Better results than I expected!
http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/CO ... r-2011.pdf (http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/CORP/EN/Neutral/Images/uk-2011-02-08-euro-disney-sca-reports-first-quarter-revenues-for-fiscal-year-2011.pdf%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
• Total Revenues up 8%
• Resort Revenues increased by 6%, reflecting higher guest spending and volumes
(Marne-la-Vallée, February 8, 2011) Euro Disney S.C.A. (the "Company"), parent company of Euro Disney Associés S.C.A., operator of Disneyland® Paris, reported today the following revenues for its consolidated group (the "Group") for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2011 which ended December 31, 2010 (the "First Quarter"):
Resort operating segment revenues increased 6% to € 307.1 million from € 290.8 million in the prior-year period.
Theme parks revenues increased 3% to € 169.4 million from € 164.7 million in the prior-year period, resulting from a 2% increase in average spending per guest, combined with a 1% increase in attendance. The increase in average spending per guest was due to higher spending on food and beverage. The increase in attendance was driven by more guests visiting from France and Belgium, partially offset by fewer guests visiting from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Hotels and Disney® Village revenues increased 14% to € 127.6 million from € 112.3 million in the prior-year period due to a 5.6 percentage points increase in hotel occupancy, combined with a 7% increase in average spending per room. The increase in hotel occupancy resulted from 30,000 additional room nights compared with the prior-year period, primarily due to more French guests staying overnight and higher business group activity. The increase in average spending per room resulted from higher spending on food and beverage and an increase in daily room rates.
Other revenues, which primarily include participants sponsorships, transportation and other travel services sold to guests, decreased by € 3.7 million to € 10.1 million from € 13.8 million in the prior-year period.
Real estate development operating segment revenues increased by € 8.5 million to € 9.7 million, compared to € 1.2 million in the prior-year period. This increase is due to four transactions in the First Quarter, while no transaction occurred in the prior-year period.
http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/CO ... r-2011.pdf (http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/CORP/EN/Neutral/Images/uk-2011-02-08-euro-disney-sca-reports-first-quarter-revenues-for-fiscal-year-2011.pdf%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Taking the bad weather in account, it doesn't look so bad for DLRP. Since hotel occupancy rated are increasing each year, it's getting more and more important to build a new Disney hotel. Otherwise there is no possibility to earn more money with the hotels.
Even without the real estate development operating segment the first quarter would be very good for ED SCA.
The next quarter will be interesting since it's off season.
Please merge my topic with ford prefect's thread! Thank you!
I didn't see his one, since we nearly posted it at the same time!
I argee, they are better than expected....
QuoteWe look forward to launching the Disney Magical Moments Festival this spring, where we will celebrate the role
of Disney magic in creating lasting memories for families and friends at the Resort."
Yeah i believe they will give you the ultimate disney vacation memories, with bad food, expansive merchandise
made out of the cheap oh and i think the list can get longer...
sorry but i had to make a bad statement out of mr. gas ones...
Considering the snow, it is not bad at all - wonder what it would have been like if the snow had not come?
Although the numbers aren't that bad, ED SCA still has a long way to go to reach the numbers before the economic crisis.
I really wonder what it needs to boost attendance. I mean it needs more than 20 mio people to earn enough money to be positive and to repay the debts. It's a visious circle. No money means no new investments and no new attractions will not bring as many visitors as needed.
Is it possible that it was the wrong decision to build so many third party hotels. Many people stay in htese hotels and they only spend money on Disney with the tickets, maybe food and merchandise and that's it. If there wouldn't be so many third party hotels to chose a lot of that guests have to stay in disney hotels, which means more revenue. Of course building new hotels on their own, the debts would have risen, but I think from a long term perspective it would have been better for ED SCA.
In trying to save money, Disneyland Paris is actually losing money. They're being too greedy. Quality is the best business plan. They need to be more generous, by offering higher quality at lower prices to guests.
On recent visits to the parks, I've really been shocked by how expensive the fast food is. They serve you very average to low quality food, and charge you table service restaurant prices for it. If these establishments existed in the real World, not in a tourist trap, they would soon be out of business. As it stands now, I totally understand why people bring their own sandwiches and drinks into the parks. Nobody wants to get ripped off.
If Disney insist on offering a lower quality guest experience than in 1992, they need to lower their prices to match it.
Quote from: "dagobert"I really wonder what it needs to boost attendance.
So do I, I really think they knew that that building WDS was going to be a financial disaster even before September 11th. The only second gates that were ever successful from the start were Epcot and DisneySea and they had HUGE investment.
I am a bit more optimistic after seeing these figures though. Obviously we all want to see more investment but maybe DLP has become established enough that they really can keep 15 million people going every year? Maybe they can then boost attendance further with some big things for the 20th anniversary? (Or is my optimism out of control?)
I love Ratatouille the film and can't wait to ride the ride, but without the thrill element I wonder if it can have the same effect that Space Mountain and Tower of Terror have had on guest numbers??
Quote from: "Alan"In trying to save money, Disneyland Paris is actually losing money. They're being too greedy. Quality is the best business plan. They need to be more generous, by offering higher quality at lower prices to guests.
