Defunctland: The Failure of Euro Disneyland

Summary

The script traces the fascinating journey of Space Mountain, from its origins in the 1960s as a concept developed by Walt Disney and Imagineer John Hench to its worldwide success across Disney parks. It also explores the turbulent opening of Euro Disneyland in 1992, where Disney faced significant cultural resistance, financial troubles, and operational challenges. Despite the initial struggles, including protests and low attendance, the park's innovative Discovery Land, inspired by Jules Verne’s vision, helped revive the resort. The success of new attractions like Space Mountain was pivotal in Euro Disneyland’s survival and eventual success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Euro Disneyland (later Disneyland Paris) was a significant expansion for Disney, costing $4 billion and aimed to attract 11 million visitors within its first year.
• 😀 Space Mountain was first introduced at Walt Disney World in 1975 and later replicated at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and finally at Euro Disneyland in 1992.
• 😀 Despite initial excitement, the development of Euro Disneyland faced intense opposition in France, with many seeing it as a cultural invasion, sparking protests and outrage.
• 😀 The French government and public opinion were key obstacles for Euro Disneyland, with issues such as the banning of certain clothing styles and the imposition of English-only meetings by Disney executives.
• 😀 The lack of cultural sensitivity led to significant backlash, including protests from local citizens, poor public perception, and labor strikes by local workers.
• 😀 The park faced logistical and financial issues before opening, including a lack of expected attendance on its opening day, which was far below projections.
• 😀 Discoveryland, which replaced Tomorrowland in Euro Disneyland, offered a unique approach, drawing inspiration from Jules Verne's works, solving the 'Tomorrowland problem' by creating a future that never came.
• 😀 Despite creative successes like Discoveryland and Space Mountain, the park struggled with low attendance and high operational costs, exacerbated by a global recession and unfavorable public perception.
• 😀 Despite these issues, Disney managed to keep the park open and eventually invested in new attractions, including the revamped Space Mountain, which was hoped to revive the park’s fortunes.
• 😀 The challenges faced by Euro Disneyland highlight the difficulties of balancing cultural considerations, financial planning, and creativity when expanding a global brand into new territories.

Q & A

What were the main challenges faced by Disney when opening Euro Disneyland?

The main challenges included cultural misunderstandings with the French public, strict operational guidelines that conflicted with local customs, poor attendance on opening day, and financial struggles due to high operational costs and a global recession.

Why did the French public resist the opening of Euro Disneyland?

The French public saw Euro Disneyland as a cultural invasion, with many criticizing Disney for not respecting French culture. Issues like strict employee dress codes and language restrictions sparked outrage, and some even referred to the park as a 'cultural Chernobyl'.

How did Disney's management approach the cultural differences in Euro Disneyland?

Disney's management, particularly Michael Eisner, insisted on American standards, such as English-only meetings and strict guidelines for employees. This created friction with the French, where such policies were seen as a violation of personal freedoms.

What were some of the operational problems encountered during Euro Disneyland's opening?

Operational issues included labor strikes, particularly among the train service employees, sabotage attempts on power lines, and logistical problems with managing a large crowd. Attendance was far below expectations on opening day, with only 25,000 visitors instead of the projected 500,000.

How did Disney address the potential financial failure of Euro Disneyland?

Disney hoped that a new version of Space Mountain, planned for later in the park's development, would revitalize interest in Euro Disneyland. This attraction was seen as a last-ditch effort to save the park from financial ruin.

Why did the name 'Euro Disneyland' cause issues in Europe?

'Euro Disneyland' was poorly received in Europe because the term 'Euro' was associated with commerce and business rather than the magic and excitement Disney intended. The name failed to connect with European audiences who found it too commercial.

What was the significance of Jules Verne's influence on Euro Disneyland's design?

Jules Verne's works heavily influenced the design of Discoveryland at Euro Disneyland. His imaginative visions of the future and steampunk aesthetics were integrated into the park's attractions, including a time-travel themed ride, Visionarium.

What role did the global recession play in Euro Disneyland's financial troubles?

The global recession in the early '90s led to lower-than-expected attendance and contributed to the park's financial struggles. This, combined with the high costs of operating the resort, made it difficult for the park to meet its financial goals.

What changes were made to Discoveryland in Euro Disneyland compared to other Disney parks?

Discoveryland was a departure from the typical Tomorrowland. It was designed with a focus on the visions of the past, particularly through the works of Jules Verne. This allowed Disney to avoid the issue of technological obsolescence that plagued other Tomorrowland attractions.

How did Space Mountain contribute to Euro Disneyland's eventual success?

The introduction of Space Mountain in 1995 helped revitalize the park by offering a thrilling new attraction that attracted more visitors. Its success was crucial in reversing the park's early financial struggles and ensuring its continued operation.