So the shareholders meeting was on Thursday and there were a lot of new details leaked out and a few minor things too...nothing MAJOR but some nice little bits.
It's all in French here > http://www.disneygazette.fr/forum/actio ... 2-255.html (http://www.disneygazette.fr/forum/actionnaires-disneyland-paris-f27/tables-rondes-2011-t9172-255.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
I've translated it into English on my blog here > http://www.mepipe.com/2012/06/disneylan ... aires.html (http://www.mepipe.com/2012/06/disneyland-paris-club-actionnaires.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Key points if you dont want to click through:
*Villages Nature underway
*Ratatouille to open in 2014
*Disney stores in village to be rethemed
*Expansion of studios until at least 2018 + new hotel at entrance of park possibly
*Disney studios to be rethemed/renamed
*20th anniversary going well
*Super-dream annual passport to be created
*Dreams 98% satisfaction
*Re-designed website nededed
Details on those things are explained in the links.
Disney studios to be rethemed/renamed. That sounds interesting. Thanks for posting.
Dreams 98% sanctification rate! :thumbs:
Many thanks, gldc! Lots of promise.
Quote*Expansion of studios until at least 2018 + new hotel at entrance of park possibly
Does this mean that from now until 2018 we will see expansion at the studios, or that in 2018 we'll see the expansions beginning like the DCA redevelopment? It seems weird that they're saying the Studios are currently expanding, when they aren't really. They're just tacking on small unrelated additions.
Quote from: "Scissorsboi"Quote*Expansion of studios until at least 2018 + new hotel at entrance of park possibly
Does this mean that from now until 2018 we will see expansion at the studios, or that in 2018 we'll see the expansions beginning like the DCA redevelopment? It seems weird that they're saying the Studios are currently expanding, when they aren't really. They're just tacking on small unrelated additions.
If they are adding new attractions, surely that's expanding.
Thank you so much for translating and posting, loads of exciting and promising stuff on the horizon.
The idea of an upper level shareholders club sounds awesome (although I bet you'll have to own quite a few shares)
sounds interesting. They want to change the theme and name of the studios? Hope they find the money.
Quote from: "Handy Andy"Quote from: "Scissorsboi"Quote*Expansion of studios until at least 2018 + new hotel at entrance of park possibly
Does this mean that from now until 2018 we will see expansion at the studios, or that in 2018 we'll see the expansions beginning like the DCA redevelopment? It seems weird that they're saying the Studios are currently expanding, when they aren't really. They're just tacking on small unrelated additions.
If they are adding new attractions, surely that's expanding.
Not in the sense that California Adventure expanded, they literally tore out everything that wasn't right and made it cohesive and an improvement to the park itself, the added attractions in Paris don't build on the park, they just act as new marketing tools which make the right hand side of the park feel like a mess of themes.
In comparison, Thorpe Park installs new rides which are singularly themed and have their own micro area, Disney is famous for rich and immersive themed lands, and the recent additions to the park fall more into the Thorpe Park category of theming than Disney.
The park itself doesn't feel expanded to me, it feels unfinished. Tower was their last worthwhile addition I'd say, and even that was phased into the park's original design.
They simply have to make a bigger makeover one day. all this fixing over the years just give us a park with a lot of little diffrent areas without a bigger background.
Quote from: "Scissorsboi"Not in the sense that California Adventure expanded, they literally tore out everything that wasn't right and made it cohesive and an improvement to the park itself,
It's unfair to compare anything to the DCA extreme makeover. An overhaul that huge and expensive has never happened before, and i don't really think will happen again.
Anyway, something like that, with the same timeframe, was being talked some time ago on DCP. Who talked about this was the same people who talked about the Marvel retheming of the backlot area.
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I think the problem is the same. DCA and WDS had a big big visitor problem. DCA is now on a good way. But WDS not. The diffrence is, that they invested all that money cause it was for them a shame next to disneyland.