On recent visits to the parks, I've really been shocked by how expensive the fast food is. They serve you very average to low quality food, and charge you table service restaurant prices for it. If these establishments existed in the real World, not in a tourist trap, they would soon be out of business. As it stands now, I totally understand why people bring their own sandwiches and drinks into the parks. Nobody wants to get ripped off.
If Disney insist on offering a lower quality guest experience than in 1992, they need to lower their prices to match it.
I don't think that the whole TWDC is interested in establishing former quality. It's not just Paris, even at WDW people are already complaining about the drop in quality. You just have to look at several other Disney forums.
The quality of the fast food has to improve, especially at that prices Disney charges you. A family can't afford a fancy restaurant, like Walts, every day.
Without having more different and unique merchandise, people will not spend more money. Just because Disney is printed on something people will not buy it. And there is a lot more Disney stuff with better quality in local stores. Another reason why people will not spend more. Streamlining everything and selling the same stuff in every single shop around the resort will definately not help to increase the spending.
The food is a problem. You need only to look at the vast crowds at McDonald's each night to realize where most people are spending their money. (And sensibly so, if you ask me.) They might buy something at Au Chalet and possibly spurge on a pretzel or a pomme d'amour, but for a substantial meal a huge number of people will opt for McDo. It's also clear that Half Board is now the standard (I would venture to say 95% of diners at hotel restaurants nowadays), although I have no idea whether this means Disney is now making more or less money from all these families.
Perhaps it would also be a good idea to lower the prices of table service restaurants slightly? Walt's, Silver Spur and Blue Lagoon aren't exactly full most of the time. Most people never make it past the menu at the entrance.
And it might just be me, but where are the seas of Disneyland Paris shopping bags you used to see in every crowd? Perhaps the monotony of the merchandise has finally translated into lower sales in the Average Family demographic. And it is monotonous alright. Even the Boardwalk Candy Palace is declining. Where are all the fun retro food products? Where's Mickey's Coffee, the pasta line, the cans of cocoa? The garden products? I won't be surprised if the shelves are stocked with Buzz Lightyear toys next year.
Right now, there's this line of grey kitchenware with a Mickey Mouse outline motif. There's a mug with a ceramic spoon that goes in the handle, oven gloves, an apron... You will bump into it in virtually every shop in the resort. How does this help? At one point, you've either bought the mug or you've decided you don't want it. What good is it to hawk the same thing everywhere?
And then there's the Studios, a park which still makes almost no effort to lure you into spending money at all. Once you've made it past Studio 1, your wallet is safe and sound...
The results are good and better then expected, but as said before, DLP has a long road ahead if it wants to be on the same level of revenues like in 2008.
I think the idea to built a second gate (WDS) at THAT time was wrong, primairily because of the amount of money they where allowed to invest in this project, which was way to low from the start and resulted in the cheapest looking Disney park ever built. It increased the dept enormously, but didn't had the positive effect (a lot more visitiors) they were hoping for.
I understand the reason to built WDS at that time: with 2 parks, people need to stay at least 3 days to see everything, but they could've done that with a large expansion of Disneyland Park. We already have the biggest Magic Kingdom-style park and there is a lot of room for expansion. There is room for 6-8 more rides in Disneyland Park (mainly in Frontierland, Adventureland and Fantasyland). That's the same amount of rides WDS had at it's opening, while an actual second gate costs so much more to operate then an expansion of an existing park.
I agree on having more different and unique merchandise and selling them in apropriate places which matches the theme, however, I don't agree on the food prices being too high. For one, it's a themepark, so prices aren't the same as in your local McDonald's or other fast food offering. You're also paying for the theme and location. There are dining options for everyone and for every price. Walt's Restaurant for example is expensive, yes, but it's meant to be an excellent quality table service offering (and it IS excellent, having sat down there several times now). If you can't or won't pay the price they are offering, go to a buffet or counter service restaurant, which offers menu's or food options everybody can pay.
Quote from: "Tuvok"I agree on having more different and unique merchandise and selling them in apropriate places which matches the theme, however, I don't agree on the food prices being too high. For one, it's a themepark, so prices aren't the same as in your local McDonald's or other fast food offering. You're also paying for the theme and location. There are dining options for everyone and for every price. Walt's Restaurant for example is expensive, yes, but it's meant to be an excellent quality table service offering (and it IS excellent, having sat down there several times now). If you can't or won't pay the price they are offering, go to a buffet or counter service restaurant, which offers menu's or food options everybody can pay.
Of course you would pay more than at McDonald's, no one would expect otherwise. But you're not getting a good product for your money, and that's not a good business strategy anywhere. That's about the fast food, of course, which really is terrible, and to an extent the buffets.
The buffets, by the way, are not affordable at all, as you said they were. Plaza Gardens does not offer quality food in the slightest, with all its regurgitated and over-processed Nestle products, but you will almost certainly leave paying as much as you would have for a proper sit-down meal at Walt's (About €30.) Auberge de Cendrillon I haven't tried in its new incarnation as a princess buffet, but have you seen the prices?! I believe it's
€53 for an adult excluding drinks! That's pretty much a meal at the California Grill. (Although it may be completely worth it, I don't know.)
