Conference koolit::disney

    The following is an except of the article on page  41  and  42  of  the
    march 6th edition of Forbes magazine, copied without permission
    
    Claude
    
        The largest  project  in  Disney's  future is, of course, it's $2.1
    billion Euro-Disneyland theme  park.  here too, Wilson (Chief Financial
    Officer) is getting other  people  to  put  up  the  development money.
    Disney is providing only $200  million for 49% of the equity capital in
    the company that will operate the  park,  and 17.5% of a French private
    partnership that will own the land under the park.
    
        The   French  government  fought  hard  against  Spain    to    win
    Euro-Disneyland  and will lend $800 million for 20  years  at  a  fixed
    7.85%.  the French government is also selling the  project  about 4,800
    acres  only  20  miles  outside  of Paris at early 1970s  argricultural
    values  -  meaning not only that the land is cheap, but  that  property
    taxes will start from a very low base.  The government has  even agreed
    to apply low value-added tax rates to the parks revenues.
    
        Flowing from Euro-Disneyland to  Disney directly will be management
    fees equal to 4% of  revenues, plus royalties ranging from 5% to 10% of
    revenues, depending on the type of  good  or  service.  On overall park
    revenues estimated to be $1 billion, fees  and  royalties could be $100
    million in the first full year of operation.

    According to the Spring issue of Disney news, the Fall issue is to have
    an article on the current plans for Euro Disneyland, with the latest on
    planned rides, hotels etc.
    
    Claude

    Not having seen ANY information about Euro-Disney in any other place,
    may I thank you Claude for the information.  Please continue with
    the postings of information from Disney news.
    
    This is a fascinating topic, and one which I, for one, would like
    more information on.
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Derek
    

	Well the Fall issue arrived today, and there was no article
    on Euro-Disney, and it doesn't mention when they will have an article.
    Good it be they are behind schedule?
    
    Claude

    The London 'Evening Standard' ran an article in it's business section
    on the forthcoming share offer in Euro Disneyland. The Propectus
    is due for release at the end of September and shares will be sold
    around Christmas time. The price is said to be around 6 pounds,
    $9.50 for our American friends, the earning growth looks good, but
    is entirely dependant on the number of visitors, and so they don't
    give the stock a grade 1 rating. However I don't see how anybody
    could not go so I think I may buy a few !
    
    They also mentioned about the site saying it is approx 43 sq miles,
    and will be bigger than all the other parks, and will include houses
    and apartments for living, is this a bit closer to what Walt's idea
    for Epcot ?
    
    ian
    

rep to                        <<< Note 10.5 by PANIC::ELLERY >>>
    
>    They also mentioned about the site saying it is approx 43 sq miles,
>    and will be bigger than all the other parks, 
    
    Ian,
    
    Well Walt  Disney  World  in  Florida  is  43+ sq miles (27,400+ acres),
    whereas Euro-Disneyland is  around  4,500+  acres.   So Euro-Disneyland
    will not be bigger  than  all the other Disney locations, however it is
    possible that the Magic Kingdom  being planed for Euro-Disneyland could
    be larger than the other MK's.
    
    Claude
    

    From 'The Independant' reproduced without permission 20-SEP-89
    
    Full page, full colour advert, drawing of a new Cinderella's Castle.
    
                                 IMAGINE
    
    
    Imagine what it would be like if Disneyland was right here in Europe.
    Imagine a Magic Kingdom surrounded by its own hotels, resturants,
    camping sites and championship golf courses. All on a 20 sq kilometre
    site close to Paris.
    
    Just imagine those wonderful worlds of Disney, and all your favourite
    Disney characters in one complete holiday location. Just a dream?
    
    We plan to make it come true by opening the magical realm of Euro
    Disneyland and welcoming out first guests in 1992.
    
    With London, Amsterdam and Brussels; Munich, Madrid and Milan just
    hours away, Euro Disneyland will be within reach of over 330 million
    Europeans.
    
    But if you'd like to be more than just a future visitor send off
    for our mini prospectus and then imagine what it would be like to
    be a shareholder.
    
    		Euro Disneyland S.C.A. Mini Prospectus
                PO BOX 100
    		Brentford
    		Middlesex TW8 9DN
    		England
    
    
    
    My form is in the post ! The share price as I said earlier is about
    5 pounds, with Disney US at about $118 it looks like a pretty good
    investment to me. There are 'only' 65 million shares on offer in
    the UK, with similar amounts in Germany, Belgium etc, and the bulk
    of the shares going to the French.
    
    If the details are of interest to anyone I will post the details
    from the prospectus when it arrives. This issue will be oversubscribed
    by broker tells me so apply soon, and with any luck the same sorts
    of discounts will apply, as they do for US investors.
    
    The only thing that worries me is that the weather is not so good
    in France as it is in Florida or California, ah well we British
    will have something to talk about other than the rides !!
    
    Ian
    
    
    
    

    Late news on Euro-Disney, they have allowed for all weather
    conditions,as they intend to use domes over some of the attractions.
     Projected cost of enterprise is a fraction under 1 billion pounds
    sterling.
    
    

    I've just been browsing through the share prospectus (after sending
    off for some shares of course!). I will enter details when I get
    some time, but I spotted some interesting points to be going on
    with. They again mention covered attractions and walkways to combat
    the weather, and show artists impressions of some of the attractions.
    One looks very much like a Thunder Mountain copy.
    
    Ther are dire warnings that the shares should only be bought by
    or for European Community nationals, and specifically NOT US citizens!
    
    The bit that really jolted me (although I try not to be parochial)
    is that the core language will be French. I know it's logical, 'cos
    it is in France, but I just can't picture Mickey or Roger Rabbit
    with French accents, and I'm sure the Country Bear Jamboree won't
    translate too well. How do others feel?

    Extracts from the Euro Disneyland SCA Share Prospectus. Copied without
    any permission whatsoever!
    
    The WDW resort complex constitutes the prototype for Euro Disneyland.
    Phase 1A comprises the Magic Kingdom theme park, The MK Hotel which
    is a 500 room 4 star hotel and will also serve as the entrance area
    to the theme park, and a camping ground.
    Phase 1B will include 5 additional hotels, an entertainment, restaurant
    and shopping complex, and sports facilities including an 18-hole
    golf course.
    Phase 1A and a substantial portion of 1B are expected to be completed
    in 1992. Financial Model assumes the MK to be open in April 1992,
    and a second theme park completed and open by spring 1996. Longer
    term development strategy, out to 2011, includes more hotels and
    camp sites, another golf course, single family homes, multi-family
    residences, timeshare units and a water recreation area.
    
    The MK theme park will have 5 themed lands: Main Street USA, which
    will serve as the gateway to the park; Frontierland, which will
    reproduce the wooden streets of a typical frontier town: tropical
    Adventureland, the most exotic of the MK settings; Fantasyland,
    with attractions drawn from well known Disney characters such as
    the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio and Peter Pan; and Discoveryland, which
    through the sophisticated use of technology, will illustrate the
    past and future. Each will offer appropriately themed restaurants
    and shopping facilities.
    
    The MK will remain open all year round, and will include features
    designed to make attendance less dependant on the weather, including
    more inter-connected covered areas than at any other Disney-designed
    theme park. It will also introduce a number of modifications to
    themeing, architecture and dining facilities to accomodate European
    tastes. While French will be the first language of the park, there
    will be wherever possible universal signposting and many attractions
    will be identified by visual cues.
    
    Disney has stated that it currently regards the support of Euro
    Disneyland as its most important commitment to a new venture for
    the remainder of the century.
    
    It looks good, I just hope I get some of the share allocation!!
    
    Mike B.

    Does anybody have some details on how buying shares in France ?
    
    (for the moment I am in Ireland, and can't have any info).
    
    Thank you in advance for any help.
    
    
    EURO DISNEY .... wooooooooooh yaouh!!!!

    The initial launch of Euro-Disney shares is over, and they are now 
    trading like any other share on the Stock Exchanges. If you want 
    to buy some, you need to find yourself a stockbroker either here 
    or in France. 
    
    Be aware that they do not give any kind of privileges like reduced 
    admissions etc., they are just another share to gamble with or 
    keep for long term growth.
    
    Mike in Warrington UK. (WDW - minus 7 days and counting)

    Thank you for the info Mike.
    
    I wish you the best for WDW... a little hop and here you are.
    
    Ah ! *** 7 *** days....
    
    Eric	(2 years and counting)	

    Just for your information when the shares started trading their opening
    price was $7.07 (thats pounds not dollars) some $1.07 up on the public
    offer price.

    /Kev

    Another UK noter off to DisneyWorld in March 90.

    I have just read the very interesting article in Disneynews about
    Euro Disneyland. For those in europe who are interested I'll post
    a few snippets. It is 5000 acres, due to open in 1992 & located
    at Marne-la-Vallee, 20 miles east of Paris. The park will include
    themed hotels, a Fort Wlderness campground & recreational facilities
    including golf tennis & swimming.
    
    The report states that there are 310 million people within a 2 hour
    flight from the park, this presumably doesn't include the East European
    countries. 
    
    Richard.
    
    

    Rep to <<< Note 10.9 by WARDER::BATTY "So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish!" >>>

>    The bit that really jolted me (although I try not to be parochial)
>    is that the core language will be French. I know it's logical, 'cos
>    it is in France, 
    
    According to  the  Spring issue of Disney News, the sign's and language
    for Euro-Disneyland will be French and English.
    
    Claude

    Rep to <<< Note 10.10 by WARBLY::BATTY "So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish!" >>>

>    The WDW resort complex constitutes the prototype for Euro Disneyland.
>    Phase 1A comprises the Magic Kingdom theme park, The MK Hotel which
>    is a 500 room 4 star hotel and will also serve as the entrance area
>    to the theme park, and a camping ground.

    According to  the Spring '90 issue of Disney News, The hotel will be in
    the shape of a castle, and quest will enter the park on the level below
    the hotels main lobby.    This  makes  me  wonder what the center focal
    point will be for the  MK,  since all the others have a castle of their
    own.
    
    Claude

    re: .10 & .17
    
    forgot to mention that the Hotel at the entrance of the Euro-Disneyland
    is called the Fantasyland Hotel.
    
    Claude

    Look for the next installment of the Euro Disneyland story, "The Making
    of the Magic Kingdom", in the fall '90 issue of Disney News.
    
    Claude

    
    	I just spoke with a friend who works as an Imagineer at the Disney
    Company. He filled me in on the latest scuttlebutt regarding EuroDisneyland,
    so I thought I'd post the news here :
    
    	JUST TO REVIEW : EuroDisneyland ( EDL ) will be built on a 4800
    acre parcel of land, located 20 miles due east of Paris in the eastern-most
    sector of Marne-la-Vallee. Two seperate theme parks are scheduled to be 
    built at EDL, a Magic Kingdom clone that will open in 1992 and the
    Disney - MGM Studios - Europe theme park that will reportedly open in 
    1996.
    
    	Though the article in the latest issue of " Disney News " provided
    us Disney dweebs with the most definitive information to date concerning
    what attractions will be built for EDL's Magic Kingdom, it glosses over
    the part of the resort complex that will generate the greatest revenues
    for the Disney Company -- the hotels, restaurants and recreational 
    facilities to be built on site.
    
    	The current plans call for a major European resort center to be 
    built across from EDL's Magic Kingdom. This center will eventually contain
    9900 hotel rooms, 600,000 square feet of retail, food and entertainment
    space, a 400,000 square foot convention center, as well as 1.4 million
    square feet of office and housing. A nearby lake will provide a scenic
    setting for an additional 8300 hotel rooms. Other areas planned for the
    EDL resort center include a corporate park, two golf courses and even a
    a campground with more that 2000 sites.
    
    	 Okay, if everything goes according to plan, Phase 1 of EDL will 
    be completed when the Magic Kingdom, six themed hotels, a " Pleasure
    Island " style nightclub complex, and the RER ( Reseau Express Regional
    or the Regional Express Network ) train station open in 1992.( By the
    way, The RER train station will provide EDL visitors with speedy access
    to Paris and the French countryside. However, sometime later in the decade,
    the Disney Company hopes to offers its European guests even speedier 
    service when it has the EDL tied in to France's Bullet Train system. )
    
    	Now what about these themed hotels ? Okay, most everyone knows
    about the 500 room Victorian - style Magic Kingdom Hotel, which will
    actually serve as the gateway to the theme park. Visitors to the park
    may purchase their tickets in the grand lobby located on the ground 
    floor of the hotel. EDL guests who are actually staying at the Magic 
    Kingdom Hotel will check in on the second floor. ( Due to the
    commanding view the Magic Kingdom Hotel will have of the new theme 
    park, the Disney Company expects that the rooms that actually look out
    over the park will be booked years in advance. Consequently, if you
    want a truly memorable visit to EDL, plan ahead. Incidently, the Magic
    Kingdom Club is supposed to begin accepting reservations for EDL's
    hotels starting January 1st, 1991. So start limbering up your dialing
    finger now ! )
    
    	Okay -- now remember that scenic lake ? Here, you'll find the 
    " Pleasure Island " clone as well as three themed hotels. First up
    is the Hotel New York, a 580 room art deco facility that is supposed
    to be reminiscent of NYC in the '30s and '40s. Across the way, 
    surrounded by tall pine trees, will be the 1000 room Sequoia Lodge.
    This hotel is supposed to resemble those immense hunting lodges that
    the idle rich built out west in the early 1900s. Finally, there's the
    Newport Bay Club Hotel. Reminiscent of those old elegant resort hotels
    you used to find in seaside New England towns, this facility will open
    with 1100 rooms.
    
    	( In other notes in this conference, several Disneyana fans have 
    expressed dismay that Disney seems to be recycling attractions --
    putting identical rides or attractions in each of their parks. Well,
    with the opening of EDL, the Disney Company seems to be expanding its
    " copy-cat " mentality to its hotels now. If you look over Disney's
    future plans for hotels on its Florida property and compared them to  
    what's on tap for EDL, you note some suprising similarities. For 
    example, EDL's Newport Bay Club Hotel looks an awfully lot like WDW's
    soon-to-be-opened Beach and Yacht Club. And -- sometime later this
    decade -- Fort Wilderness is supposed to serve as home for a new WDW
    resort hotel, which is quite similiar in design to EDL's Sequoia Lodge. 
    And would it surprise you to know that -- among the many ideas currently
    considered for a group of entertainment-based hotels to be built next
    to WDW's Disney - MGM Studios -- is an art deco style Hotel New York ? Mind
    you, none of these proposed hotels are exact duplicates of the other.
    But their similarities are sometimes too obvious to ignore. Comments ? )
    
    	For those EDL guests who can't afford the higher priced themed
    hotel rooms at their European resort, the Disney Company also plans to
    build two lower priced hotels -- the 1000 room Cheyenne Hotel and the
    1000 room Hotel Santa Fe. Modeled after WDW's wildly popular ( as well
    as highly profitable ) Carribbean Beach Resort Hotel complex, these 
    two economical hotels will feature a western theme. In fact, each of the
    these hotels will be designed to resemble a small towm in the old West,
    complete with sheriff's office and saloon.
    
    	Supposedly, there will additional hotels, office, retail and 
    recreation space built on site when EDL's studio theme park opens 
    in 1996 -- but those plans are pretty vague right now.
    
    	So -- now that you know about EDL's hotels -- where do you think
    you'd like to stay when you visit the property ? Personally, though
    the Magic Kingdom Hotel and the three that sit on the lake sound okay, I
    think I'd prefer bunking at the Cheyenne Hotel or the Hotel Santa Fe.
    Given that these two will be located a little further away from the
    festivities ( These hotels are supposed to built on the quiet river that
    feeds into the lake ), it sounds like they'll be the most relaxed spots
    at the resort. Plus I'm anxious to see how the Imagineers will recreate
    the wild west in the peaceful French countryside.
    
    		Any comments ? ( Come on, Dave. I know you're
    	      out there. I can hear you seething. )
    
    				Robespierre                  

    
    
    	Saw a sight I thought I'd NEVER see on TV this morning.
        
    	Mickey and Donald .. getting pelted with EGGS!!!!!

    It appears that some of our European cousins in France are less
    than thrilled with some of the USA-style management practices 
    being applied to staff at the Euro-Disney park near Paris.
              
     A strict dress-code and - more importantly to the wine-loving 
    French - a total ban on alcohol, has led to some heated exchanges.
    The pictures showed some union demonstrators  dis-rupting an outdoors
    'opening' ceremony of some description - waving placards, shouting
    nasty things ........ then lobbing eggs and other missiles at the
    un-fortunate Disney dignitaries  and the aforementioned M & D.
    
     The ceremony was hurriedly terminated and the victims dashed for
    cover as the police moved in to deal with the demonstrators.  I'm 
    not sure exactly when it happened, but I'll wager it was a new
    (and not very pleasant) experience for the mouse.  I only hope they
    don't go to the extremes of the French farmers who are trying to
    keep out British lamb (they have hijacked lorries full of sheep,
    and burnt them!)
    
    
    Vive la diff�rence?
                  
    Andy.
    

    I saw this as well Andy.  It seems the French don't want to have to
    adhere to Disney standards they consider are too strict...
    
    Karen

    Last summer I purchased some Euro Disney stock for about $18 US/share
    and now it is over $21.  This increase has held through the stock drops
    caused by the Gulf War.  Very few stocks went up during this time
    frame.
    
    Does anybody have any current info on this project?
    -When will it first open?
    -Is construction on schedule?
    -Are costs staying with in budgets?
    -Any outside factors affecting the project?
    
    Thanks in advance
    
    Chuck

    
    	RE : - 1
    
    		Euro-Disneyland is tentatively scheduled to open in the 
    spring of '92. Right now, Disney executives hope that the park and 
    hotels will be ready for guests by that April -- but no one's being 
    more definite than that right now.
    		Disney executives are also pretty cagey about the initial
    costs of the project -- though I've heard figures as high as two
    billion dollars. As of October, the project was running ahead of 
    schedule -- with site preparation complete and the structural steel 
    for the various buildings being slapped into place.
    		As for things that might effect the opening of the park, 
    well ... No one will go on record about this, but -- the day the United
    States went to war with Iraq -- Disney quietly put out a memo to all
    the Imagineers and executives who were working on Euro-Disneyland, 
    barring them from traveling to Europe " until further notice. " The
    day-to-day management of the project will be supervised by Disney 
    executives already on site until the travel ban is lifted.
    		Will this development result in a delayed opening for 
    Euro-Disneyland ? It's hard to say. What is clear is that the Disney
    Company has found that building a European theme park was a lot more
    difficult than anyone had anticipated. What with Michael Eisner and 
    Mickey getting pelted with eggs at a press conference in Paris by 
    young communist wearing Mickey Mouse masks, and local vineyard owners
    rioting at the opening of the Euro-Disneyland Welcome Center ( THey 
    were upset at the rumor that no wine would be served within the theme
    park ), it has not been the cakewalk building Tokyo Disneyland was.
    		But the Disney Compnay remains very gung-ho on the project.
    In fact, they've announced plans to move up the construction start of 
    the European version of Disney-MGM studio theme park. Originally
    scheduled to open in the spring of 1996, Disney now hopes to have its
    second European park open to the public by the spring of 1994.
    		And where might we see our next Disney theme park outside
    of the U.S.A. ? Well, Disney was negotiating with the Soviet Union last
    year ( In fact, on July 17th -- Disneyland's 35th birthday -- all the 
    Disney executives were at the park to celebrate except Michael, who was
    in the U.S.S.R. for high level meetings with Soviet officials regarding 
    construction of a Disney park in their country before the end of the
    century ) and had sought permission to go forward with the design phase
    for a Disney theme park to be built in Kiev, but that city's cultural
    council shot their request down. ( They felt that an amusement park 
    in their city would take away from the historic and cultural
    significance of their city. Go figure. ) Where the negotiations are
    right now -- whether Disney had a second site in mind or whether
    Gorbachov's political problems have forced this deal onto the back 
    burner -- remains to be seen, but there will be a Disney theme park
    in the Soviet Union before 2000, and an Australian park before 2010.
    You can count on it.
    
    					JRH

    re .24
    
    Thanks for the quick update on Euro Disneyland.  Another factor that
    occured to me that is affecting the stock price is the difference in
    the currency exchange rates.  This is the first international stock I
    have owned and I guess I need to track both currency values as well as
    the stock itself to get a true picture.
    
    Any future news would be most welcome.
    
