Disney Announces Transformative Multi-Year Expansion for Disneyland Paris

Walt Disney Studios Park to get new areas based on Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars

PARIS, February 27, 2018 – Today, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Robert A. Iger announced plans for a €2 billion, multi-year expansion for Disneyland Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais de l’Elysée in Paris. The new development will include a transformation of the Walt Disney Studios Park, adding three new areas that are based on Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars, along with multiple new attractions and live entertainment experiences.

The expansion plan is one of the most ambitious development projects at Disneyland Paris since its opening in 1992 and underscores the Company’s commitment to the long-term success of the resort as Disney’s brand beacon in Europe.

“We’re very excited about the future of Disneyland Paris and continue to invest in its long-term success,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company. “The resort is already the leading tourist destination in Europe, and the transformative expansion we announced today will add even more of our beloved characters and unparalleled storytelling to create new lands, attractions and entertainment that further elevate the guest experience and drive new opportunities for
tourism in this dynamic region.”

The new areas will infuse some of Disney’s most popular stories and characters into this unique destination, building upon the success of the resort’s 25th Anniversary Celebration and continuing to enhance the guest experience for millions of Europeans.

With over 320 million visits since 1992 and representing 6.2 percent of France’s tourism income, Disneyland Paris has played a key leadership role in tourism for the region. The resort continues to be a powerful driver of economic and social development with over 16,000 employees representing 100 nationalities. This investment will help make the region even more dynamic and appealing and open up more opportunities for French and European citizens in the tourism industry.

The multi-year development will roll out in phases beginning in 2021, significantly expanding the Walt Disney Studios Park.  In addition to the three new areas, the creative vision includes a new lake, which will be the focal point for entertainment experiences and will also connect each of the new park areas.

In the spring of 2017, Disneyland Paris kicked off its 25th Anniversary celebration including new entertainment and experiences for guests. The resort also completed a two-year refurbishment program, updating and renovating many of the classic attractions in the parks, as well as opening multiple new entertainment shows such as Mickey and the Magician, which won a 2017 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions theme park industry award for “Best Theatrical Production.” Additionally, several major renovations took place at the resort’s hotels including Disney’s Newport Bay Club, which is now a four-star hotel.

Just this month, Disneyland Paris announced plans for a new Marvel-themed attraction that will be coming to the Walt Disney Studios, part of the new Marvel area development. In 2020, the resort will open Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, a reimagining of Disney’s Hotel New York that will showcase the inspiring worlds of Iron Man, The Avengers, and Spider-Man, among others. And this summer, the Marvel Summer of Super Heroes seasonal event will take place at Disneyland Paris, where guests can meet their favourite heroes and experience new live entertainment.

What will the bedrooms of Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel look like?

Last week at the D23 Expo Japan  Bob Chapek, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, announced again the “reimagination” of the Disney’s Hotel New York at Disneyland Paris into a new Marvel-themed Hotel, just like he did last year at the D23 Expo in Anaheim.

Today, we’re thrilled to share new details of the rooms in a conversation with Sylvie Massara (Artistic Director at Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Paris).

Can you explain the concept of the future Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel to us?

When it re-opens, the Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel will evoke the contemporary sophistication of the city that was the birthplace of the Marvel Super Heroes, and the scriptwriters and artists who created them. So the renovation of Disney’s Hotel New York is based on an environment inspired by the luxurious and contemporary buildings of Manhattan! The refined and cosmopolitan interior decor will evoke the neighbourhoods of the Avengers and will display “The Art of Marvel” in public spaces. “Comic art” posters, sketches, videos, storyboards, sculptures and costumes are the many examples of the Art of Marvel that will be included in the hotel’s overall decor, just like a contemporary art gallery in Chelsea.

What inspired you in your new designs for the bedrooms?

The hotel has 476 standard rooms, 65 executive, 15 themed suites, 8 “standard” suites and 2 presidential suites. The interior decor of the bedrooms will be inspired by the urban contemporary and sophisticated style of Tony Stark, with a range of colours and finishes evoking Iron Man! The themed suites will be inspired by the world of Spider-Man and the Avengers, whilst the “standard” and presidential suites will have a more neutral decor in order to welcome our Convention clientele. As in the rooms, limited editions of the Art of Marvel will decorate the hotel’s walls, as if they were exhibited in an art gallery.

Apart from the design, are there any details that you would like to share with us relating to improving the comfort of the rooms and suites?

Apart from evoking the Marvel Super Heroes, the rooms and suites will provide larger flat-screens hidden behind a mirror, all the necessary European connections and sockets, along with a brighter bathroom with a bath or shower.

 

Disneyland Paris to re-themed Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster to a Marvel-themed attraction.

Disneyland Paris revealed today plans to re-theme their Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starting Aerosmith at the Walt Disney Studios Park to a Marvel-themed attraction.  Their plan is to bring Marvel Super Heroes to life in an epic way with a Marvel-themed attraction.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster  will close in May 2018 for the transformation to begin.

The news comes from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek during the D23 Expo Japan, where more than 2000 fans were the first to hear about the latest projects in development for Disney guests all over the world, including those for Disneyland Paris.

The new development builds on the momentum of the resort’s 25th Anniversary celebration and follows the recent news that Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is preparing to incorporate more popular stories and characters into Europe’s top tourist destination, giving Disneyland Paris guests even more entertainment experiences and attractions.

New Marvel-Themed Attraction
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will be completely reimagined into a new Marvel-themed attraction where riders will team up with Iron Man and their favourite Avengers on a high-speed, hyper-kinetic adventure.

The addition of the new attraction provides a permanent presence of Marvel making this Park even more of a must-do for guests.

 

Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel
Additionally Disney’s Hotel New York® will soon be re-imagined to become Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, becoming the first Disney Hotel to showcase the thrilling world of the Avengers. With exclusive artwork and a new design, it will be a residence fit for Tony Stark himself.

 

More Marvel Now!
And for guests who can’t wait to experience Marvel at Disneyland Paris, The Avengers will assemble this June during Marvel Summer of Super Heroes, which will bring guests face-to-face with Captain America, Spider-Man, Star-Lord and Black Widow. These heroes will also take the stage in a live-action super-production featuring cutting-edge special effects, spectacular projections, and lots of other surprises.

“These ambitious Marvel developments across Disneyland Paris will create brand new immersive Super Hero experiences for our guests, and will enhance the overall appeal of our resort,” said Catherine Powell, Présidente of Euro Disney S.A.S.