The three table service restaurants are still great, I agree. (I've still got the meat sweats from Silver Spur as we speak.) But they don't seem to be doing the best of business outside of, say, Saturday nights. That's a shame, but it will be even more of a shame when they decide to turn them into character buffets with inappropriate themes. So perhaps lower the prices just a little? Early bird specials? Afternoon tea with Disney characters?
Quote from: "pussinboots"Quote from: "Tuvok"I agree on having more different and unique merchandise and selling them in apropriate places which matches the theme, however, I don't agree on the food prices being too high. For one, it's a themepark, so prices aren't the same as in your local McDonald's or other fast food offering. You're also paying for the theme and location. There are dining options for everyone and for every price. Walt's Restaurant for example is expensive, yes, but it's meant to be an excellent quality table service offering (and it IS excellent, having sat down there several times now). If you can't or won't pay the price they are offering, go to a buffet or counter service restaurant, which offers menu's or food options everybody can pay.
Of course you would pay more than at McDonald's, no one would expect otherwise. But you're not getting a good product for your money, and that's not a good business strategy anywhere. That's about the fast food, of course, which really is terrible, and to an extent the buffets.
The buffets, by the way, are not affordable at all, as you said they were. Plaza Gardens does not offer quality food in the slightest, with all its regurgitated and over-processed Nestle products, but you will almost certainly leave paying as much as you would have for a proper sit-down meal at Walt's (About €30.) Auberge de Cendrillon I haven't tried in its new incarnation as a princess buffet, but have you seen the prices?! I believe it's €53 for an adult excluding drinks! That's pretty much a meal at the California Grill. (Although it may be completely worth it, I don't know.)
The three table service restaurants are still great, I agree. (I've still got the meat sweats from Silver Spur as we speak.) But they don't seem to be doing the best of business outside of, say, Saturday nights. That's a shame, but it will be even more of a shame when they decide to turn them into character buffets with inappropriate themes. So perhaps lower the prices just a little? Early bird specials? Afternoon tea with Disney characters?
Oh yes, Silver Spur is one of my favorites too! The I-Bone steak is the best steak I ever had. I can't speak for the Plaza Gardens buffet, as I never sat down there, but I can speak for Agrabah Café and Inventions, which are both excellent buffet restaurants in two different price categories. Auberge de Cendrillon is
including drinks for both adults & children and you get Disney characters (Princesses & Princes) with high quality table service. Same goes for Inventions. It also offers diner with Disney characters with high quality cuisine and a stunning view over Disneyland Park. Those prices ARE worth it, at least in my opinion.
So lowering the prices? Yes and No. Yes, I have to agree with you that they should launch special low-priced menu's during low attendance days or off-hours during the week. They are in fact doing just that with reduced menu's at Walt's and extra AP discounts at buffet restaurants during off-hours, but they could do more. No, they shouldn't lower the normal prices on a whole, because it realy is worth the price. They need to give people a choice, either pay less outside the normal diner hours with a reduced menu, or pay the normal price at a time it suits your needs with a full choice of food options at your disposal.
Plaza Gardens has put me off from trying out the Agrabah Cafe as well as the Lucky Nugget Saloon, whatever the dickens that constitutes nowadays. Some sort of character meal with a cheerful show on stage? Probably. But if you can guarantee me that at least a sizable portion of Agrabah Cafe's menu consists of something other than Buitoni freezer pizzas and supermarket puddings, I'll give it a try, haha.
So the Auberge, how does that work now then? Is that a set-price three-course meal with unlimited drinks? Because that's still, what, €25? on top of similar deals at Walt's and Blue Lagoon. And character meals aren't really the first thing people associate with a classy and quality restaurants... But hey, there is a market for it.
(I have to say that this isn't really my cup of tea. The little girls in princess dresses, daddy playing Santa Claus with mommy sitting silently in the corner, thinking of how she scrubs and feeds Lindsay all year long and now daddy comes back from his affair-laden business trips for three days and buys her a stuffed unicorn the size of a pony and who's Lindsay's favorite parent now! That sort of thing. It's dreadful.)
Pussinboots, you should give Agrabah Cafe a try. It's our favorite restaurant at DLRP, we like it even better than Walt's.
The food is a huge problem at DLRP, especially the counter service fast food is bad. I don't get it why DLRP can't improve the quality. People aren't stupid, they realize that the quality served doesn't match the price. I know it's a themepark and so prices are higher, but other themeparks offer a lot better fast food than DLRP does. Maybe lowering the prices means more spending, because more people can afford it.
TWDC also released their first quarter results and the Parks And Resort segment is doing well on the first look.
http://dolimg.com/investorrelations/web ... 34GJB1.pdf (http://dolimg.com/investorrelations/webcasts/q1-earnings-2011_545134GJB1.pdf%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
If you read further the increase is due to higher ticket prices and fast food spending. Especially at WDW people will not leave the parks for lunch or dinner, it's not as easy as in Paris where DV is in front of the gates. There you don't lose so much time for leaving the parks. At WDW it means that people spend more on food in the parks and there the food is not comparable with Paris. It's cheaper and better. At least it was two years ago.
