. It opened on April 12, 1992, and is run by Disney Experiences, a part of the Walt Disney Company.
It was the second Disney park to open outside the United States, after the one in Tokyo. The first park, Disneyland Park, opened in 1992, and a second park called Disney Adventure World (which was first named Walt Disney Studios Park) opened in 2002.
The resort sits on a large area of land, and much of it has been built up with plans for more in the future, including a new community called Val d'Europe. Disneyland Paris is the most visited theme park in Europe and helps provide jobs for many people in France. It has been visited by hundreds of millions of guests since it opened.
Ownership
The Walt Disney Company announced a big plan to help Disneyland Paris in 2014. The park had a lot of debt and wasn’t doing well financially. Disney didn’t own most of the park at that time. In 2017, Disney bought more shares and became the main owner. They also put in extra money to improve the park. By 2018, Disney fully owned Disneyland Paris and planned more investments to make it even better.
History
Seeking a location for a European resort
After the success of Disneyland in California, plans began in 1966 to build a similar park in Europe. Possible locations included Frankfurt, Paris, London, and Milan. By 1985, the choices were narrowed to two sites in France and two in Spain. Both countries saw economic benefits from hosting the park.
The French site in Marne-la-Vallée was chosen because of its closeness to Paris and central location in Western Europe. Construction began in 1988, and the park officially opened on April 12, 1992.
Design and construction
The resort included plans for seven hotels with 5,800 rooms, all with an American theme representing different U.S. regions. An entertainment and shopping area called Festival Disney was also built, designed by architect Frank Gehry. The park aimed to serve up to 55,000 visitors a day with 29 restaurants inside and more in the hotels.
Recruitment/employment
Disney aimed to hire permanent employees rather than seasonal workers. Casting centers were set up in Paris, London, and Amsterdam. By 2011, the park provided thousands of jobs in France, and by 2022, it remained one of the largest employers in the area.
Opening day and early years
Euro Disney opened on April 12, 1992, after preview days for employees and families. Early challenges included traffic issues and a European recession, which affected attendance and finances. A new Indiana Jones ride opened in 1993 but had some early technical problems.
Financial, attendance and employment struggles
In the early years, the park faced financial difficulties with high debt and lower-than-expected attendance. By 1994, Euro Disney was struggling with $3 billion in debt. Changes like adding alcohol to menus helped, but the park needed financial support from banks and The Walt Disney Company to recover.
1995 turnaround
In 1995, the park was renamed Disneyland Paris. A new Space Mountain ride opened, and attendance began to grow. By the end of 1995, the park achieved its first quarterly profit and continued to improve.
2000–2017
Over the next years, Disneyland Paris saw changes including the opening of Walt Disney Studios Park in 2002 and various financial ups and downs. By 2012, it had contributed billions to the French economy and supported many jobs. The park closed briefly in 2015 following events in Paris but reopened soon after.
2017–present: Expansions
In 2017, The Walt Disney Company took full control of the resort. New areas like Marvel Avengers Campus opened, and in 2022, the park celebrated its 30th anniversary with special events. In 2026, Walt Disney Studios Park was renamed Disney Adventure World, featuring a new World of Frozen land with attractions based on the popular Disney movie. The park continues to grow with new lands and experiences planned for the future.
Entertainment shows
Disneyland Paris has hosted special entertainment shows and festivals. In 2017, they celebrated their 25th anniversary with a music festival called Electroland. The festival returned in 2018 and 2019, with the 2019 event inspired by the movie The Lion King. Plans for a 2020 festival were cancelled due to the Coronavirus.
In 2021, Disneyland Paris launched a new 20-minute show called Disney Junior Dream Factory, encouraging visitors to believe in their dreams. A version in French sign language is shown every weekend. In 2023, they introduced a new show called "Together," featuring characters from Pixar movies like Dory, Coco, and Buzz Lightyear, performed with live music and actors on stage.
Other events
Minecon 2012
In November 2012, Disneyland Paris hosted a big event called Minecon. This was a special gathering for fans of the game Minecraft, and it took place in several places at the resort. About 4,500 people came to enjoy the event. During Minecon, the creators of Minecraft announced an update called the Redstone Update. The event also had popular Minecraft YouTubers and developers from Mojang as guests.
Regional impact
Disneyland Paris has helped grow the area around it, called Val-d’Europe, by bringing many tourists. It is one of the most visited places in Europe, with nearly 15 million people coming each year.
