Transformative Multi-Year Expansion Announced for WDS Paris

DellaUK

New Member
I am glad they kept it covered, because I have been there in both the freezing winter and a summer heatwave and that indoor area was an absolute lifesaver refuge from the weather both times! It did feel too narrow and busy in there before but from the video it looks more spacious and I like the design of a Hollywood street at nighttime with a twinkling night sky and trees and stuff so has the look of being outdoors. Looks fun and a definite improvement.
 

Gusey

Well-Known Member
Offer some covered areas that don’t create an ugly entrance?
That's why they're updating Studio 1 to become World Premiere, a less ugly entrance that's covered. Apart from queues, WDS has very little covered areas, especially compared to Disneyland Parc. From the top of my head, I can only think of under the Qunijet, World Premiere, and the Toy Story tunnel.
 

Vegas Disney Fan

Well-Known Member
That's why they're updating Studio 1 to become World Premiere, a less ugly entrance that's covered. Apart from queues, WDS has very little covered areas, especially compared to Disneyland Parc. From the top of my head, I can only think of under the Qunijet, World Premiere, and the Toy Story tunnel.
Maybe the results will surprise me, I’ve always hated the “studio” theme though, whether it’s HS, DCA, Universal studios, or the studio park… the fewer big square (lightly themed) boxes the better
 

Aramar

Active Member
Apart from queues, WDS has very little covered areas, especially compared to Disneyland Parc. From the top of my head, I can only think of under the Qunijet, World Premiere, and the Toy Story tunnel.

There's also some small space covered along the Spider-man ride and in the area of La Terrasse in front of Tower of Terror. I'm not sure if the former fast pass distribution area for Ratatouille is accessible (I think it became a stroller parking area). With the expansion, there are three new shelters being built around the lake.

Maybe these covered spaces are small so that people get into the shops when it's raining or when it's to hot to increase sales.
 

Sir_Cliff

Well-Known Member
Personally, I've always found everything up to exiting Studio 1 worked pretty well at WDS. The new storyline they have come up with in terms of stepping through the theatre doors into the worlds of the different movies also works. All of this makes me wonder why the need to change the name from Walt Disney Studios to Disney Adventure World?

Then again, I have more generally been surprised so many people seem to have decided that calling theme parks "studios" is an issue when they're not literally studios as I think it works well as a unifying conceit for a park with IP-based lands. It would honestly be nice if they restricted those lands to their 'studios' parks.
 

Vegas Disney Fan

Well-Known Member
We have no problems with it. Ugly it isn’t.

Especially in a park where they threw out everything learnt about climate shelter next door.
The fact DLP is (in our opinion) the most beautiful Disney park also doesn’t help studio park, it’s unfortunate the imagineers hands are tied by the original studio design because the upgrades have been generally positive.

The Remy area is beautiful but feels very out of place surrounded by Cars and Toy Story, we love the Crush coaster but the building is hideous, Mickey and the Magician is still our favorite Disney park show anywhere, we prefer the Avengers area at studios to the one in DCA, the Frozen area looks like it’s going to be beautiful… lots of positives happening at studio park… despite that it still ranks the worst Disney park we’ve been to, maybe the Frozen area will change that but there’s still lots of work to do to make it a top tier Disney park to us.

The covered walkways at DLP are impressive, they are so seamlessly done we didn’t even notice they connected nearly everything on the west side of the park our first trip.
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Must admit that I look at all those areas around the lake and wonder how that's going to work on cold, wet, and windy Parisian days and nights.
Indeed. Shelters and the larger quick serve / toilets / shelter building were added after the initial proposal.
The covered walkways at DLP are impressive, they are so seamlessly done we didn’t even notice they connected nearly everything on the west side of the park our first trip.
I must do a feature on this some day. The original design was to allow guests from the Disneyland Hotel to get to Discovery Mountain via Frontierland and Adventureland, and most opening day attractions on the way, without having to get wet (almost). Most of the route can still be traced today. We were lucky to have a tour by a CM friend pointing out all the details, some which even escaped me.
 

Bernswss

Member
Indeed. Shelters and the larger quick serve / toilets / shelter building were added after the initial proposal.

