European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 12, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse A inv hmm. it a. Disneyland a quiet place to escape from it alls amps Ken George Peter pan the Little boy who refused to grow up grapples with Captain Hook. By Jayne Clark Pittsburgh Post Gazette Paris was hectic i was tired and in need of a Little Down time. So climbed aboard a local train and headed to the new Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-val6e. Providing an Oasis of Tranquillity certainly in t what Disney had in mid when it opened its theme Park 20. Miles East of Paris 2 Vij years ago. But from the beginning the place Drew at least As much criticism As it did Cheeky Disney designed fanfare. Name calling european pundits were picking on it from the Start. Quot a cultural chernobyl said one. Another writer characterized the Park As Quot a construction of hardened chewing gum and idiotic folklore taken straight out of comic books written for obese the dissing has t let up on this Side of the Atlantic either. When Disney announced it would change the name of its Park oct. 1, David Letterman came up with the top 10 rejected names for euro Disney among them euro disaster never never profit land and Beaucoup de crap american. Quot we think people All Over the world know Paris Quot said spokeswoman Anne Marie Carton by Way of explaining the name change. Quot it has a magic touch that Europe does t have right we were sitting in Walt a a restaurant in the Disneyland Paris magic kingdom that has touches that Are both european no ice in the cokes and american paper toilet seat covers in the bathroom. The magic kingdoms in Southern California and Orlando fla., might get away with claiming Quot happiest place on Earth Quot status but frankly euro Disney or Disneyland Paris was pretty depressing. The theme Park whose name since the Start has been preceded by the words Quot troubled Quot or Quot Money losing a a saudi Prince gave it a financial Booster shot last summer is changing strategy toning Down the american images. And beefing up the european influences Quot it in t that we re trying to get away from things american Quot , taking a sip of her Coke Quot it s just that we want to find things that will be loved by. People the move is a departure from former euro Disney chief Robert Fitzpatrick s Contention when the Park opened in april 1992 that Quot people Here told us Don t give us a a european Disneyland. For god s Sake give us. A real Disneyland Quot. A a can change in a Short time even in a $4 billion Park that sprawls Over 1,500 acres of former. French Farmland. A attended the opening festivities in 1992 and noticed some striking changes on my recent visit a most notably the Lack of crowds. The wait to get into the most popular attractions about half As Long As it did to wind through the empty mazes of crowd control Gates to reach the front of the line. Carton said the problem has t been a Lack of attendance 22 million people since the april 1992 opening but the fact that customers Aren t a spending enough Money Oner they pay the .$50 High. A amps Kan George Winnie the Pooh doth Are but one of hundreds of cartoon characters for Sale at the Park. A a d m a pm Stessi i vhf r 5 it a it i if / i i t in l.�. A a up a it a t los of a \ it 4rh s / a to set y a amps a amps file the Park was overrun with. Members of. The Media on press Day in october 1991. Above. To snot nearly As crowded these Days left. A amps. Ken George Cinderella s Castle is the Park s Centrepiece left. Dignitaries on hand when the Park opened from left included Bob Fitzpatrick Michael Eisner and Roy Disney above. Cinderella and her mice perform for. The crowd right. Season admission Price. To encourage consumption the Park has lowered prices on some food and souvenirs she said. There Are More self service restaurants Selling French style fare. Your Basic Ham and cheese but served on a Baguette for instance Quot. A a but a Little Mermaid Beach stif set. You Back $32, a hot dog goes for $5.go, and a kid would have to whine pretty loud to get most parents to Spring for a $35 stuffed Minnie mouse. The conversation with Carton moved on to More a ass Kon Georgo important matters. Quot Quot. A who a More popular Here. Mickey ? 1 asked. In Southern Europe Mickey is tops Northern europeans seem in prefer Donald she said. A True asked that Donald Duck cartoons were once banned in France because he did pants. Carton hesitated. Her brow furrowed Ever so slightly for just an instant then she. Regained her natural French aplomb.1 a. B. A. A Tom Mem. I be never heard that Quot she said. Distributed by Scripp Howard new Servic 12 stripes Magazine. January 12, 1995 a amps. Ken Georgo january 12, 1995 stripes Magazine