The park has added a lot of value to the French economy, about €66 billion since it opened in 1992. It also helps create jobs, with around 56,000 jobs in 2017. Disneyland Paris brings in a big part of France’s tourism money, making up 6% of the country’s tourism revenue and 17% of sales in the Ile-de-France area. By 2023, over 375 million people had visited, with half from France and half from other countries.
Environmental sustainability
Since 2019, Disneyland Paris has made changes to help the environment. They stopped using plastic straws and bags, switching to paper ones and bags made from recycled materials. In 2013, they started a program to use water more wisely. The park now has its own special system to clean and reuse water, saving over 2 million cubic meters of drinking water.
In 2022, Disneyland Paris announced plans to install 82,000 solar panels. These panels will create a lot of clean energy each year and will be the largest solar plant of its kind in Europe. This project will also help reduce harmful gases in the air. In 2023, the park also joined a big worldwide clean-up event, encouraging everyone to help keep the planet tidy.
Sponsorships and commitments
Since opening in 1992, Disneyland Paris has worked with the Pièces Jaunes operation. The park also offers special visits for children who are staying in hospitals. On May 18, 2022, 500 children and their families were invited to enjoy a day at Disneyland Paris.
Awards
In 2020, Disneyland Paris was named 'Europe's Best Family Park' at the European Star Awards. That same year, it also won awards for 'Best Dark Ride or Media Based Experience', 'Best Large Park', and 'Best Live Entertainment'.
In 2022, Disneyland Paris won the World Travel Awards' title of 'Europe's Leading Theme Park Resort'. It has won this award many times, including in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2021. In 2022, it also won 'European Amusement Park of the Year' at the Parksmania Awards. The Spider-Man W.E.B Adventure was named 'European Top New Attraction' by the Parksmania Awards. For its 30th Anniversary, Disney D-Light was honored as Best Live Entertainment at the Park World Excellence Awards in London on September 14.
Name changes
Disneyland Paris has had several different names since it opened. It started as the Euro Disney Resort on April 12, 1992. Then it became Euro Disneyland Paris, and later just Disneyland Paris. For a while, it was called Disneyland Resort Paris, but now it is simply Disneyland Paris again.
Theme years
Disneyland Paris has celebrated many special occasions over the years. These include anniversaries, such as the 1st anniversary in 1993, the 5th in 1997, the 10th in 2002, and many more up to the 35th anniversary planned for 2027.
There have also been other festive events that were not tied to anniversaries. Examples include the Happiest Homecoming on Earth from 2005 to 2006, Mickey's Magical Party from 2009 to 2010, and the Disney Symphony of Colours starting in 2024. Upcoming events include the Disney Music Festival in 2025.
The complex
Disneyland Paris is a big entertainment place in Marne-la-Vallée, France, not far from Paris. It has many fun places to explore.
The resort has two main theme parks, several hotels, shops, restaurants, and lots of entertainment. Disneyland Park opened in 1992 and is inspired by classic Disney stories. Disney Adventure World opened in 2002 and features exciting movies and superhero areas.
Visitors can enjoy famous rides like It's a Small World, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain. The parks welcome around fifteen million people each year, making it one of Europe’s top amusement spots.
The resort also includes special hotels, transportation options, and areas for guests with disabilities to enjoy everything comfortably.
