Transformative Multi-Year Expansion Announced for WDS Paris

[nickys]

There is lots of discussion on the French fan forums right now. I am not reading much about the (mini?) land itself but mainly about its (main?) attraction. Here is one comment by the member disneylandmagic:

"the best log* flume ever made at Disney / many AAs / 14 min of ride time / more than 20 scenes"

*People also hint that it might not be a typical log flume ride but using a higher capacity boat as e.g. Jurassic Park - The Ride.

A water ride in Paris where there’s a good chance of getting soaked? Are they completely mad??? So people get wet and then what? They’re miserable for the rest of the day. I always assumed that’s why Splash Mountain wasn’t built at DLP.

 

[IMDREW]

Well, I rode Splash in Tokyo in heart of winter and had a great time. It could work.

 

[Toni25]

Well, I rode Splash in Tokyo in heart of winter and had a great time. It could work.

Of course it could work, the ride could mostly be taking place indoors, with maybe a drop or two that are also inside, with minimal/no splashing on the guests and a final drop section that is outside...I really don't think it's THAT big of a deal or unsuitable for the weather. Summers are super hot anyway, they could turn the sprinklers on and keep it drier for winter.
From what I've read & seen, Tokyo's version doesn't really "splash".
If it's really a 12-minute ride (the way some hinted here), with a queue that's also mostly inside, it could be great cover from the rain. +good marketing for the company to sell raincoats to guests

 

[mrflo]

I would use the same argument with Splash Mt. in Tokyo to get one for Adventureland. Though average temperatures in Paris are still lower than in Tokyo. The winter season tends to be a bit harsher in DLP. Europa-Park in Germany has a similar climate as Paris and is closing all of their outdoor water rides during the winter months. I have even seen posts of Splash Mt. in Tokyo where the ride had to close or was pretty much abandoned due to snow.

Nevertheless, I agree that they still can make it work by reducing the amount of outdoor portions of the ride to a minimum and limiting the splash factor during winter. I would have just picked a ride system that is more suitable year-round at this stage of the WDS expansion.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

The only way I could really see a Splash-style ride work would be if you briefly emerged for the drop and then quickly disappeared indoors again at the bottom of the drop. In general, you'd have to really tone down the amount of water that gets into the log/boat from Splash, at least during colder months.

I kind of feel that there are ways to work around the issues with this type of ride system to make it work in Paris, but once you start enumerating them the question becomes whether it is the best ride system for a thrill ride in that location. At least part of the thrill with Splash Mountain was, well, the splash. Similarly, rapids rides are in part supposed to be thrilling because you get wet. If that element would make the ride too unpleasant for 6 or so months a year, it suggests that it might be time to looking at other options.

 

[Haymarket]

View attachment 749863

From the old resort model, it looks like at one time they'd planned on having a value resort near the third park site. The buildings and their arrangement look somewhat like the All Star resorts.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Parc Asterix has somehow figured out how to have multiple water rides.

 

[Swissmiss]

Parc Asterix has somehow figured out how to have multiple water rides.

I believe Parc Astérix is closed during the coldest months of the year.

 

[cjkeating]

Modern water rides can have the splash they cause from drops controlled and any other intentional water sprays can be turned off or reduced to not touch the riders.

I think what we should be focusing on is some of the best "classic" Disney rides are flume based rides so are a great ride system for Imagineering to utilise.

Also don't forget 2 of the 4 new rides at Tokyo's Fantasy Springs are flume rides.

 

[mrflo]

I think what we should be focusing on is some of the best "classic" Disney rides are flume based rides so are a great ride system for Imagineering to utilise.

Also don't forget 2 of the 4 new rides at Tokyo's Fantasy Springs are flume rides.

How would you define flume rides? To me Pirates is still more of a classic boat ride with some gentle drops. So far I would have only considered Splash Mountain as a Disney flume ride - still one of my all-time favourite attractions though.

The only way I could really see a Splash-style ride work would be if you briefly emerged for the drop and then quickly disappeared indoors again at the bottom of the drop. In general, you'd have to really tone down the amount of water that gets into the log/boat from Splash, at least during colder months.

I like the idea. It could be similar to what they have done at TDS with the drop at Journey to the Center of the Earth - of course with a different ride system.

 

[Haymarket]

This is Studio 1 presently, right?

This is how it'll look after the renovation:

Apart from the landscaping, is the cinema look much better? The present look has a certain balance to it, doesn't it? Maybe it just needs some landscaping in front?

 

[Sir_Cliff]

This is Studio 1 presently, right?
View attachment 752728

This is how it'll look after the renovation:

View attachment 752727

Apart from the landscaping, is the cinema look much better? The present look has a certain balance to it, doesn't it? Maybe it just needs some landscaping in front?

I think that is actually Studio 2 in the second picture (without too much of a change):

 

[Haymarket]

I think that is actually Studio 2 in the second picture (without too much of a change):

Thanks. That's a relief. It looks like there're no images of the front of Studio 1 renovation available to the public yet.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Thanks. That's a relief. It looks like there's no images of the front of Studio 1 renovation available to the public yet.

View attachment 752737

Do we know if they changing it much apart from the awning at the back?

 

[Haymarket]

Do we know if they changing it much apart from the awning at the back?

Is the awning going in the back? WDW.NT says "The entrance into the park (on the left in the above rendering) will have a new awning and resemble a cinema." I guess then they mean that the entrance to the (rest) of the park is the back of Studio 1 then?

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Is the awning going in the back? WDW.NT says "The entrance into the park (on the left in the above rendering) will have a new awning and resemble a cinema." I guess them they mean that the entrance to the (rest) of the park is the back of Studio 1 then?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the left is this view:

 

[Haymarket]

Ah - from the caption to that image in the original post:

"In this sectional view, we can see the two facades on the entrance and exit side of studio 1. The park is located on the left, behind a reproduction of the facade of a famous cinema. The canopy will allow the transition to the cinematic universes of the Walt Disney Company."

So the front probably won't be changed. Good. I kind of like it now.

 

[Haymarket]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the left is this view:

View attachment 752739

I think you're right. This image seems to show the awning from above (dark green).

 

[BrianLo]

Thanks for posting all of that! It really reaffirms for me the sense that it is a concept fans have been playing with for years (imagine a Lion King ride with a replica of Pride Rock as the facade!) but that if Disney was going to do they probably would have done by now. Again, I guess we'll see. I find the silence of insiders the thing that most makes me think it's at least a serious proposal.

The climate thing, though, really makes me think they wouldn't do this. I know they have Splash at Tokyo, but I really doubt Europeans are going to be keen on a flume ride with any significant outdoor section for large chunks of the year. I went during an unusually cold snap back in February and even Storybook Land Canal Boats was a little painful with a big jacket and gloves! If they're going to invest the $100million+ in a new ride, an outdoor ride that gets you wet really doesn't make sense. If it's an indoor flume ride like Frozen Ever After, well, wouldn't that a bit too similar to Frozen Ever After for a second big attraction around the lake?

They have the Flying Dutchmen at Efteling and whatever that raft ride is called.

It's also highly possible the entire attraction is indoors? I think the Splash analogue sticks in everyone's brain, but it doesn't need to be partially outdoors as much or even at all. Or a Crushes coaster type moment for some kinetic energy, but far far shorter than Storybook Land Canal Boats.

 

[DonniePeverley]

So what happened to the 10 year plan?

Has it become a 20 year plan now ?