Today IS the BIG day that all Disneyland Paris fans were awaiting for since years and years as Bob Iger and Disneyland Paris officially announced that Disney will invest TWO BILLION EUROS - 2.5 Billion Dollars! - in new attractions and lands at Disneyland Paris Resort in the coming years.
And not only this phenomenal amount was announced - $2.5 Billion is probably more or less what DLP entire first park had cost 25 years ago - but also was revealed the name of the coming lands and attractions and a Marvel land, a Star Wars land, AND a Frozen land are coming at DLP Walt Disney Studios, with lands opening in phases, starting 2021!
Here is the official press releases in English, and in French after it with the above concept-art animated:
Disney Announces Transformative Multi-Year Expansion for Disneyland Paris Walt Disney Studios Park to get new areas based on Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars
PARIS, February 27, 2018 – 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 favourite heroes and experience new live entertainment.
Below, a zoom in the new concept-art on the Marvel land for the WDS.
Note the Avengers plane at the entrance of the stunt show which will soon become a Marvel stunt show.
We all knew already about the Marvel Land coming where WDS Backlot land currently is and a first Marvel attraction was even announced at D23 Japan this month with an Iron Man ride instead of the Rock and Roller Coaster. And a Star Wars land is not really a surprise too as it was long rumored and the Star Wars license is so popular in Europe since nearly 40 years. Chances are that the rides will be similar to the ones that will open at DL and WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios Star Wars lands next year.
Below, a zoom in the new concept-art on the Star Wars land for the WDS. On the artwork - which is in fact not one artwork but a mix of several so not necessarily the final one - it seems that the Star Wars land might be smaller than the ones in the U.S, and no Millenium Falcon can be seen on it but just a X-Wing fighter. Again, don't take it as the final real thing. Also interesting the path on the right of SWL which seems to go behind it ...to another future land?
The real surprise is the Frozen land which was not expected, at least in the Walt Disney Studios. The fact that Marvel and Star Wars universe are mostly "boys" universe ( even if a lot of girls are Star Wars fans ) may be the reason why a Frozen land has been chosen as DLP needed to have at the WDS a land for young girls, and obviously a Frozen land will do it. It don't look to be a land similar to the one they will build soon at Hong Kong Disneyland or to the Frozen land announced previously and designed for Tokyo DisneySea, but taking elements from each. Anyway there won't be probably any costs for "research and development" as they will have been paid by the others parks and that may have had an influence too in the decision to build a Frozen land at the WDS. Or may be it is the recent snowy weather and "frozen" temperatures - along with the stunning pictures of the parks covered by snow - which helped to finally made the final choice for the Frozen land. Just imagine this big mountain covered by real snow!
Below, a zoom in the new concept-art on the Frozen land for the WDS. I bet that the show building for the attraction - because of course there will be one - will be inside the mountain. Note also on the full artwork at the top that the land on the right of Frozen land and over Toy Story Playland is quite empty, leaving room eventually for a future land there, too.
As you can see on the concept-art at the top, the good news is that the Tower of Terror is safe - no transformation in a Guardians of Galaxy with the terrible facade. Also, a huge lake will be created at the center behind and i think we can safely bet on a fountain evening show. But a closer look to Toy Story Playland seems to also reveal something looking like a green alien attraction being added to WDS TSL - if it's the case, will it be the same than the one coming to TSL at Disney's Hollywood Studios? It looks like...
That said, 2 Billion Euros is a huge amount and if we add the cost of these three lands - Marvel, Star Wars and Frozen - it will probably be around one or 1.2 billion euros, meaning that the question now is: what are they going to do at DLP with the other one billion?
Voici le press release en français:
Disney annonce un plan de développement pluriannuel d’envergure pour Disneyland Paris.
Le Parc Walt Disney Studios accueillera bientôt de nouvelles zones thématiques dédiées à Marvel, La Reine des Neiges et Star Wars.
PARIS, 27 février 2018 – Aujourd’hui, lors d’une rencontre avec le Président de la République Emmanuel Macron au Palais de l’Elysée, Robert A. Iger, Président Directeur Général de The Walt Disney Company, a annoncé un plan de développement sur plusieurs années de 2 milliards d’euros pour Disneyland Paris. Ce nouveau plan d’expansion comprend une transformation du Parc Walt Disney Studios, incluant trois nouvelles zones thématiques dédiées à Marvel, La Reine des Neiges et Star Wars, ainsi que plusieurs nouvelles attractions et spectacles.
Ce plan d’expansion représente l’un des développements les plus ambitieux de toute l’histoire de Disneyland Paris depuis son ouverture en 1992. Il traduit l'engagement sur le long terme de The Walt Disney Company à faire de la destination la vitrine de la marque Disney en Europe.
« Nous sommes très enthousiastes quant à l'avenir de Disneyland Paris et continuons à investir dans sa réussite à long terme », a expliqué Robert A. Iger, PDG de The Walt Disney Company. « Disneyland Paris est déjà la première destination touristique en Europe. Avec ce nouveau plan de développement et de transformation, nous continuerons de mettre en avant notre savoir-faire unique du storytelling et nos personnages iconiques dans la création de nouvelles zones thématiques, attractions et spectacles, venant ainsi renforcer la qualité d’expérience de nos visiteurs et créer de nouvelles opportunités dans cette région dynamique. »
Les nouvelles zones thématiques intégreront les histoires et les personnages les plus populaires de Disney dans cette destination unique, poursuivant la dynamique générée par le succès du 25e Anniversaire pour continuer d’améliorer l’expérience de millions de visiteurs européens.
Avec plus de 320 millions de visites depuis 1992 et représentant 6.2% des recettes touristiques en France, Disneyland Paris est un moteur du tourisme pour la région. La destination continue d’être une véritable locomotive économique et sociale pour le territoire avec plus de 16 000 employés et plus de 100 nationalités représentées. Cet investissement renforcera le dynamisme de la région et son attrait, offrant encore plus d’opportunités pour l’industrie du tourisme en France et en Europe.
Ce développement pluriannuel sera déployé par phases à partir de 2021 et agrandira significativement le Parc Walt Disney Studios. La vision créative du projet comprend un nouveau lac qui sera le théâtre de nouveaux spectacles et reliera les trois nouvelles zones thématiques du Parc.
Au printemps 2017, Disneyland Paris a lancé les célébrations de son 25e Anniversaire, avec de nouveaux spectacles et expériences inédites pour ses visiteurs. La destination vient également d’achever un programme de rénovation étalé sur deux ans, permettant ainsi la ré-imagination et la modernisation d’attractions phares des Parcs. Ce fut également l’occasion de lancer de nouveaux spectacles, comme Mickey et le Magicien, qui a reçu en 2017 le prix de la « Meilleure Production Théâtrale » de l’Association Internationale des Parcs de loisirs et des Attractions. De plus, la zone hôtelière de la destination a également été rénovée à l’image du Disney’s Newport Bay Club qui a reçu sa quatrième étoile à l’issue de ce projet.
Ce mois-ci, Disneyland Paris a dévoilé sa future attraction sur le thème de Marvel, qui fera partie de la nouvelle zone Marvel du Parc Walt Disney Studios. En 2020, le Disney’s Hotel New York deviendra le Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, après une ré-imagination qui plongera ses visiteurs dans les univers palpitants d’Iron Man, des Avengers ou encore de Spider-Man. Et dès cet été, les visiteurs de Disneyland Paris pourront déjà rencontrer leurs Super Héros favoris et découvrir de nouveaux spectacles immersifs durant la saison L’été des Super Héros Marvel.
Pictures: copyright Disney
