February 1st, 2010 by Dirk
The Délégation Interministérielle au Projet Euro Disneyland à Paris in late December released an extensive study on the economic impact of the Disneyland Paris since its opening on the local economy covering the time up to and including 2008. While everyone following the development of the resort and the numbers of guests it attracts certainly will have expected that it had a long-term impact on the area and its economy the extent of the impact might be surprising to some. It has been repeated over and over that Disneyland Paris is “the number one tourist destination in Europe” with 15.6 million guests in 2008 – as also once again confirmed by Daniel Canepa, head of the Délégation Interministériell”, at the presentation of the study. Just for comparison its “best local competitors” regarding visitor numbers: Musée du Louvre – 8.4 millions, Tour Eiffel – 6.7 million, Versailles – 5.6 millions, Musée d’Orsay – 3 millions and Centre Pompidou – 2,7 million (all data from 2008) … so no risk that they may get ahead of DLp anytime soon.
But would you have guessed that the resort is the fifth most important hotel location in all of France after Paris, Lourdes, Nice and Lyon (based and occupancy) and is responsible for more than 10.11% of the total number of hotel nights booked in the Ile-de-France region and up to 71% of the hotel nights booked in the Seine-et-Marne area? Quite impressive, especially as the resort only makes up 4.,73% of the hotel capacity in Ile-de-France and 46.8% of the hotel capacity in Seine-et-Marne indicating much higher occupancy rates than the hotels outside the resort. …[more] »
January 29th, 2010 by Andy de Maertelaere
A trip to Disneyland Paris can bring happiness to many children and parents. For some this joy isn’t always that easy to get. Not every family has it easy or the extra money to visit the happiest place in France. But for one family in the UK a dream could become reality when a kind-hearted man want to send over one family to enjoy a holiday of a lifetime.
Stephen Grayson is offering to pay a full trip for one family to go and play at Disneyland Paris. Stephen has no children of his own but tries to help those in need by donating for children’s charities. This time he wanted to go a step further and wants to help a family with one or two disabled children to go and have a holiday in Disneyland Paris. The trip would be for next year August so families can contact Stephen if they would like to take up on this generous offer. This is a wonderful gesture and shows that there is still a lot of good in this world.
To take up on the offer you can do the following. Write to The Star at 23a Hardshaw Street, St Helens, Merseyside. WA10 1RT or email news@sthelensstar.co.uk. (original story St Helens Star)
January 28th, 2010 by Dirk
Since its grand opening in 1992 Disneyland Paris has been closely associated with Air France which acted as the resort’s official airline. Last year Air France was even recruited by the resort in its effort to bolster the attendance numbers by handing out free one day passports to its passengers flying into Paris (as we reported over on the Mousekingdom Blog). However, unnoticed by many flybe, a low cost carrier flying from various UK airports into Paris (using Charles de Gaule airport there) and thus a competitor of Air France on some routes, run a similar promotion for a free one day passport as well plus a 15% discount on all additional passports (even so the promotion ended prior to the Air France promotion already at the end of June instead the end of September).
The promotion must have been a success as the resort teamed up one more time with flybe later in the year, offering up to 50% discounts on 2 night packages in the Disney Hotels leading up to the christmas days (and yes, this promotion has ended as well). Looking back these two promotions seem to have been tests by the resort’s management and the UK airline whether a partnership made sense. The results of the tests? …[more] »
January 27th, 2010 by Dirk
With the heavy snow fall and extremly cold temperatures of the last weeks the winter is showing itself from its strongest side. Certainly this is having an effect on Disneyland Paris as well – and one exceeding the magical twist that the snow cover brought to the theme parks and the whole resort. In fact the cold weather and snow is impacting the construction and rehab work planned or already under execution outdoors, where work had to be halted or at least slowed down. However, the resort is not sitting there and just waiting for the coldest part of winter to pass by. …[more] »
January 26th, 2010 by Dirk
Cold and snowy days, early night fall… the early days of the year are still deep winter – even so the days are getting longer again.
Visiting Disneyland Paris at this time of the year, right after the end of the Christmas season and prior to the onset of spring, has disadvantages (especially the cold temperatures but also the limited off-season entertainment schedule and the start of the seasonal rehabs resulting in the closure of selected attractions) but also quite a few advantages – not the least of which is the special pricing at the Disney hotels and especially the low crowds in the theme parks making many rides a walk-on and resulting in characters at Meet’n'Greets (especially in the Disney Hotels) having more time to spend one-on-one with guests. …[more] »
January 25th, 2010 by Dirk
Guests of Disneyland Paris certainly do not only shop for themselves but also for presents for their friends and family back home. Therefor packaging and transport options available for merchandise do not only have to be practical but also – at least optionally – be suited for gift giving. Disneyland Paris has reacted to these requirements by offering several sizes of colorful cardboard boxes to place gifts in.
In 2007 and 2008 obviously those boxes were featuring the 15th anniversary themes. However, late in 2009 a new more generic design has replaced the older motives. …[more] »
January 22nd, 2010 by Stefan Tiesing
See all of Deetailor’s missions: Click here.
More about Orbitron at Disneyland Paris: Click.
January 21st, 2010 by Dirk
When Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast opened its gates to recruite guests in Discoveryland to join Buzz Lightyear and his Space Rangers in the battle against Zurg for the battery power and thus the future of the Toy Universe the shop Constellations received a small makeover. Due to its location next to the exit of the new attraction it was supposed to be turned into the Toy Story / Buzz Lightyear shop. However, while the former themeing of the shop related to the star constellations in the sky was taken out and the large centerpiece featuring Mickey Mouse in a flying machine inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci was replaced with a statue of Buzz new themeing elements were rather limited. Also the merchandise selection remained rather wide with basically only the added outdoor vending area between the exit of the ride and the shops side entrance being mostly dedicated to Toy Story related merchandise. However, early this year the themeing of the shop received a major upgrade… …[more] »
January 20th, 2010 by Dirk
As reported earlier the Disney ch
aracter buffet has moved into the rooms of the California Grill for the duration of the current rehab of its regular location, Innoventions. The California Grill was supposed to over a-la-carte dining during these times in the Founders’ Club upstairs. However, this offer has been surprisingly limited. In the comments to our original post Laura did let us know that at least during the upcoming weekend the operation of the California Grill in the Founders’ Club is on hiatus. Prompted by this post we looked further into the matter. …[more] »
January 20th, 2010 by Dirk
Yes – that will be the resounding answer of cast members at Star Traders in Discoveryland, Disneyland Park, as well as at the Walt Disney Studios Store on the Frontlot of the Walt Disney Studios Park.
While a couple of candy items had been added to the selection of the majority of shops and boutiques in both theme parks during the last years, this time we are talking about candy big time! …[more] »
