Defunctland: The Failure of Euro Disneyland 

I think the French might have forgiven everything wrong with Euro Disney if Michael Eisner had simply agreed never to try to speak French ever again.

Did Disney really think that banning wine from a theme park based in France was going to go over well?

There's something very fitting about Euro Disneyland's opening having been disrupted in part by a French railroad strike. _All_ significant historical events in western Europe have to be complicated by a French railroad strike. It's a rule.

"My only fear is that we're too successful" is the shareholder meeting equivalent of saying "my main weakness is that I work too hard."

Here's another problem: Europe HAS castles. Everywhere. There are so many of them that the general public response to some of them is, "oh yeah, that place. Eh." So while a European-style castle/palace would be very special in America (which has no European architecture older than about 300 years) and in Japan (which has a distinct architectural culture), it would just come across as an annoying parody of the landscape in Europe. Edit: it's been three years. My perspective has grown and changed. Some people agree, some people disagree. Overall it's a fun conversation and nuanced in so many ways.

8:20 reminds me of when walmart came to germany and tried to ban labor unions, employees dating, as well as implementing greeters and daily chants of 'Walmart!Walmart!" at morning meetings, only to be met with a very stern "we don't do that here" by germans.

The way Eisner's voice cracks at 'EuroDisney' has something eerily foreboding, knowing now how much a stone it was around his neck.

As a European, there's only one thing I can say: No matter where they had build the park, any place would have been a better choice than France for so many reason.

“We didn’t come in and say okay, we’re going to put a beret and a Baguette on Mickey Mouse.” *Insert Mickey Mouse With Beret And A Baguette* You made me like the video

the fact kevin made subtitles exclusively in french, and the fact I've seen no one comment on it, is probably a bigger injustice than Euro Disney ever was. Kevin is a comedic mastermind who can make the existance of normal, uncomedic captions hilarious

Disney: "We uphold the individual freedoms and liberties of the American spirit!" Also Disney: "NO AFROS OR ASYMMETRICAL HAIRSTYLES"

When I was a boy, I and my family went to Euro Disneyland right after it opened. I was so excited by the slogan "Come and meet your favourite cartoon characters." Well I went all over that park and I couldn't find Bugs Bunny anywhere!

"And they wanted not a Mickey with slanted eyes, but a mouse that roared American" That line did not age well lol

“We didn’t come in and say okay, we’re going to put a baguette and beret on Mickey Mouse.” *CUT TO* I choked on my water. Dammit Kevin.

I always thought Eurodisney was a weird idea. In addition to the castle, most of Disney’s animated movies, which are the themes for the Disneyland rides, are based on European fairy tales. So Disney is trying to sell back to Europeans a shallow, cartoon version of their own culture, interpreted by Americans. Who thought that would be a winner?

They made three big miscalculations with Eurodisney: 1. While Disney was common knowledge in Europe, Disney is based on original European fairy tales, and the Disney version was always somewhat seen as the Americanised, commercialised, dumbed down version of that European heritage. Especially on the continent this was true. So many were not really interested in and/or somewhat appalled at the blatant commercialism and attempt to sell us back our heritage. The fairy tales I grew up with were the original, way darker and somewhat scarier ones than the Disney version. And so Disney, especially Disneyland, even as a kid felt incredibly fake, censored and even childish. 2. Many European countries already had lively, vibrant, diverse and locally inspired cartoons, strips and even theme parks already in place. But this was especially true in France and its surrounding countries, where an extremely extensive comic strip industry already existed and still exists to this day. France already had Parc Asterix and others, the Dutch had the Efteling, the Germans phantasialand, and so on. Even little Belgium where I live, already had multiple quite good attraction parks like Walibi, Bobbejaanland, etc. and quite a lot of people loved these parks and grew up with them. So Disneyland often seemed very much like arrogant American imposters trying to sell the "fake" Americanised fairy tale. Disneyland seemed to think they were expanding into a vacuum, when they most definitely weren't, especially not in France or on the continent. I often think Disneyland would have been far more successful in the UK, since the Brits have always been far closer to American culture than the continent. 3. And lastly, while in the USA a fairytale castle, fantasy scenery, the small town USA and other Disney style scenery might seem quant, in Europe it feels incredibly, massively fake. Every city or town in Europe has ancient buildings, churches, castles and so on. Every day you can walk through ACTUAL medieval or ancient scenery. I can literally walk past buildings 1000y old every day, and there's an actual original castle right in the city center you can see and visit. And this is true all over Europe. So this makes the Disney fake scenery look and feel EXTREMELY fake and makes it look and feel very much like a cheap kitchy imitation. Why on earth would you go there if it feels like a cheap knock off? Especially when there's other parks that are at least as good in their rides, often way cheaper, and don't feel as fake to a European? Disneyland tried to copy and paste an American style park to Europe, but this was a flawed mindset from the start.