The thing i don´t get is, how it is possible that the food quality drop´s to a bad quality, i mean me as someone who learnd
cook, i would be ashamed to hear from people my food is bad and not worth the price. does DLRP have real cooks or just
housewives as cooks? i mean a good cook would never beginn to drop his quality down.
i mean if DLRP would look for better cooks the quality can rise again, its not hard to do so. also they should try not to cook to much with finished food from a packet, fresh cooking is cheaper...
They have just two options, lower the price on the food or rise the quality.
As for the Merchandise, i have to argee that the quality and varity have to change a lot. if i look back in time when
you had different stuff at every shop, i were buying so much, my parents wallet were screaming "stop Shopping". now
if i go into the shops my money screams "buy something i get bored in your wallet" but honestly there isnt anything i realy want. i mean, why should i buy something, the disney name is on it but i realy don´t need? On my last trip i had a lot of money with me, i mean realy a lot of money, i just did spent 10% of it, and thats for food nothing more.
Quote from: "pussinboots"Plaza Gardens has put me off from trying out the Agrabah Cafe as well as the Lucky Nugget Saloon, whatever the dickens that constitutes nowadays. Some sort of character meal with a cheerful show on stage? Probably. But if you can guarantee me that at least a sizable portion of Agrabah Cafe's menu consists of something other than Buitoni freezer pizzas and supermarket puddings, I'll give it a try, haha.
So the Auberge, how does that work now then? Is that a set-price three-course meal with unlimited drinks? Because that's still, what, €25? on top of similar deals at Walt's and Blue Lagoon. And character meals aren't really the first thing people associate with a classy and quality restaurants... But hey, there is a market for it.
Yes, the buffet at Agrabah Café is very good, with lots of choices and a unique cuisine. Lucky Nuggut Saloon no longer features 'lunch with the Disney characters'. Due to negative guest respons, they've relocated the 'high tea with the Disney characters' to Cowboy Cookout, which features a buffet with cookies and sweets during the time the characters are there (normaly in the afternoon). It's not yet decided what they are going to do with the Lucky Nugget, but it will probably remain a normal restaurant.
Auberge is all-inclusive yes, but only the standard drinks are included. If you want special drinks, you'll have to pay for them seperately. Selection of wine, mineral water and coffee are included though. You'll get a cocktaile, an amuse, a starter, a main cours and a dessert for that price.
@ dagobert:
Apperently the food and drinks aren't the problem as guest spending in the parks and guest spending per room increased due to
more spending on food and drinks (see the full Q1 2011 results from Euro Disney S.C.A. for details). If the quality is that low and prices are that high, the spending should go down, instead of up.
Back ontopic: More good news! The Euro Disney S.C.A. stock has skyrocked with an 25% increase due to the published results. I guess stockholders are realy impressed by DLP's results.
Thanks for clarifying, Tuvok.
Tastes are different and maybe it is just me and some others who don't like the food at DLRP so much. Maybe I'm just spoiled by WDW and should lower my expectations in Disneyland Paris.
I want to make clear that the table service restaurants were always okay, except Walts last time. The fast food and the variety offered is waht bothers me.
Good news for Euro Disney SCA. Hopefully the company continues this way, but the next quarter will be hard, since it is off season.
Quote from: "dagobert"Thanks for clarifying, Tuvok.
Tastes are different and maybe it is just me and some others who don't like the food at DLRP so much. Maybe I'm just spoiled by WDW and should lower my expectations in Disneyland Paris.
I want to make clear that the table service restaurants were always okay, except Walts last time. The fast food and the variety offered is waht bothers me.
Good news for Euro Disney SCA. Hopefully the company continues this way, but the next quarter will be hard, since it is off season.
Oh I hear you, dagobert. The fast food offerings are indeed not very good (especially Hyperion Café, that's just an all time low, even fot DLP), but I guess I'm not such a good judge on that, cause I don't like fastfood in general, whether it's at a themepark, or at McDonanlds for that matter. I like to dine the way it should be (table service or good quality buffet service). DLP (in this case Disneyland Park) delivers in this segment. Blue Lagoon, Walt's, Silver Spur, Auberge de Cendrillon, Agrabah Café and Inventions are very good. Maybe only the spendings on these restaurants went up and fast food went down, I don't know, just know spending was up.
Next quarter will indeed be hard. Hope they can still produce increased revenues. TWDC in general is doing very well. Thanks for posting the link to their results.
I also don't like fast food, especially burgers. I don't know when I have been to McDonalds the last time. The next thing is, that I'm vegetarian and unfortunately the variety decreases from year to year. DLRP used to offer so many different options from 2000 to 2008 and suddenly from one year to another most of them had gone. That's why I think WDW is far ahead of DLRP, because there they offer more than burgers and pizzas, although the fast food pizzas over there are very good.
Usually we eat at least once a day at a buffet or table service restaurant at DLRP and unfortunately the quality has dropped there as well. At least that's our opinion. A few years ago it wasn't a problem to get a special prepared meal at Walt's, last time the restaurant manager got mad at us. Maybe it was just a one time happening.
Do you think it is possible for ED SCA that a new record attendance will be reached in 2011? I mean there is nothing new this year, except the Magical Moments. My hopes lie on the 20th birthday. Hopefully the celebration will be well advertised, even in the German speaking countries. Germany, Austria and Switzerland are a single market for Disney and there is hardly any marketing about DLRP. I'm sure these nearly 100 mio people would bring some money to Disney.
