Disney Park Ceases Operations With Warning, Guests Sent Home
Things are not looking too good for one Disney park, as its hours of operation have just been slashed due to low attendance.
When Walt Disney created Disneyland, he likely imagined an expansion, but perhaps not to the level that we see today. Not only can you visit both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort in America, but additionally, there are multiple Disney theme parks overseas including Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Shanghai Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland, with many of those resorts holding more than one theme park for guests to enjoy.
The opening of Disneyland Paris in 1992 marked a significant milestone in Disney’s global expansion. The project, spearheaded by then CEO Michael Eisner, aimed to replicate the magic of the original Disneyland in California on European soil. However, the realization of this ambitious dream was fraught with challenges.
Initially, the park faced a tumultuous reception from both locals and tourists alike. Critics argued that the park was culturally insensitive, with its American-centric themes jarringly out of place in the heart of Europe. Economic woes in France during the early 1990s further exacerbated the park’s struggles. Attendance figures fell short of expectations, and financial losses mounted.
The park’s image was further tarnished by labor disputes and operational issues, leading to negative publicity and a decline in visitor confidence. These challenges forced Disney to reevaluate its approach and adapt to the European market.
A turning point came in the late 1990s when Disneyland Paris embarked on a major transformation. The park invested heavily in new attractions, entertainment offerings, and accommodations. A concerted effort was made to embrace European culture and traditions, resulting in a more authentic and appealing experience for visitors.
The introduction of popular franchises like Star Wars and Marvel, coupled with the park’s commitment to storytelling and immersive theming, revitalized Disneyland Paris. Additionally, the resort’s expansion to include Walt Disney Studios Park provided a broader appeal to a wider audience.
Today, Disneyland Paris stands as a thriving entertainment destination, attracting millions of visitors annually. While the park’s journey has been marked by challenges, its eventual success serves as a testament to the power of adaptation and resilience. The lessons learned from Disneyland Paris have undoubtedly influenced Disney’s subsequent international ventures.
Right now, however, it looks like things are slipping back into their old ways, with a steady decline in visitors.
The Olympic Games in Paris commenced this week with an emotionally charged ceremony, attracting millions of sports enthusiasts from across the globe. However, it appears that the festivities have deterred visitors from Disneyland Paris Resort, as wait times and crowd levels have significantly dropped at the Parisian Disney destination.
Even with millions of tourists coming into Paris, and with Disneyland Paris just a short train ride away, it seems that the Olympic games and festivities are too vast and encapsulating for those who are visiting to miss. Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Park (soon to be Disney Adventure World) are both struggling with attendance.
These low numbers are unfortunate for 2024, as 2023 left Disneyland Paris riding high.
While Disney does not break down the earnings of individual parks in its quarterly reports, the performance of Disneyland Paris is detailed in the financial accounts of Euro Disney Associés, its French parent company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney.
Revenue rose 23.5% to an all-time high of $3.1 billion (€2.9 billion) in the year ending September 30, 2023.
Net profits reached $174.4 million (€161 million), a significant improvement from a $50.9 million (€47 million) loss the previous year. Additionally, Disneyland Paris paid Disney royalties of $169 million (€156 million) for the use of its brands and characters.
The profit increase was driven by higher attendance and increased prices for top-tier park tickets. There was also improved performance in the resort’s entertainment district and its hotels, which are themed after various US regions.
The hotels, managed by a separate Disney-owned company, generated $107.3 million (€99 million) in operating profit on $690 million (€637 million) of revenue last year.
The majority of the revenue comes from its flagship Disneyland Park and the neighboring movie-themed Walt Disney Studios, which, according to data from infrastructure analysts AECOM, attracted 15.3 million guests in 2022.
Considering both Deadpool and Wolverine have debuted at Avenger’s Campus and wait times are still so low, it is clear that those who are visiting Paris at the moment are solely here for the games, and will not use a day to go to Disneyland Paris, which is likely no the outcome the park wanted.
Now, we can see that the low attendance has forced Disney to alter their operational schedule. Sami_Parks shared, “Reminder, Disneyland park closes at 10:30 p.m.! And soon at 10 p.m. No official reason, but the drop in attendance is surely the number 1 cause.
⚠️ Rappel le parc Disneyland ferme à 22h30 ! Et prochainement à 22h00.
Aucune raison officielle, mais la chute de fréquentation est sûrement la cause numéro 1. pic.twitter.com/HF6GbjhDoL
— Sami_Parks 🎢 (@Sami_Parks) July 29, 2024
Sami continued,
“Important clarification:
Disneyland Paris did not change the schedule overnight, this decision was taken several months ago and was announced via Disney influencers, the info can also be found on the park’s official website/app calendar.
The reservation system (tickets, hotels, Annual Pass) allows Disneyland Paris to predict the number of visitors very early in order to organize itself in terms of payroll…
Disneyland Paris has therefore known perfectly well for several months that the attendance for this month of July and August 2024 is not up to par.
That explains the Annual Pass privilege tickets, the offers for stays in hotels…
Parc Astérix is also experiencing a drop in the number of visitors.”
Sadly, it seems that Disneyland Paris saw a downward trajectory even before it occurred.
Interestingly enough, we have also seen lower wait times at Walt Disney World Resort lately, with many complaining that the constant price hikes have made it impossible to financially manage a vacation.
Famous for its immersive Disney magic, Disneyland Paris has recently faced challenges related to park capacity, leading to guest frustration and highlighting the need for strategic crowd management solutions.
Recent audio announcements advising guests to postpone their visit to Walt Disney Studios Park until later in the day are not isolated incidents. Last summer, the resort faced similar issues, prompting guest access restrictions during peak hours. This recurring theme of capacity constraints underscores the need for proactive measures to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all visitors.
The reopening of the extensively refurbished Disneyland Hotel has further exacerbated the capacity issues. An influx of visitors eager to explore the revamped hotel exceeded initial expectations, creating logistical hurdles. Paid guests even encountered difficulties gaining entry, highlighting the need for improved crowd control strategies within the hotel itself.
The coming weeks may present ongoing challenges for Disneyland Paris. Enhanced communication with visitors is crucial, providing clear information about park capacity and alternative attractions or activities during peak periods. This could involve digital signage updates, mobile app notifications, and improved communication with guest services staff.
Additionally, there has been an uptick in COVID-19 cases, and the Tour de France has implemented mandated mask policies. Some are wondering if other areas of France, like Disneyland Paris, will adopt the same safety measures.
To add to the challenges, much of Disney Village is currently undergoing a construction transformation, contributing to the less-than-magical construction walls around the resort.
Have you ever wanted to visit Disneyland Paris?