long ago, the 3 disney parks lived together in harmony. then, everything changed when Michael Eisner attacked.

My Dad took my little brother and I to Euro Disney when we were kids. I think I was 8 and my little brother was 5? It rained for the entire trip... One of my very best memories ever was riding Big Thunder Mountain five times in a row and getting absolutely drenched and then going back to the Western themed hotel and eating junk food for dinner while Dad dried our shoes off on the radiator. Thanks Dad. Love you forever.

as a 19yo french girl, i had never heard of all of that... but knowing my people it totally make sense that they were angry about that park opening, since we pretty much hate on anything that has to do with americans. now, despite living in lyon and not near paris at all, i don't think i know anyone my age that has never been to disneyland. it's probably never as packed as the one in the us tho, but i had a great experience when i went 10 years ago, and i've never heard any people complaining about their experience in that park. the public opinion definitely changed over the years!

I think its very smart to create a "retro" style Future/Tomorrow/Discoveryland to keep it from becoming outdated so fast like in the original park.

" Je dEcLaIrE EwrRo - dISni - ofFiCiaLmEn oEuVeErTtTtT"

“It would be like going to a production of Hamlet and everyone looking different than what you expected...” You mean The Lion King?

I don't think Disney realized that we view them differently over here in Europe. Most people here see Disneyland as a park based on the films, not a separate part of the Disney empire as it seems it's viewed in the States. That's why we find stuff like Frontierland and the EPCOT stuff a bit weird as it's not linked to films, and if it is, it's stuff like 20,000 Leagues, live action stuff that pop culture didn't pick up. That's what pretty much everyone I've ever met thinks anyway.

My dad still has a t shirt from Euro Disney, refuses to let it get worn out because he can't replace it. This was super interesting as someone who's only grown up knowing Disneyland Paris and thinking it was a success

Say you're a douchebag without *saying* you're a douchebag: "My biggest fear is that we will be... *too* successful"

Europeans: **sullenly** "Euro" is associated with business, currency, and commerce. Disney: **nodding enthusiastically** Yes, and?

As a European who has been to Paris multiple times and never went to Disneyland Paris, I think the problem is that we have sooo many other attractions that going to such a theme park seems like a waste of time.

What really saved it was the fact that they started selling alchohol. They really offended the French and the whole of Europe in general by banning alchohol.

I remember this from a British pov. When Disney first announced they were looking at building a park in Europe, everyone, and I mean everyone, assumed it would be built in the South of Spain. Great year round weather. A huge existing tourist base, from France, Germany, UK, Ireland and Scandanavia. Comparatively low wages. When they announced Paris, no one could believe it. They have the same weather as London, wet, grey and chilly except for the middle of summer! I just assumed there'd been some backhanders from the French government, but if even they weren't keen, I don't know what caused this decision.

This was so interesting. As someone from the UK I always thought it was successful because every kid I knew went. It was the only affordable way for families to take their kids to disneyland, they just can't afford the thousands to go to and stay in America. I had no idea it had such a rocky start and all the history behind it.

"ok we're NOT gonna put a beret and a baguette on Mickey Mouse" *proceeds to do just that*

The failure of Euro Disney is what I call “the perfect example of how to NOT build a theme park in Paris”. After that, we got Club Disney, DisneyQuest, AND Hong Kong Disney, which proves that nobody from Disney (like Eisner) learned anything from the opening of Euro Disneyland.

That Hamlet comparison falls apart when you remember that Disney made Hamlet with Lions

Funny how Disney totally missed the difference in culture, assuming France was as purely capitalist as the US. The French expect a lot more in terms of workers rights and freedoms and hold more power than in the US, no wonder so many of them left

"It would be like going to see a production of 'Hamlet' in which everyone looked different than you expected. Would you ever go again?" made me sputter at the screen. Hoo boy.

