Disneyland Paris, France

Disneyland is a recreation resort in Marne-la-vallee, which is a new town in the eastern suburb of Paris. Vald’europe is situated in the same place. Marne-la-vallee covers 26 communes. It has been diviced into 4 sectors- Port de paris, Val Mauber, Val de Bussy and Vald’europe for administrative purpose. The complex is located 32 km from the centre of Paris. Operating since april 12 1992, Disneyland Paris features two theme parks, an entertainment district and seven Disney-owned hotels. Following Tokyo Disney resort, Disneyland resort Paris is the second to open outside the United States. It is the first to be owned and operated by Disney.


Disneyland Paris being Europe’s leading tourists destination had nearly 12 million visitors in 2006. A French public company Euro Disney S.C.A owns and operates Disneyland resort Paris. The Walt Disney Company holds 39.78% of its stock, 10% by the Saudi prince Alwaleed and nearly 50% by other shareholders. The chairman and CEO of the park is Karl Holz.

This complex faced lots of controversies during the period of construction. To improve the public image, the complex was renamed from Euro Disney resort to Disneyland Paris in 1995. The company saw its quarterly profit for the first time in July of that year. Walt Disney studios park a second theme Park was opened on march 16th 2002. Disneyland Paris was planned following the success dIsneylands in Anaheim, California and Walt Disney world in lake Buena Vista Florida.

The number locations for the park were reduced to four- two in France and two in Spain by march 1985. Finally a site in the rural town of Marne-la-Valleewas was chosen for its proximity to Paris and its central location within Western Europe. In 1985, Michael Eisner, Disney’s CEO signed the first agreement with the French government for the 20 square km site in December 1985.

An information centre named Espace EuroDisney was opened for the public to show what was being constructed. EuroDisney aimed for permanent employees unlike the other Disney theme parks. French government made a concentrated effort to tap the local French labour market. 5000 Disney owned hotel rooms were decided to be built withih the complex to control the maximum hotel business. Council of architects decided an exclusive American theme in which each hotel will depict a region from United States.

Franc Genry designed an entertainment, shopping and dinning complex on Walt Disney world’s Downtown Disney. Projected daily attendance being around 55000, Euro Disney planned ti serve estimated 14000 people per hour in the park. 29 restaurants were built inside the complex to serve the purpose. Alcoholic beverages were not allowed to serve within the park. The complex was officially opened on April 12th 1992.

Government survey predicted that half a million people carried by 90,000 cars might attempt to enter the complex. So public were warned to avoid this particular area. In 1992 it faced a lots of financial and employment problems and the entertainment magazine ‘The Hollywood’ reported that around 25% of manpower approximately being 3000 men and women resigned their jobs because of unacceptable working conditions. The Disney village contains variety of bars, shops and other venues and stays open after the park closes.