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Credit: Leo Rod, FlickrWhat would you do if you spent thousands on a Disney vacation and the theme park issued a notice telling you to come back later? It seems impossible, but that is exactly what guests visiting Disneyland Paris are facing this weekend.
Disneyland Paris is made up of Disneyland Park as well as Walt Disney Studios, and it has been boosting in terms of popularity and tourism over the past few years. Just recently, The Guardian shared on how the European park helped generate tons of revenue for The Walt Disney Company while they were in dire need, “Disney’s Parisian theme park complex has delivered a welcome boost to the embattled Hollywood giant, generating $343.4m (€317m) in profits and royalties despite a wave of strikes last summer.”
Disneyland Paris is celebrating a year of record-breaking success! Revenue soared to an all-time high of $3.1 billion (€2.9 billion), a jump of 23.5% compared to the previous year. This impressive feat is even more remarkable considering they turned a loss into a net profit of $174.4 million (€161 million).
The key to this turnaround? Both a rise in room rates at their themed hotels and the enduring appeal of Disney magic. While the entertainment district and themed hotels make up a smaller portion of total revenue, they’re powerhouses for profit, generating a significant 56.6%. And let’s not forget the iconic parks! Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park continue to be a massive draw, welcoming over 15.3 million guests in 2022 according to data.
It’s clear that Disneyland Paris is in a prime position for continued success.
Lately, and over the past year, we have seen a massive issue at Disneyland Paris when it comes to space for guests. Over the summer last year, the park was advising guests to leave between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. if they did not want to deal with increased crowds, which essentially means they were asking guests to pay full price for a half day experience, without any fireworks if they wanted to enjoy their time at the parks.
The parks have also been hitting capacity leading up to this busy Easter weekend. Only guests with a ticket and park reservation were able to get in while the others had to stay behind the green barricade, barred from the theme parks.
The Disneyland Hotel has also enacted capacity limits for guests wanting to see the hotel, making guests sign up for a virtual queue with a return time, as if it were an E-ticket attraction like Disney World’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Today, Disney sent a mass alert to everyone on the Disneyland Paris app, telling guests that Walt Disney Studios Park is far too crowded at the moment, and that if guests wanted to visit the theme park but have a two-park ticket, they should go to Disneyland Park instead and “come back later”.
Disneyland Paris reporters DLP Report shared this crowd warning:
A crowding warning is in effect today for Walt Disney Studios Park. Have a magical day.
A crowding warning is in effect today for Walt Disney Studios Park. Have a magical day. pic.twitter.com/hljSGNgq7l
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) March 31, 2024
A one-day ticket for Disneyland Paris that grants you access to both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios run at around $147.86 per person, which is about $30 more than a single park ticket. At the moment, details on refunds have not been provided by Disneyland Paris.
Disneyland Paris is investing big in its future, especially at Walt Disney Studios Park to increase capacity. Their recent expansion includes the Avengers Campus, part of a whopping $2.5 billion project. But the fun doesn’t stop there! Next up, they’re building a land themed around the mega-hit movie Frozen. The land will also feature a Tangled ride.
Walt Disney Studios Park is also shutting down their main entrance, Studio 1, next month for a one-year refurbishment; with so much construction and closed areas in the park, capacity and guest enjoyment will likely get worse before it gets better. Disney has even advised guests to leave the park once Studio 1 closes if they want affordable food, as many quick-service spots will shut down.
This focus on expansion is reflected in their finances. The value of their assets under construction nearly doubled last year, reaching $754 million (€696 million). This jump is primarily due to the development of the new Frozen land at Walt Disney Studios Park and renovations at the Disneyland Hotel. Speaking of the Disneyland Hotel, this iconic pink palace recently reopened its doors in January. And for those seeking ultimate Disney magic (and a hefty price tag!), the hotel now boasts a Frozen-inspired royal suite reportedly costing up to £9,000 per night!
Do you think that Disneyland Paris has a capacity issue?