On the other side: DCA was even before the big makeover better themed then WDS. I visited the DCA before and during the big makeover and I was a bit surprised. The deepness of theming was at DCA before the makeover like WDS after the big additions of ToT or Toon Studios...
there´s a long way to go.
Maybe such a retheme will take place during a DCA expansion. It would make sense, and I can see this happening eventually.
"disney's Parisian adventure" anyone?
I love these shareholder meetings. They're the only time we get actual news. XD
I'm mostly excited about seeing what their plans are for the story of the Village and Studios.
But other things that I thought were interesting were the evening tickets for locals to go and see Dreams. Also, it seems that selling the Shopping Mall was a bad idea, because the expansion that the new owners want to give it has no detail or story.
Quote from: "Riebi"I visited the DCA before and during the big makeover and I was a bit surprised.
There are some parts that are REALLY tacky, though. Did you see that shop in Paradise Pier that had a circus tent roof inside with a giant clown holding it up? Plus, the façade for the Monster's Inc ride has some grey supports clearly visible at the side.
I know I may seem disproportionally interested in Disney Village sometimes, but if I do it's only because the Studios represent such a massive issue that I feel anything I could say would be but a muffled holler in the Grand Canyon of its despair. A new name, a new theme, a hotel? I don't even know where to start.
So once again I will divert my comments toward the Village and ask why on earth the Disney Store would remain in place after the opening of the World of Disney, and why they would actually invest in it to turn it into a new-style Disney Store. Will it become a real Disney Store selling Disney Store merchandise, perhaps? That could actually be interesting...
Quote from: "Josh"Quote from: "Riebi"I visited the DCA before and during the big makeover and I was a bit surprised.
There are some parts that are REALLY tacky, though. Did you see that shop in Paradise Pier that had a circus tent roof inside with a giant clown holding it up? Plus, the façade for the Monster's Inc ride has some grey supports clearly visible at the side.
That´s the point for me. They had over there facades with grey supports around the studios area before the big makeover (Ok in this special thing they stay till today) but for WDS the great makeover for Hollywood Bvd. was to install grey supports with some facades. Instead of a "real" makeover as we see it for b.v.street or parts of the pier.
For the village, I`m relly interested what they could do with the area. They ripped out everything of the old theme and replaced it with nothing + some tacky balloons. It´s clear that this can´t really work. They´ve lost the story behind it. But what could the new story be?? Any ideas?
Quote from: "pussinboots"So once again I will divert my comments toward the Village and ask why on earth the Disney Store would remain in place after the opening of the World of Disney, and why they would actually invest in it to turn it into a new-style Disney Store. Will it become a real Disney Store selling Disney Store merchandise, perhaps? That could actually be interesting...
I'd like to see them change the first stretch of shops to the boutique style ones of the US Downtowns, (D-Street etc), with the second half becoming more 'adult' oriented shops and quick serve restaurants, such as an ice cream parlour, spa products, homewares stores.
Then you'd have four clear areas, World of Disney, Disney for teens and kids and shopping for adults, then a whole street of food. Of course another option would be to have another crack at Disneyquest!
Keep Walt Disney Studios as it is and don't turn it into some park for all the new generation of Disney films. Keep the rides movie/on-set/big thrills related. It's meant to be themed around movie studios. Next thing they'll remove Armageddon which I will hate as it's an original ride. I recently saw an old documentary on the Studios and it's scary how much it has changed for the good and the bad.
Quote from: "CentralPlazaPerson"Keep Walt Disney Studios as it is and don't turn it into some park for all the new generation of Disney films. Keep the rides movie/on-set/big thrills related. It's meant to be themed around movie studios. Next thing they'll remove Armageddon which I will hate as it's an original ride. I recently saw an old documentary on the Studios and it's scary how much it has changed for the good and the bad.
I also think they should keep the studio as it is. Now it has at least a cohesive theme, but what'# the premise of a park where they can put every ride they want. That would be a bigger mess. I think a Studios park allows to add nearly everything, too. WDSP should be more like Universal where you can ride the movies.