    Chuck     

    Chuck,
    
    	    There is an Annual Report and Publicity glossy which is 
    sent to us shareholders in the UK. Don't you get something similar 
    over there? I intend to enter some of the details when I get time, 
    but we're battling through heavy snow to get to work at the 
    moment. I wasn't planning to put in any of the heavy financial 
    detail, so if you or anyone wants to mail me with queries, I'll 
    see if I can find some answers.
    
    Mike_from_the_Frozen_North_(of_England!)

    For you Euro Disneyland investors/followers there is a long note on the
    subject in this conference, see note 31.94.
    
    Chuck
    

    EuroDisney CRO opens for hotel bookings supposedly on March 18th, 
    but is fully staffed now. You can ring them on 010 331 49 41 4910 
    (English Speaking) to make reservations for any of the six hotels 
    or the Davy Crockett campground. Opening date is still quoted as 
    April 1992.
    
    I've requested a brochure detailing hotels and prices, and I'll 
    post more info when I get it. There is no stockholders discount 
    structure yet, but they tell me it is planned.
    
    Regards,
    
    Mike_with_106_days_to_WDW (and_470_to_EDL?)

    I've just received the Euro Disney Hotel brochure and prices, so here 
    goes:--
    
    There are supposed to be six hotels + campground, but the brochure does 
    not give any details for the Hotel Santa Fe, and there is little info 
    on styles, sizes, capacities etc. (I suppose I'll just have to go over 
    and get this info for you all!!).
    
    The seasons are :--
    
    Peak.   	    12th April 92 to 31 October 92.
    	            18th December 92 to 2nd January 93.
            	    16th April 93 to 30th September 93.
    
    Weekend.	    (Friday and Saturday Nights)
    	    	    1st November 92 to 15th April 93.
    	    	    (Except Christmas Period)
    
    Low.    	    1st November 92 to 15th April 93.
    	    	    (Except Weekends and Christmas Period)
    
    Prices guaranteed until 15th April 93, subject to change after that 
    date. All prices in French Francs (current exchange rate 9.72fr to the 
    pound).
    
    	    	    	    Peak    	 Weekend      Low
    
    Disneyland Hotel Rooms  1950 - 2750	 1600 - 2300  1300 - 1850
    (Victorian)      Suites 4050 - 8750	 3350 - 7200  2700 - 5800
    
    Hotel New York   Rooms  1600 - 2300	 1350 - 1900  1100 - 1550
    (Manhattan)      Suites 2400 - 7200	 2000 - 5950  1600 - 4750
    
    Newport Bay	     Rooms  1100 - 1250	  950 - 1000   750 -  850
    (New England)    Suites 1700 - 1800	 1400 - 1500  1150 - 1200	   
    
    Sequoia Lodge    Rooms  1100 - 1250	  950 - 1000   750 -  850
    (National Parks) Suites 1700 - 1800	 1400 - 1500  1150 - 1200	   
    
    Cheyenne Hotel   Rooms      750 	     650          550
    (Frontier Style)
    
    Davy Crockett    Cabins     850 	     725          575
    Campground	     Tent Sites 270 	     270          270
    
    There is a list of Phone Numbers for different languages.
    
    Austria 	    (0101) 331 49 41 4995
    Belgium 	    (0101) 331 49 41 4935
    Denmark 	    (0101) 331 49 41 4920
    Finland 	    (0101) 331 49 41 4975 
    France  	    (0101) 331 49 41 4941 
    Germany 	    (0101) 331 49 41 4990 
    Ireland 	    (0101) 331 49 41 4915 
    Italy   	    (0101) 331 49 41 4930 
    Luxemburg	    (0101) 331 49 41 4905 
    Norway  	    (0101) 331 49 41 4950 
    Portugal	    (0101) 331 49 41 4965 
    Spain   	    (0101) 331 49 41 4960 
    Sweden  	    (0101) 331 49 41 4970 
    Switzerland	    (0101) 331 49 41 4925 
    Netherlands	    (0101) 331 49 41 4980 
    United Kingdom  (0101) 331 49 41 4910 
    
    
    Fax No. 	    (0101) 331 49 30 7100
    	    	    (0101) 331 49 30 7170
    
    Address 	    Euro Disney Reservations
    	    	    P.O. Box 105
    	    	    94350 Villiers-sur-Marne
    	    	    France
    
    The brochure is a nice glossy piece, using pictures of WDW and DL 
    together with artist's impressions to show how things will look. 
    Snippets from the blurb,
    
    Main Street USA. The usual.. Leads to the castle, the 'Chateau de la 
    Belle au Bois Dormant.
    
    Discoveryland. Star Tours and Captain Eo.
    
    Adventureland. Adventure Isle, with Captain Hook and the Swiss Family 
    Robinson. Pirates of the Caribbean. A Thousand and One Nights, oriental 
    bazaar with the mysteries of the Far East.
    
    Frontierland. Mississippi Steamboats on Rivers of the Far West. Big 
    Thunder Mountain Railroad. Phantom Manor.
    
    Fantasyland. Dumbo, Mad Hatter's Tea Party and...Oh! What's This...
    C'est Un Petit, Petit Monde... Hmm! That looks interesting 8^)
    
    I expect that we'll go over for a few days next summer, but at the 
    moment I don't think it's going to replace WDW as our favourite 
    vacation spot.
    
    Mike.

    I've changed the title of this topic to reflect the name of the entire
    Disney enterprise, rather than just the theme park within it.

    Does that make sense?

    In search of accuracy,
    Your moderator,
    Len.

 This message comes from Joel Tomyl at the University Of Hawaii
 
This is an ad that appeared in the March 4, 1991 Amusement Business on the
lower 1/2 of page 21. (Republished without permission)
 
Entertainment Professionals Come Home to Euro Disney
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Just 32 kilometers outside paris, a dream is in the making
 
Euro Disney, one fifth the size of Paris, will be a major leisure destination
to no fewer than 330 million Europeans.
 
It's gates open in Spring 1992, just as EEc nations draw ever close. It's time
when professionals in the entertainment business with European work permits
should bring their talents back home.
 
Euro Disney is Europe's greatest ever leisure project, comprising luxury
hotels, themed restaurants, the Dave Crockett Campground, a championship gold
course, entertainmnets centre and so many more sports and social facilities.
And at its heart will be the Magic Kingdom Theme Park, complete with five
themed lands.
 
MAIN STREET-USA is the gateway to the Magic Kingdom and represents a
turn-of-the-century American Town. FRONTEIRLAND recreates the pioneer spirity
of the American West. ADVENTURELAND has scene-setting attractions inspired by
Disney Movies such as "Treasure Island" and "Peter Pan". FANTASYLAND, with its
"Sleeping Beauty"-inspired Chateau, is largely based on Disney film classics
such as "Pinocchio" and "Snow white and the seven dwarfs". DISCOVERYLAND looks
at mankind's past achievements and future possibilities with a "star wars"
space voyage and 360-degree "Circlevision" film.
 
 It's here that the Disney magic is created - and it's here that you can put
your particular skills to use. Our 'cast members' will include everyone from
DANCERS and MUSICIANS to PERFORMERS and DESIGNERS. From TECHNICIANS in
SOUND,LIGHTING and SPECIAL EFFECTS to COSTUMING.
 
These are positions suited to all levels of experienced personnel. The only
common factor is that everyone must speak English and French fluently and have
the necessary documents authorizing employment in France.
 
Euro Disney has on-going development plans until the year 2017 and beyond - so
now is the time to consider building a long-term career back home.
 
If you are interested in this unique opportunity, please send your resume,
stating your area(s) of interest and quoting reference E.T./01/AB to
Professional Staffing, Euro Disneyland S.C.A., B.P. 110 94350
Villiers-Sur-Marne, France
 
Euro Disney A serious invitation to join the fun
 
                                                      

From: [email protected]
Subject: EuroDisney Information
Date: 27 May 91 08:33:00 GMT
 
 
This is in reply to Sture Jonsson <se%"[email protected]">, to whom
direct email from here keeps bouncing. The text is a summary of information
which I received from Disney Reservations for next year's opening of EuroDisney.
So anyone else interested is invited to read and comment as well.
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
GENERAL INFO
 
After recently calling EuroDisney Reservations in France, they mailed some
information (brochure, prices and Preview Center Info). The brochure is
colorful, but a bit meager with mostly DL and WDW pictures plus occasional
paintings and models, reminiscent of some pre-EPCOT publicity. The following
is a summary of the brochure and of what I was told on the telephone.
 
EuroDisney is located about 30 km east of the center of Paris. It is situated
right off national highway A4 and about 30 min. south of the international
airport Paris-Roissy. The greater Paris rail system RER will have a new stop at
the main entrance. The EuroDisney complex will be about 1/5 th the ground size
of Walt Disney World (which means that WDW actually covers the same area as
metropolitan Paris).
 
EuroDisney is organized much like WDW, with the Euro Disney Resort providing a
backdrop of hotels and landscape for the theme park, Euro Disneyland.
 
EuroDisney will be open year-round, 'perfectly adapted to Paris climatic
conditions', as the brochure states. (Whether this means skating on the Rivers
of America I don't know :-)). My favorite illustration in the brochure is a
photo of all the park's characters playing in the snow, with Cinderella castle
in a wintry landscape as background. It says it all ...
 
From an overview painting, it does not appear as the complex will have a
Monorail or similar permanent transportation system. Rather, all hotels seem to
be within walking distance of the theme park. Despite several attempts of the
brochure to link EuroDisney to European heritage, the whole complex carries a
strong American theme, from EuroDisneyland itself to the settings of the
different resort hotels.
 
Euro Disneyland will open its gates on Saturday, April 12th 1992, at 09:00 am.
You then will also be able to check into the hotels, though rooms will not be
accessible until later in the day. This is an important consideration if you
plan to come in for the opening from abroad.
 
Until the big day, a Preview Center at the future main entrance is operating.
It is already open (7 days a week, 10 FF admission).
 
THEME PARK
 
Euro Disneyland will be more or less a duplicate of the already existing three
'Magic Kingdoms', with some rearrrangements and changed names for attractions.
It will be circled by the now customary steam railroad. The painting shows
three stations, on Main Street, Adventureland and Fantasyland. Also, you enter
the park via the Main Street Railway station and continue down Main Street, USA
towards the Central Plaza Hub in front of Cinderella castle.
 
Starting at left from here and continuing clockwise, the different lands are
Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland.
 
Frontierland, which has swapped places with Adventureland, will have a large
paddle-wheeler on the 'Rivers of the Far West'. It will be circling Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad, which now seems to be located on an island, or at least part
of it. The Haunted House has moved to Frontierland and now is called 'Phantom
Manor'. The Golden Horseshoe has been renamed to 'Lucky Nugget'. I hope they
have not left out Country Bears, although it is not featured in the brochure
(:-().
 
Adventureland is set against an oriental bazaar. It will contain the Swiss
Family Robinson Treehouse and Captain Hook on Adventure Isle (is the latter
one new ? The painting shows this part like a miniature version of Tom Sawyer
Island, circled by a pirate's ship). Also present are the Pirates of the
Caribbean.
 
Fantasyland is still less specific in the brochure. Apart from Small World, it
will have Snow White, Pinocchio and Alice in Wonderland plus the Dumbo, Carousel
and Mad Tea Party rides.
 
Discoveryland replaces Tomorrowland and will more or less be a collection of
future-related goodies from all other Disney parks. There will be StarTours,
Captain EO (sorry  guys, still ... :-)), Autopia and Orbitron. The latter
appears to be the remodeled StarJets. One painting shows a structure like
Space Mountain in the background, although is is not mentioned in the text.
The 360-degree film is called 'Visionarium' and will be based on time travels
with Jules Vernes as the host. There will also be 'Videopolis', the dance club
that is also at DL's Fantasyland.
 
Languages will be French as primary, with signs bilingual in French/English and
all cast members at least bilingual (this is information from the net).
 
All in all, Euro Disneyland will either start out with less attractions than
the other parks (which I think) or the Disney people are not giving away
everything to keep the surprise (which I hope).
 
HOTELS
 
The EuroDisney Resort will have 5 hotels and a campground, plus a large
entertainment/shopping center. At least two of the hotels (New York and Newport
Bay) and the entertainment center are situated on a waterway. It does not look
large; judging from the brochure, it should be the size of the lake connecting
the Swan/Dolphin hotels and EPCOT.
 
Prices for all Disney accommodations are somewhat stiff. The relation may be
less drastic for France in general or for London hotels, but for the price of
the cheapest EuroDisney room you can book a top hotel throughout the rest of
Europe. I have converted the current FF rates into approximate US$ per room
(2 pers.) and night.
 
The Davy Crockett Campground offers spaces for $53 and Bungalows for $172. The
Cheyenne Hotel is set like a Western Frontier Town, with rooms for $147. In the
same category is the Santa Fe Hotel, with a Southwestern desert setting (you do
remember that the resort will also be open in winter, don't you ?). The Newport
Bay Club will reflect a New England resort, including a lighthouse, while the
Sequoia Lodge will dwell on the theme of US National Park Lodges. Both have
rooms starting at $216 and Suites starting at $333. The Hotel New York will
look like its name implies, with a mini Rockefeller Center skating rink. Rooms
start at $313 and suites at $470. If this still is not luxurious enough,
consider the Disneyland Hotel, built in Victorian style. It should look like
WDW's Grand Floridian and is a real first, as it actually frames the entrance
to the theme park. So now you can have a blast of a time viewing the park at
night or eyeing the waiting lines at the entrance in the morning, right from
your own room. Be prepared to pay dearly for this entertainment, though. Rooms
go for no less than $382 and suites start at $734 (this is still per night).
 
The Sequoia Lodge and the Hotel Santa Fe will not open until June 1992, two
months after EuroDisney is inaugurated. Rates drop generally 30 % in the off
season from November to mid-April (except for a slight increase on weekends
and for full rates during Christmas/New Year).
 
There will be a (public) golf course plus other usual resort activities. The
entertainment center will have its own array of themed shops and restaurants
plus night clubs. There will also be separate shows, a Wild West show is
already certain.
 
RESERVATIONS
 
Reservations are now possible for hotel rooms only through EuroDisney Central
Reservations, B.P. 105, 94350 Villiers s/Marne, France. EuroDisney lists
telephone numbers in 16 European languages, but I will just give the ones for
English (33)1.49.41.49.10 and French (33)1.49.41.49.41 here. The operators
can send you more information as well (the English/German one was quite nice).
 
Theme park prices, tickets and combination packages will not be available until
fall. At that time, also a one-night deposit will be collected for all hotel
reservations. There will be special events for the opening, but again, no
information and no booking is available until fall.
 
---------------------------------- I R S -----------------------------------
Frank Pohlemann       Institut fuer Raumfahrtsysteme, Universitaet Stuttgart
BITNET/PROFS/JNET:    [email protected]                         Germany
****************************************************************************

I guess the author is excluding Scandinavia from the rest of Europe.  I can't
imagine booking a top hotel in any of the major Scandinavian cities for the
$147 it will cost to stay at the Cheyenne Hotel.

Hotels in some parts of Europe are enormously more expensive than almost 
anywhere in the U. S., while other parts of Europe are quite inexpensive.

   Gary

    RE: .32
    
    With the reference to Captain Hook and a pirate ship, it sounds as if
    they resurrected Disneyland's Skull Cove and Pirate Ship (now defunct,
    up until (I believe) the mid-70's).
    
    George
    

    From The Orlando Sentinel, Sunday, April 28, 1991 p. D1-2
    Courtesy of Pat Campbell

    French don't snack, Europeans treat dogs like royalty.
    
    by Vicki Vaughn
    of the Sentinel staff

    Glendale, Calif. - When it comes to sizing up cultural differences in
    the design of Euro Disney Resort near Paris, the Walt Disney Co. isn't
    responding with a Gallic shrug.

    Just as fashion designers often cut clothes differently to suit
    European tastes, Disney's designers are shaping the giant resort to fit
    continental lifestyles.

    Disney's Imagineers, who dream up everything from rides to inventive
    ways to hide queues, say that from the beginning they knew they
    couldn't simply reproduce Walt Disney World in Europe if they were to
    lure a projected 11 million guests in the resort's first year.

    In designing the $4.4 billion resort, Disney Imagineers are planning
    for cultural differences beyond language -- accommodating different
    eating habits, a cold climate and even the French love for their dogs,
    said three key Disney Imagineering executives in interviews at Disney's
    Imagineering's headquarters in Glendale, Calif.

    "We knew, in designing Euro Disney, that we'd have to have a whole
    different approach," said Mickey Steinberg, executive vice president of
    Walt Disney Imagineering.

    In a 1989 prospectus that preceded the sale of stock in Euro Disneyland
    S.C.A. the brokerage S.G. Warburg Securities noted that "substantial
    changes" had been planned for the resort which is now on schedule and on
    budget for an April 1992 opening west of Paris.

    Some changes are "general improvements, born out of continued operation
    experience," the prospectus said, "but most reflect a response to
    European requirements and culture."

    Extensive market research was conducted to ensure that the resort will
    have "maximum appeal" to the European audience, the document said.

    One key change, said Martin Sklar, president of Walt Disney
    Imagineering, has been "decommercializing" the park.

    Lines of ticket booths are perfectly acceptable in the U.S. market. 
    Not so in Europe.

    "We want visitors to feel that they're going to discover their dreams,
    what they've imagined" America and an American theme park to be like,
    said Tony Baxter, senior vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering.

    So instead of putting turnstiles in plain view of visitors, Disney has
    hidden them.

    Guests enter the park by walking through what appears to be the first
    level of Euro Disneyland hotel.  Under the hotel's arched entryways are
    discreetly hidden turnstiles that aren't visible from arrival points.

    Other changes have to do with food.  Disney is used to feeding huge
    numbers of people, but Europeans linger longer -- much longer -- over
    meals than do Americans, typically taking 90 minutes to dine.

    The typical American family eats and runs, spending from 20 to 25
    minutes dining at a Disney park.  And Americans aren't terribly picky
    about when they dine.

    Not so for the Europeans.  And the French do not snack, preferring to
    dine at rigidly prescribed times.  "Dining is just much more of a ritual
    in Europe." Baxter said.

    To accommodate diners and help prevent bottlenecks in restaurants, Baxter
    said Euro Disney Resort's restaurants with seated service will have
    many more waiters.  Also the Disney Imagineers said the choices of food
    may be wider.

    The French, too, are known "for their dogs that are almost members of
    the family," Baxter said.  It is not unusual to see dogs inside
    Parisian restaurants.

    Disney isn't going so far as to allow dogs in park restaurants, but it
    is building a kennel at the theme park that "is more like a hotel than
    a kennel," he said.

    Dogs and other pets presumably will tolerate being parted from their
    owners for what Disney calls "accommodations" and Baxter says are
    heavily disguised cages.

    The Imagineers faced other design problems with the park's Cinderella
    [sic] Castle.  "The castle was tough," Baxter conceded.

    At Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. and Disney World, tourists are wowed
    with a castle that has borrowed touches from European castles.

    But to a tourist who has seen real chateaux in France's Loire Valley,
    a copy "would hardly represent a source of wonder," the prospectus
    notes dryly.

    The solution, Sklar said was to build a castle "straight from the
    storybooks," with fanciful shapes and colors.

    Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant, or Sleepy Beauty's castle, will
    feature windows that change color, internal pillars that are carved
    like giant square trees, and thinly shaped but elaborate towers.

    Disney also had to plan for the cold French winters.  The prospectus
    notes that the colder climate will be "dealt with in two main ways: by
    providing cover and making the park `feel' warm."

    Disney Imagineers wanted a dramatic Main Street similar to the one at
    the Magic Kingdom park at Disney World.  "We couldn't cover it because
    we wanted it to look like an authentic U.S. main street, with horses
    and buses an plenty of activity," Sklar said.

    The answer was covered arcades alongside Main Street to provide cover
    from the inclement weather.

    Elsewhere in the park, heated and canopied walks will protect guest
    from rain as they move through one "land" to another.  And most of the
    restaurants, shops and attractions are, of course, indoors.

    Sklar said he's confident the Euro Disney Resort will appeal to
    Europeans.  "We can take almost anything we've designed and modify it
    to fit the environment."

    
    
       France's Potential holds Promise
    
       Again complements of mom and the Orlando Sentinel (I think)
    
    
    PARIS - With great fanfare, three $150 million amusement parks opened
    in France in the past three years, but all have fallen flat and two
    have been forced into bankruptcy.
    
    Nonetheless, The Walt Disney Company is pushing hard with plans to open
    Europe's first Disneyland next year, a $4.4 billion extravaganza
    sprawling over 5,000 acreas of former sugar beet fields 20 miles of
    Paris.
    
    No one at the company is even having a second thoughts.  Disney being
    Disney, executives instead are worried that Euro Disneyland - which
    sprawls over an area one-fifth the size of Paris itself - just might
    not be big enough to handle the crowds.  In a move that would border on
    hubris at almost any other company, plans are already being drawn for
    radio and subway annoucements to warn people away when the park fills
    up.
    
    "My biggest fear," said Robert Fitzpatrick, Euro Disneyland's  
    chairman, "isthat we will be too successful,"
    
    With the Disneylands in Florida, California and Japan all going
    gangbusters, Disney clearly has the highest of hopes for its European
    park.  And with construction here apparently near budget and on
    schedule for a spring 1992 opening - and European interest in all
    things related to Mickey Mouse still high - Disney may indeed have a
    sure thing on its hands.
    
    

    I thought the readers of this conference would be interested in an
    application to purchase EuroDisney tikets available at the Disney store
    in Nasua, New Hampshire.  According to the brochure, "Be the first to
    get your EURO DISNEYLAND commemorative Passport! These special limited
    edition passports celebrate the opening of the most fabulous holiday
    destination in Europe.  Not only are they valid for admission, they are
    exclusively designed Disney art pieces, suitable for framing and a
    perfect start to a Euro Disney collection.  To order your Commemorative
    Passport, please return the attached coupon."
    
    Include name, address phone, method of payment (MC, Visa, AMEX) and
    card number with expiration date.
    
    Commemorative Passport:          $37.00 each per adult
    Child's Commemorative PAssport:  $28.00 per child
    
    Shipping and Handling:             2.00
    
    Mail to:	Walt Disney World
    		Ticket Mail order EDC
    		PO Box 10030
    		Lake Buena Vista, FL  32830-0030
    
    Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
    

    There is also a coupon in the current issue of Disney News.
    
    Linda

    
    Ten day's ago I visited the Euro-Disney Visitor Centre. Guess who was
    just coming out, none other than, Michael Eisner accompanied by the U.S.
    ambassador to France.
    
    They have an excellent little set up there - charge to get in 10
    Francs ($1.65). Though there are many way's to obtain free entry
    tickets and I did not see many people paying...
    
    The building is in "FANTASIA" style, with an enormous version of
    Mickey's sorcerer's hat covering the entrance. Inside there are various
    display's and drawings of the future hotel's. There is a big model of
    the whole site. After a short introductory speech in FRENCH, you are
    lead through to the cinema.
    
    The film is ordinarily in French with headphones available at some
    seats for the translations. The film is pure magic. It last's about 15
    minutes and had people around me wiping tear's off their cheeks, well
    before the end. It shows the ideal family (Boy then Girl) flying over
    and landing in Euro-Disney in a large hot air balloon. The balloon is
    an enormous version of Mickey's head. They then try out the rides
    accompanied by Tigger (obviously filmed at existing attractions) and
    then fly home. It turn's out to be all in the Boy's dream - though this
    dream becomes real for everyone on APRIL 12th. 1992..
    
    You then move through to the little shop - plenty of opportunity to buy
    mugs - shirts  - and key rings, and finally chance to eat in a fastfood
    type restaurant. Here watchout.. all the usual including CHIPS -
    however, these turn out to be what the English call CRISPS, and come in
    a little bag !
    
    Construction is well on target. The site 1/5 the size of Paris makes it
    hard to get too close at the moment to the buildings but you can
    clearly see the hotel's, the mountain, and the castle in the distance.
    Rumor has it that the opening day will cost 10 Francs but I cannot
    substantiate that at this stage. All in all a very worthwhile two hours
    with plenty of opportunity for photograph's with Mickey.
    
    Paul.  

    The Disney casting crew was in Colorado Springs yesterday.  They were
    auditioning for the Wild West Show in EuroDisney.

    There was an article on the front page of today's paper.  The show
    will be an re-enactment of the legendary Buffalo Bill traveling
    road show.

    The Disney entourage is visiting seven cities to select a cast.  They've
    been to Orlando, Houston, Dalls, and Tulsa.  They will be in Billings,
    Mont. and Los Angeles before the end of the week.

    "The casting crew will make their selections by Oct. 22 and will notify
    the winners shortly afterward.  They'll go through some training in 
    sharpshooting and acting and will draw paychecks of $400 to $600 a week 
    when the show opens in April."

    Marilyn

                    Disney begins Massive hiring task

                  Euro Disney hopes to lure 100,000 for 12,000 openings
 
                  (w/o permission of Orlando Sentinel 10/20/91)


The job hopefuls arrive astride motorcycles or scrambling off a suburban 
rail line into a mall, where the only visable American touch is the hit
movie Robin du Bois, starring Kevin Costner.

The applicants, many of them your, are looking for what is touted as "the
role of their lives" at Euro Disney, a $4.4 billion theme park that will
open April 12, about 18 miles east of Paris.

In a spartan office building leased by Euro Disneyland, they will get a
crash course in what an American entertainment giant expects of its workers.

It's not the typical European job.

But so far Europeans have seemed eager to apply.  To date, about 20,000
people have walked through Euro Disney's doors, and of those, about 2,000
or 10 percent have been offered jobs.

Walt Disney Co. which owns 49 percent of the park, is using everything it has
ever learned about hiring at its theme parks - a rejected some European
methods - in its plan to sign up the 12,000 employees it needs to Euro
Disneyland.

It is a massive task - one equal, Disney officals believe, to all the 
recruiting Western Europe's armies will conduct this year.

Planning this took more than a year, and so far, Disney executives say,
it's paying off.

"Hiring is going very, very well", said Thor Degelmann, a 26 year Disney
veteran who is vice president of human resources for Euro Disney.

Between now and the opening of Euro Disneyland, Disney needs to lure 100,000
potential cast members.  It is looking for Europeans who can put on Disney
smiles and accept starting salaries slightly better than the $5.25 minimum
for entry-level posts at Walt Disney World in Florida.

The salaries are near the top for similar jobs in France, Degelmann said.
"But we don't want to be out of line.  We want to be in the "B", not the "A"
category."

Disney also needs French workers who won't mind toiling while the rest of
France plays during August, the traditional French holiday season.

Its first recruitment task was simply to get people to come to Disney's
hiring office in Noisy-le-Grand, a bedroom community east of Paris.

The Disney name is well known, Degelmann said, but Disney parks aren't.
"Our research shows that 99.5 percent of the people comming through our
doors have never visited a Disney park," Degelmann said.

To lure people Disney launched an advertising campaign that told them
they would find "the role of your life at Euro Disney" and showed Mickey
Mouse's distinctive gloved hand holding a movie clapboard.

The ads, on which Disney spent undisclosed sums, appeared on posters
"every place people congregated," said Disney spokesman Rod Madden, such as
metro train stations and on the sides of buses.

The ads were effective in getting people to Disney's surburban office 
without an appointment, something that's not usually done in Europe.

Besides requiring an appointment, many European companies also require
applicants to submit a handwritten cover letter because handwriting analysis
is used to screen job seekers, Degelman explained.

"We've never used it or felt we needed it," Degelman said.  "Its much more
important for us to do a personal interview.

Disney being Disney, it starts educating its future workers even while they're
waiting in line.

Once a Disney's casting center, applicants in queues see a 5 1/2 minute video
that depicts workers performing various jobs - from greeting guests to sweeping
streets - at Disney World.

Those 99.5 percent of all our applicants who haven't been to Disney World
or Disneyland won't understand what the jobs are," Degelmann said.  "So we
show them."

After that, the winnowing process begins.

The applicants file into theaters where they see a 15-minute film.

The video tells applicants that they need reliable transportation to
work at Euro Disneyland and that they must adhere to strict appearance 
standards.

As at other Disney parks, men can't have mustaches, woman can wear only
dubdued makeup and both sexes can wear only minimal jewelry.

And viewers are sternly warned, Degelmann said, that "while others are
having vacations, we're at work", including during the vacation month of
August, at Christmas, at night and on weekends.

Hearing that, some applicants bail out, walking through a conveniently
placed exit that Disney provided to let them exit gracefully by leaving
the building after the film.

Those who stick it out get a personal interview - the toughest test.

The interview lasts only about seven minutes.  "The idea is to get them to
start talking," Degelmann said.  "We want people who can create a good
first impression," he said.

If Disney has spotted a potential cast member, interviewers make sure
they understand that "we work while others play", he added.  "Do they fully
understand that they'll have to work on holidays?"

To help spot applicants that make the Disney grade, the company rehired
scores of Europeans who have worked at Epcot Center's World Showcase.

These former Disney workers team up with a second Disney interviewer to hire
workers for more complex jobs such as being a hotel's front desk clerk,
Degelmann said.

Disney will keep one French hiring standard:  the employment contract.  It
spells out - as required by French law - the worker's job responsibilities,
pay, starting date, benefits and the date of orientation.

"If they sign it," Degelmann said, "we're both bound by it."

Degelmann said he isn't concerned that newly hired Disney workers may
not understand they Disney way.  "We think we're getting the creme de la creme,"
he said.  "One out of two who make it to the end does not get a job."




                                   Euro                Walt Disney
                                   Disneyland            World

 
   No. of Employees                  12,000             33,000

   Entry-level monthly pay         $1,060 - $1,236*     $840-$1,408**

   S.S. Tax                        18-20%                7.65%

   Federal Tax                     33.6 - 38.4%          15 - 31%

   Vacation weeks***               5                     2


   *a current exchange rate
   ** approximate monthly starting pay for lowest grade jobs and starting
      pay for more skilled positions; includes insurance against sickness,
      disabilty, accident, pensions, unemployment
   *** Disney vacation eligibility after 1,800 hours accrued



   

    
       I received a flyer for Commemorative EuroDisney Passports with 
    my quarterly stock report.  The passports are $37.00 for Adults and
    $28.00 for children.
    
                               -Rob
    

    
    	A short snippet on France-Info (French 24 hour news station)
    said last night that Euro-Disneyland are being taken to court.
    It would appear that their strict dress code ( no beards etc )
    are in infringement of French labour laws.
    	Wonder how they'll get round that?
    

They'll cave in, the same way they did on language. (French is the prime
language for Euro-disney, despite initial assurances to the contrary)

French labour unions (with tacit government support) have got Disney over a 
barrel.

Ian

Article: 5342
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Reposting of EuroDisney Information
Date: 10 Dec 91 10:54:00 GMT
Sender: [email protected]
 
 
Alright, due to popular demand (1), here is the EuroDisney Info again. I have
added some comments (marked: *) to reflect what I have learned since I wrote
the text around April or so:
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
GENERAL INFO
 
After recently calling EuroDisney Reservations in France, they mailed some
information (brochure, prices and Preview Center Info). The brochure is
colorful, but a bit meager with mostly DL and WDW pictures plus occasional
paintings and models, reminiscent of some pre-EPCOT publicity. The following
is a summary of the brochure and of what I was told on the telephone.
 
EuroDisney is located about 30 km east of the center of Paris. It is situated
right off national highway A4 and about 30 min. south of the international
airport Paris-Roissy. The greater Paris rail system RER will have a new stop at
the main entrance. The EuroDisney complex will be about 1/5 th the ground size
of Walt Disney World (which means that WDW actually covers the same area as
metropolitan Paris).
 
EuroDisney is organized much like WDW, with the Euro Disney Resort providing a
backdrop of hotels and landscape for the theme park, Euro Disneyland.
 
EuroDisney will be open year-round, 'perfectly adapted to Paris climatic
conditions', as the brochure states. (Whether this means skating on the Rivers
of America I don't know :-)). My favorite illustration in the brochure is a
photo of all the park's characters playing in the snow, with Cinderella castle
in a wintery landscape as background. It says it all ...
 
* A recent TV special mentioned that lessons learned in Tokio are incorporated.
* This means good insulation on the buildings in general and special attention
* to provide many covered walkways.
 
From an overview painting, it does not appear as the complex will have a
Monorail or similar permanent transportation system. Rather, all hotels seem to
be within walking distance of the theme park. Despite several attempts of the
brochure to link EuroDisney to European heritage, the whole complex carries a
strong American theme, from EuroDisneyland itself to the settings of the
different resort hotels.
 
* Nevertheless, some Theme Park attractions have been Europeanized (see below),
* and Disney stresses the fact that most of their anmiated features are based
* on European Fairy Tales (so true, so true ...)
 
Euro Disneyland will open its gates on Saturday, April 12th 1992, at 09:00 am.
You then will also be able to check into the hotels, though rooms will not be
accessible until later in the day. This is an important consideration if you
plan to come in for the opening from abroad.
 
Until the big day, a Preview Center at the future main entrance is operating.
It is already open (7 days a week, 10 FF admission).
 
THEME PARK
 
Euro Disneyland will be more or less a duplicate of the already existing three
'Magic Kingdoms', with some rearrrangements and changed names for attractions.
It will be circled by the now customary steam railroad. The painting shows
three stations, on Main Street, Adventureland and Fantasyland. Also, you enter
the park via the Main Street Railway Station and continue down Main Street, USA
towards the Central Plaza Hub in front of Cinderella castle.
 
* The Castle bears a French name, which is lenghty but translates to Sleeping
* Beauty Castle. It does not look like Neuschwanstein (as in DW), as Europeans
* don't seem to get a kick out of this stereotype (besides, we have the original
* here). However, the castle is supposed to look like in 17th century fairy
* tale illustrations. The castle's cellar will house a fire-breathing dragon,
* the one Siegfried fought it out with. The castle was inaugurated this fall to
* a bid media crowd.
 
* Main Street: For all those sentimental souls who miss the Electrical Light
* Parade, it will be / has been moved to Euro Disneyland !
 
Starting at left from here and continuing clockwise, the differents lands are
Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland.
 
Frontierland, which has swapped places with Adventureland, will have a large
paddlewheeler on the 'Rivers of the Far West'. It will be circling Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad, which now seems to be located on an island, or at least part
of it. The Haunted House has moved to Frontierland and now is called 'Phantom
Manor'. The Golden Horseshoe has been renamed to 'Lucky Nugget'. I hope they
have not left out Country Bears, although it is not featured in the brochure
(:-().
 
Adventureland is set against an oriental bazaar. It will contain the Swiss
Family Robinson Treehouse and Captain Hook on Adventure Isle (is the latter
one new ? The painting shows this part like a miniature version of Tom Sawyer
Island, circled by a pirate's ship). Also present are the Pirates of the
Carribean.
 
*
* Adventure Isle: ok, ok, I admit I have never been to DL, California myself
*
 
Fantasyland is still less specific in the brochure. Apart from Small World, it
will have Snow White, Pinocchio and Alice in Wonderland plus the Dumbo, Carousel
and Mad Tea Party rides.
 
Discoveryland replaces Tomorrowland and will more or less be a collection of
future-related goodies from all other Disney parks. There will be StarTours,
Captain EO (sorry  guys, still ... :-)), Autopia and Orbitron. The latter
appears to be the remodelled StarJets. One painting shows a structure like
Space Mountain in the background, although is is not mentioned in the text.
The 360-degree film is called 'Visionarium' and will be based on time travels
with Jules Vernes as the host. There will also be 'Videopolis', the dance club
that is also at DL's Fantasyland.
 
* The 360-deg. film will be a step beyond Circlevision, incorporating Audio-
* Animatronics and a little robot with 9 cameras who is sent 'time-travelling'
* and sends back pictures to the nine theater screens. This was detailed on
* the net already.
 
Languages will be French as primary, with signs bilingual in French/English and
all cast members at least bilingual (this is information from the net).
 
All in all, Euro Disneyland will either start out with less attractions than
the other parks (which I think) or the Disney people are not giving away
everything to keep the surprise (which I hope).
 
HOTELS
 
The EuroDisney Resort will have 5 hotels and a campground, plus a large
entertainment/shopping center. At least two of the hotels (New York and Newport
Bay) and the entertainment center are situated on a waterway. It does not look
large; judging from the brochure, it should be the size of the lake connecting
the Swan/Dolphin hotels and EPCOT.
 
Prices for all Disney accomodations are somewhat stiff. The relation may be
less drastic for France in general or for London hotels, but for the price of
the cheapest EuroDisney room you can book a top hotel throughout the rest of
Europe. I have converted the current FF rates into approximate US$ per room
(2 pers.) and night.
 
The Davy Crockett Campground offers spaces for $53 and Bungalows for $172. The
Cheyenne Hotel is set like a Western Frontier Town, with rooms for $147. In the
same category is the Santa Fe Hotel, with a Southwestern desert setting (you do
remember that the resort will also be open in winter, don't you ?). The Newport
Bay Club will reflect a New England resort, including a lighthouse, while the
Sequoia Lodge will dwell on the theme of US National Park Lodges. Both have
rooms starting at $216 and Suites starting at $333. The Hotel New York will
look like its name implies, with a mini Rockefeller Center skating rink. Rooms
start at $313 and suites at $470. If this still is not luxurious enough,
consider the Disneyland Hotel, built in Victorian style. It should look like
WDW's Grand Floridian and is a real first, as it actually frames the entrance
to the theme park. So now you can have a blast of a time viewing the park at
night or eyeing the waiting lines at the entrance in the morning, right from
your own room. Be prepared to pay dearly for this entertainment, though. Rooms
go for no less than $382 and suites start at $734 (this is still per night).
 
The Sequoia Lodge and the Hotel Santa Fe will not open until June 1992, two
months after EuroDisney is inaugurated. Rates drop generally 30 % in the off
season from November to mid-April (except for a slight increase on weekends
and full rates during Christmas/New Year).
 
There will be a (public) golf course plus other usual resort activities. The
entertainment center will have its own array of themed shops and restaurants
plus night clubs. There will also be separate shows, a Wild West show is
already certain.
 
RESERVATIONS
 
Reservations are now possible for hotel rooms only through EuroDisney Central
Reservations, B.P. 105, 94350 Villiers s/Marne, France. EuroDisney lists
telephone numbers in 16 European languages, but I will just give the ones for
English (33)1.49.41.49.10 and French (33)1.49.41.49.41 here. The operators
can send you more information as well (the English/German one was quite nice).
 
Theme park prices, tickets and combination packages will not be available until
fall. At that time, also a one-night deposit will be collected for all hotel
reservations. There will be special events for the opening, but again, no
information and no booking is available until fall.
 
* ...and hasn't been available when I called again in fall ! I must comment
* that the Reservation Center does seem a bit unorganized as Disney still
* tries to pull its team together. I keep my fingers crossed and hope they
* don't loose my reservation for opening weekend; however, they didn't even
* know what the Magic Kingdom Club was and what to do with my MKC Card number
* so who knows ....
 
---------------------------------- I R S -----------------------------------
Frank Pohlemann       Institut fuer Raumfahrtsysteme, Universitaet Stuttgart
BITNET/PROFS/JNET:    [email protected]                         Germany
****************************************************************************

    Does anyone know if indeed the Disney folks are planning to put a
    fire-breathing dragon beneath Le Chateau del la Belle au Bois Dormant?
    
    I have a source that claims there will be one making his home in a
    "...dark grotto".
    
    Mike

    Mike ,                   
    
    There is now a Michelin Map of EDR. It is a guide to the park and
    costs 19 Francs. 
    
    It shows quite detailed Maps of the site and describes each of the
    attractions.
    
    With some help from a French colleague of mine I have translated the 
    description of "Le Ch�teau de la Belle au Bois Dormant."
    
    We have translated literally rather than using artistic licence, hence
    two things become apparant, the first is that the dragon sounds a little
    tame -(I think he probably is "Fire-breathing") and the second is the 
    English doesn't read very well ( but you'll get the idea.)  
    
     
    Here goes.
    
                       Sleeping Beauty's Castle
    
    Its tall pinnacled towers, from the top of which fly multi-coloured
    flags , overlook the whole of the park.
    Its design is a cross between a fortified castle from the middle ages
    and a Fairytale castle.
    Inside in a large gallery, tapestries and stained glass windows tell
    the story of Sleeping Beauty.
    In the cellar, the dragon may be lying there, asleep... 
    
       ( Dans les souterrains, le dragon semble assoupi...)
    
    It is also true that, Big Thunder Mountain is on an island - the train 
    passing under the Rivers of the Far West.
    
    
    Paul.
    
    With only 18 Weeks to go.

    
    This Morning written confirmation for my booking has arrived. This is
    the request for one nights hotel fee as a deposit. 
    
    It was mailed to me on the 11 December requesting payment returned no
    later than the 14th. I.E. tomorrow.
    
    It is a very computerised style request and has come in an envelope
    which can be used to return the cheque to them. ( All very clever 
    stuff. )
                          
    I have also booked for the Wild West Show and this has been confirmed, 
    however, I still do not know what this cost's. Does anyone else have a 
    clue to this one ? It's for 21:00 on the 18 April. Does this include 
    Dinner or is it just a show ? - and if it does include dinner what kind
    of meal is it ?
                          
    They haven't included any more information , perhaps I'll receive this
    when I come up with the deposit ! 
    
    I am going to stay in the Disneyland Hotel - it's an extremely special
    special treat ! It is very expensive - though I think all the hotels
    are around the opening time. The big thrill is that the room has a view 
    on to the Park. ( The next time it will have to be the Davy Crockett Camp
    Ground !! ) <-- and that's no joke.
    
    Paul. 

    There is now a London phone number to order tickets. 071-287-6558. The
    one day commemorative passports are 20 pounds, you can use these
    anytime from opening onwards, no expiry date. They send them registered
    post so there is a postage charge on top. I ordered 4 tickets and got a
    4 pound postal charge added. I still save 6 pounds against prices
    quoted by tour operators.
    
    We plan to be there on Friday 31st July 1992.
    
    Richard Bell

    On French television at the weekend they showed the inaugural trip,
    round the Park on the Steam Train.
    
    The Carriage was jam packed with all the Disney Characters, which then
    got off on to the platform at what appeared to be the station at
    Fort Wilderness.
    
    The train was manufactured in England and really looks authentic. They
    didn't show much of the Park, which I imagine still looks like a
    building site. Having the whole thing ready and open on the 12th. April
    is the best ever example I have seen of JIT. (Setting the exact date 14
    Months out !) I imagine those Disney people really know how to have
    suppliers all bound up in penalty clauses..
    
    In 67 Day's the dream becomes reality - for me 73 Day's to go.
    
    Paul. 

    Euro Disney does still look like a building site in part.  I saw it on
    a programme on Englishh TV last night.
    
    I guess it must be similar to Disney World, but it didn't really look
    like it...and the castle looked different...
    
    Regards,
    
    Karen

    re: ready and open on the 12th. April
        is the best ever example I have seen of JIT

    Disney, and most good construction project management companies, do
    this quite well. In particular if are many things to do in parallel,
    such as an amusement park. (high-rise office towers are harder because
    you can not open the top-floor without elevators, ...) If one ride is
    not ready, you can still open and earn money.  Disneyland is a good
    example. With X hours left, the plumbers came to Walt and said you can
    have drinking fountains or toilets by opening day but not both. He
    choose, I think, 1) to open with less than perfection and 2) toilets. 
    
    Mike

    Finally watched the (videotaped) item on Euro Disney last night,
    staggered to hear that the Park has cost over �2.2 billion so far.
    It's gonna take a while before they get THAT back.
    
    Co-incidentally, we were visited at home last night by a decorator who 
    is estimating some work for us ... he'd just returned from 9 weeks working
    over there.  Plenty of stories to tell, the most sobering of which was
    that (according to him, and I have no way of knowing if it's accurate), 
    57 workers have died during construction.  
    
    He also mentioned the strict criteria for chosing tradesmen, each
    having to demonstrate a pre-set schedule of skills.  Stories of extreme
    high-standards demanded, even with the hand-printed wallpaper costing over
    �600 a roll, he saw an entire papered ceiling being ripped down and 
    started again because it was slightly off-line.  I asked if he was given 
    any park tickets, but he wasn't.  Previous noters were correct, the penalty
    clauses are 'obscene' to use his own words.  24-hour round the clock
    working is the norm, and he maintained that many of the ride
    'internals' have yet to be put in, which I find hard to believe bearing
    in mind how much testing they'll need to do before opening.
    
    The hype is becoming intense over here, with many adverts on TV.  Some
    of the French people interviewed seemed somewhat resentful of this mass
    'invasion of American culture' (at least I think those were the words).
    The holiday programme showed some costings, and marked it down as
    expensive ... the cheapest on-site stay for a 2-day visit by a 'typical' 
    family of four was I think �440.  The presenter compared the cost of 
    one of the mid to high range hotels as being the same price as a week
    in Florida!  (and I know which I'd choose).
    
    Hoping to be there myself during the last weekend in May to see for
    myself however, on one of the many trips being organised by the various
    DEC S&SC's in the UK, but only if the purse strings allow.
    
    Andy. 
                  

    Mike,
    
    In addition to the Park, there are 6 Hotels all to open on the same
    day. Yes, you can forgo drinking fountains nevertheless, Disney cannot
    risk a bad impression on this one at opening time. I am quite sure they
    won't that's why I marvel at a $3 Billion investment opening on the
    planned date. 
    
    When you open a factory, numbers of employees increase steadily and so 
    does production. O.K. so they are now taking on personnel at a steady 
    rate, nevertheless the 12th. April is a big bang., Imagine the car park
    attendant on the first day when he see's 10,000 car's for the first
    time...                                                                                                                          
    
    Paul.  -71 day's.  

    I can't help thinking that Disney won't be quite the same without all
    that sunshine...the presenter said it was -5 degrees while he was
    there.  Imagine queueing in that sort of temperature?
    
    Anyone any comments?
    
    Karen

    re .54
    
    According to my sources, they are also auditioning current cast members
    in Orlando for stints at Euro-Disney.  So there will be at least some
    folks around who are accustomed to the crowds of an opening day, what
    to expect, and how to handle it.
    
    The key is that in order to work at Euro-Disney, you must speak French. 
    (Speaking Japanese is not a requirement for parts in Tokyo.)
    
    Alison

    
    If there's a better topic for this, feel free to move me, Mr. Mod. !
    
    I'm planning a trip to Euro-D in August, taking the car over to
    Cherbourg and driving down to stay in an off-park hotel just near
    Marne-la-Vallee (?).   
    
    Now, normally, I quite enjoy the challenge of driving around/through
    Paris, but that's on my own (and usually in a hire car, with the
    sterring-wheel on the proper side !)...... with a
    car full of family, and arriving in the evening, I could do without
    getting stuck for a couple of hours on the Peripherique.
    
    Can anyone, perhaps one of our French colleagues, recommend a route 
    that will take me *around* Paris itself, without going too far out of 
    the way ?   Any word on all the road changes that were proposed to 
    accomodate the new park ?
    
    Who's going to be first to visit by car ?    ..and will you be posting
    your experiences here......?
    
    Thanks 
    Ian

    
    -1. Ian, 
    
    Your problem is arriving via Cherbourg, were you to arrive from the
    North (directly) or the South, you wouldn't have to go on to the 
    Peripherique to get round to the East. It really isn't too bad, it's
    like a rather fast and busy North Circular, (just stay in one lane and
    keep looking in the rear mirror..)
    
    Our French colleagues will know better than I - however, generally
    there is no problem around Paris before 08:00 or after 20:00.
    
       *** APRIL 12  Has been confirmed - the OPENING will be at 09:01 ***
    
    French television has a live program that evening on TF1 who appear to
    be promoting Disney very strongly.  Last evening they showed the
    Disney Troupe performing a medley of all the famous tunes in French.
    
    The CD has just been released too - in time for you to brush up on the
    old " C'est un petit, petit Monde ,"
    
    TV advertising has begun too and many products in the stores are
    running competions with trips to EDR, as prizes. 
    
    It would be interesting to know - what other countries are doing to 
    push this.  
    
                                           It's going to FUN eh ?!
    
    
    Paul, - 53 Day's
    

    
    
    
               EXACTLY 1 MONTH TO GO TO THE OPENING 09:01 CET
    
    
    30 DAY's or 719 HOURS
    
    
    Less about 3 Minutes as I've just missed it ! 

    Hi,
    
    After visiting WDW ('87) and WDL ('90) my girlfriend and I just booked
    a 3 days/2nights stay in the Cheyenne Hotel at EDW for APRIL 20-22!!!
    (1992 of course). Guess I'm (one of) the first Deccie('s) to visit EDW
    (?).
    We will be driving down form Holland to France *very* early
    mondaymorning the 20th (it's a 600 km drive) to be sure that we don't
    end up in a trafficjam.
    Of course you can expect a tripreport (and driving directions)
    
    Any other DEC employees around at EDW during this period (it's a small
    world after all..!)
    
    Bye,
    
    Hans 

	 Sorry Hans, after visiting WDW in October 90 the Disney bug 
         bit hard.

	 My wife, two children and I are booked into the Hotel 
         Cheyenne for the 12th and 13th April, so we will be there for 
         opening day!

	 We are ferrying over from England on the 9th, staying between       
         Paris and Eurodisney for three nights so we can visit Paris 
         before moving on to Euro Disney early on the 12th.

	 Claude, is there going to be a separate Trip Report section 
         for Euro Disney?

	 Expect a Trip report just after Easter!

	 Last Monday (16th) there was some film of Euro Disney on a 
         Holiday program. The bits shown looked finished, fantastic 
         and working (the train, Big Thunder Mountain, etc had the 
         compere riding on them).

	 A week or two back there was an article in one of the papers 
         complaining about a news blackout/clamp down by Euro Disney. 
         I guess this is all part of the build up. Scottish TV (who 
         produce the Disney Club TV program) are scheduled to do a 
         live show from the resort on the opening day.

    Rep to <<< Note 10.61 by BRUMMY::WARWICK >>>

>	 Claude, is there going to be a separate Trip Report section 
>         for Euro Disney?

    No topic  290 and all the previous years trip report topics for for all
    the Disney Resorts  that  were  operating at the time, see extract from
    290 specificaly the 3rd paragraph below.
  
----  
    Tell us all about the trip.    What's  new  in  the park?  What's being
    built?  What's open and what's closed?  How were the crowds?  What went
    well, and what didn't?  Did you see the Mouse?  
    
    Don't leave out any details.  We need to know.  We need our fix. 
    
    Please place  the  Disney  resort you visited in the title, ie WDW, DL,
    TDL or ED along with any other useful info
----
    
    Claude    

    Well, Hans,,
    
    You're beaten again. I'm claiming second place - unless of course, when
    you're reading this you know differently...
    
    Following WDW '86 and DL '88 - We are booked at the Disneyland Hotel on
    April 18th. and April 19th (Easter Weekend). We've also booked for the
    Wild West Show at the modest (?) price of 300 French Francs ($55) per
    head. 
    
    I'll certainly tell you all about it. Interesting pre-reading is the
    Michelin Map of the resort as this allows you to route plan before your
    visit.
    
    Publicity in France, has reduced a little bit - however, French
    television are showing the opening live and indeed showing a 2 Hour
    Program live from the Park that evening. 
    
    
    Paul.
    

    You've all got me!! But I hope we all have a nice time overthere!
    
    Lots of fun.
    
    Hans

    Following was taken from the April 1992 issue of QST Magazine. The  
    cover shows Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto, holding radio antennae
    and standing next to Space Mountain. My husband says this is the 
    first time I have ever opened a copy of his radio magazine! 
    
    The Disney ARC's will operate the following stations 0000Z April 4
    to 2400Z April 5 to commemorate the opening of the Euro Disney Resort
    in Paris, France:
    
            N6MM from Disneyland in Anaheim, California
            W6RO from the Queen Mary and the Spruce Goose Entertainment
                 Center in Long Beach, California
            JL1YZB from Tokyo Disneyland
            TM6MM from the Radio Club de St. Maur in Paris
    
    Frequencies will be 14.250mHz, 21.325mHz, and 28.450mHz.
    
    For QSL, send QSL with QSO number and SASE to:
    
                 Disneyland ARC
                 Box 3232
                 Anaheim, California 92803
    
    
    Best of luck to anyone who tries to make a contact.
    
    
    Linda

    
    Important message for anyone with a booking made direct with
    EuroDisney. You can now contact them with a Magic Kingdom Club card
    number and they will take note of this and reduce the cost accordingly. 
    
    Well there's a piece of good news Eh ?
    
    Paul.       

    
    I'll try not to brag here, but I returned from EuroDisney last week
    after attending a preview for American Express employees. It cost 
    me only 40 quid, including transport there and back, a free pass and
    a night in the Cheyenne hotel.
    
    I'll put a full report in note 290 as soon as possible, but if you've
    any specific questions please mail me.
    
    For know I'll say it was amazing, all rides worked and I want to go
    again.
    
    	Chris
             

    CBS will  be  having a Euro-Disney Opening day celebration special this
    Saturday (April 11th) at 8pm.
    
    Claude

    
    Does anybody happen to know, whether it is to be :
    
    a.) Mickey $
    
    b.) Mickey ECU
    
    c.) Mickey Francs
    
    Judging by some of the prices, it would appropriately be : Mickey Yen :-)
    
    
    Paul.

    The following is output of the DowVision (TM) test system under
    development, contact SDSVAX::SWEENEY for more information.

Copyright � Dow Jones & Co. 1992
Source: Wall Street Journal
Headline: 
Major Attraction:
  As Euro Disney Braces
  For Its Grand Opening,
  The French Go Goofy
  ---
  Park Was Specially Crafted
  To Appeal to Europeans,
  But There's Still No Wine
  ---
  With Belle au Bois Dormant
  ----
  By Richard Turner and Peter Gumbel
  Staff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal
Time: Apr 10 1992 2128



Story: 
  MARNE-LA-VALLEE, France -- A few days before this Sunday's grand opening of 
Euro Disney, hundreds of French visitors invited to a pre-opening party gazed, 
perplexed, at what was placed before them.
  It was a heaping plate of spareribs. The visitors were at the Buffalo Bill 
Wild West Show, a cavernous theater featuring a panoply of "Le Far West," 
including 20 imported live buffaloes. And Disney deliberately didn't provide 
silverware.
  "There was a moment of consternation," recalls Robert Fitzpatrick, Euro 
Disney's president. "Then they just kind of said, `The hell with it,' and dug 
in." One problem: The guests couldn't master the art of gnawing ribs and 
applauding at the same time. So Disney will provide more napkins -- and teach 
visitors to stamp their feet.
  For all the grumbling about "cultural imperialism," France is swallowing its 
pride and embracing Mickey and his pals in a very big way. The $3.9 billion 
Euro Disney theme park and resort complex, built on sugar-beet and sunflower 
fields 20 miles east of Paris, is one of Europe's largest construction 
projects. At a time when other grandiose real-estate schemes are collapsing, 
the park marks an extraordinary triumph of commerce over ideology. For it is 
the French state that is assuming the bulk of the financial risk -- far more 
than even Disney itself.
  The U.S. company has put up a paltry $160 million of its own capital to fund 
the project, an investment whose value has swelled to $2.4 billion after a 
popular stock offering in Europe. French national and local authorities, by 
comparison, are providing about $800 million in low-interest loans and pouring 
at least that much again into infrastructure. Two freeway exits recently were 
completed, a suburban train line connecting to the Paris Metro is just steps 
from the park's entrance, and a high-speed rail line will open in 1994. The 
French government was so eager to please Disney that it even provided cheap 
land and gave Disney a tax break on ticket sales.
  "We've had less problems in France than we had in Long Beach," says Walt 
Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner. Disney recently walked away from a 
possible $3 billion theme park in Long Beach, Calif., leaving city officials 
in a crossfire of recriminations about the loss. The park here moved from 
design to opening in six years.
  Some French intellectuals continue to be outraged. "I wish with all my heart 
that rebels would set fire to Disneyland," thundered one in the French 
newspaper Le Figaro, which this week devoted a special supplement to 
anti-Disney outpourings. Mickey Mouse, sniffed another, "is stifling 
individualism and transforming children into consumers.'
  But the Socialist government, long the darling of the very same 
intellectuals who are denouncing the project, is battling a 10% unemployment 
rate. It knows Disney will create tens of thousands of badly needed jobs, both 
on and off the site, and attract many other investors to the depressed 
outskirts of Paris. International Business Machines Corp. and Banque National 
de Paris are among those already building in the area. One of the new 
buildings going up is a factory that will employ 400 outside workers to wash 
the 50 tons of laundry a day generated by Euro Disney's 14,000 employees.
  Thousands of Europeans are spending this week of pre-opening festivities 
swarming over the park and resort complex, happily scarfing down fast food, 
snapping up pricey Disney merchandise and gazing in wonderment, oblivious to a 
chilling wind. And rather than charging onto rides as they might at the U.S. 
parks, the visitors meander and gape at what Disney's designers call 
"layering."
  And the layering, in this country of actual Gothic and medieval 
embellishment, is remarkable. Disney's "Imagineering" design unit has 
seemingly textured every bit of walkway with brickwork and tilework. Empty 
spaces are stuffed with props. Euro Disney is so extravagantly detailed that 
in many ways it makes Disney's parks in Florida and California look like penny 
arcades.
  The lavishness must be hard to swallow for the notoriously cost-conscious 
Mr. Eisner, but as the largest project in his eight-year reign at Disney, Euro 
Disney reflects his quest to emulate Walt Disney himself and replicate what he 
calls Mr. Disney's "maniacal sense of detail." He personally ordered the 
installation of 35 fireplaces in hotel lobbies and restaurants, ordered a 
$200,000 staircase removed two weeks ago for blocking a view, and assembled a 
staff of architects that designed oddities like a salad bar in the bed of an 
old pickup truck.
  "When Walt went beyond the carnival to create Disneyland, he made a big step 
because {the attractions} told a story" says Mickey Steinberg, executive vice 
president of Imagineering. "This is a more sophisticated story."
  And Europeans are responding, despite recession. "We believe it's a market 
that's going to be incredibly successful this year," says Jane Shaw, head of 
marketing for the British tour operator Airtours. It already has sold 70% of 
its allocated Disney tickets and hotel space for the year.
  Disney expects 11 million visitors in the park's first year. The break-even 
point is estimated at between seven million and eight million. One worry had 
been that Euro Disney would cannibalize the flow of European tourists to Walt 
Disney World in Florida, but European travel agents say their customers still 
are eagerly signing up for Florida, lured by cheap dollars and the promise of 
sunshine.
  Disney owns 49% of Euro Disneyland SCA, the operating company for the park, 
through a complex arrangement that leaves 51% publicly traded in Europe. 
Disney is expected to get a major financial boost in the next few years from 
its interest here.
  One analyst, Margo L. Vignola of Salomon Brothers, estimates that the park 
will pull in three million to four million more visitors than the 11 million 
the company expects the first year. At that level, she says, in the first six 
months Euro Disneyland SCA would contribute $75.5 million, or 27 cents a 
share, to Disney's net income for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. She 
projects total net income this year for Walt Disney of $864.5 million, or 
$6.50 a share.
  In fiscal 1993, the first full year of Euro Disneyland operations, Ms. 
Vignola estimates that Disney's operating income from the park will be $145 
million -- about 13% of the total operating income worldwide from theme park 
and resort operations, which is by far the largest segment at Walt Disney Co. 
By fiscal 1994, she figures Euro Disney operations will contribute 96 cents a 
share to Disney net income.
  Disney's chief concern here is the weather. "People walk around Disney World 
in Florida with humidity and temperature in the 90s and they walk into an 
air-conditioned ride and say, `This is the greatest,'" says Mr. Eisner. "Here, 
when it's raining and miserable, I hope they'll walk into one of these lobbies 
with the fireplace going and say the same thing. For all I know, it could be 
snowing Sunday."
  The key to attendance growth is getting people to come to the park in the 
winter months, when fixed costs still are high, says John Forsgren, Euro 
Disney's chief financial officer. Despite the weather, Disney chose this site 
over sunnier Spain because of its proximity to Paris, the tourist capital of 
Europe. Many European tour operators are selling packages that combine visits 
to both. And while the idea of using a Euro Disney hotel as a home base from 
which to visit the City of Light seems bizarre, hotel prices -- though steep 
-- are competitive with those in Paris.
  "When people come to Disney, we hope they might find an afternoon off to 
visit Paris," Samir Naessany, a French banker closely involved in financing 
the project, says with a wry smile.
  Mr. Eisner admits to one other nagging worry: politics. Disney has already 
had a taste of that. A few of its major contractors kicked up a fuss earlier 
this year, complaining that they weren't being paid for extra work. Most of 
the disputes have since been settled. But Communist labor unions are 
threatening "a surprise" for the opening, probably a strike by subway workers.
  Still, the French are clearly on Disney's side, and part of Disney's secret 
is Mr. Fitzpatrick, whose job it is to mollify the French. Urbane, married to 
a French woman and fluent in the language, Mr. Fitzpatrick previously ran the 
California Institute of the Arts and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Festival. 
While Disney executives in the U.S. play hardball, negotiating and litigating 
mercilessly, Mr. Fitzpatrick wines and dines the French establishment, and 
even pals around with the very intellectuals who are savaging Disney.
  Mr. Eisner himself made periodic visits to the continent, dragged employees 
around Europe, rode roller coasters in existing parks and visited public 
places like Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. After a trip to Strasbourg and its 
cathedral's famous clock, Mr. Eisner set Disney designers working on a Mickey 
Mouse clock to rival it. The clock now tops the centerpiece hotel.
  Everywhere is what, in Imagineering-speak, is called "museum-like 
interface." There are no blank walls or empty spaces, to avoid "no-man's lands 
with no meaning," says Tony Baxter, Imagineering's senior vice president for 
creative development. Disney won't say so, but the reference is to the 
company's gargantuan and sometimes impersonal Disney World. Built after Walt 
Disney died, it since has undergone what Disney calls "retrofitting." Says Mr. 
Baxter: "The French demanded more depth and sophistication. They regard 
America as on the shallow side."
  But Euro Disney is determinedly American in theme, and Mr. Eisner hewed the 
line on traditional Disney values. There's an alcohol ban in the park despite 
an attitude among Frenchmen that wine with a meal is a God-given right. When 
designers presented a plan for a Main Street U.S.A. based on scenes of 1920s 
America, because research indicated Europeans loved the Prohibition Era, Mr. 
Eisner decreed that images of gangsters and speak-easies were too negative. 
Main Street, though made more ornate and Victorian than Walt Disney's 
idealized Midwestern small town, remains Main Street.
  The familiar Disney Tomorrowland, with its dated images of the space-age 
1950s, has been jettisoned entirely, replaced by a gleaming wood-and-brass 
complex called Discoveryland, based on themes of Jules Verne and Leonardo da 
Vinci. Mr. Eisner ordered $8 million to $10 million in extras to the 
"Visionarium" exhibit, a 360-degree movie about French culture required by the 
French in their original contact.
  The designers strived to avoid competing with the nearby European reality of 
actual medieval towns, cathedrals and chateaux. While Disneyland's castle is 
based on Germany's Neuschwanstein and Disney World's is based on a Loire 
Valley chateau, Euro Disney's Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant -- as the 
French insisted that Sleeping Beauty be called -- is more cartoon-like, with 
stained glass windows built by English craftsman and depicting Disney 
characters. Fanciful trees grow inside and a beanstalk is out back.
  "Otherwise," says Imagineering President Martin Sklar, "we'd be bringing 
coals to Newcastle."
  Despite talk of cultural differences, the only real cultural difference, Mr. 
Eisner joked at a news conference last year, is "we'll be taking out French 
francs." And although some analysts are cautioning that the stock price of 
both Walt Disney Co. and Euro Disney already contain all the Eurooptimism they 
can absorb, Disney has built-in management incentive fees that steeply 
escalate as certain cash flow targets are reached.
  Other sources of funding at Euro Disney are the park's 12 corporate 
sponsors, and Disney is paying them back in kind. The "Autopolis" ride, where 
kids drive cars, features coupes emblazoned with the "Hot Wheels" logo. Mattel 
Inc., sponsor of the ride, is grateful for the boost to one of its biggest toy 
lines. And Disney isn't missing opportunities to advertise itself: "The Little 
Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast" attractions are planned, and Adventureland 
boasts "L'Echoppe d'Aladin," foreshadowing this year's upcoming animated 
feature, "Aladdin."
  Children all over Europe are primed to consume. Even one of the 
intellectuals who contributed to Le Figaro's Disney-bashing broadsheet this 
week was forced to admit with resignation that his 10-year-old son "swears by 
Michael Jackson." And at Euro Disney, under the name "Captain EO," Disney just 
so happens to have a Michael Jackson attraction waiting.

    There is a special on TV this Sunday night I think about the grand
    opening festivities (for those who WON'T be there...)
    
    Check your local listing
    
    -sandy
    

>    There is a special on TV this Sunday night I think about the grand
>    opening festivities (for those who WON'T be there...)

Er, that's TONIGHT (Saturday), 8:00 (Eastern), CBS, hosted by Don Johnson and
Melanie Griffith.  Ooh, ah.  

							-- Nina

    Not sure how that came over in the US, but here in the UK it was 
    " a number of showbiz people fly a long way to play just one number
    in front of the Chateau, with fireworks and a few movie clips."
    I think we actually got to see more of the park itself on the various
    travel shows...... 
    
    Still, at least we got to see Tina Turner performing (you should pardon
    the expression !) with Mickey..... a Clash of the Icons if ever such
    there was !
    
    Plus the ribbon-cutting itself, and some rather irritating linkage by
    the Uk presenters.
    
    How was it in other countries ?
    
    Ian
    
    ps... the papers this morning said that 250,000 people were expected to
    try and get to day 1....too bad the park can only hold 60,000 !
    Still, the French labour unions reacted promptly to the crisis, and
    called a strike for more money to drive trains to ED......;-))
    
    

     The opening day at Euro-Disney appears to have been rather a flop. 
     Live shots from the park showed it to be rather empty. Only 10% of 
     the projected half million crowd showed up. By mid morning virtually 
     no one was entering the park. The cold weather did not help.
     
     Robin from Warrington

    Rep to <<< Note 10.74 by WOTVAX::KAYR >>>

>     The opening day at Euro-Disney appears to have been rather a flop. 
>     Live shots from the park showed it to be rather empty. Only 10% of 
>     the projected half million crowd showed up. By mid morning virtually 
>     no one was entering the park. The cold weather did not help.

    Hmmm,  the  pictures  I saw on CNN yesterday (at least I thought it was
    CNN, while  flipping  through  the  channels)  showed some rather large
    crowds in front of the Castle watching a character show.
    
    Gawd I wished they  didn't  use Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith as the
    host for Saturdays  night  Grand  Opening telecast, they SUCKED!!!!!!!!
    Even Regis Philbin would have  been  a  hell  of alot better then these
    two unemotional duds, but I gues he's  busy  doing the tapings for this
    coming Sunday's Easter Parade from WDW.
    
    And speaking of goofs, who ever taught Micheal Eisner French should get
    an  F, boy did Mike screw up the French pronounciation of what  he  was
    saying when he cut the ribbon.  Gee maybe he should of Lip-sinked  like
    the  rest  of  the  preformers,  at  least he could of used a tape with
    better pronounciation.
    
    Claude
    

    Euro-Disney doesn't seem to be going down well in the British press
    today.  The following is copied (without permission) from the Daily
    Mail:
    
    "...the Disney idea of of a good day, unlike good French wined, does
    not really travel well.  They [Disney] had invited the world and his
    wife to take part in the biggest party the French have seen since Marie
    Antoinette misplaced her head.  They intended to come to Europe, be
    seen and conquer.
    
    Unfortunately the culture shock was proving all too mutual.  The
    French, who can give masterclasses in bloody-mindedness, have already
    described this vast, vulgar fun land as 'a cultural Chernobyl'.  They
    have complained about everything from the corruption of their treasured
    language to the fact that the fun park will not serve alcohol with any
    meals in its myriad restaurants.
    
    When challenged about complaints from the French intellectuals, who
    have thrown up their hands in horror at Mickey's invasion, Disney
    chairman and chief executive Michael Eisner replied blandly: 'The
    only opposition here has come from the communists.  As for
    intellectuals, I haven't met any'.  When your life is dedicated to
    selling fantasy, you are bound to lose touch with reality."
    
    Regards,
    
    Karen

    I forgot that Disney was running a special on the opening of Euro
    Disney.  Did anyone tape it and if so would they mind if I borrowed
    it?
    
    Thanks
    Carole
    

    	I liked Eisner's response to the critism.  He said something to
    the effect of the intellectuals won't be complaining when they bring
    their kids and they have a great time.  It's a shame that, while the
    majority of Europeans have no problem with the park and in fact welcome
    it, that only the psuedo-intellectual snobbery makes the news.  In a 
    year or two, the remarks that are in the news now will be forgotten and
    Euro-Disney will be a top attraction in Europe bringing in a hefty
    revenue for the area.  In fact, if you'll remember, there were many of
    the same remarks back when Walt announced his plans for Florida.  The
    only difference was that those were, "we'll lose our ruralness and
    identity as an area" remarks as opposed to the cultural remarks in
    France.
    
    Tom

    In my best Fringlish, Je Declare E_D officialment ouvert, and with
    those immortal words from Mr.Eisner, so it came to pass,.
    
    From my own point of view, I'm happy - I'll be there on Saturday and
    Sunday and judging by the crowds won't have too much of a problem !!
    The French T.V. wandered around a deserted FrontierLand - and then
    moved on to Main Street for an ice cream ( put it this way their was no 
    queue ) Anyway, I'll let you know after I've been...
    
    The key to this for me is the Weather, it's funny in just a weekend my
    view that Disney would be able to sustain the Park attendence, through
    the FIVE winter months has changed. It begins to make you wonder if
    it shouldn't have been Barcelona. Just like Florida, people may have
    been keener on a short winter break to the Costa Brava for the Sun (to a
    Cold Cloudy weekend in Paris.) 
    
    Before I become too gloomy, I'll find out next weekend what the level
    of fill looks like for the summer months and let you stock holders
    know...
    
    The T.V. show in France was much the same as elsewhere - our presenter's, 
    one middle age chap, Jean-Pierre Foucault and with him, David Halladay 
    who didn't really seem interested in anything except himself. There really
    did seem to be a problem as to whom E_D  is being pitched at.
    
    Macdonalds is sold to Children - to whom do you sell Disney ? Certainly, 
    the coverage and the presenters at the weekend didn't seem to know.
    
    I guess we'll find out in the coming months - I'll let you know how
    my trip at the weekend goes.
    
    Paul. 

>    Gawd I wished they  didn't  use Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith as the
>    host for Saturdays  night  Grand  Opening telecast, they SUCKED!!!!!!!!
>    Even Regis Philbin would have  been  a  hell  of alot better then these
>    two unemotional duds, but I gues he's  busy  doing the tapings for this
>    coming Sunday's Easter Parade from WDW.


    My wife and I totaly agree with your critique of Saturdays Grand Opening.
    Melanie Griffith had the personality of a stone.

    As a matter of fact we thought that the entire two hours was poorly done.
    Did you see Cher?  We wanted to see more of the park then entertainment.  
    Course since we are just going for our first time we were curious to see the
    park.

    Ken

    
    RE : The Melanie Griffinth / Don Johnson debacle
    
    	The reason that these two duds ended up as hosts of the Euro
    Disneyland opening is that Disney is hoping turn these two into a
    latter day Tracy-and-Hepburn. Last year, they were teamed in the
    less-than-successful Hollywood Picture, " Paradise. " Later this
    summer, Disney will reteam them -- along with John Goodman -- in 
    a remake of " Born Yesterday. " ( Yes -- and if you listen carefully --
    you can hear Judy Holiday and Brodrick Crawford spinning in their
    graves ... )
    
    	This soon-to-be-making-a-movie-for-the-Mouse reasoning was also
    why you saw Eddie Murphy waving to crowds as he rolled up Main Street
    U.S.A. Eddie will make his Disney film debut in " A Distinguished Gentle-
    man " ( Also a Hollywood Pictures release, or so I'm told ) this fall.
    
    	Getting back to Melanie and Don, it amazes me -- with ALL the
    talented performers that have worked for Disney over the years -- 
    that these two half-talents were who Eisner opted to tap for the
    American feed of the Euro Disney opening special. Surely someone like
    Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews or Angela Lansbury would have been a
    better choice. At least they would be pros and showed some real
    excitement about being there for the opening of this fabulous new 
    park.
    
    	But -- given that all that we " Yanks " got was deadly dull Don 
    and Moronic Melanie -- I guess Eisner doesn't think too many Americans
    will be making the trek across the Atlantic to check out the new park.
    A stupid assumption.
    
    	In short, I think that the park -- as well as we, the viewers --
    deserved better. 

There was a rather telling comment in the paper yesterday, which may explain
the rather negative attitude of the press to the "Grande Ouverture"....

..it seems that the press-badges they were given specifically *excluded* them 
from the concert arena, thus obliging them to wander around the park in the
dark while the paying guests got to see the show..."after all, you're 
supposed to be reporting on EuroDisney....."

Ian
(16 weeks, 4 days!)

    
       Re 80,81
    
      The EuroDisney special in the USA was pretty bad but, it was exactly
     what I expected.  I have noticed a trend in the Disney specials of the 
     last 3 years.  They seem to be showing much less of the theme parks,
     and much more of what (they feel) are current popular musical groups
     or actors.  Don't get me wrong, they have always done this kind of
     thing but now they are taking it too far.  In the 70's to 80's I can't
     ever remember watching a Disney theme park special without wanting to
     pick up the phone and make my reservation as the closing credits were
     rolling.  Well, all I can say is not anymore.  These specials do not
     even show me enough of the parks to hold my interest, much less make
     me want to go.  I always thought the intention of these things was to
     make you want to go see for yourself.  
    
                                      -Rob
    
    

    Rep to <<< Note 10.83 by STRATA::ROBROSE >>>

>      The EuroDisney special in the USA was pretty bad but, it was exactly
>     what I expected.  
    
    Yup I have to agree with you on this and your reasons.
    
    But what  I  didn't  EXPECT  from watching this is that the wife is now
    talking about driving  down  next summer for a couple of weeks.  HMMMMM
    maybe I should make sure she watches this Sundays Easter parade. ;^)
    
    Claude

    I agree with everyone on Johnson & Griffith.
    
    We are use to seeing someone like Regis or Joan Lunden or what-is-name
    who was hyping for Disney Channel subscribers this past weekend.
    
    I think the purpose of the show was mainly to announce the opening of
    Euro-Disney and I think it may have pleased the majority of viewers.
    
    The hard-core Disneyholics, and you know who you are, would have only
    been satisfied with a detail tour of the entire resort. They had a time
    limit (although 2 hours sounds like a lot of time) so they could only 
    glean over most of the park, et al.
    
    I expect this Sunday's Easter show will promote Spectro-Magic, The
    Surprise Parade and SPlash Mountain in TMK, Surprise in the Skies at
    EC, and Muppet 3-D (or did they do that last year), The Little Mermaid
    Show, and the B&TB stage show at MGM.
    
    I figure we may also get a peak at Dixie Landings, The Vacation Club,
    and maybe a golf course or two.
    
    Mike

Whats-his-name == Alan Thicke

Do I win the weekend in Orlando????
		Nigel

    The following is output of the DowVision (TM) test system under
    development, contact SDSVAX::SWEENEY for more information.

Copyright � Dow Jones & Co. 1992
Source: Wall Street Journal
Headline: Despite Strike, Euro Disney  Opens A 'Oui' World Afterall
Time: Apr 13 1992 0921

Story: 
  By David J. Jefferson
  MARNE-LA-VALLE, France -- The trains weren't running from Paris because of a 
strike, and visitors who did make it here were greeted by a small band of 
protesters calling Mickey Mouse a greedy rat.
  But none of that seemed to put a damper on the christening of Walt Disney 
Co.'s $3.9 billion theme park and resort here yesterday, an event Chairman 
Michael D. Eisner described as "all in all the most successful opening we've 
ever had."
  But the crowds were noticeably lighter than on a busy day at Disney's U.S. 
theme parks, The Wall Street Journal reported. The waits for most attractions 
were no longer than 15 minutes. Eisner maintained that "we are doing exactly 
as we hoped to do," But he declined to give out exact attendance figures for 
the day, citing company policy against it. He did give one measure, however, 
saying it was "so busy my mother got stuck at the front gate and never got 
through" to watch him dedicate the park. Disney has said it expects 11 million 
visitors in the first year.
  Clearly, many would-be visitors had been scared away when French officials, 
fearing nightmarish traffic jams, went on the air the day before to discourage 
them from coming to the park. There had been some estimates in the local press 
that 100,000 cars would jam the roads and Euro Disney would be busting at the 
seams with half a million visitors. In the end, only a fraction showed up, in 
part because of the rail strike that cut off the one mass-transit artery 
linking Euro Disney with Paris.
  Indeed, the hyper-courteousness and ever-present smiles found at the other 
Disney theme parks are here, too. That came in particularly handy as workers 
had to placate dignitaries and reporters this weekened when computer and other 
problems made checking into the Disney hotels or even receiving telephone 
messages a major endeavor.
  But if it is to succeed, the theme park must please the Europeans, who are 
shelling out about $40 each for admission. That's about equal to Walt Disney 
World in Florida and $12.50 more than Disneyland in California. "We are proud 
of what we've done at Euro Disney. But you will have to be the ultimate judge 
and jury," Eisner told the crowd yesterday. The jury is still out, but Disney 
officials were encouraged yesterday as many visitors emerged from the rides 
applauding.
  The company is already forging ahead with a movie-studio theme park here 
similar to its Disney-MGM Studios in Florida. Construction will begin next 
month, and the park is set to open in the spring of 1995, Disney officials 
said.

    
    Did anyone hear about the bomb that exploded shortly before the
    opening of Euro-Disney.?
    
    Apparantly one of the electricity pylons close to the park was
    demolished and plastic explosives was found on another. As far
    as I know no one has claimed resposibility and the whole thing 
    has been kept very quiet. The actual opening of disney was not
    affected in any way.
    
    Any Comments.
    
    	Chris
    

 >>>But if it is to succeed, the theme park must please the Europeans, who are 
>>>shelling out about $40 each for admission. That's about equal to Walt Disney 
>>>World in Florida and $12.50 more than Disneyland in California. 


How do other prices compare ?

For instance, FF300 (about �30 or $50) for an adult at Buffalo
Bill's WW show...... how does this relate to prices at the other parks? 

Ian
(revising my "holiday-spending-money" estimates...)

    Several papers following the opening made the point that 'like for 
    like', you could have a week in Orlando for the same as a long 
    weekend at Euro-Disney, and my info tends to bear that out. Sure 
    you can get a trip for �150, but when you realise that you are 
    sleeping on the coach, or in an economy hotel in Paris, and 
    usually only get 1 day at ED... well, it ain't for me!
    
    Prices are about average for the area, but I've always felt that 
    France is expensive except for good food and wine, and you don't 
    get either at ED.
    
    However, we will probably check it out later this year (After all, 
    it's my duty as a moderator, isn't it?). It sounds like our TV 
    coverage of the opening wasn't much better than the US version, 
    lots of coverage of the stars and very little of the Park itself.
    Michael Eisner's mangling of the French language won't have helped 
    the relationship too much either!
    
    The Disney Club coverage on Sunday Morning was much better, and 
    got me quite excited. Some of the rides looked very familiar, but 
    newer and brighter (eg. Pirates), but others looked completely 
    different (eg Haunted Mansion). Big Thunder looked obviously 
    longer and bigger, and there seemed to be much more space 
    everywhere. The lack of crowds helped this impression, but the 
    area in front of the castle looked big enough for a ball game.
    
    Until the shows, I'd tended to dismiss it as just a recycled WDW 
    MK with nothing new for the Disneyholics, but I now think I could 
    spend a couple of days there without being disappointed. I might 
    have to go just for a fix of ELP, if Spectromagic doesn't meet 
    expectations!
    
    Mike

    Well, yippieeeee - It's my turn on Saturday, Sunday & Monday. 2 Nights
    at the Disneyland Hotel, the Wild West Show, Character Breakfast et al.
    
    The only thing for certain, is that we will come back drained !
    (Financially, if not otherwise) As to whether we could have gone to
    Florida for a week for the same price, well infairness not quite.
    
    We booked on April 2nd. 1991 and since then the price has come down 10%
    with use of the MKC Card. Of the packages, that have been advertised,
    so far, it still seems better to arrange everything yourself and book
    direct with EDR. Though this will probably change in the coming months.
    
    Despite having been to WDW'86 and DL'88 - I've never had, Dole (Sp.) Whip 
    and having read so much about it in this conference, I am hoping to try 
    it out !!
    
    Trip report Soooooon.
    
    Paul.
      

Article: 7292
From: [email protected] (Dave J.)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Review of EuroDisney (Long)
Date: 17 Apr 92 15:25:38 GMT
Sender: [email protected] (News system)
Organization: Massachvsetts Institvte of Technology
 
Ok, here is the first review of Parc EuroDisney that I've seen on the
newsgroup.  I'm covering a lot of topics here, which means a long
posting.  Throughout, I add personal thoughts and observations of my
own; it's your task to separate these from actual facts.  I went to
WDW quite a lot last year, so all of my comparisons will be to that
resort.  All prices are given in French Francs (FF).  The exchange
rate is currently 5.2FF = 1US$.
 
Pre-Opening:
 
The Parc was open to about 40,000 invited guests for a few days before
the official opening.  That is where all the video clips came from
that were shown in the CBS special on the 11th (yes, before the
official opening).  I attempted to get in to that evening ceremony -
fat chance.  I watched the fireworks from my hotel, and the ceremony
on French TV.  Yes, Mr. Eisner mangled his French accent.
 
Opening day (April 12, 1992):
 
I arrived (by car) at 7:00 a.m., and joined a mile-long line of cars
at the entrance.  They didn't open the parking lot until 7:45.  The
French have not learned (yet) how to form a queue.  Anyone who has
been to WDW knows that the parking lot is filled in a very orderly
fashion, each car fitting into a specific spot, one after another.
Many French cars decided that they should knock over the cones and
drive diagonally through the lot to beat the cars following the queue.
This caused some problems, naturally.  Parking is 30FF per day, 50FF
for campers.
 
There are no trams to bring people to the ticket counters, just a
moving sidewalk.  One then has to walk a fair distance, past Festival
Disney (similar to Pleasure Island) and the Metro Station.  There was
a Metro strike that day, so the only way in was walking or driving.
One rumor I heard was that Disney closed the station themselves, in
order to reduce the chances of "just anyone" riding up to the entrance
and causing trouble.  There were a lot of security guards everywhere -
I think terrorism was thought to be a possibility.
 
I had bought my tickets a month in advance, so I went right past the
massive crowd waiting to buy them.  Immediately, lots of people
followed me, and were upset when they weren't allowed in - Lemming
Effect, I guess.  I got into a crowd (queues do not exist in France)
waiting to go through the turnstiles to Main Street when the Parc
opened.  Tickets are 225FF/day, 550FF for three.  There is also a
two-day rate, but I can't remember it.
 
Due to the crowd size, they opened the turnstiles at 8:20.  EuroDisney
uses credit card tickets, with magnetic stripes - supposedly to make
entry easier.  Unfortunately, half of the machines jammed immediately,
causing the crowd to start running to the turnstiles which *did* work.
They fixed the jam in about fifteen minutes.
 
Half of the Parc was roped off for the opening ceremonies and parade.
The public was not admitted to the opening ceremony (ribbon cutting),
and we were encouraged to visit the Parc, rather than attempt to watch
the parade.  It's kind of understandable, given the number of people
flooding in, but I would have liked to have seen the ceremony.  So
would have about 50,000 others.
 
All in all, everything seemed to proceed fairly smoothly.  I did not
stay in a Disney hotel, and from talking to people the first day, it
was a good thing.  Apparently, Disney reservations was a royal mess,
with rooms being double booked and reservations lost or incomplete.  I
hope they fix that one soon.
 
Everyone who went opening day got a commemorative pin.  They also had
other inaugural items for sale, which will not be produced again after
the first batch is sold.  Most items were sold by the end of the first
day.
 
EuroDisney hours are 9-9 daily, 9-11 weekends.  The Electric Light
Parade (on loan from WDW) runs only on weekends at 9:00 p.m.  I don't
know if fireworks will be done on weekends; they are not used during
the week - probably due to complaints by local residents.  Those same
residents have been complaining about the train whistle from the train
which runs around the Parc.
 
Parc EuroDisney:
 
The Parc itself is modeled after the other Magic Kingdoms.  Sleeping
Beauty Castle is in the center, Main Street is the entrance.
Clockwise from Main Street are: Frontierland, Adventureland,
Fantasyland and Discoveryland.  The attractions seem to be mostly from
the Magic Kingdom, with some Epcot and MGM Studios thrown in.  I am
working from memory, so if I miss an attraction below, someone will
remind me, I'm sure.
 
Main Street:
This is mostly the same, but City Hall is on the wrong side.  In fact,
most things seem to be mirror imaged from WDW.  Shops and restaurants
are similar, and very American - Ragtime is always being played
through the loudspeakers.
 
Phantom Manor:
This is the Haunted Mansion.  The house is modeled after the one in
"Psycho", and is really well done.  The ride is mostly the same, with
some detail changes, and a different order to things inside.  There is
no running commentary during the ride, and (I think) Vincent Price did
the commentary in the elevator down.
 
Thunder Mountain:
The mountain itself is an island in the lagoon.  The ride starts in a
tunnel which runs under the lagoon, then runs about on the island, and
finishes by returning through another tunnel.  There are a few detail
change, and the track course is fairly different.
 
Lagoon attractions:
There is are two river boats, the keel boats, and canoes (for about 20
people).  I didn't go on any of these, so that's it.
 
Adventure Isle:
This seems to be a small replacement from Tom Sawyer's island.  There
is a pirate cave which can be explored, and Captain Hook's pirate ship
holds a restaurant.  The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is here, and
it seems to be just like the one in WDW.
 
Pirates of the Carribean:
The ride starts by passing by a restaurant (similar to Mexico in
Epcot).  There is one extra waterfall that we ride down, other than
that, the ride is the same.
 
Peter Pan:
Hop into Hook's ship and fly through the Peter Pan story.  This is
aimed at the younger crowd, like everything in Fantasyland.
 
Dumbo:
This is the same ride; Sit in Dumbo and go round-n-round & up-n-down.
 
Cheshire Cat's Maze:
Now this one is new.  It is mostly a hedge maze, with various items
from Alice In Wonderland appearing to entertain while you navigate the
maze.  The goal is to find the way to the tower in the center, then
find the way out.  The view from the tower is wonderful.
 
Tea Cups:
See how fast you can spin without getting sick to your stomach.
 
Merry-Go-Round:
The horses have lots of details, and almost every one moves up and
down.
 
Snow White and Pinnochio:
Two similar rides; hop in a car and drive through the respective
stories.
 
It's a Small World:
Take a boat ride through a land of singing dolls, while listening to
the song sung in too many languages to count.  I think it's the same
as WDW, but I haven't done the ride there for many years.
 
Le Visionarium:
This is the Circlevision 360 degree theatre, changed into a time
machine.  Since the story is so complex, it is spoken in French, with
telephone handsets providing English, German and Italian.  It's an
amusing and fun voyage through time, slightly reminiscent of "Bill and
Ted's Excellent Adventure".
 
Orbitron:
Space ships flying in a circle, with a new look.
 
Race Cars (I forgot the name):
Drive a Mattel car around a race track.
 
Star Tours:
Same ride as in MGM studios - ride a flight simulator space shuttle to
the moon of Endor.  The ride is conducted in French, but I don't know
if that will cause trouble, since I know the monologue already.
 
Captain EO:
Watch Michael Jackson in 3D.  The same as in Epcot center.
 
Sleeping Beauty's Castle:
Yes, I left the best for last.  This castle has to be seen in person.
Disney has outdone themselves in the amount of detail put into this
building.  The architecture is wonderful, which can be seen from
photographs, but the texture of the stone is almost real.  The stained
glass windows on the second floor, which depict the story of Sleeping
Beauty, are handmade works of art.  I can't describe how wonderful
this castle is.
 
Dragon Cavern:
In the basement of the castle is the cavern of the Dragon.  This is a
very life-like animatronic Dragon, which sleeps most of the time.  But
when he awakes, look out!  He breathes smoke, and his eyes glow red.
The tail twitches and moves, and when he sleeps, one can see his chest
move as he breathes.
 
Well, that's it for my review of EuroDisney.  It only took me three
days to see (and photograph) it all.  More sane people can do it is
two days, or possible one on a weekend, when the Parc is open from
9-11.
--
 
-David Jedlinsky
[email protected]

    Ok , I now add to my resume "been to EuroDisney"....
    
    
    It was all very nice , really, but there was one thing that drove me
    crazy - the QUEUES . Gosh they were frustrating in their length. when
    one has to stand up nearly 50 minutes for a 5 minutes ride, I don't
    know about you there, but it was a no way situation for me.
    
    
    Apart from that , Discovery land was the greatest. I especially liked
    Captain EO 3D show and Space Tours.
    
    
    To sums it up, I would advice everyone going there to have a lot of
    patience (and cash...) , having these will promise you endless fun.
    
    
    Gur 

    I'm curious:  Disneyland claims that a "final tableau" was added to the 
    end of Snow White's Scary Adventures in EuroDisney to help "clarify the
    ending of the story".  What does it look like?
    
    - David
    

    If I remember well it was the prince carrying Snow White (she being
    alive and smiling -not kicking).
    
    Hans

    
    Just discovered this file!
    
    I'm running the 2nd of two long weekend trips to Euro-Disney on behalf
    of the Digital Reading (UK) Sport and Social Club.  There's 50 of us
    going, at a price of �169 each.  This includes all coach and ferry
    travel, three nights B&B in a hotel, two-day pass to Euro-Disney,
    insurance and two nightime excursions, which I didn't think was bad
    value.  The first trip went over the Easter weekend.  We aren't staying 
    in Euro-Dis hotels, but from what I hear from the first lot that isn't a 
    problem ... the hotel was adequate.
    
    We ran the first trip for adults and children and the second for adults
    only (all big kids at heart!).
    
    The thing that the first trip complained most about was the queues - up 
    to an hour and a half for rides like Thunder Mountain.  The queues for 
    hot dogs were 45 minutes long, and someone queued for an hour for 
    doughnuts (don't ask me why!).  There was also a lot of queue-jumping   
    going on (apparently mostly by Europeans, the Brits are used to
    queuing!) which actually caused fights in some instances.  They were
    also subjected to bag searching on the way in for FOOD, would you
    believe!  One chap was asked to requeue and put his bag in a locker
    because he had an apple and an orange for his young sons.  Although you
    can understand the principle, he wasn't too happy!
    
    Anyway, our trip goes this Friday, and hopefully it won't be so
    crowded.  I'll let you know how we get on.  See ya!
    
    Sam
    

    
    Re my note of 10.61.
    
    I have finally finished the trip report (12-13th April) which is in 
    290.13.
    
    Happy noting,
    
    Chris W.

    Saw an  interesting  little blurb on E TV last night on how Euro Disney
    has had something  like  over  3000  employees  leave/quit  since  it's
    opening due to the  Disney  Work  rules etc.  Apparently the Unions are
    using this to show how  Disney is too strick and how the rules encroach
    on the French values etc, while  Disney  is  stating that they expected
    this and is part of their normal turnover rate.
    
    Anyone know what the Turnover is like at WDW.
    
    Seems like 3K in less than a Month and a half is a little high to me.
    
    Claude

    	I would expect that although the turnover rate at WDW and DL is
    probably fairly high in the jobs on the lower levels of the pay scale, I
    wouldn't think it would be as high as they're seeing at Euro-Disney.
    
    Tom  

    Saw on CNN last night that Euro-Disney is not getting the attendance
    they expected.  Had expected 60K per day, getting 20K.
                                                                     
    Phil

    I read in the DOW notesfile that they are downplaying this - not saying
    it's related to the numbers but more that they are weeding out staff
    that aren't disney quality and some of the staff have left due to
    "homesickness".
    
    -sandy
    

Article: 8101
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
From: snopes%[email protected] (snopes)
Subject: Euro Disney rocked by defections, low turnout  (LONG)
Sender: [email protected] (News)
Organization: Salivation Army
Date: 27 MAY 92 22:32:06    
 
 
Reprinted from _The Hollywood Reporter_    May 26, 1992
 
  Euro Disney rocked by defections, low turnout
 
  3,000 reportedly quit over working conditions
 
     PARIS -- Thin crowds at the Euro Disneyland theme park outside Paris and 
grueling working conditions for its "cast members" have led some 3,000 park
employees to resign, a Euro Disney executive told The Hollywood Reporter.  The
executive, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, said he plans to
resign shortly.
     Company officials wouldn't confirm the numbers, but noted they seemed
"rather high."
     "That's a wild exaggeration," Erwin Okun, senior vp corporate
communications of the Walt Disney Co., said Friday.  Okun noted that the
company owns only 49% of Euro Disney and referred further questions to Euro
Disney officials.
     Euro Disney hired a total of 12,000 local workers in the months preceding
the opening of the park April 12.
     An official at a local unemployment agency said it was difficult to
determine exactly how many employees have quit their jobs, but he confirmed
that they were "leaving in large quantities."  He said they complained of very
low salaries and long working hours.
     "Morale is very bad among workers," the Euro Disney source said.  "The
working conditions are like the Middle Ages with no breaks and very long hours.
The workers are pushed to the limit."
     Workers complain of working double shifts for no extra money.  The company
can get away with it in most cases because entertainment businesses in France
aren't required to follow strict labor rules governing overtime.
     Executives often work 15-hour days, seven days a week, the source told
THR.
     Housing for employees is in short supply, and many workers have to commute
several hours to get home.  A young "cast member" who's been working as a night
bartender in one of the park hotels told THR he has to rely on getting a ride
home because the last train leaves at 12:30 a.m. and Disney doesn't provide a
special shuttle service for late-night workers.
     "It's been a harrowing experience except for the first few days when
everybody was excited," he said, and added that he plans to quit this month.
     Many of the workers are receiving minimum-wage salaries, and have to pay
for their own meals.  "They're working for about 6,000 francs ($1,100) a month
and they have about 45 francs left over after taxes for transportation and food
on the job.  They have nothing left to pay rent and (buy) food," the Euro
Disney executive said.
     Asked for a comment about the salaries, a company spokesman said as far as
he knew, "no one has complained about having problems making ends meet at the
end of the month."
     Workers complained that the company hasn't given them sufficient training,
and as a result work at the park is poorly organized, which has led in some
cases to the waste of food and supplies.
     "On the weekend of the opening, they wasted about seven tons of shrimp and
700 kilos of beef because they were badly organized," the company source said.
Euro Disney claimed the leftovers were given to charity associations.
     The source further claimed that Euro Disney is purchasing all its meat
supplies from the United Kingdom.  A Euro Disney official acknowledged
importing meat from Scotland "because it's closer to American barbecue taste
than French meat," but he said the park also buys meat from the Charolais and
other French regions.
     The low morale among park employees appears to be aggravated by the
relatively low number of visitors.  "It's been a big disappointment for the
workers," the source said.
     The company refuses to release figures, but sources close to the company
estimated the most entries they've netted in one day has been 40,000, which was
for the opening day.  According to the sources, on a sunny weekend day the park
gets about 20,000-25,000 visitors at best.
     The company was expecting to receive 60,000 visitors on peak days and
planned to draw 11 million admissions a year.  But now, Euro Disney executives
are said to be shooting for 7 million, the low side of their original estimate.
     The lukewarm launch has dropped company stock 25% at the Paris bourse
since the opening.  The stock was trading at 123 francs ($22.70) last week,
down from $30.50 before the opening.
     "It's the worst performance on the French stock market in the last several
weeks," said Jean-Louis Cochard, a company analyst with Ducatel-Duval.
"Investors are worried and the company is feeding the negative rumors by not
releasing any figures."
     Some analysts said the loss of stock value was predictable because it was
highly overvalued before the park opened.  "Shares were trading at levels that
bore no relationship with its trading potential," noted Paul Slattery, an
analyst with Keinworts Benson in London.  "It had reached unsustainable levels
and we expected it to come down after the park opening."
     Slattery expect the value of the stock to stabilize in the coming months.
     According to Cochard, the investor community is extremely concerned about
the weather factor.  The Paris area usually gets hot weather in the summer
months and sometimes in the spring.  The rest of the year tends to be chilly
and overcast.  
     "The weather was bad in April, and that might explain why they didn't get
more visitors," Cochard noted.  A number of analysts and investors queried
believe Disney overestimated the capacity of the French to wait in line in the
cold for rides.
     "When the question was raised, Disney always replied by pointing out that
their park in Tokyo was hugely successful despite bad weather conditions," said
Cochard.  "But I think they forgot to consider the cultural factor.  The
Japanese are more disciplined and less individualistic than the French, who
balk when they're forced to do something they don't want to do such as wait on
line in the rain."
     That could explain why the bulk of visitors so far are not French.
According to Tour Operator Cityrama, seven out of 10 visitors are from
countries outside France.  According to Cityrama director Pierre Benichou, the
busloads of tourists they take to the site are mainly from Italy and Spain.
"The French are reluctant to spend money for a trip just outside Paris," he
said.  Benichou said business was pretty good in April but slowed down this
month after the Easter vacation.
     Smaller tour operators who don't have the means to attract foreign
tourists said they feel left out, and some are planning to boycott the park
altogether, according to several Paris travel agents.
 
+--------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
|    NOTE:  This signature for adults only.  Sale to minors prohibited.
|    All characters 18 years of age or older.  For private home use only.
|    Any other use, copying, reproduction or performance in public, in 
|    whole or in part, will be prosecuted.
|
| +  David Mikkelson  Digital Equipment Corporation, Culver City, CA  USA  +
+--------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+

    The following is output of the DowVision (TM) test system under
    development, contact SDSVAX::SWEENEY for more information.

Copyright � Dow Jones & Co. 1992
Source: Wall Street Journal
Headline: 
Marketing & Media:
  Euro Disney's Fitzpatrick Denies Report
  That 3,000 Workers Quit Over Low Pay
  ----
  By Richard Turner
  Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
Time: May 27 1992 1951



Story: 
  Euro Disney S.C.A.'s president, Robert Fitzpatrick, vigorously denied a 
report in an entertainment industry newspaper that 3,000 employees of the 
recently opened resort had quit because of low pay and poor working 
conditions, but he acknowledged some problems, including attracting visitors 
from nearby Paris.
  "It's pure fiction, a good script," Mr. Fitzpatrick said about the Hollywood 
Reporter article during a telephone interview from his office in 
Marne-la-Vallee, France. He said about 1,000 workers had left, slightly less 
than 50% of them voluntarily, out of a total of 16,000 full-time, part-time 
and seasonal employees. The rest "we asked to leave," he said, adding that 
"we've separated those who really wanted to do the job from those who thought 
it was a joyride."
  The reasons for the attrition were that "this is a job which requires a 
consistency, a constancy of attention to our guests. Some people weren't 
delivering this consistency -- in showing up or in the quality of their 
service to guests." Some young employees among the 40% who aren't French left 
because of "homesickness," he added.
  Mr. Fitzpatrick acknowledged the housing and transportation problems cited 
in the article, which quoted a Euro Disney executive who wasn't identified by 
name, but he said Euro Disney was working to solve them. Some 3,236 employees 
are being housed by Euro Disney -- including 96 in hotel rooms -- as a result 
of a housing shortage that he said was countrywide. "We, and the government, 
woke up late to the problem," he conceded. But he said the company is 
providing for employees who can't find transportation as a result of rail 
strikes or late hours.
  The Hollywood Reporter article also said that attendance was well below 
expectations, peaking at 40,000 on opening day and running from 20,000 to 
25,000 visitors on sunny weekend days, which threatens to put first-year 
attendance well below the 11 million expected.
  Mr. Fitzpatrick called this "no more accurate than the rest of the article," 
and declined to discuss attendance, citing the longtime policy of Walt Disney 
Co., which owns 49% of the resort.
  Mr. Fitzpatrick did acknowledge that fewer people than expected were 
visiting the park from the Paris area. He said Parisians had been 
"traumatized" by misleading reports of traffic jams and overcrowding. He said 
Euro Disney was advertising to correct the misperception.
  He also took issue with a report that several small tour operators are 
planning to boycott Euro Disney because they can't attract enough foreign 
tourists. He said a group of bus operators has been asking for "better price 
breaks than we were prepared to give them." He called the threat of a boycott 
"a very French process."
  In response to the article's general portrayal of long hours and low pay, 
Mr. Fitzpatrick conceded that employees worked under "tough conditions" around 
the time of the April 12 opening, but said company studies had found that most 
employees are satisfied.
  Euro Disney stock, which trades in Europe, has dropped about 25% since the 
resort opened, but some analysts say shares had been overinflated as a result 
of pre-opening hype, so the drop was expected. In late New York Stock Exchange 
trading yesterday, the stock of parent Disney fell 50 cents to $37.375.

    
    	French radio announced yesterday that the planning permission
    had been granted for the Disney-MGM park next to the European
    Magic Kingdom. Opening is scheduled for 96.
    
    	Geof: a_Paris_based_Disneyholic_who_is_going_again_sunday.
    

     Its true, I would rather be in Orlando but, after crossing the big 
     pond 3 years out of the last 4, this year I am heading East to Europe 
     for a touring holiday along with wife and 4 year old Matthew.  
     
     However before spending two sunny weeks in Southern France and Spain 
     we will be heading for EuroDisney. We will be there when they open 
     the doors next Monday morning and will leave when they throw us out. 
     Unlike WDW I believe Monday will be a quiet day in EuroDisney.
     
     Look out for a trip report in a months time.
     
     Robin from Warrington 
     
     (Whose chief claim to fame is he knows Mike Batty)

    (w/o permission from The Eagle-Tribune 26-JUN-1992)
    
              "With Union vision battered, European leaders meet"
    
    Lisbon, Portugal (AP).  With their vision of a unified Europe battered,
    European Community leaders may limit the trading  bloc's  authority  to
    reassure other voters.
    
    A two-day summit opening today is the first gathering of the 12 leaders
    since the Danes voted down  the so-called Maastricht Treaty in a June 2
    referendum.    The  vote  upset  the  community's  union   program  and
    underscored simmering doubts in other nations.
    
    In France,  militant  French  farmers  blockaded Euro Disneyland today,
    trapping thousands of  tourist  in  their  cars  in  the latest protest
    against proposed cuts in European Community farm subsidies.
    
    "We have thousands of people waiting in cars," said a Disney Spokesman.
    "They've come from many European countries and have driven overnight to
    get here. They have kids."
    
    Some families abandoned their cars a  mile  from the amusement park and
    walked  to  the ticket gate.  The  farmers  allowed  them  and  tourist
    arriving by train to enter.
    
    The cars  and  buses started backing up shortly before dawn, when about
    500 farmers drove  300  tractors across the main car entrance and roads
    leading to the park 20 miles from Paris.

Picture the scene....



A couple of hundred indignant farmers, versus a horde of kids who've just been
told, "No, you can't go to EuroDisney today, even though we've just driven
500 miles to get here, because those men on the tractors don't want you to get 
in...."

My money's on the kids....;-)



Ian

    RE: Kids VS Farmers' Blockage
    Long-Long Ago, European kids were small adults, have they changed??
    
    Turn 2000 US ankle-biters loose on the farmers, and see some real
    "lets escape the hornets" movement.
    
    Maybe times have changed, everyone dumps on US people, yet imitate
    our culture (or lack of).    Phil

Well, my son's a nominal European (OK, small island off the Northern seaboard..),
and I know how he's going to react if we get to within sight of the gate, on 
our trip in August, and somebody says "Sorry, you can't go in, we're staging a 
legitimate political protest..."

Come to that, I know how *I'm* going to react.....;-)

>>>  Maybe times have changed, everyone dumps on US people, yet imitate
>>>    our culture (or lack of).    Phil

I wasn't aware of "dumping", Phil..... not intentional, if I did.


I wonder if people's travel/package insurance covers being unable to reach your
destination due to picketing ?
..and whether the people who'd already bought tickets, but weren't able to use
them, will be able to claim a refund ?
..and whether Disney can take legal action against the farmers for loss of
revenue ?

  Ian

>>>  Maybe times have changed, everyone dumps on US people, yet imitate
>>>    our culture (or lack of).    Phil
>>I wasn't aware of "dumping", Phil..... not intentional, if I did.
    OOOOPS - I left off the "except DEC people"
    Normally, except for soapbox, the DEC community is cosmopolitan,
    and polite, enough not to dump on anyone.
    
    I was speaking of the reaction of the general public and media who
    love to criticise the USA (with hidden affection, on occasion) yet
    when I see a street scene in Yugoslavia, they are dressed like Yanks!
    Possibly because we criticise OURSELVES so much, everyone (outside DEC)
    seems to enjoy an occasional poke at the poor battered Yank.
    
    On the other hand, in 1956-58 Germany, most of the "Yankee Go Home"
    signs were pained by homesick GIs.     Phil

Well, a couple of weeks on from the last couple, the farmers and truckers have,
apparently, lifeted the roadblocks, and French life is returning to normal.

It *should* be safe enough to set out for ED within the next few days.


I'm setting off on the 8th August, if nobody beats me to it, I'll file a
travel report when I get back....


Ian

Well I'll be there July 31st, back at DEC Aug 17th. BTW my wife heard 
from someone who had been recently i.e while the roadlocks were on, 
that the park was empty, no queues at all plus they didn't get held up 
on the roads by using the secondary routes. Anyway I'm glad they've 
sorted things out over there, it makes the navigation a lot easier 
when you can use the A roads.

Richard

Article in my UK Newspaper (Reprinted without permission etc...)

	EURODISNEY HEADS FOR BIG LOSSES AS fRENCH STAY AWAY

The Magic is not working at EuroDisney - yet. The �1.5Bn resort is 
heading for a suprise first year loss, as visitor numbers fall short 
and the Magic Kingdom slashes prices to boost business.
	Since Disney boss Micheal Eisner opened the theme park in 
April, 3.6m people have come through the gates, and though the peak 
summer months are looking better, the target figure of 11m visitors 
has slipped out of sight.
	The scale of the expected loss for the year to end-September 
will depend on the number of visitors during the rest of the summer, 
says EuroDisney. It does not give much away about visitor trends, but 
prefers to talk about the "high level of visitor satisfaction recorded."
	A spokesman cautiously revealed that the French, expected to 
make up the majority of visitors, are down in number though UK 
visitors are up.
	3rd quarter revenue totalled �261m compared with first and 
second quarter figures of �184m and 141m. 
	Year two for EuroDisney also looks gloomy. On top of comncerns 
over visitor numbers, the poor property market in France has meant 
that important revenue from commercial property development has been 
non existant.
Eurodisney shares, well down from their peak of nearly �17, fell 8p to 
�10.15.

One week to go ! Maybe I won't find any lines after all?

Richard

    
    	" If it weren't for bad news, there'd be no news at all "
    
    	The latest chunk of misery out of France is that the management
    team of Euro Disney S.C.A. -- after running attendance projections for 
    Fall ' 92 through early Spring '93 -- have decided to temporarily close
    the Newport Beach Resort Hotel. This 1100 room luxury hotel -- which
    currently makes up over 20 % of the Disney owned hotel rooms on the
    property -- will shutter in late October. Disney has said that they
    expect to re-open the Newport around Easter of next year, " earlier
    if necessary. " 
    	On a brighter note, Disney is stressing that -- as of right now 
    -- all Disney hotels on the property are filled to capacity with happy
    guests. But Disney is learning the hard way that the theme park
    industry in Europe may indeed be a seasonal sort of thing.
    	By the way, look for the Walt Disney Travel Company to feature 
    numerous " Fly from the US and visit Euro - Disney / Paris " packages
    in its 1993 pamphlet.   

    
    > On a brighter note, Disney is stressing that -- as of right now -- 
    > all Disney hotels on the property are filled to capacity with happy
    > guests. 
    
    Heh.  I quote from a recent _Hollywood Reporter_ article I posted to
    USENET:
    
   "The occupancy rate has been running about 70% since the park opened in
   April, though a French press report Friday said occupancy was lower than 
   40% at three of the six hotels.  The company would not confirm the report."

    Bit of a discrepancy there, I'd say.
    
    - David
    

    On UK breakfast news this morning ... Euro-Disney is about to release
    `disappointing' financial results.  Most of the article was gloomy and
    pointed out that stockholders are probably going to be the fall-guys as
    the US Disney organisation (which owns 49%), has negotiated % returns on 
    admission charges, food sales etc.  
    
    These returns are based purely on revenue and not profit.  Therefore a 
    loss is likely, but the Disney Organisation still gets a pretty good 
    return.
    
    They mentioned that the stock had sold at 7 (�'s? ... $'s? .. Francs?),
    risen to 16 during the post-opening euphoria, but had now dipped back
    down to 9 again.  
    
    Attendance figures much lower than expected also.
    
    	Andy.

    A later bulletin gave the losses as $23 million, and noted that the
    parent company had agreed to defer payback on some of the loans. 
    The stock is the most unpredictable I've ever seen. It sold as 10FF units
    (�7-07p) opening price, but rose erratically for a year (up 50p one
    day, down 35p the next) to �16 plus at Park Opening. It's now sitting
    at around �9-�10. It's still erratic (Up 65p on Tuesday, down 15p on
    Wednesday) but seems to rise on bad news and fall on good. I'll be
    watching the movement with interest tomorrow - should go UP a couple of
    quid! I unloaded most of mine at the peak, but I've kept some for the
    pretty brochures and in case they introduce any Stockholder Benefits.  
    
    Mike B.                                                              

    EURO DISNEY CHAIRMAN Robert Fitzpatrick will leave April 12 to
    begin his own consulting company.

    
    	From International Herald Tribune 30 March '93 without permission.
    
    Paris- Euro Disney SCA said Monday it would raise summer entrance
           fees at its Paris-area theme park and take other measures to
           try to smooth out big seasonal swings in its visitor traffic.
    
           To offset the fee increase, the company plans more flexible
           pricing for meals and hotels and reduced admission on summer
           evenings.
    
           Euro Disney also said it now expects to have attracted a
           total of 11 million visitors to the park by the last week of
           April. That would be about two weeks after its origional
           target date for reaching that number - April 12, the first
           anniversary of the park's opening - but earlier than most
           annalysts had been predicting recently.
    
           Milder March weather and ticket-price reductions this winter
           that increased its number of French visitors were credited
           with helping attendance.
    
           Euro Disney said entrance fees would be raised by 25 francs,
           to 250 francs ($44.95) for adults and 175 francs for children
           beginning June 12, but that lower prices would return after
           the summer season. In addition, during the summer when the
           park is open until 11 P.M., adults arriving after 5 P.M. will
           pay 150 francs, and children will pay 100 francs.
    
           The higher price will also apply during the Christmas season,
           Euro Disney said, but lower prices will be reintroduced at
           slower times.
    
           Long lines at the theme park 20 miles (32 kilometres) east of
           Paris also should be reduced as the park adds six new rides
           or attractions this summer, analysts said.
    
           An analyst at Paribas Capital Markets, Nigel Reed, called the
           stronger recent attendance at the park "good news", but said
           that total revenue might actually be down because of the
           discounts offered and the number of visitors not staying in
           hotels.
    
           Others said the improved attendance indicated the park was
           gaining acceptance among an initially skeptical French public.
           But Euro Disney still expects a loss for the year ending in
           September.
    
           Some analysts have forecast a loss of as much as 1 billion
           francs, compared with a loss of 188 million francs in the
           previous financial year. The company said it would release
           more detailed financial information at the end of April.
                                               (Bloomberg, Reuters)
    
    
    Typists note: I wonder what the six new attractions or rides might be?
    

    
    	After a visit yesterday on my annual passport, I found out
    something about the new attractions at Euro Disney.
    
    	First of all in Adventureland there is a billboard for the
    "Temple of Peril" opening this summer. According to the cast
    member I talked to, this is a roller coaster type ride similar
    to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and includes a "loop the loop".
    
    	The other construction going on doesn't have names on the
    fences yet but the same castmember mentioned:
    		A station for Discoveryland
    		A ferris wheel in Fantasyland
    		Mickey's Toontown
    		and for 1994 Space Mountain!  
    

    
    Having been to WDW in Florida in June, I have now decided to try out
    Euro Disney in December. Has anybody been to both, if so how do you
    compare the two ?...
    
    My aim now is to visit all the Disney locations....
    
    ANDY..B

    I've been to Florida many times, EuroD. once.
    
    In short:
    
    'Rides' are 'better' in EuroDisney - not that they are very different,
    but a bit slicker in places. Pirates, Big Thunder Mtn. are good...NO
    Space Mountain.
    
    Prices were alarming in the restaurants - particularly the ones outside
    the Magic Kingdom, but within the hotel complex. 
    
    Weather - take your chances in Paris - just allow for the occasional
    downpour in Florida.
    
    And...of course...there's only the ONE park in EuroD. - so no flits
    across to Epcot during the day. 
    
    Hotels - EXPENSIVE in Euro D., though I believe they have reduced the
    prices somewhat.
    
    Summary: I'm glad I got to EuroD. - it was very enjoyable, but I'm not
    rushing to go back. by contract, I'm already planning next year's
    Florida trip and I've only just got back....still, everyone has their
    own views, and preferences! After all, some people think EPCOT is
    boring, while I LOVE it!!
    
    John.

    Tracey Ullman told Bryant Gumbel on the Today show this morning that
    her television fantasy is to do an HBO special on EuroDisney.
    
    When asked why she said that she wanted to be the person to tell all 
    the female EuroDisney applicants that they have to shave under their
    arms if they want to work for Disney.
    
    Mike

Just read in the papers that EuroDisney is facing a 1.700.000.000 dutch guilder loss
over the last year (USdollar=1.7 guilder).

Some of the problems are:

- high prices, especially the hotels
- bad economics in surrounding countries like Italy, Spain ( In the US you only have
  to deal with US dollars, but in Europe there are that many currencies and not all 
  of them are that strong)
- and of course the bad climate, I read that Spain was for a long time in the
  race to get EuroDisney but in the end Paris was chosen because it was more central 
  in Europe.
- you are not allowed to bring your own food into the resourt
- also because of the relative cheap dollar many people have already visited the 
  US-disneyparks

I have heard of some of the solutions taken by the management (US-management have been 
replaced by European/French management):

- entrance prices have been lowered
- and remarkable (I think) alcohol will be served within the resourt.

There also seems to be a difference in mentality between European and American 
Disney-vistors. The people in Europe are not that disciplined to stand in queue for 
a long time, it even lead to fights. Also some of the employees are facing unexpected
problems: the Disney characters in particular. They have to stay silent under any 
condition, so some of the them had to be treated for severe injuiries (spelling?) 
because people kicked them really hard just to try them out.

These are ofcourse some of the bad examples of European behaviour most of the people, 
like myself, enjoyed their stay and are looking forward to a next visit.

Donald P.

I just went to this topic because Donald told we there is a ED topic. I was in
the Universals Studio one (178.*) because I was wondering about this project 
for a Universal Studios in Europe (either in London or Paris). 

I will be going to WDW next month although I live in France. I understand why
people are not really attracted by a stay in ED: it takes one or two days to
visit ED, which is not a sufficient reason for paying high prices an stay outside
Paris. Whatever the economic climate is, there will always be thousands of 
tourists in Paris as well as Disney is something magic. 

ED's problems are due to the fact that people do not go to France for ED, but for
France or Paris and THEN ED. They stay in Paris and use transportation to ED.
And this won't change until there will be other theme parks near ED such as
Sea World, Universal Studios and stuff like that.

I don't believe changing management, beverages, prices and shaving ED female
applicants under arms will change anything (see previous entries). Mainly the 
way tourists decide to visit France must be changed, putting ED ahead. I go to 
Florida for WDW and because I can do other stuff in the area. So staying in 
Orlando area and even renting a room in the Disney resorts is the reponse to my 
needs.Although I am french, although ED is great, I would often visit Paris, 
but I would only spend SOME time in ED.

Sorry for Spain, but now that Paris has ED, other theme parks HAVE to be built
there too, both for their and ED's survival.

	Patrick

    re .-1
    
    I agree with most of what you say Patrick, but even if Sea World et al
    did move to Paris I still can't see me going there in preference to
    Florida. Don't get me wrong, I take a week's holiday in France every
    few years - love the place, but theme parks need sunshine!
    
    Yes France gets more than England I know, but I can't predict WHEN it's
    going to get it!
    
    I've not followed the ED saga closely, but I suggest that Universal et
    al don't bother with a European venture unless they all agree together
    to set up a rival attraction somewhere warmer.
    
    Sorry Disney!
    
    Gary
    

re: 125

It will be hard for ED though to change places with Paris and become the main 
reason for people to visit France /Paris. In most surrounding countries there 
are organised trips to visit EuroDisney. So for these people visiting ED is their
main goal.

I visit Paris at least once a year but then I won't visit ED because it will take
to much time to get there and it won't be worth the while. So I do plan a special
trip to visit ED. (From the place where I live in Holland, it will take about 6
hours driving to get to Paris, it's about 550 kilometers).

Plans to build other theme-parks have been delayed for years because of the bad 
results.

Six new attractions have been added to the park to attract more visitors among
which a Indiana Jones & Temple of Doom spectacle.

 
re: 126

The Paris area has a wet and cold winter season from november till march/april.
Spring, summer and autumn are mostly reasonably good eventhough you have your bad
years of course.

But the weather is no reason for not visiting ED in summertime.

Donald.

Donald,

Many travel agents have been asked to organise trips to Eurodisney rather than
WDW. It is not because ED is great, although ED is good. And Usually these stays 
are for 1 night. If more they often include visits to other places than ED. 

I agree when you say that people don't go to ED for the sun. Simply because you 
will never hear something like 'visit Paris Sunshine and ED'. But sunshine helps
a lot ! BTW, 'Florida Sunshine' is often humid and rainy. 

Patrick

    anyone planning to go to ED should be aware that from 3-Jan-1994 to
    24-MAR-1994 up to 2 children can stay free of charge including free
    admission to the theme park when sharing a room with 2 adults.
    
    Also, there is a FREE Character Breakfast and Buffao Bill's Wild West
    Show for each child with one paying adult if booked in advance. 

<><><><><><><><>  T h e   V O G O N   N e w s   S e r v i c e  <><><><><><><><>

 Edition : 2984             Thursday 23-Dec-1993            Circulation :  6369 

    Euro Disney received a new blow yesterday as its auditors gave warning
    that the Paris theme park would face closure if talks on reorganising
    its finances failed.

<><><><><><><><>   VNS Edition : 2984    Thursday 23-Dec-1993   <><><><><><><><>

    
    
    I will be in Paris in mid April and plan to take the train out to
    EuroDisney and spend a day there.  I have read all the trip reports in
    this file and have found them helpful.
    
    Has anyone been to Euro Disney more recently that could add any
    information to what is already here?  Rates, recommendations, weather
    info all would be helpful.
    
    Thanks
    Diane
    
    

    I am taking my family to EuroDisney next Monday(21/3/94) for four days,
    so I will be able to give you some up to date info. What details do you
    need to know, how many of you are going etc.  
    
                                  Dave

    I caught a brief radio news report today that stated that The Walt
    Disney Corp had agreed a new financing deal which secured the future of
    EuroDisney. I'll post more if I hear/see/read it.
    
    Richard 

    The bailout a.k.a. The Disney Rescue Deal calls for a sharing of the 
    bailout by Disney and the banks, some new capital for investments and,
    get this, an 18 month freeze on interest payments or something like
    that.
    
    Mike

    There will be two of us going to EuroDisney in April, myself and my 13
    year old niece.  We are planning on going just for the day, so one day
    pass rates would be helpful.  I would also be interested in anything
    you consider not to be missed.
    
    Thanks,
    Diane

    
    
    I was at EURO-D in 92 and am wondering why anyone would need 4 days
    to see all it. I would think 1 day would be enough unless your visiting
    Paris too. Roy from USA...
    
             -=-=-R~C~W-=-=-

    re .136
    
    I am flying out on the Monday, should arrive at ED at lunchtime, and
    flying home Thursday evening. I have two daughters, 11 years and 8
    years, and they both LOVE anything/everything Disney. 
    
    We will have two full days there, plus two half days and we are staying
    at one of the resort hotels. This will allow my girls plenty of time to
    see/do everything, which they will want to do, plus repeats without
    having to rush. Me, I am just going along for the ride...!!!! :-).
           			
    				Dave

    From VNS:
    
    Euro Disney and its parent company Walt Disney Co have announced a
    broad financial restructuring plan to save the loss-making theme park
    The plan, which must still be approved by creditor banks, allows for an
    increase in capital. It proposes that the banks renounce 18 months of
    interest payments and Walt Disney Co renounces all income for 5 years.
    The theme park, which opened near Paris in April 1992, has run up debts
    of 2.45 billion pounds.

     I am now back from my visit to EuroDisney and I think it was
            absolutely brilliant.
    
            The atmosphere was incredible, and visually it was stunning
            even though the weather was overcast and raining at times.
            The rides were great, and we went on some many times, they were
            so good.
    
            Rides not to miss, in my humble opinion, are as follows, in
    order
            of priority:-
    
            1) Star Tours.....Great visual effects, exciting and you will
            come out wanting more. Be prepared for long queues when park is
            busy.
    
            2) Thunder Mountain....Very exciting, rollercoaster type ride.
            My 8yr old daughter loved it. Be prepared for long queues when
            park is busy.
    
            3) Pirates of the Caribbean....Great Fun, once again lonq queues
    	    when busy.
    
    	    4) Phantom Manor......Spooky ride with great visual effects. My
            two daughters loved it.
    
            5) Captain EO......3D cinema starring Michael Jackson. Great
    	    visual effects and loud music.
    
            6) Visionarium.....360 degree cinema. Great visual effects.
    
            7) It's a Small World....Not to be missed.
    
    
            And so on...etc.
    
            Basically all the rides were good. The only ride I didn't like
            very much was the Cup and Saucer ride. My daughters spun it
    	    quite fast, and I felt a bit unwell when I came off!!!
    
    	    Food prices were not too bad. Approx 40-50Fr for a reasonable
    	    meal. My kids liked the "Pizzeria Bella Notte" Italian restaurant
    	    in Fantasyland and one by the Lagoon in Adventureland. Drinks such
            as Coke were 12-15Fr a can.
    
            We also saw "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show" one evening. It was
            great fun, lots of "Yee Hah's and Yah Hoo's" going on, with a free
            cowboy hat. It cost 300 Fr Adult, 200Fr Child, which included food
    	    and drink in large amounts. They only gave me 10% discount with my
    	    MKC card.
            There are also some good eating places in Festival Disney, with
            prices ranging from reasonable, 50-60Fr, to expensive 150+Fr.
    
            The few things I didn't like were:-
    
            1) Queue discipline was sometimes bad, be prepared for queue
               jumping.
    
            2) When Disney characters appeared, they were very quickly
            surrounded by children wanting autographs, my kids included.
            Sometimes they were pushed and jostled out of the way, my kids
            included, by larger teenagers wanting their photo taken.
    
            3) It closed at 6pm. Very cut and dry, "Sorry we are closing
            for the day, see you again soon". This was a shame because it
            would have been nice in the park if all the lights were on.
    
            I stayed at the Hotel Cheyenne on the resort. Great fun, a
            hotel like a cowboy town. Great atmosphere. Reasonable priced
            restaurant, with cowboy style meals, good quality and quantity.
            It took us 1.5 hrs to check in....could be improved....!!!!!!
    
            Overall, we all had a great time, even if we had to buy the
            bright yellow poncho's because of the rain :-)
    
    
    
                                    Dave.
    [EOB]
            	
            		
    
    
            

      PARIS -DJ- Final approval on a restructuring plan for Euro Disney SCA
    may have hit a snag due to the reluctance of some creditor banks to give
    their okay to the package.
      But banking sources in Paris say a task force from the banks'
    steering committee that negotiated the deal with Walt Disney Co. (DIS) is
    meeting in Paris with ''certain Japanese banks'' in an attempt to resolve
    questions raised by the Japanese banks.
      'It's hard to say where we stand' at the moment, one source said,
    regarding whether the 63 creditor banks - who must all approve the
    restructuring package announced on March 14 - are close to unanimous
    approval of the package.
      Sources said Monday's Paris meeting follows one held in Tokyo last
    week to explain details of the plan, which includes a 6-billion-franc rights
    issue. Walt Disney, Euro Disney's U.S. parent, will subscribe to its
    full 49% share of the issue, while the banks will underwrite it. The package
    also calls for forgiveness of certain interest amounts and deferral of
    certain principal payments on Euro Disney's debt, which currently tops
    20 billion francs. In the meantime, Walt Disney would eliminate the
    royalties and management fees it receives from Euro Disney for five years.
     The 63 banks were urged by the 12-bank negotiating team, led by
    France's Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) and Banque Indosuez, to quickly
    adopt the rescue plan when it was announced last month. An unofficial  
    deadline of April 15 has been set for the banks to okay the package.
      Although many of the banks, especially those not directly involved in
    the negotiations with Walt Disney, have asked questions about details of
    the plan, most of the banks are in agreement, sources said. One, however,
    suggested that issues being raised by the Japanese have created
    'special difficulties' towards final approval of the plan. He wasn't more
    specific.
      It wasn't immediately clear what parts of the plan the Japanese
    banks were questioning, though some observers have suggested that the
    hold-up may be due to quibbling over the apportionment of 1.6 billion
    francs in loan foregiveness.
      Moreover, the exact number and identity of the Japanese banks remain
    a mystery. Aside from The Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, which was a
    member of the negotiating team, none of the names of the Japanese creditor
    banks have been publicized. Of the 63 banks, the names of fewer than half
    have been disclosed.
      Other foreign lenders to Euro Disney include Barclays Bank PLC,
    National Westminster Bank PLC, Deutsche Bank AG, J.P. Morgan and Citibank.
      Also Monday, Deutsche Bank said it isn't opposing the plan after a
    French newspaper reported that it and Barclays were balking at approving the
    plan. Officials at Barclays had no immediate comment.
      While the banks and Walt Disney may have agreed to share the pain of
    Euro Disney's recovery, speculation is in rife in Paris that there's
    considerable debate among the banks over who will shoulder what burden
    of the banks' responsibilities.
      This comes amid reports of calls for state-owned Caisse des Depots et
    Consignations to play a bigger role because loans to Euro Disney were
    subordinated and backed by the French government. Caisse des Depots
    reportedly will shoulder 500 million francs of the 1.6 billion francs
    in loan foregiveness, even though it holds about one-fourth of Euro
    Disney's debt, and subscribe to 25% of the rights issue.
      Euro Disney SCA is 49% owned by the U.S.-based parent, The Walt
    Disney Co. It was set up to build and operate a theme park and resort near
    Paris. The park opened its doors in April 1992. Headquarters: Route 
    Nationale 34, Chessy, 77144 Montevrain, Seine-et-Marne, France.
      Significant developments: After posting a loss of 1.08 billion francs
    in the half ended March 31, 1993 - following a loss in fiscal 1991-92 -
    the parent company sent its Vice President and Treasurer Michael Montgomery
    to Paris to take over the chief financial officer slot. The move follows
    the January replacement of then-chairman Robert Fitzpatrick with Philippe
    Bourguignon. After posting a loss of 5.3 billion francs for 1992-93,
    Euro Disney's creditor banks and The Walt Disney Co. announced a rescue
    package Mar. 14, which must be approved by all the banks.   
      All figures are in French francs:
    
                          Half     Half     Year      Year
                          ended    ended    ended     ended
                          3/31/93  3/31/92  9/30/93   9/30/92
    Net Group
    Profit (Loss)    (1.08 Bln) 74.6 Mln (5.34 Bln) (188 Mln)
    Revs.             1.79 Bln  3.07 Bln 5.73 Bln  8.46 Bln
    EPS               N/A        N/A     (30)      0.05
    Annual Div.        -         -        0.00     0.66
    
    *Figures are non-comparable to year-earlier period because theme park
     didn't open until April 1992.
    
    currency history (French franc versus dollar)
              3/31/93     3/31/92    9/30/93     9/30/92
    
    European   5.4789     5.5675     5.6630      4.7650
    

    
  BRUSSELS (AP-DJ)--Euro Disney SCA's restructuring took a step forward as
all of the troubled company's creditor banks agreed to temporarily
alleviate the park's bank payments, the Wall Street Journal Europe
reported Thursday. 
  'Today we can say that 100% of the banks have agreed' to the alleviation,
said a spokeswoman for Banque Nationale de Paris, joint leader of the
steering committee that represents all of Euro Disney's 61 creditor banks.
The step is part of a 'transitory agreement' that includes financial
support from Walt Disney Co., which owns 49% of Euro Disney, and precedes
acceptance of a more extensive restructuring plan. 
  Officials for the steering committee's other joint head, Banque Indosuez,
didn't return phone calls Wednesday. A Euro Disney spokesman said he was
unaware of the status of the bank talks. 
  After the steering committee and Walt Disney reached agreement March 14
on the outlines of the restructuring, the steering committee had set April
15 as the deadline for all of the banks to agree to the so-called
transitory measures. But until Monday, the BNP spokeswoman said, one
unidentified Japanese bank hadn't given its approval. 
  With the crucial agreement on the park's bank charges, the park and its
banks can now turn their attention to the serious business of the full
restructuring plan and a share issue to raise six billion French francs
scheduled for summer. 
  For current and potential investors, however, the question now is whether
the plan and Euro Disney's marketing efforts are enough to turn the park's
fortunes around. Current shareholders will be asked to vote on the plan at
an extraordinary meeting that hasn't yet been scheduled. 
  In Paris trading Wednesday, Euro Disney shares slipped to  32.70 francs,
down 30 centimes. 
  'The focus will shift to visitors numbers' and the spending per visitor,
said Nigel Reed of Paribas Capital Markets. According to Reed's
calculations, a restructured Euro Disney needs to attract at least 12.5
million visitors a year to make the new equity issue's expected per-share
price of 10 francs attractive. 
  But attendance at the park is slipping, according to a recent interview
with Euro Disney President Philippe Bourgignon. He told a French newspaper
that attendance for the park's second full year of operation would be
about 9.5 million visitors, down from nearly 11 million visitors in the
first year. 
  Company officials said currency-rate fluctuations were to blame. A host
of new promotions and a new pricing plan are  attracting people, they
said. But they are admittedly 'conservative' in their outlook and
uncertainty remains. 'We're still in the situation where we could see a
recovery to 11 million people or 13 million people,' Reed said. 
  Under terms of the restructuring plan, Walt Disney and the creditor banks
will share the pain. Walt Disney, for example, will forgo until 1998
royalties it receives on the sale of tickets and merchandise and inject
more than three billion francs into the park through the share issue. In
return, the banks are forgiving 18 months of interest payments and
underwriting the remaining three billion francs of the share issue. 

    PARIS (AP-DJ)--Officials at Euro Disney SCA acknowledged Wednesday
    that park attendance figures haven't lived up to initial expectations and
    attendance figures for the current quarter actually show a decline on
    the year.
      During the current fiscal third quarter, which began April 1, Euro
    Disney registered 1.46 million visitors through May 21, a decline of
    21% from the corresponding period a year earlier. During the same period
    Euro Disney's hotel occupancy rate ran at 70%.
      Euro Disney officials released the figures during an extraordinary
    shareholders' meeting to approve a 6-billion-franc rights issue and
    implementation of a financial restructuring plan.
      Although park attendance for Euro Disney's first full year in
    operation, April 1992 through March 1993, stood at 10.5 million - close to
    initialestimates for 11 million visitors - attendance appears to have
    slackened since. For the fiscal year ended last Sept. 30, the theme park
    registered 9.8 million visitors. Also, in the fiscal first half ended
    March 31, 3.1 million visited the Euro Disneyland theme park east of Paris.
      Company officials also acknowledged that the most recent attendance
    figures were attained as a result of price reductions.

    Has EuroDisneyland changed it's name. The reason I ask is that I was
    looking through a Holiday's in Disney brochure, pricing up a trip to
    WDW, and the brochure refers to EuroDisney as Disneyland Paris.
    
    Just curious.
    
    					Dave

    Dave,
    
    Yes but it wasn't supposed to change until just around the beginning of
    the year. I may have a little blurb on it somewhere. If I do I'll post
    it.
    
    Mike

Even better:  David Letterman had a Top 10 Rejected New Names for EuroDisney.

It included:


Eurodisaster

Have-you-forgotton-we-saved-your-butts-in-world-war-II-land

Boucoup de crap American

My favorite:
Boutrous-Boutrous Goofy



Bill A. 
1 day, 12 hours till I leave for WDW

I've planned myself (and my girlfriend too.. :-)) a three day trip to
Euro-Disney 15-17 april. That's during Eastern time. We're staying in the
Chyenne hotel. I already read a couple of things on that in this notes file.
(This hotel was the only 'cheap' hotel available)

Now I want to find out some good tips to watch for! I bought a (dutch) tour
guide, which had some tips in, but these are more the obvious ones, like visit
the popular rides during parades, and when others are eating.

I did read a report from somebody, a few years ago, and he mentioned: SEHLINGER
guide book. This was very valuable for him. Anybody knows this book? 

I'm thinking of leaving Holland (that's were I live..) quite early on saturday
(day 1), to arrive their appoxm. at noon. Both sat. and sun. the park is open
till 22:00. On monday park is closed at 6, and that's when we're leaving back
to Holland. 

So any remarks, tips, do's and dont's are welcome before Eastern!

P.S. we're kid-less, but love the rides as though we're kids ourself!! I also
have a MAGIC KINGDOM clubcard, obtained through Digital. Any use for this at
the resort?

  _Wim_

    Yes this topic title has been changed from Euro-Disney to DisneyLand
    Paris. This is an official name change made by The Disney Company.
    
    Mike

_Wim_ I was in "Parc Disney" last summer.
It was a concession to my daughter who would have rather gone to WDW than to
Paris.
We spent two nights at Cheyanne with one day in the parc.

I bought the "Unoficial Guide" which is similar to the one for WDW but I was 
dissapointed that it was not as up to date as the others.

The Indiana Jones Rollercoaster was the ride with the longest line. I'd suggest 
straight to it first thing in the Morning.

Generally we used the same strategy as for WDW. Get there early. Stand right by 
the ropes and got straight to Thunder Mountain. We rode it twice before the line 
built up and went back after dark when the lines were short.

We eat lunch at Walt's. As you don't have children I'd recommend a lighter lunch 
and eating dinner later.

It might be worth trying to get the MKC card described in other notes. I didn't 
have one with me - a lack of planning.
I did have my Disney credit card which they do not take. I tryed to use it at one
of the Disney stores outside the park. It caused some confusion - they decided 
they didn't take it and gave me a 10% discount instead.

I think we saw most everything in a day. At least the major stuff. We didn't have 
much time to enjoy the side shows and streat entertainment. What we did see was 
excellent.

My biggest surprise was buying popcorn and finding it was sugared and but 
buttered.

_Wim_ you are going to have lots of fun. You'll have time to relax.

Enjoy,
Peter.

.147>    Yes this topic title has been changed from Euro-Disney to DisneyLand
.147>    Paris. This is an official name change made by The Disney Company.

I added "formerly EuroDisney" to the topic title because I expect people will
still be searching on "EuroDisney" for a while yet...

-- Nina

>Note 449.1      Some tips wanted for upcoming visit to EURODISNEY
>                             -< delete this note >-
>Deja vu...  ;-)
>See 10.146
    
    I thought I checked this conference for a topic like this, must have
    been thinking of all these rides or so ..:-) Thanks for pointing me
    out. (I deleted the note in 449). Thanks moderator to have it moved to
    .146
    
    I'll read these topics first and start to enjoy myself! Although it's
    two months from now, I better be prepared!
    
      _Wim_

    So, I've browsed through a lot of the topics in here. I read the trip
    reports, but none was dealing on "DisneyLand Paris" nor they were
    recent. 
    
    I have a trip report, rather old, from an unknown author. I added that
    one to topic 334 (1993 trip reports). (334.61)
    
    That report mentions an "Unofficial guidebook for Eurodisney" from Bob
    Sehlinger. Would that also be available in dutch? I know, from reading
    some of these notes, that some dutch people already went to ED, or
    should I say "DL-Paris" or something?!?!..
    
    A simple question for now:
    I booked telephone through my MKC, and got the confirmation in. Am I
    supposed to receive shortly any information, maps, etc??
    
      _Wim_
    

    
    We are taking our boys (6 and 4 1/2) to Disneyland Paris at the
    beginning of April. I have a couple of questions to anyone that has
    been...
    
    How do you book/pay for the Character Breakfast? We have booked a hotel
    only followed by a 4day+3night package and would like the character
    breakfast on our first morning.
    
    What is the current height limit for rides, and which ones?
    
    Thanks for your help.
    
    Martin

    What is access like to EuroDisney?
    
    Is it better to travel by rail or by car?
    
    We shall be visiting during w/c 21st May.
    
    Are any days less busy than others, and which attractions need to be
    tried out first?   Is it a time for French holidays?!!!
    
    Thanks
    
    Tim

    There is a big train station at Disneyland Paris, it is just outside
    the main gates. You can get there by train from Paris, or from the UK
    using the Eurostar service from Waterloo. This service changes
    somewhere in France, can't remember where though, onto the TGV direct
    to Disneyland Paris.
    
    I travelled there by road, by coach from Charles DeGaulle airport, and 
    it seemed to be motorway all the way, although I suspect it will be a
    long trek from the Channel ports.
    
    I would suggest avoiding Wednesday's if possible, as this is a day off
    for the Frech schools, and it can/will get extra crowded.
    
    See reports 10.139 and .148 for a review of the rides, although my
    favourites were Star Tours and Pirates of the Caribbean.
    
    If you haven't already got one, try to get your MKC card before you go,
    it will save you money at the gift shops, etc.
    
    Have a great time.
    
    
    
    				Dave

    Where do I get a MKC (Magic Kingdom Card?) from quickly in the UK?
    
    We are going across to France next Friday!!!!!!!!!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Tim
    
     

I think the easiest way to the park is by train.
Like the previous note says the station is close. Actually it's closer to the 
park than all but one hotel.

From the length of the lines when I was there I'd run straight to the Indiana 
Jones Rollercoaster - ride it twice and then go to thunder mountain. Just my
preferences.

As to the MKC card - I think it may be a little late. Maybe you could borrow one
from another UK employee. I didn't have one when I was there. It had gotten 
difficult to get them. I will make an extra effort to get one in the future 
although I'll be more likely to get to WDW than Paris.

[from Mercury Mail NEWSpot, www.merc.com]

[Image]

09:08 AM ET 04/14/97

       The Magic is Now Only a Mouse Click Away!  A Site in Six Languages
                            http://www.disneylandparis.com

    PARIS, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate its fifth anniversary
worldwide, Disneyland Paris has launched a Web site in six languages, a first
for a consumer Web site of its size.  Disneyland Paris Online will offer
cybervisitors over 250 pages of information localized in each language
and more than 250 visuals, providing  Disney fans and future guests with
everything they need to know about Disneyland Paris.  The new Disneyland Paris
site is available in U.K. English, French, German, Dutch, Italian and Spanish.

    Fun for everyone
    With just a click of a mouse, surfers can visit the Theme Park, share the
excitement of the fifth anniversary celebration, explore the seven themed
hotels and discover the night life of Disney Village.  There's even a special
section that's "Kids' Area" -- no adults allowed!  Children can play games,
learn about their favorite characters, e-mail them, and even print a souvenir
travel journal for their trip to Disneyland Paris.

    Holiday planning made easy
    One of the highlights of Disneyland Paris Online is the Holiday Planner.
This feature allows the  prospective travelers to select their ideal short
break from the dozens of available holiday packages.  Guests simply enter
their preferences in terms of hotel amenities, favorite Disney theme, travel
dates, number of visitors in the party and budget.  The simulator then
proposes the package most suited to their needs.  The request can then be
sent on-line to the Disneyland Paris reservation team (payment cannot yet be
made online).  And this is just the beginning.  Soon Disneyland Paris Online
will feature the Park Day Planner, offering personalized themed itineraries of
Park attractions and shows.

    For the professionals
    The site also offers sections on corporate information, employment and
special areas for the press, travel trade and convention planners.  The
Disneyland Paris Web site will be frequently updated with information about
events and novelties as well as up-to-the-minute practical information about
the Theme Park and hotels.

    Developed by Eagle River Interactive
    The Disneyland Paris Web site was developed and localized and will be
maintained by Eagle River Interactive (Nasdaq: ERIV).  The company has offices
in Paris, France, and throughout the United States.  Eagle River Interactive
has created custom interactive business solutions for American Express,
Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Intuit, McDonald's, Sharp, Sony, Sun Microsystems and
Toyota/Saatchi & Saatchi Pacific.  The company's Web site is located at
http://www.eriver.com.

    Disney Online now in Europe
    Located on the Walt Disney Company's U.K. Web site, Disneyland Paris now
joins other Disney divisions such as Walt Disney Pictures, The Disney Channel
UK, Disney Home Video and Disney Interactive at www.disney.co.uk.  Disney
Online International, which helped to develop the Disneyland Paris site, has
also created Web sites for twelve different European countries, many of which
provide websurfers with engaging information about their favorite films,
products and destinations in their mother tongues.  For additional
information about Disney Web sites in Europe, contact Disney Online
International.

    France Telecom and IBM Official Launch Partners
    Disneyland Paris thanks official partners France Telecom and IBM for their
participation in the launch of the new Web site on the occasion of the 5th
Anniversary celebrations.  Press Centre Aptiva PCs were supplied by IBM and
internet access was courtesy of France Telecom's Wanadoo online service.

SOURCE  Disneyland Paris

CONTACT:  Mark Webb of Disneyland Paris Press, 33-1-64-74-53-94, or
E-mail:  [email protected]; or Jaki Ellenby of Disney Online
International, 33-1-53-75-58-06, or E-mail: [email protected], or
Amy LaBan of Eagle River Interactive, 312-867-5914, or e-mail:
[email protected]/
    (ERIV)

CO:  Disneyland Paris; Eagle River Interactive
ST:  Illinois
IN:  CPR
SU:  PDT


LA-CS
-- CLM005 --
6378 04/14/97 09:08 EDT http:/