Current Special Offers, News and Gossip

Last update: March 11th, 1999.

The big story at the moment is the long-awaited announcement of the plans to commence work on a second theme park at the Disneyland Paris site - Disney Studios Europe - at a cost of some 4,000m French Francs. It is hoped that construction will begin in 1999 ready for an opening date of 12 April 2002, to coincide with Disneyland Paris's tenth anniversary. One attraction rumour is that instead of the Indiana Jones stunt show found at Disney-MGM Studios in Florida we will see a James Bond equivalent.

DLP Press Release, 27 January, 1999:
Euro Disney S.C.A. has announced it has launched a pilot study regarding the creation of a second Theme Park, on the Disneyland Paris site. It has opened discussions with the French Public Authorities in the framework of the 1987 Agreement which foresees the development of a second Theme Park at the latest in the year 2011. This project, which remains to be confirmed once the technical and financial conditions have been satisfied, would reinforce the tourist potential of the Ile-de-France region, generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs and would confirm Disneyland Paris as the number one tourist destination in Europe. It would be within the scope of the site's development, recently accelerated by the beginning of the construction of the Val d'Europe Town Center, including above all the International Shopping Center, scheduled to open in the year 2000.

It is still strongly rumoured that the next Disneyland Paris thrill-ride to be built will be Splash Mountain, to be constructed where the current Chaparral Stage is located, possibly for opening in 2001 or 2002. However with all the work soon to be started on the second park, along with the potential problems of the cold winter weather on a ride which is designed to get you soaked, this does now seem more remote.

The now-traditional "Kids Go Free" offer will applies for 1999 from 3 January until 25 March, giving one free child place for every adult holiday package booked. For questions and conversations with other Disneyland Paris enthusiasts on the Internet, there is now a dedicated DLP mailing list. To join, send an email to dlp@delicolor.co.uk.

From the 1997 Annual Report: "The development of Val d'Europe will include a large shopping mall to open in the second half of 2000, a second RER [metro] station on site, the closing of the ring road around the site and other roads, a highly diversified residential programme of more than 1,610 units, and an international business park. Construction will start in April 1998."

So, wanna buy a brick? Disneyland Paris is taking a leaf out of Walt Disney World's book and is now selling personalised commemorative hexagonal bricks (size approx. 10 inches) which will be laid along 'Promenade Disney' leading to the entrance of the theme park. The bricks cost FFr 495 with a choice of four different styles. Bricks can be booked at the Annual Passport Office at the park or via the Disneyland Paris Direct phone numbers (allow eight weeks after reservation for installation).

February 1997: Disneyland Paris chairman, Philippe Bourguigon, resigned from his position as CEO and left the company to become president of the French holiday company Club Mediterranee. He is replaced by Gilles C. Pelisson, his previous number two.

Festival Disney has had a name-change: it has taken a leaf out of Walt Disney World's book and become known as the Disney Village. It now also has its own brand-new line in logo merchandise (shirts, mugs, caps, etc).

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