Calling it Euro Disneyland was probably the worst of these ideas because the euro is the currency used in Europe, it's like calling the American Disneyland "Dollar Disneyland" Which is honestly Disney summed up in 2 words

the biggest failure of euro disney was michael eisner's french pronunciation

Euro Disney: /bans wine Also Euro Disney: 10:39 /allows gunfights A+ cultural sensitivity there, Disney.

As awful as Eisner’s attempt at French was in that ribbon cutting, you have to admit, that whole orchestra swelling and Mickey’s entrance from the castle was genuinely awesome.

Something about Eisner’s poor French and the way his voice broke on the word “Disney” always cracks me up.

EuroDisney Spokesperson: It would be like going to see a production of Hamlet in which everyone looked different Lion King: *nervous laughter*

I feel the contract with Disney will be a great success. *It's always sunny theme starts* The gang almost bankrupt Disney

I’ve always thought you calling it euro disney was really weird. I have *never* heard that name before until i found this channel. Here in the netherlands, and persumably in most regions, it’s called Disneyland Paris.

That intro was _priceless._ "I'm sure it will be a great success." *[Episode Six: The Failure of Euro Disney]*

I think the 1950s retro-futurism of Tomorrowland actually works in its favor

"We will take advantage of and have respect for the French culture" *bans wine

I feel Spain might have been better for a location. It's already the place many Europeans go for vacation & retirement ala Florida, it's got a more suitable overall climate somewhat similar to some of the locations of Disney in America, some of the cultural things mentioned aren't as pertinent or as hot button in Spain as in France, Spanish is spoken by way more people globally than French so that might be a positive too (say you are a Latine tourist for example), etc etc. Someone could probably pin point what area / city would be best too, but Spain is overall a way better location IMHO. Alas.

When I went to stay with French friends in Beauvais, they took us to Parc Astérix, and not Euro Disney. I also went to Futuroscope once, on a school trip. So I've been to more theme parks in France than I have in my native uk, but I still haven't been to Euro Disney.

You know it's a good Defunctland if Eisner is the first thing you see in the video

"Cultural Chernobyl" Damn, 80s frenchies be savage

I heard they had to shut the place down when local health inspectors found a rodent infestation problem, apparently the locals reported seeing a 2 metre tall mouse !

It’s weird to me to think of Disney Land Paris as a failure as when I was a kid that was where everyone at school went on holiday and I would have killed to go there

i have never studied french and don't know a lick of it beyond "bonjour" and "baguette", and i can confidently say that big mike's french was of a failing grade there

*mickey with slanted eyes* WOAH THERE LADY

My Father was the installation foreman for Frontierland at Euro Disneyland. What that means his he and his team constructed all the audio-animatronics for Phantom Manor, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the Shooting Gallery attractions at their facility in Orlando, tested them for a few months, then traveled with them to France and installed them in the attractions alongside the French construction team. My family and I had the adventure of living in Paris for a year and a half while Dad worked to build the park. I will say that Euro Disneyland was up to that point the most beautiful park out of them all. Visually, the architecture was striking and though it was a small park, you would spend quite a bit of time taking everything in. We could tell though that all the typical Disney magic just wasn't working for the French. They looked at it all with a distaste I'll never forget. For them, it was fake, it was American, and it was idiotic. Such a shame that such an amazing park just didn't connect like it could have. My Father often jokes that, 'They could've put that park in Southern Hell and it would've done better.' Years later, when I too was a Disney Cast Member, I had the pleasure of meeting John Hench when he came to Space Mountain one day during one of my shifts there. I instantly knew who he was and allowed him to enter through the FastPass entrance of the attraction. My supervisor said, "Hey, who was that guy you just let in? He didn't have a ticket.' I said, 'That's the man who DESIGNED this attraction. He can enter through whatever door he wants!' Mr. Hench was very friendly and approachable. He had no entourage with him. I don't even think anyone knew he was there! It was so great to spend just a couple of minutes talking to him.

