Transformative Multi-Year Expansion Announced for WDS Paris

[Supersnow84]

Kinda like an all of the above

Just like the collective amount of the project that was part of the initial announcement

 

[nickys]

Kinda like an all of the above

Just like the collective amount of the project that was part of the initial announcement

The first phase was interrupted for a year due to lockdown.

And during lockdown they cancelled Star Wars and went back to the drawing board.

When I visited 2 years ago there were still huge boards up advertising Star Wars; officially it’s cancellation hadn’t been made public.

They also had the not small task of digging out the lake as part of phase 1.

 

[marni1971]

Phase one took just over 3 years

Phase 2 is looking like a little over four.

Covid was in the middle of both when work slowed down.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I think the pace here feels more striking because they’ve added nothing to DLP. If there had been a new ride added there at some point in the last five years, this wouldn’t feel so drawn out. At WDW, a park may go as many as 10 years between additions but new things open in the other parks.

Then there’s the fact that neither Spider-Man nor Frozen are particularly strong attractions. While Lion King shows promise, they’re adding it in lieu of RotR. I doubt it will have that size or scope.

 

[Supersnow84]

This is probably a better representation of my point

Like yes I understand it takes a while to dig out a lake. But this “transformative multi year expansion” still moving at a snails pace is being tethered by a clone of a clone, a cheap reimagining of an opening day attraction and another clone (with lion king only jumping onto the scene recently)

Like how long does it take to retheme rock n roller coaster, bring in a clone from DCA then build half a clone land from Hong Kong

I know I usually sound kinda a Debby downer for Paris but I truly love Paris and I’m just really struggling to generate much hype for this besides lion king

 

[marni1971]

I think you can look at it 2 ways;

It’s a lake with one (cloned) attraction and a spinner.

Or it’s a large expansion of the park’s physical space that should spread out crowds more, with a new ride the majority of guests may not have ridden before of a popular IP, a new full serve restaurant plus a purpose built night time show arena.

I’m as cynical as the next person. Should there be more? Yes. Should Rise be opening with it? Yes. But it’s a project that’ll certainly improve the park as a whole and should make into a true full day park for the general guest (as in 10-12 hours to see and do everything at a normal pace and stopping to eat) for the first time.

The bigger picture also shouts about the new studio one, 2 new stage shows, Avengers campus with new to Europe attractions (of various levels of effort) and also the wider beautification projects. Again, could more be done? Absolutely. Is it as good as next door? Nowhere near. But will it be better than WDSP 2018? Yes.

Now the momentum needs to be maintained. Open Lion King. Open Up. Develop the other spare plots wisely. Develop something permanent for the stunt show plot. And please, add more next door. There’s been unprecedented investment over the last decade in the resort. Keep it up. Stopping now would be as big a mistake as selling off the rest of the MGM-Europe plot was.

 

[nickys]

@Supersnow84 , I do get your point. It is taking a while.

But at the same time, this is doubling (OK, I’m guessing that) the size of the park, and the lake will also be used for an evening show. And Paris is known for the quality of its shows so I’m hoping this doesn’t disappoint.

I’ll also say this, not knowing where you’re from. It’s hard for some to understand just how much the lockdown affected Europe in general. I know that, like the U.K., only essential building work was allowed to continue. People were not permitted to travel outside their immediate locale. As things eased work began again, but a second lockdown lasted from October 2020 to June 2021. That was a total of a year that it was shut ( March to July, Oct to June).

 

[Supersnow84]

I guess I’m jaded because it’s like watching a park go from genuinly awful to……fine

It seems to be the only time Disney did a multi billion dollar multi year expansion only to have the resultant park just kinda be okay.

I’ll admit, I’m biased, for most of Paris’s guests these are new attractions, but for someone who visits Disney parks it just kinda feels like “Disney clone land” (to be fair what park isn’t, I Stan Hong Kong and it’s held up by mystic manor alone)

I can see where the thought is, 3 more lands around the bay would be genuinly good. But what are the chances that lion king basically just leads to “fine enough is good enough”

Also please add something to Parc Disneyland

 

[Animaniac93-98]

 

[Animaniac93-98]

 

[cjkeating]

Then there’s the fact that neither Spider-Man nor Frozen are particularly strong attractions.

Yet I hear Spider-Man rates well with teens and under - I think the target market for the attraction - and I dare say Frozen will do the same. And for modern Disney they are the audience they are after.

It seems to be the only time Disney did a multi billion dollar multi year expansion only to have the resultant park just kinda be okay.

I’ve said this a few times in this forum before but I took a group of non-Disney people to WDSP in 2020 pre-COVID and they preferred WDSP to DLP so these rides/attractions/vibe do appeal to some people and I think the lake expansion will only make that stronger.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Then there’s the fact that neither Spider-Man nor Frozen are particularly strong attractions.

That's because they haven't had Spider-Man and Elsa appear together yet!!

 

[Gusey]

Then there’s the fact that neither Spider-Man nor Frozen are particularly strong attractions.

I do think both fit well amongst the park's lineup, escpecially as they add something not found at WDSP before: an interactive dark ride (Spiderman) and a boat dark ride and an attraction with multiple animatronics (Frozen). Web-Slingers also appears to be more widely accepted at DLP compared to DCA because of its often compared to Toy Story Mania at DCA and there is no similar equivalent at DLP

 

[marni1971]

 

[marni1971]

At least when the promenade is open there will be almost daily over the fence close up updates as this takes shape!

 

[J4546]

this is gonna be beautiful. And having the frozen flume ride is a much bigger deal in europe than in US because neither DAW or DLP have a flume ride. Most people in europe have never ridden the frozen ride before so its all brand new to them.

 

[lazyboy97o]

this is gonna be beautiful. And having the frozen flume ride is a much bigger deal in europe than in US because neither DAW or DLP have a flume ride. Most people in europe have never ridden the frozen ride before so its all brand new to them.

Pirates of the Caribbean and “it’s a small world” were opening day attractions at Disneyland Paris.

 

[J4546]

I forgot that this ride was a massive boat ride and not what I always think of as flume. So disregard me. Ive always consider a flume ride a much smaller ride vehicle like TBA.

 

[CoasterFan27]

I guess I’m jaded because ...

Important to remember that while Disney do benefit from fans revisiting (and there is a growing attendance of couples which will adjust things over time), right now their core audience is still families that go to the parks basically once or twice per child, ever.

In that manner, it doesn't have to blow anyone away on their 3rd visit, it just needs to deliver on the fantasy possibly just one time and for many people being able to "go on the Spiderman ride" is that in itself (considering that many visitors don't even attend many theme parks beyond kids ones like Legoland).

Proof is they sell thousands of tickets every day and the rides have hour long queues, if people didn't like it or feel it was worth it they wouldn't pay, and word of mouth would mean studios was empty while the other was full.

Also opinions vary, I personally love spiderman I just really enjoy the stupid way you interact with it "thipping" your arms around and the relatively basic themeing is effective enough. I would otherwise say I generally dislike those style of rides, like Maus au Chocolat (Phantasialand) is fun and well themed but a bit meh, everything comes together well enough for me with spiderman to really enjoy. Similar to again Phantasialand's Mystery Castle is on paper a bit of a naff ride but it just works for me and it's one of my top rides there. Clearly a lot of other people seem to enjoy spiderman too given wait times.

Perhaps with a few more rides added in Spring the wait times may adjust to relay preferences more than just people trying to fill time given it's currently a 2/3rds day park.

 

[Loose Pebble]

It seems to be the only time Disney did a multi billion dollar multi year expansion only to have the resultant park just kinda be okay.

Cries in Epcot fan