I must do a feature on this some day. The original design was to allow guests from the Disneyland Hotel to get to Discovery Mountain via Frontierland and Adventureland, and most opening day attractions on the way, without having to get wet (almost). Most of the route can still be traced today. We were lucky to have a tour by a CM friend pointing out all the details, some which even escaped me.
The original design that unfortunately was reduced. It opened with an amazing design still, from Disneyland Hotel all the way to Peter Pan's Flight via Frontierland and Adventureland. Once again, unfortunately it got slightly split in half with the creation of the Agrabah restaurant, which used to be open.
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
The original design that unfortunately was reduced. It opened with an amazing design still, from Disneyland Hotel all the way to Peter Pan's Flight via Frontierland and Adventureland. Once again, unfortunately it got slightly split in half with the creation of the Agrabah restaurant, which used to be open

As opened, you got as far as the north side of Sir Mickeys. The only damp bit was in Town Square at the fire gate next to The Storybook Store.
 

Jordan dby

Well-Known Member
i find myself spending a fair bit of time in WDSP. it doesn't have the 'magic' feel of the others because the theming and design are ill fitting and in places ugly, but the attraction list isn't far off the main park (especially when BTM or HSM are down, a lot recently) and more importantly the shows in WDSP have been fantastic.

it is however the ugliest disney park, built right next to the prettiest. if that gets fixed then with the sitting of 3 extra rides and a night show i think it will be in good shape
 

EPCOTCenterLover

Well-Known Member
i find myself spending a fair bit of time in WDSP. it doesn't have the 'magic' feel of the others because the theming and design are ill fitting and in places ugly, but the attraction list isn't far off the main park (especially when BTM or HSM are down, a lot recently) and more importantly the shows in WDSP have been fantastic.

it is however the ugliest disney park, built right next to the prettiest. if that gets fixed then with the sitting of 3 extra rides and a night show i think it will be in good shape
I'm sincerely curious, Jordan. What do you see in the Studios park that matches up fairly close with Phantom Manor, Pirates, or Small World. I don't know of anything in the Studios park that has this amount of creativity or depth of execution.
 

Aramar

Active Member
I'm sincerely curious, Jordan. What do you see in the Studios park that matches up fairly close with Phantom Manor, Pirates, or Small World. I don't know of anything in the Studios park that has this amount of creativity or depth of execution.
I'm not Jordan, but in my opinion, the Tower of Terror and Ratatouille match the level of the Disneyland Park. I love the Ratatouille area. The fountain, the shop, the brilliant themed restaurant and the ride itself. Also, personally I love the entrance to the Walt Disney Studios park with the arch, the fountain, the water tower and the big studio 1 front.

I haven't seen Together, but Mickey and the Magician is one of the best theatre shows Disney has ever made in any of the parks worldwide.
 

Jordan dby

Well-Known Member
I'm sincerely curious, Jordan. What do you see in the Studios park that matches up fairly close with Phantom Manor, Pirates, or Small World. I don't know of anything in the Studios park that has this amount of creativity or depth of execution.
its hard to do direct comparisons, because the rides serve different purposes.

think ToT is more fun than PM. Webs more fun than Buzz. SM would beat Flight force but the queue for FF is often 15 min or less, I'd take that over an hour for SM.

Remy is a great dark ride, matching peter pan. i can leave the rest of fantasy land, especially with the queues they get. my younger kids love slinky dog spin and dumbo, the rest is meh for them.

i appreciate that the castle park is full of classics and studios has the huge benefit of most of those rides being built with later technology but the point was i can fill a day as easily at studios as i can the main park. there are enough good rides, usually 2 or 3 great shows. what i miss is the atmosphere and beauty of the main park, and some nice places to sit and just enjoy being there. oh and a night time show.

similarly i am equally happy in DCA now as i am DL.
 

etc98

Well-Known Member

I’m sure I already know the answer, but with the new lake, the backside of Tower of Terror is going to be so much more visible. Are they doing anything to theme it more, or will the view from Arendelle looking back toward the entrance really just include a blank 200 foot tall wall?
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
I’m sure I already know the answer, but with the new lake, the backside of Tower of Terror is going to be so much more visible. Are they doing anything to theme it more, or will the view from Arendelle looking back toward the entrance really just include a blank 200 foot tall wall?
It’s hardly “blank”. Plus it’s purposely angled to add variation from behind as well as in front. More stepping would help break up the bulk but that’s not happening.
 

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