"the french employees of the railroads were on strike" as a french i should tell you they are on strike all the time

Okay but can we talk about how Eisner’s French pronunciation in the intro was so bad sksksksk

“When I think of Jules Verne, I think of this...” *Guitar riff plays. Male dancer pop and locks*

The main energy source used in Jules Verne’s books is actually electricity! It was seen as the energy of the future back then. And well, he wasn’t wrong

Eurodisney's status as an abject failure has always fascinated me. As a English kid who was born in the nineties, Disneyland Paris, EuroDisneyland's rebranding, was always the most famous of the Disneylands. Admittedly, this was probably because it was the easiest one to get to and thus the one that most of us had visited, and we weren't too concerned with the complaints of the locals because, well, we visited it as tourists. But it's wild to me that the Disney park which is by far the most beloved and iconic in the UK is also the one wildly considered a failure by everyone else.

Talking from a french POV ; - other attraction park opening weren't a problem there wasn't many of the scale of disneyland, and the failure usually was because of a point i will go after - the manifester were really few back then many were happy to see it opening. - The strike from public transport had nothing to do with disney - About the naming, not really a problem as they used Dineyland Paris in France and many countries more than eurodisney - Wine is banned from every bar that doesn't have a special licence so again not a problem, many people drink beer in amusement parks The real issues (that you never nearly talk here) were : - Financial arrangements (what killed many other park), Disney tried to do the same with disneyland paris as tokyo. But theyè were misguided and ended doing really bad credits and going with a company that had no interested in seeing the park growing. It leads to disney rebuying the park in 2018 so they avoid going down with the other company. - Bad public transports at start. It took two years before having trains at the foot of the park, before you had to go to paris then take public transports for 35 minutes, people didn't want that. - Price of hotels. Like. really ? back then it was the price of a night for a 4/5* hotel in the center of paris. They started lowering the price a few years ago. - Lots of attraction issues, many many attractions were often closed for half the day, customer don't want to come back when this happens to many popular attractions. - Lacks of big attraction at first, space mountain was constructed 8 years after the park opening, the indiana jones roller coaster 5 years. The only exciting thing was the thundermounbtain ride. Which was already back then kinda "slow".

Jules Verne's beard does not comply with Disney guidelines

I've been to Disney in Orlando, Florida and also to EuroDisney in France. EuroDisney was phenomenally well-kept and clean. Never have I seen such an impeccable and beautiful park. I enjoyed my visit there immensely and I would hope that people feel differently after actually visiting there.

All I can say is when I went to Disneyland Paris as a 5 year old Scottish kid I had the best time of my life. I can barely remember it now but I remember how magical the whole thing felt and how happy I felt.

I love how Eisner is basically that shit kid in class you don't want leading the project because you know as soon as he touches it it's gonna dissolve into ash and dust.

One problem, they didn't ask France. Pretty much sums up everything that went wrong.

Despite it was a failure at the beginning, they really did a great job with this park, mostly with the creativity they put it in, it's a really different one, calm like they have said than the other Americans and Japanese park. And the Jules Vernes inspiration was really the best thing. I'm just pretty sadden that today they are just shitting on Discoveryland to turn it just like a star wars land, like bruh, Space Moutain was wonderful and they turned it into a Star Wars attraction, no thanks. I wish we could have back all this magic from Discoveryland at least.

Je ne sais pas qui a contribué à faire les sous-titres en français mais un grand merci à lui/elle 😁 ! (Ils sont aussi magiques que le reportage - le "pour changer" sur la SNCF et le "ils disent leurs noms mais j'ai pas compris" - m'ont envoyé autant de rêves qu'une journée à Disneyland) I don't know who did the French transcription (subtitles) but it made my day ! thanks a lot 😅

let's bring 'cultural chernobyl' back into the lexicon

calling it "euro disney" is basically saying "dollar disney"

One detail : politically it is even a bigger mess. When the decision was made in 1985, the left was in power. But in 1986, the right, led by Chirac (the guy you see welcoming Eisner, he was previously Paris Mayor), won the Parlement elections and Chirac became Prime Minister and was preparing for the 1988 Presidential election to defeat President Mitterrand (left party). So when you see him welcome Eisner in 1987 he is basically in campaign and tries to show he brings foreign investissements. So basically, Disney was in the middle of a political struggle (btw, Chirac Lost in 1988 but became president in 1995).

You know how the Tokyo Disneyland commercial is dated "slanted eyes on Mickey Mouse" WOW just WOW

The big tragedy for me is how the park was so beautiful but so much went wrong because of over-confident, out-of-touch executives.

