Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris Receiving 2 Billion Euro Transformation with Marvel, Star Wars and Frozen Areas
Hi everyone!
I woke up to the news this morning that Disney announced a 2 billion Euro investment into Walt Disney Studios Park Paris (The press release is further below in the article). The new areas to be added will be based on Star Wars, Marvel and Frozen. While those wouldn’t all be my first choices for lands, I am glad that Walt Disney Studios Park is getting some much needed attention. In addition, there will be a new lake for nighttime experiences – something that will be a huge benefit for the park. Plus it looks like Toy Story Playland might end up with Alien Swirling Saucers, an attraction that will open this year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The new additions will roll out in phases from 2021, just a few years away.
Concept Art Copyright Disney
The news is huge for Walt Disney Studios Park. My first visit to Disneyland Paris was in 2002 for the 10th anniversary of the main park, and Walt Disney Studios Park had been open just weeks at that time. There was not much to see – Cinemagique, Animagique, Moteurs… Action! Stunt Show Spectacular – those had all just opened and were the highlights of the park. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Avec (With) Aerosmith is a lesser version of ours at Walt Disney World (though it should soon be getting a Marvel makeover), and Armageddon – Les Effets Speciaux wasn’t even a good attraction upon park opening. Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic has never offered a lot to view, though it does have Catastrophe Canyon. That said, much of anything left in the park that I just mentioned will be leaving and I am good with that.
Here is a detailed look in video of the concept art.
When the Walt Disney Studios Park first opened, there was no Tower of Terror, no Crush’s Coaster, no Toy Story Playland and of course, no Ratatouille area. The park was probably half of what it is now, which is hard to believe. On subsequent visits there, I took photos of construction walls for Tower of Terror and Crush’s Coaster before they opened in 2007.
Photo by Denise Preskitt
There have been other recent changes to Walt Disney Studios Park. Animagique closed in early 2016 to make way for Mickey and the Magician, which is one of my favorite shows in any park (Animagique was too, but differently). And we were there last year for the final performance of Cinemagique, a unique experience which was showing its age after 15 years.
The Walt Disney Studios Park added a Season of the Force last year, with a highlight being Star Wars: A Galactic Celebration on the Tower of Terror (their Tower makes a wonderful canvas for projection shows). We caught the show on the last night it played in 2017. The park also has been offering a Spider-Man meet and greet for years, and will introduce the Marvel Summer of Super Heroes this year from June 10th to September 30th – with the big draw likely to be Marvel: Super Heroes United – a new stunt show where CinéMagique had been. I am looking forward to that this summer.
Photo by Denise Preskitt
Before sharing the full press release, I wanted to mention that this is actually a very good time to visit the Disneyland Paris parks, with Annual Passes being inexpensive in comparison to our passes in the United States. Annual Passes were restructured last year and did go up in price, but the most expensive pass – Infinity – is 399 Euros and includes good discounts, early entry, special offers and the use of pools at some Disneyland Paris hotels. Since we stay offsite, the Sequoia Lodge pool inclusion is a nice bonus, it is my favorite pool on property. The Magic Plus Annual Pass offers decent discounts and some other benefits including early entry for 249 Euros. The prices for the parks will no doubt rise quite a bit as more is opened in a few years.
Concept Art Copyright Disney
Here is the press release.
PARIS, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Robert A. Iger announced plans for a 2 billion euro, multi-year expansion for Disneyland Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais de l’Elysée in Paris. The new development will include a transformation of the Walt Disney Studios Park, adding three new areas that are based on Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars, along with multiple new attractions and live entertainment experiences.
The expansion plan is one of the most ambitious development projects at Disneyland Paris since its opening in 1992 and underscores the Company’s commitment to the long-term success of the resort as Disney’s brand beacon in Europe.
“We’re very excited about the future of Disneyland Paris and continue to invest in its long-term success,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company. “The resort is already the leading tourist destination in Europe, and the transformative expansion we announced today will add even more of our beloved characters and unparalleled storytelling to create new lands, attractions and entertainment that further elevate the guest experience and drive new opportunities for tourism in this dynamic region.”
The new areas will infuse some of Disney’s most popular stories and characters into this unique destination, building upon the success of the resort’s 25th Anniversary celebration and continuing to enhance the guest experience for millions of Europeans.
With over 320 million visits since 1992 and representing 6.2 percent of France’s tourism income, Disneyland Paris has played a key leadership role in tourism for the region. The resort continues to be a powerful driver of economic and social development with over 16,000 employees representing 100 nationalities. This investment will help make the region even more dynamic and appealing and open up more opportunities for French and European citizens in the tourism industry.
The multi-year development will roll out in phases beginning in 2021, significantly expanding the Walt Disney Studios Park. In addition to the three new areas, the creative vision includes a new lake, which will be the focal point for entertainment experiences and will also connect each of the new park areas.
In the spring of 2017, Disneyland Paris kicked off its 25th Anniversary celebration including new entertainment and experiences for guests. The resort also completed a two-year refurbishment program, updating and renovating many of the classic attractions in the parks, as well as opening multiple new entertainment shows such as Mickey and the Magician, which won a 2017 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions theme park industry award for “Best Theatrical Production.” Additionally, several major renovations took place at the resort’s hotels including Disney’s Newport Bay Club, which is now a four-star hotel.
Just this month, Disneyland Paris announced plans for a new Marvel-themed attraction that will be coming to the Walt Disney Studios, part of the new Marvel area development. In 2020, the resort will open Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, a reimagining of Disney’s Hotel New York that will showcase the inspiring worlds of Iron Man, The Avengers, and Spider-Man, among others. And this summer, the Marvel Summer of Super Heroes seasonal event will take place at Disneyland Paris, where guests can meet their favorite heroes and experience new live entertainment.
Europe’s number one tourist destination, Disneyland Paris boasts two spectacular theme parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park) and seven themed Disney hotels with 5,800 rooms (more than 2,700 rooms are available in Selected and Associated Hotels). Two full-service convention centers and a world-class 27-hole golf course are also present. In addition to this, the destination is home to Disney Village – one of the largest entertainment complexes in the Ile-de-France region. Spread over more than 30,000m², Disney Village proposes themed dining, shopping and cinema experiences. Disneyland Paris comprises 59 attractions, 63 shops, and 55 restaurants.