Quote from: "dagobert"I also don't like fast food, especially burgers. I don't know when I have been to McDonalds the last time. The next thing is, that I'm vegetarian and unfortunately the variety decreases from year to year. DLRP used to offer so many different options from 2000 to 2008 and suddenly from one year to another most of them had gone. That's why I think WDW is far ahead of DLRP, because there they offer more than burgers and pizzas, although the fast food pizzas over there are very good.
Usually we eat at least once a day at a buffet or table service restaurant at DLRP and unfortunately the quality has dropped there as well. At least that's our opinion. A few years ago it wasn't a problem to get a special prepared meal at Walt's, last time the restaurant manager got mad at us. Maybe it was just a one time happening.
Do you think it is possible for ED SCA that a new record attendance will be reached in 2011? I mean there is nothing new this year, except the Magical Moments. My hopes lie on the 20th birthday. Hopefully the celebration will be well advertised, even in the German speaking countries. Germany, Austria and Switzerland are a single market for Disney and there is hardly any marketing about DLRP. I'm sure these nearly 100 mio people would bring some money to Disney.
I understand, from a vegetarian point of view, that there's not much to choose from. I can't imagine that they are going to cut these meals just for nothing. Maybe they weren't ordered frequently? However, that doesn't mean they shouldn't offer them.
I don't think they will reach record attendance again this year. In 2009 they had 15,4 million visitors (highest ever), last year that dropped to 15 million. I don't see them reaching 15,4 or higher this year. Magical Moments Festival will indeed attract (more) people to visit, but the increase will mainly come from the fact that the economy is recovering now and people are willing to spend more on their holidays, despite themed years. I think if they reach the 15,4 milestone again by the end of the year, they are doing very well in the current situation.
I'm a bit surprised we don't hear anything about DLP's 20th anniversary yet and the 'first year' (2012) in particulary. We all know Ratatouille is coming in 2013, but what about 2012? There are strong rumours that existing rides will be upgraded, with Phantom Manor and Pirates high on that list, but what about a 'real' E-ticket upgrade like Star Tours? If we look at the upgrades in the US, it takes about 7-9 months to complete the upgrade, which in essence, is a complete new ride. If DLP wants to have Star Tours 2.0, we need an announcement in the next few months.
It's the ideal upgrade. Less costs then a completely new ride and they can 'sell' it as something totally new. Bring on the Star Wars Weekends and 2012 is ready to go! At least, that's how I see it.
Maybe there will be an announcement about the 20th birthday, new attractions and World Of Disney Store at the Annual General Meeting in March.
At least they should announce WoDS, since it's already under construction.
They won't announce anything about the 20th at the AGM this year, I'd bet all my shares on that. People hope for the same kind of thing every year, but then it just ends up with the entertainment department trotting out a few characters and trying to promote whatever festival's on this year (that most clued-up shareholders have already read about here or on DCP).
Last year there was a nice talk on Toy Story Playland with that video presentation of course, but any projects like Ratatouille or Star Tours are probably a little too far ahead for them to talk about now (we know how Euro Disney SCA hate getting people excited for the future). It would make sense to at least mention World of Disney and show the concept art we've already seen, and maybe the same for Earl of Sandwich. Both those projects would give a good impression to shareholders that things are moving with Disney Village. Maybe they could talk about the hotel improvements too.
Edit: Just to add my view on the food, the one thing that should be fixed immediately is vegetarian options. I'm sure some of the menus I've typed up recently didn't have a single veggie option at all (I don't count a side salad), it's embarrassing. The counter service menus are like prison food. Cheese and tomato pizza, penne pasta with a dollop of generic sauce, sub-McDonald's burger for double the price. Where's the sense of fun? Desserts, maybe..? Your choice there: an Activia strawberry yoghurt or vanilla cornetto. That says it all. They've shrunk the menus down so much, tried to make them appeal to so many tastes at once, that there's no appeal there at all.
(An exception are the nice pastrami/mozzarella and chicken sandwiches at Market House Deli and Blockbuster Cafe - they're not Earl of Sandwich but at €6 versus an €8.50 hamburger they're not bad at all)
I agree. I expect the emphasis will be on Disney Village. Perhaps they will shed some light on the future of Hurricanes and also the current Disney Store?
I don't expect ED SCA to announce something either, I was just hoping. When did Disney announce TOT, Crush's Coaster? I assume when these rides have already been under construction :lol: .
Hopefully ED SCA will announce WoDS and maybe they will release some concept arts of the inside.
Wasn't Toon Studio and the Tower of Terror presented to fans on 10 September 2005 at the Soiree Celebration in Videopolis? That's coming up to being 6 years ago!
Here's a video of it:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x297w0 ... f_creation (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x297w0_video-concept-toon-studio-tower-of_creation%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Quote from: "dagobert"I don't expect ED SCA to announce something either, I was just hoping. When did Disney announce TOT, Crush's Coaster? I assume when these rides have already been under construction :lol: .
Hopefully ED SCA will announce WoDS and maybe they will release some concept arts of the inside.