Yes you are right. they should make a theme out of the theme. The old studio was.ugly but it was exactly like studios are. now where is the studio of dreams! why not giving the backlot a better backlot dream. make aerosmith to a real music label with a big fountain in front of it. make out of the stunt show buildings a big garage with diffrent studio.cars, cranes, stuff to look at. give backlot express its former theme and make it even bigger...I dont need marvel. I just need more theme and a deeper story. where is the story department? Shouldnt they also have an office at the backlot. I can nearly see a copy writer sign...
The best thing they could do to retain its studio feel is to make a How they do it? type ride. It would bring the guest into well known scenes with special effects and let them experience first hand of what the actors felt. Like Armageddon but on a bigger scale. Even a Great Movie ride.
All this new generation, marvel stuff should be part of the 3rd Park.
As I said in another post, I think Marvel fits perfectly into WDSP. I still think that WDSP should be a combination of education and entertainment. That means to me that WDSP should have attractions where you can ride the movies, like Universal Orlando, and attractions that show how the movie business works, like Universal Hollywood.
A third park will not happen in the next ten years and I'm sure there are new franchises and movies on which a new park can be build. Robert Iger has left TWDC and maybe Philippe Gas ED SCA as well. So maybe there is a change in the way TWDC is running their parks. Perhaps the new CEOs will be more like Eisner and WDI will design original rides again. There's a big chance that Tom Staggs will follow Iger in 2015 and he already made changes to the MK expansion, because it was only focused on kids and his sons didn't like it. I think he will run the parks more like Eisner. When Eisner came to Disney he had a teenage son and that's why we have seen so many elaborate rides during that years. A teenager isn't attracted by TSPL. Staggs' sons will also be in that age when he might become CEO.
Staggs seems like someone who gets heavily involved, much like Eisner did. For all of his faults, Eisner did get the parks right. He saw the money involved in having the resorts, so its what he focused his attention. Let's face it, without Eisner disneyworld may still only have 3 hotels. If staggs were to become CEO, his role in the parks would have shown him what eisner saw.
It is very interesting for me, as an American to see how Europeans view Michael Eisner. It sounds like you, in general, like him and think he did a good job as CEO. Or am I wrong? On this side of the pond, the Americans basically hate him. I can't go anywhere on Disney property without hearing bad things about him from cast members or guests. I think the problem most people had with him was that he wasn't Walt, he was a businessman. They wanted another Walt who would be personable and kiss babies and shake hands, but Eisner wasn't that kind of guy. I hear stories of him walking into a park, through the back door, stay backstage, get what he needed and leave without talking to a single cast member. They were offended he wasn't more personable. That is their main complaint, he wasn't likable. Me personally, I worked for Disney during Eisner's reign. I never met him, so I cannot comment on him as a person, but I liked him. This man brought the Disney Company out of bankruptcy, saved it from being bought out by rival companies, established the Disney Decade, created the Disney Stores, built five theme parks around the world, and revamped the animation industry. And above all of that, he worked on commission! He only made money if the company made money. No golden parachute, no bonus even if the company is failing. He worked for his pay check. And I as a cast member never had my pay or hours cut, never lost my bonuses and perks, actually I had more perks working for Eisner than I did after he left. I have no complaints about this man. He did his job, he was successful, and he made Disney what it is today.
I should have made it more clear in my post, that Eisner was only a good CEO in combination with Frank Wells. After Mr. Wells' death the company was on the downturn. I had high hopes in Mr. Iger when he brought Pixar back, but he is so much into franchises that there's no room for original movies and rides anymore. Eisner and Wells were at the right time at the right comapany.
Without Michael Eisner, DLP wouldn't be the most beautiful MK park. If DLP wouldn't have been a financial desaster, I gues the parks and resorts division would have continued to build quality parks and not DCA or WDSP.
I got all my informations about Michael Eisner from the book "Disney War" and I think it gives a very good insight into his tenure as CEO of TWDC.