5:00 I’m horrified that they said, “a Mickey with slanted eyes,” on the news 🤢

As a Dutchman born in the 2000's, Euro Disney holds alot of nostalgic value, and i love going there

Could you imagine the reaction if some foreign corporation wanted to open a huge park in the U.S. and banned English at meetings?

Glad you tackled this. Lots of people don't understand how close to failure Disney was during this incredibly difficult time in their history. Pretty rocky start... BUT... BEST DISNEY CASTLE EVER. PERIOD. ILL FIGHT YOU ALL!

I feel bad for the engineers & designers who pour their passion into these things.

These "mini documentaries " are very well done. Thank you for making them.

Played the opening clip of Michael Eisner for a French Professor. She just sighed, rolled her eyes, and left the room.

6:22 "There's only one problem, they forgot to ask France." This should tell you right here and there like "Alright boiiiiiiis it's time to cancel this theme park and look for another country in EU." But this also sums up the whole video.

Hi Kevin, this is truly educational because it is PERFECT to show to my international marketing class!! There's a case study from the textbook for EuroDisney that complements your video so well. Thank you for making your content both entertaining and educational!!

Mike: We just want to Open a disney world in france🥺 france: And what if we burned it down.

"We are going to respect French culture" --> Only allow certain hair styles, in direct opposition of French culture and law.

Jesus that’s some rough voice crack Eisner

We visited Disneyland Paris twice, in 1994 and 1995 while stationed in Europe. We got great deals through travel agents because they were trying to get attendance up. The parks were great, the staff was too, and our interactions with local French people - bakeries, gas stations, etc - were all fine. Disney made some course corrections, like changing the name from Euro Disney between our first and second visit, and eventually allowing alcohol. We were aware of the startup controversy but as far as I know the park/resort is doing fine.

5:14 old theme park stuff gives me nostalgia for experiences I never had until I remember the disgustingly casual racism of America.

Truly, Disneyland Paris is one of the most underrated Disney Parks. Tony Baxter beautifully designed it, and the rides and attractions are truly unique.

Tony Baxter is probably one of the best Imagineers that has ever lived. His attention to detail and story is second to none. Such a shame he retired, we need him now more than ever, these IP central lands are so boring compared to the cool lands Tony drew up

A slight correction: "Steampunk" is a sci-fi genre focused on exploring the idea of futuristic technology (such as spaceships and time machines) within an alternative history age of steam (that is, with Victorian levels of technology, such as rudimentary electrics and steam power). It's not just about regular steam technology.

Before deciding on Paris for building Euro Disney, they were also considering the natural park "De Schorre" in Boom, Belgium for building this park. Nowadays De Schorre is well-known as the location of the Tomorrowland Festival.

"It would be like going to see a production of Hamlet in which everyone looked different than you expected" But... different productions of plays have different actors... that's how plays work, I don't... I don't understand how he thought that comparison was helping his point at all

We've been invited to Disneyland to see Space Mountain! We've packed light, we brought a smile, a dance, a sOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOng!

Disney - "Hey, good news, I'm going to renovate your kitchen!" France -"What? No! I like my kitchen, who gave you the right?" D-"Well, too bad. Here's a DOnald Duck themed stoved top for ya." F-"What?!" D-"And the microwave alarm now sounds like a goofy" F-"Are you high on bath salts?"

watching this video is like seeing all the red flags of your best friend's partner and knowing damn well they'll *not* last long but your friend is wearing pink colored glasses and everytime you try to tell them they say not to worry

The quality of editing and storytelling for this video is mind boggling. Great job!

5:08; ".....and they wanted not a Mouse with slanted eyes, but a Mouse that roared American."

As a dutch man when I was like 8 years old I went with my family to Disneyland Paris, the one thing that dissapointed me the most was that EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING was in French, "like yeah no wonder it is in Paris duh", but as we went on vacation in France almost every summer we have seen the other theme parks in France as well and even those had atleast some english and hell even had some things written in Dutch as well, sometimes even had shows not only spoken in french but spoken in english as well.

Disney Executive Casually Admits They Have Never Seen a Play (the Hamlet thing)

Huh, I always thought Disneyland Paris was well liked. At least, it is, here in the Netherlands. It is not uncommon here for people to take a trip to Disneyland for a day or two.