Main article: List of Disneyland Park (Paris) attractions
| Name | Manufacturer | Speed | Height | Length | Park (Section) | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | Vekoma | 65 km/h (40 mph) | 22 m (72 ft) | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) | Disneyland Park, Frontierland | 1992 |
| Casey Jr. Circus Train | Vekoma | 45 km/h (28 mph) | 3 m (9.8 ft) | unknown | Disneyland Park, Fantasyland | 1994 |
| Hyperspace Mountain | Vekoma | 71 km/h (44 mph) | 32 m (105 ft) | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) | Disneyland Park, Discoveryland | 1995 |
| Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril | Intamin | 58 km/h (36 mph) | 18 m (59 ft) | 600 m (2,000 ft) | Disneyland Park, Adventureland | 1993 |
| Avengers Assemble: Flight Force | Vekoma | 92 km/h (57 mph) | 24 m (79 ft) | 1,037 m (3,402 ft) | Disney Adventure World, Avengers Campus | 2002 (as Rock 'n' Roller Coaster avec Aerosmith), 2022 |
| Crush's Coaster | Maurer Söhne | 60.7 km/h (37.7 mph) | 16 m (52 ft) | 545 m (1,788 ft) | Disney Adventure World, Worlds of Pixar | 2007 |
| RC Racer | Intamin | 80 km/h (50 mph) | 25 m (82 ft) | 82 m (269 ft) | Disney Adventure World, Worlds of Pixar | 2010 |
| Name | Theme | Architect | Number of Rooms | Opening Date | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disneyland Hotel | Disney Princess Victorian | Walt Disney Imagineering & Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Goo | 496 | 12 April 1992 | €€€ | 5* |
| Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel | Marvel Cinematic Universe Art Deco | Michael Graves | 565 | 21 June 2021 | €€€ | 4* |
| Disney Newport Bay Club | Mickey Mouse New England | Robert A.M. Stern Architects | 1,098 | 12 April 1992 | €€ | 4* |
| Disney Sequoia Lodge | Bambi National Park Service rustic | Antoine Grumbach | 1,011 | 12 April 1992 | €€ | 3* |
| Disney Hotel Cheyenne | Toy Story American frontier | Robert A.M. Stern Architects | 1,000 | 12 April 1992 | € | 3* |
| Disney Hotel Santa Fe | Cars American Southwest | Antoine Predock | 1,000 | 12 April 1992 | € | 2* |
| Name | Theme | Design | Number of rooms | Opening date | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Davy Crockett Ranch | Wilderness and adventure | Set back from the parks, the ranch is located in the midst of a large forest. Guests stay in cozy log cabins with access to swimming pools and other sports facilities. There is a restaurant and a bar. | 595 | 12 April 1992 | € | 2* |
| Year | Disneyland | Walt Disney Studios | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 10,000,000 | — | 10,000,000 |
| 1993 | 9,800,000 | — | 9,800,000 |
| 1994 | 8,800,000 | — | 8,800,000 |
| 1995 | 10,700,000 | — | 10,700,000 |
| 1996 | 11,700,000 | — | 11,700,000 |
| 1997 | 12,600,000 | — | 12,600,000 |
| 1998 | 12,500,000 | — | 12,500,000 |
| 1999 | 12,500,000 | — | 12,500,000 |
| 2000 | 12,000,000 | — | 12,000,000 |
| 2001 | 12,200,000 | — | 12,200,000 |
| 2002 | 10,300,000 | 2,800,000 | 13,100,000 |
| 2003 | 10,200,000 | 2,200,000 | 12,400,000 |
| 2004 | 10,200,000 | 2,200,000 | 12,400,000 |
| 2005 | 10,200,000 | 2,100,000 | 12,300,000 |
| 2006 | 10,600,000 | 2,200,000 | 12,800,000 |
| 2007 | 12,000,000 | 2,500,000 | 14,500,000 |
| 2008 | 12,688,000 | 2,612,000 | 15,300,000 |
| 2009 | 12,740,000 | 2,655,000 | 15,395,000 |
| 2010 | 10,500,000 | 4,500,000 | 15,000,000 |
| 2011 | 10,990,000 | 4,710,000 | 15,700,000 |
| 2012 | 11,200,000 | 4,800,000 | 16,000,000 |
| 2013 | 10,430,000 | 4,470,000 | 14,900,000 |
| 2014 | 9,940,000 | 4,260,000 | 14,200,000 |
| 2015 | 10,360,000 | 4,440,000 | 14,800,000 |
| 2016 | 8,400,000 | 4,970,000 | 13,370,000 |
| 2017 | 9,660,000 | 5,200,000 | 14,860,000 |
| 2018 | 9,843,000 | 5,298,000 | 15,141,000 |
| 2019 | 9,745,000 | 5,245,000 | 14,990,000 |
| 2020 | 2,620,000 | 1,410,000 | 4,030,000 |
| 2021 | 3,500,000 | 1,880,000 | 5,380,000 |
| 2022 | 9,930,000 | 5,340,000 | 15,270,000 |
| 2023 | 10,400,000 | 5,700,000 | 16,100,000 |
Notable incidents
Main article: List of incidents at Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris has had some important events that needed attention. These events can happen for different reasons, like if a guest didn’t follow safety rules, had health problems, or if something unexpected occurred like weather issues. The park reports these events so they can be checked and understood.
Images
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