Transformative Multi-Year Expansion Announced for WDS Paris

[Sir_Cliff]

Given a finite budget I’d rather it went somewhere else instead of a full on get you wet ride in Northern Europe. But that’s just me.

That's where I am, too.

I wouldn't describe myself as being against them building a water ride in Paris (Splash is/was my favourite ride, after all), but I don't think it would make the most sense when evaluating where to spend the money on a new e-ticket. There will always be weeks if not months of the year when demand for a water ride that gets you wet as part of the thrill is slim to none, so why not spend that money on a ride that will hopefully be popular all year round?

I did notice even on Route 66 that you could see where people were staying away from the side of the tram to avoid getting splashed in Catastrophe Canyon last weekend as it was bitterly cold! As an aside, I was surprised at how much I preferred this version to the previous tram tour. The new Cars version is at least a nice, fun ride for kids, whereas the old one was a bit embarrassing for all but the biggest Dinotopia and Reign of Fire fans.

 

[UpAllNight]

I’m shocked they haven’t gone with a Beauty & the Beast expansion for Fantasyland.

Feel like there’s probably a lot of plans for Paris, but they’re sluggish ok’ing them. I’ve just had a survey through about a recent visit and I’ve made my thoughts known - I credit myself for Hagrids and Velocicoaster after a survey in 2015 haha

 

[Animaniac93-98]

As an aside, I was surprised at how much I preferred this version to the previous tram tour. The new Cars version is at least a nice, fun ride for kids, whereas the old one was a bit embarrassing for all but the biggest Dinotopia and Reign of Fire fans.

Since it's likely to stay for a while, I would suggest adding 2 more show scenes like Catastrophe Canyon and more desert landscaping to the ride. I think it has potential to be a solid family ride, but like so much of the park is constrained by its budget.

 

[BrianLo]

No one rides it full stop at the moment! Don’t get me wrong, it was admirable ambitious. But even if it is based indoors the wet factor afterwords of something similar in WDSP would have no end of queues for cold and flu drugs afterwards at guest services!

An excellent opportunity for CM's to educate the masses against silly idioms like 'you'll catch a cold'.

Hypothermia on the other hand; it sounds like a great upsell opportunity for hot beverages and blankets!

 

[LondonTom]

I did notice even on Route 66 that you could see where people were staying away from the side of the tram to avoid getting splashed in Catastrophe Canyon last weekend as it was bitterly cold! As an aside, I was surprised at how much I preferred this version to the previous tram tour. The new Cars version is at least a nice, fun ride for kids, whereas the old one was a bit embarrassing for all but the biggest Dinotopia and Reign of Fire fans.

Less of the slander for Reign of Fire

But then I am someone who kind of enjoyed Armageddon – Les Effets Speciaux and is sad that its gone

 

[marni1971]

Less of the slander for Reign of Fire

But then I am someone who kind of enjoyed Armageddon – Les Effets Speciaux and is sad that its gone

Armageddon was technically very clever and we enjoyed it. Reign of Fire… we were waiting for the giant Animatronic to pop out the hole!

 

[mrflo]

I hope they will still keep or even expand the Hollywood atmosphere & theming. Would not actually mind them turning the backstage restaurant in a more realistic Hollywood Brown Derby setting.

 

[mrflo]

* "Avatar : the World of Pandora" is seriously considered for WDS between the Frozen land and the Cars Road Trip pads. Although even in the best case scenario it wouldn't open before 2029/2030. A raft ride would replace Navi River Journey.

* Star Wars is no longer planned for the WDS expansion, if it ever comes to fruition it would be constructed on the Discoveryland expansion pad area with a bike coaster as the main E-ticket. The Dicoveryland Theater building will be torn down by 2029. Current construction works backstage are reducing the CM parking lot footprint...

The Lion King land has been rumoured to be a replacement for SW for the last two years. So it sounds plausible that this has been actually planned and might happen. While I think a Splash Mt. type ride (LK or Jungle Book) would be a great addition to Adventureland, I don't think it is the best choice for WDS. The Studios need another E-ticket ride that provides capacity and appeal year-round. For example, Europa-Park is closing all their water rides in the winter season. And even with a reduced splash mode like in TDL, it still might prevent some visitors to go on the ride during the cold months.

With the selection of another animation IP, the WDS lakeside expansion would become Fantasyland 2.0 - I guess to appeal to the families that are already visiting DLP. I would prefer them to pick themes & IPs that would not fit well into DL Parc and provide WDS its own identity. This could also attract completely new visitors who currently believe that DLP is just about Disney princesses, cartoons and for little children.

If LK as the third land is becoming a reality, I doubt that we will see Avatar and SW:GE coming to DLP any time soon. Those plans as the next phase might be on the table like some many other options over the last two decades in DLP. But with all the budget cuts that the current expansion phase is already facing, it seems unrealistic that the TWDC would suddenly double down and add those expensive attractions shortly after. I would not even be surprised if the third land is delayed until 2028/29.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I hope they will still keep or even expand the Hollywood atmosphere & theming. Would not actually mind them turning the backstage restaurant in a more realistic Hollywood Brown Derby setting.

Yeah, I think it would be a shame if they took away the Old Hollywood atmosphere. Honestly, I still think Studio 1 kind of works as a transition to the main areas of the park. Even though the sets are somewhat minimal, there is still a certain wow factor to walking into the soundstage and suddenly finding yourself in a nighttime Hollywood setting surrounded by neon.

One thing I do wonder is whether it will become a bit of a bottleneck as the park becomes more popular. It's kind of the anti-Disneyland Parc entrance where you have not only Main Street USA, but the arcades on both sides to keep people moving at all times.