Back in the day we had a mega announcement for SM2, Buzz, Toon Studio and ToT all in one go (although they didn't mention Crush specifically it was on the concept art that appeared at the time). Seems hard to believe now but it really did happen.
That September 2005 event was fantastic.
The attractions were actually announced in January 2005 though, as a footnote to the First Quarter results. They'd been rumoured for several months beforehand, but I believe Toon Studio was quite a surprise. Here's that very press release (//http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/CORP/EN/Neutral/Images/uk-2005-01-11-euro-disney-sca-reports-first-quarter-revenues-for-fiscal-year-2005.pdf), it literally was several lines of text at the end of their financial results announcing Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, Toon Studios and Tower of Terror, not even a separate press release... zero build-up, zero hoopla. The headline, "Content of Program for New Attractions in Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park" is funny.
QuoteContent of Program for New Attractions in Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park
The Company also announced the primary content of its € 240 million plan for new investments
over the next several years. This plan, which remains subject to completion of a capital increase
through an upcoming rights offering, is based on the Company's growth strategy of increasing
market penetration of first time visitors - those Europeans who know the Resort, are interested in
visiting, but haven't done so yet. Such strategy is designed to leverage the Resort's outstanding
guest satisfaction and repeat visitor ratings.
In fiscal 2006, the Company will bring Buzz Lightyear's Laser Blast to Disneyland Park. In this
interactive ride-through attraction, guests journey to infinity and beyond to help Buzz Lightyear
defend the universe against the evil Emperor Zurg. The opening of the attraction will add to our
series of exciting new offers at Disneyland Park. In 2004, the Company opened The Legend of The
Lion King show, which has been an immense success. In the coming months, the Park will relaunch one of its most popular attractions as a completely new experience, Space Mountain: Mission 2.
The toons take over when the Company opens Toon Studios at Walt Disney Studios Park in fiscal
2007. In this new land, designed to further increase the Park's appeal to families and young
children, guests will experience the magical world of Disney animated films from an insider's
point of view. In this "working studio," the cast and crew are your favorite "toons," and the unique
attractions are designed to bring their films to life around you.
In fiscal 2008, the Company has scheduled the opening of Tower of Terror at Walt Disney Studios
Park. In this classic Disney adventure, an elevator ride in a mysterious Hollywood hotel becomes a
thrilling, white-knuckle journey into a mysterious new dimension.
The attached appendix provides more information on the planned new attractions.
QuoteBuzz Lightyear's Laser Blast* in Disneyland Park
2006 should see the unveiling of a new attraction based on the characters and magic of the Walt Disney
Pictures presentation of the Pixar Animation Studios film Toy Story 2. At the other end of the galaxy, the
evil Emperor Zurg is masterminding the construction of an invading army of battery-powered robotic
villains. His plan hinges vitally on the theft of the entire galaxy's stock of batteries. Foiling this plan and
pulling the plug on the power puppets is a job for space ranger Buzz Lightyear. Participants will board twoseater ride vehicles, each of which will be fitted with dual laser pistols and direction controls, making it
possible for guests to spin their space ships around a full 360°. To defend the universe our guests will then
go blasting at the various targets placed throughout the different scenes their vehicles enter. Each successful
hit will not only accumulate points on vehicle dashboards, but also generate special effects through the use
of sound, light and movement. Set to become something of a standard in Disney Theme Park entertainment,
the popularity of the series of Buzz Lightyear attractions appears to lie in the development of a storyline
concerning an unforgettable character, the ownership of an experience which guests create themselves and
the desire to become a top scorer.
Toon Studios* at Walt Disney Studios Park
A new land in Walt Disney Studios Park will soon offer guests insight into the backstage activity of their
favourite Disney characters. This land will be none other than the place where the toons toil – the setting
where they make their films – and this theme makes our expansion unique in Disney Theme Park history.
This new Land will be a continuation of the Theme Park's current celebration of the animated world, and
will thus find itself located alongside Animation Courtyard, between Flying Carpets Over Agrabah and Art
of Disney Animation. Not only will guests meet their toon heroes here, but they will also explore their
professional universe and participate in some of the most unforgettable scenes from their box office
successes.
A further part of the development also calls for the expansion of the oasis area around Flying Carpets Over
Agrabah and the integration of a number of photo, merchandise and food locations in this Animation
Backlot.
Tower of Terror* at Walt Disney Studios Park
It all happened that stormy night. A freakish lightning bolt struck a luxurious Hollywood hotel, changing
things forever and causing its last residents to vanish. 2008 development plans for Walt Disney Studios Park
include a European version of an attraction whose popularity has soared since its introduction at Walt Disney
World Resort in 1994, and more recently at Disneyland Resort in 2004. One thing already clear in the
project is that the attraction will be a Walt Disney Studios Park landmark. Its monumental architecture,
central position on Production Courtyard and multi-story structure will all make it unmissable – to say
nothing of the attraction experience itself.
Visitors will begin their journey by strolling through the timeworn, yet atmospheric lobby and library.