I say keep WDS as it is name wise and then just make it like Hollywood Studios then. Would love to see more thrill rides after Ratatouille. A Tron/Test Track ride...Just don't change the name is all I care about!
anyone know what the super dream passport would offer? - thats sounds interesting
Quote from: "dagobert"I should have made it more clear in my post, that Eisner was only a good CEO in combination with Frank Wells. After Mr. Wells' death the company was on the downturn. I had high hopes in Mr. Iger when he brought Pixar back, but he is so much into franchises that there's no room for original movies and rides anymore. Eisner and Wells were at the right time at the right comapany.
Without Michael Eisner, DLP wouldn't be the most beautiful MK park. If DLP wouldn't have been a financial desaster, I gues the parks and resorts division would have continued to build quality parks and not DCA or WDSP.
I got all my informations about Michael Eisner from the book "Disney War" and I think it gives a very good insight into his tenure as CEO of TWDC.
The first ten years under Eisner: Disneyland Paris. The second ten years: Walt Disney Studios Park. Pretty much says it all. Indeed, Disney War is a must-read.
I remember reading on Wikipedia how Roy was trying to get Eisner ousted near the end of his carrier. I always thought that Roy was the reason that we had the Disney Renaissance.
Thanks for posting the translation! I think the idea of some sort of reward system sounds really interesting and very valid. My family and I have made many trips over the last 20 years so this would be great for us as I'm sure it would be for many of you on this forum and others besides. The hotels have the ability to see on the computer system how many times you have visited that hotel and when - and it was only just this year was our loyalty acknowledged as the lady who checked us in remarked on how many times we had stayed before. I don't think the reward would need to be anything huge (although I wouldn't decline a discount...hint hint!) but just a generic letter in the hotel room/sent to your home, or perhaps even fresh flowers or chocolates in your hotel room or a dining/shop voucher would be really appreciated by everyone I'd imagine! Not something I'd thought of before but seems obvious now they've said it. Perhaps they could adopt a Boots the Chemist Advantage Card system with Mickeys instead of points? ;)
Quote from: "zara-x"I don't think the reward would need to be anything huge (although I wouldn't decline a discount...hint hint!) but just a generic letter in the hotel room/sent to your home, or perhaps even fresh flowers or chocolates in your hotel room or a dining/shop voucher would be really appreciated by everyone I'd imagine!
Gift vouchers/cards for the resort's boutiques is something obvious they really should consider. Not only could they then be easily given as perks, but you could buy one for your children or for a friend who's visiting soon. It'd drive merchandise spending too, because it's likely you'd end up spending more than the voucher amount.
The "Super Dream" passport sounds more like an attempt to move Paris' AP prices up a notch without an obvious price increase. As Kristof posted on Photos Magiques recently, they're so cheap compared to other resorts. Though we should really try to keep that quiet. ;)
Quote from: "pussinboots"So once again I will divert my comments toward the Village and ask why on earth the Disney Store would remain in place after the opening of the World of Disney, and why they would actually invest in it to turn it into a new-style Disney Store. Will it become a real Disney Store selling Disney Store merchandise, perhaps? That could actually be interesting...
This translation at least says "Disney stores rethemed", so that just sounds like what we've expected all along - after World of Disney opens, they'll convert the older shops into something different. There's that quite possible Lego rumour. The old Disney Store itself would make more sense as a restaurant though, I think.
My favourite point is this:
*Re-designed website needed
No, really??!
Quote from: "Anthony"This translation at least says "Disney stores rethemed", so that just sounds like what we've expected all along - after World of Disney opens, they'll convert the older shops into something different. There's that quite possible Lego rumour. The old Disney Store itself would make more sense as a restaurant though, I think.
Ah, something must have gone awry in the translation. Mike's original version as posted on DisneyCentralPlaza reads that the
World of Disney will be
unlike the new "Imagination" Disney Stores. That seems a lot more logical.
I only hope that they also retheme the outside of the store and give the village after all this years a coherent look and feel again. last time they just ripped out the old theme and replaced it with ballons. :mrgreen: