Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Disneyland Paris stockholder annual meeting report

The Disneyland Paris stockholder annual meeting happened today at the WDS in the Cinémagique theater, but the review about it is going to be short: Absolutely no new project for the future was announced - except, of course, this year's Mickey Magical Party at DLP and the Cars parade and Playhouse Disney at the WDS. They're still looking to build a new hotel but don't know when. Nothing about the Toy Story Playland coming in 2010 - i suppose they need to keep something "new" to feed the stockholders next year...They're expecting a fall in the results this year due to the economy crisis - no kidding? - and that's all there is to say about this meeting...

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

you means disney is still looking for new hotel ? where is giong to be at ? one thing when stockholder meeting is head every years? just wonder robert

Alain Littaye said...

The stockholders meeting is every year, and the new hotel could be located either in front of the Newport Bay club if it's a "Disney managed" or near the other hotels not managed by Disney - located after the Santa Fe hotel - if they find a financial deal with an hotel company, which they are trying to do.

Anonymous said...

They want a new hotel?? I thought they had too many hotels already?

Disneyland California only has three! How come Disneyland Paris needs so many?

Michael said...

Thanks for the update - that's a big disappointment. I was even hoping for bigger things that the Toy Story rides...

Anonymous said...

Personnaly, I'm convinced it's gonna be a Disney Hotel, hotel were filled 90% last year a number who cries for "urgent room capacity expansion". I'd love for it, to be in front the New Port, right at the other end of the newly expanded Disney Village !

Anonymous said...

Oh my god ... thats sad ...

Anonymous said...

During the end of last year it was almost impossible to get a room in any Disney or Non-Disney hotel on property on any weekend. Disney does need more rooms on site. Maybe adding another hotel may even bring the prices down!!! Theuy are so high it is untrue.

Anonymous said...

To be honest, did we expect any more, regarding the global economic crisis? If they would announce they would be spending another EUR 150M on new attractions, it would get smashed by their shareholders anyway... Remind you, Disney is, unfortunately, in many of the businesses that get hit first during economic crisises...

Although it would probably be wise to invest into the future once the light at the end of the tunnel can be seen. But that light is not nowhere in sight yet.

A new hotel on the parking lot with the huge tent on it, on the opposite of Sequoia Lodge would be a perfect spot. It would be no further from the parks than Hotel New York and could also nicely fit into the scenery.

I suspect they will focus a bit more on the business customers, since the only other hotel that does this is Hotel New York. (They have lots of conference/convention rooms and halls and it is often quite difficult to get a room there). I also prefer Hotel New York, because they have Wifi on the room (which, unfortunately I really need). If they bring this to Sequoia Lodge, that would be my favorite hotel. If the hotels can keep their rooms full during those times, then we might see a new hotel being announced next year.

A new hotel, of course, would not add to the experience of the existing parks, it will probably only make them more crowded.

But there are many small things that do not cost that many millions. Things I would love to see to improve the whole a bit, and often those little bits make a huge difference:

1) Go talk with Gaumont, the fact that they only feature one English spoken language film at best, in a place where about 40%~60% of your potential public doesn't understand French is a bit pathe-tic at best.
2) Fix the uglyness of the backlot area of the Walt Disney Studios, especially the Rock 'n Roller coaster entrance which is not even worthy for a Six Flags park...
3) Prolong your opening hours, closing the parks at 19h or even 18h during the cold seasons... I keep asking me why? Is it so expensive to keep your parks staffed beyond this time? Additionally, longer opening hours would keep more guest inside the park for dinner in one of the many restaurants there, which would also overcome a lot of the total overcrowding of the Disney Village and Hotel restaurants once the parks close.
4) Allow more shops and restaurants to be established in the Disney Village area. Looking at the same souvenirs over and over again can become quite boring. A bit more diversity would be more than welcome.
5) Coming back at the souvenirs and merchandise. Europeans are no Americans, lots of people don't buy stuff that features oversized Mickeys. I bought Alain's book in the Disney store back in 2003, that was about the only thing I can remember of ever buying in a Disney store. The rest just doesn't appeal to me and most others I've spoken to (except some little children, which might actually fall for a pluche Stitch or a Buzz laser-gun).

Anonymous said...

thank alain that i want to know so they need bult more park and hotel in oder for guest come back tokyo is better than paris beacuse record of guest i stay disneyland resort tokyo ,disneyland,and disney world