 

[fradz]

I hope they will still keep or even expand the Hollywood atmosphere & theming. Would not actually mind them turning the backstage restaurant in a more realistic Hollywood Brown Derby setting.

Speaking of Studio 1, it was discussed in insider circles yesterday. Ally on twitter expands a bit more on it:



Studio 1: The shop facades will remain, the facades on the restaurant side won't. There will be many artifical trees. Will have a "village square" style. Transitions through facades of well-known theaters. From what I can see, it absolutely does not solve the problem of circulation width.


Construction expected to start towards the end of 2023. So indeed, visit it before the end of the Summer.

 

[marni1971]

So indeed, visit it before the end of the Summer.

Oh okay then

 

[fradz]

Oh okay then

I mean... With Dreams coming back and all that, anyone planning to visit DLP in the future has to be booking their trips right? I know you already did quite a while back.

I'll be at the parks a few times before the end of September, excited to show it off to some first-timers too!

 

[marni1971]

I mean... With Dreams coming back and all that, anyone planning to visit DLP in the future has to be booking their trips right? I know you already did quite a while back.

I'll be at the parks a few times before the end of September, excited to show it off to some first-timers too!

Us too! Including with a first time American WDW veteran

 

[mrflo]

Studio 1: The shop facades will remain, the facades on the restaurant side won't. There will be many artifical trees. Will have a "village square" style. Transitions through facades of well-known theaters. From what I can see, it absolutely does not solve the problem of circulation width.

I can't wait to see the first concept art of this. Right now I am having a hard time picturing how all those trees and the theatre facades will look like and whether this is actually an upgrade or not.

It is interesting how much of the investment is going into restaurants and toilets so far.

 

[marni1971]

It is interesting how much of the investment is going into restaurants and toilets so far.

And paving. Don’t forget the paving.

 

[Moon knight]

I can't wait to see the first concept art of this. Right now I am having a hard time picturing how all those trees and the theatre facades will look like and whether this is actually an upgrade or not.

Hope it helps...

 

[mrflo]

Hope it helps...

Stylistically having many trees within a restaurant looks very nice. I could see this in a modern restaurant in Disney Village or even Epcot & Sequoia Lodge. Though thematically I still don't get the connection between the theatre facades and entering an area with lots of trees behind. But hey, it's WDS after all.

When TWDC did the overhaul for DCA they had a little preview center laying out the transformation of the park, showcasing what was about to come and explaining the story behind it. Like explaining how Buena Vista Street is reflecting the California of the 1920s when Walt Disney first arrived there. The original announcement for the WDS expansion is now five years ago, some of the original plans have changed and the famous artwork is outdated. I think it would be nice to have something for WDS where they would share an updated overall plan - showcasing how the park will look like after the completion of this expansion phase and how the new story/theme of each area and the whole park fits together. Of course, this means assuming that they actually thought about this in the process.

 

[IMDREW]

Stylistically having many trees within a restaurant looks very nice. I could see this in a modern restaurant in Disney Village or even Epcot & Sequoia Lodge. Though thematically I still don't get the connection between the theatre facades and entering an area with lots of trees behind. But hey, it's WDS after all.

When TWDC did the overhaul for DCA they had a little preview center laying out the transformation of the park, showcasing what was about to come and explaining the story behind it. Like explaining how Buena Vista Street is reflecting the California of the 1920s when Walt Disney first arrived there. The original announcement for the WDS expansion is now five years ago, some of the original plans have changed and the famous artwork is outdated. I think it would be nice to have something for WDS where they would share an updated overall plan - showcasing how the park will look like after the completion of this expansion phase and how the new story/theme of each area and the whole park fits together. Of course, this means assuming that they actually thought about this in the process.

Hard to see any “thought” they put in so far, but Im just hoping it’s because I don’t have the full picture. Though them not showing any plans like that for such a massive overhaul of a park makes one wonder.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

There won't be trees behind facades, that wouldn't make any sense... The cheap current restaurant facades will be removed and the current dining area will be similar to Sunshine Seasons at The Land pavilion in Epcot as far as the configuration is concerned. There will also be some kind of divider between the dining area and the main alley. The mezzanine will stay.

There are multiple reasons behind the lack of any "blue sky cellar", this project is far more complicated than DCA's expansion plan. The focus isn't to provide some much needed placemaking, but rather expanding the current footprint of the park with 3 entirely new lands built from scratch + a freaking NEW lake ! The plans are more likeley to change from one year to another, and oh boy did they change overtime... The budget dedicated to the placemaking of this park is unfortunately secondary. There are plans to rename Front Lot into "Hyperion Studios" or "Walt Disney Plaza" (the initial name of BVS) and Production Courtyard into "Theater District" but those budgets solely depend on "what's left". The Hyperion Studios would necessitate the removal of the Fantasia fountain and the Ear-ffel Tower to fit the time period of the 1920s, whereas Toon Studio would have to be entirely rethemed to fit the 1950's era of Theater District.

In the best case scenario, Front Lot will get a vintage overlay with old posters, the Storytellers statue, old cars and the famous neon signage from the early decades of the WDC along with the removal of the Earfel Tower and the Fantasia statue. But they will probably use this overhaul of Front Lot to pay tribute to the 100 years of the company and thus have some references to both Burbank and Hyperion studios. They haven't took their final decision on this part yet, except for the Studio 1 case.

Why on earth would they remove the Earful Tower?

 

[LondonTom]

One thing I do wonder is whether it will become a bit of a bottleneck as the park becomes more popular. It's kind of the anti-Disneyland Parc entrance where you have not only Main Street USA, but the arcades on both sides to keep people moving at all times.

Just take that MSUSA idea and open up the sides of Studio 1 as a guest path. (The left side is already used as an exit sometimes? I know I've gone out that way a few times )