These same guests will then be elevated high into the body of the hotel aboard service lifts, and straight into
a strange world. The fate of the vanished former residents will then unfold before their very eyes, just as
their own destiny becomes frighteningly obvious. As their lift door opens, they return to reality, finding
themselves and their lift plunging to the bottom of a lift shaft. The breath-taking descent will happen
quicker than gravity itself and the rebound back to the top will give those who closed their eyes a second
chance to watch what happens.
Note no mention of The Twilight Zone, not even a confirmation of what attractions would be in Toon Studios, no Stitch Live, no Playhouse Disney, and that both Buzz and Toon Studio lost an "s" along the way!
The snow is something youd blame if your doing badly in a football kickabout.
Was it really so bad on the continent that Eurodisney SCA can blame a poor quarter on it?
Maybe it was that bad, in just curious.
Judging by the posts on here, as the park had to close early on a number of days due to snow and was affected badly for performance and travel, including Eurostar, it was bad and would have significantly affected DLP. Effectively, they were running at reduced levels of customers and service for a good week.
Quote from: "Austin Danger Kelly"The snow is something youd blame if your doing badly in a football kickabout.
Was it really so bad on the continent that Eurodisney SCA can blame a poor quarter on it?
Maybe it was that bad, in just curious.
Poor quarter? Have you actually looked at the results? The results were good, better then expected. They would've been even better if it weren't for the snow and extreme winter conditions last year.
They even had to close down parts of the resort on several days, because of the extreme weather. Afterwards they had to keep parts op the parks closed, because the cast members weren't able to come to work due to the complete shut down of public transport. I watched Fantillusion during a snow blizzard in december, which was very magical, but this weather had a negative impact on attendance levels, thus less guest spending in the resort.
Quote from: "Anthony"Where's the sense of fun? Desserts, maybe..? Your choice there: an Activia strawberry yoghurt or vanilla cornetto.
Yes, haha, Activia! Does anyone eat that because it tastes good? It's medicinal yogurt, a prescribed dessert, like Yakult.Why don't they just sell that Recette Crémeuse stuff that every other French person buys in bulk? That's also by Danone, and doesn't make you think of your lower intestines.
They could also invest in some soft-serve ice cream machines and serve milk-shakes, sundaes and even McFlurry-type desserts. That would be a fairly economical solution, and it it would be a lot less colorless and ordinary as prepackaged supermarket treats.
Auberge de Cendrillon by the way is
€59 for an adult, not €53, which does indeed include drinks (doesn't say which) and a foie gras option. It still strikes me as a very odd offering, a combination of haute cuisine and a character buffet. Intriguing.
The Annual Review is online now:
http://2010annualreport.disneylandparis.com/ (http://2010annualreport.disneylandparis.com/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
http://2010annualreport.disneylandparis ... review.pdf (http://2010annualreport.disneylandparis.com/uk-2010-annual-review.pdf%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
It's a nice website, just for an annual report!
I'm suprised that the attendance has slumped 15.4 to 15.0, it could be due to that snow we had just before christmas? The parks were pretty dead during those times!
Quote from: "Festival Disney"It's a nice website, just for an annual report!
I'm suprised that the attendance has slumped 15.4 to 15.0, it could be due to that snow we had just before christmas? The parks were pretty dead during those times!
According to the report the first half of the financial year was very bad, due to the economic crisis. The second half was the best since the opening in 1992. So the snow was definately not a problem.
Interesting. Did you notice they are now only the 5th largest hotelier (they used to be the largest in 1992). Europa Park in 2 year's time will have the same number of hotel rooms. Interesting.
Also, almost all of the report is looking back, rather than looking forward. as an investor, this is worrisome. As a fan, even more so. What is the vision and blue print moving forward. Only one page plus the new Pierre and Vacance and Val D Europe developments are on the cards. Shame.
Quote from: "davewasbaloo"Interesting. Did you notice they are now only the 5th largest hotelier (they used to be the largest in 1992). Europa Park in 2 year's time will have the same number of hotel rooms. Interesting.
Also, almost all of the report is looking back, rather than looking forward. as an investor, this is worrisome. As a fan, even more so. What is the vision and blue print moving forward. Only one page plus the new Pierre and Vacance and Val D Europe developments are on the cards. Shame.
Are the 8000 rooms only Disney hotels or does this number include the partner hotels? Is Europa Park that big to need so many rooms? Disney can hardly make more money without a new Disne hotel in the future. Hotel occupancy was always around 90% in recent years. There is no growth possible and I'm sure disney is losing a lot of money to the partner hotels. There are just too many of them. Two of those should be Disney hotels.
I thought the same about looking back, but if you look at the Annual Reports from 2002 until now, all of them just look back, but don't provide any informations about the future. Apple is another example for that, they just don't want to talk about what's going to happen after Steve Jobs.
Did you take a look at the break down of attendance by country? Germany is the largest country in Europe in terms of inhabitants and only 2% of the guests are from there. There is definately something going wrong. DLRP is heavily promoted in the UK, France, Belgium, Spain or The Netherlands, but not in Germany. Since Germany, Austria and Switzerland are a single market, I can tell you there is no advertising over here.
I wonder if they decided not to compete with Germany given the high profile of Europa Park, Phantasialand, Holiday Park, Heide Park, Movie Park, and Legoland, coupled with the fact Space Park failed?
I think they haven´t learned much from the past years. German visitors were once a big number over there at DLP. And I read somewhere that they are also now a big number for the tourist sector at paris - the city not the park (But they don´t come to disneyland cause they don´t know much about it)
During the financial crises we´ve seen that they had the focus on the wrong target group. They advertised sooo much in spain and UK, where people had bigger problems (loooose a house/job/family) then a trip to the magic.
The german economy was on a better way and also the holiday planning of germans. It wasn´t the big gap like we saw it in other countries.
Germans are BIG theme park fans. They love to visit several theme parks in one year. Yes we haven´t a problem to visit phantasialand, europa park and movie park in one year (the space park was simply dull). But over there we haven´t one big advertising campain. SOMETIMES you see something little and not very creative. But nothing that make you wanna see Disneyland. The germans even don´t know about a second park. They don´t know about a resort. They think that DLP is a tiny childish little park out there near paris. Maybe like Park Asterix.
DLP hasn´t invite germans for years now. So why should they come to this place? To realize that it´s hard to find a german speaking person at the hotel desk? To see all the spanish signs that they can´t get cause we are not in california here in europe? (That´s the point: where´s the international flair that the resort had 10 years ago, europe isn´t Spain, UK, France)
To see that the Disney hotels haven´t the same standard as the luxery Europa Park Hotels?
So if you want that germans take dlp on their theme park list just say "hello, we are out here and we have a lot to do for you" (at germany) and "Willkommen" (at the resort). That´s all they want.
Should I be sad/upset cause there (spanish) marketing guy only see 3 lands in whole europe as market place? Should I wondering about the decrease of visitors from countries that have also at the moment BIG economic problems? Should I feel commiserate for DLP? Sorry, no. It´s their own managing fault. Solution: "Hello! Willkommen."
Very well written Riebi. You made some very good points. I consider Austria as part of Germany, but only as a market, not as a single county, that could bring me into troubles :lol: , and our economies weren't in such serious conditions like in Spain. There people couldn't afford going on vacation, while over here people still spent a lot of money. DLRP really needs to rethink their advertising strategy over here.
i argee with you riebi, i always shaked my heads when reading they want more german visitors but somehow they don´t come to the parks, uhhhm sorry but who should know about disneyland paris, some people i know think that the park don´t exicst anymore, cause in the past was this rumour it has to close.
next is, with a few brochures they don´t get the people from germany, they need to make a big advert in different ways, first for the kids, one for the whole family and for teens, show the trills this park have. and putting in just characters don´t make it better at all... no wonder a lot of peeps think its a little kids park..
attendance could be 16-17 millions if they would promote the park the right way and not just think of the 3 lands they do now.
also the park could make more money, right now the germans are willing to spend every money they have on vacations, and other stuff, because they´re scared in a few years the euro is at the end. so why not taking the chance and try to get as many germans as possible. i know a lot of people and i could bring everyone to this park, but i don´t do it because am not getting payed for it. :lol:
I agree with you guys. Obviously I am not from Germany, but even I am bothered that EuroDisney doesn't see the potential of the German market. From what I have heard, Germany has the largest economic sector of Europe, and the infrastructure between Germany and France shouldn't be a problem either (haven't they built a TGV connection between Paris and Frankfurt a few years ago?)
The 20th anniversary should be taken as an opportunity to re-launch Disneyland Paris once again. Think of a campaign along the lines of "NeedMagic?"... EuroDisney's marketing department has focused on the themed years and rubber heads for a few years now. Even the 15th anniversary celebration focused on a new parade instead of Crush's Coaster, Tower of Terror or Stitch Live. Especially Tower of Terror should have been launched in a big way like Space Mountain was marketed back in 1995. And what about Walt Disney Studios Park in 2002? No wonder the general public isn't aware of the second park.
It doesn't make a lot of sense not to advertise you newest assets like a big e-ticket (Tower of Terror) or even an entirely new themepark (Walt Disney Studios). So bring on a Resort-wide campaign to market Disneyland Paris and focus on the newest additions of the last 10 years, especially in Germany (and some other countries wouldn't hurt either I guess).
I argee, but that leaves another question, if they wanna make money and want visitors from whole europe, why cuting money on advertisment and spending it on (TSPL and the themed years) with this money they easily could have made realy good adverts to promote the park in a big way... seems like disney realy have no money for important things and just for this crap happend the last couple of years besides the 15th...
right, the 20th would be a way to make something they didn´t in years, promote the park all over europe and try to get everyone into the parks. but somehow i have a bad feeling that they don´t learn anything, and more characters will come in very bad promotion. in this case, new management in every section is needed...
there is no way to say mr. gas did a good job, because he didn´t. am afraid, if mr. staggs didn´t visit disneyland paris, the park would be in a more horrible state. the good hopes i had in the beginning for mr. gas are not here anymore, i want hime retire from the company and someone realy good needs to come, and if he is from the team disney anaheim, because here they know what to do...
Due to the bad BTM accident, some people accused DLRP because of bad maintenance. Disney and More has posted an interesting article about DLRP's management and the problems the management has to deal with:
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2011/ ... te-on.html (http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2011/04/editors-note-youll-find-below-update-on.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)