What do you see as competition for visitors to Disneyland Resort Paris?

We typically don’t comment on the business of our competitors. However, we feel that at Disneyland Resort Paris our offering is unique: A resort destination within easy weekend reach of many European countries which combines thrills and excitement with the magic of Disney, as well as top class shopping, golfing and entertainment.

European holiday patterns are beginning to change in a way that we believe will benefit our Resort - people take more vacations for shorter periods of time and tend to regroup for family holidays including parents, children and grandparents.  Holidaymakers increasingly want an integrated destination where they can escape from the real world. At Disney we have over 50 years of experience within the theme parks market and we apply this to our growth in Europe.  We will continue to invest in new attractions and entertainment to draw new and returning guests to the Resort.

How does DRP plan to remain a leading family destination when there are so many rival themed attractions appearing including, for instance, SeaLife?

 Disney remains a benchmark for the sector, since family dreams and joys are not outdated values and there is no other entertainment company that has so many vibrant creative engines as Disney, or the ability to leverage success across so many businesses.  Our new products, and particularly our new attractions, are at the cutting edge of innovation and technology.  The hallmark of Disney Parks is clearly anchored in the creation of places so detailed and immersive they transport you to a different time and place – experiences that you can only find at Disney. By introducing new attractions we can not only enhance the quality of our guest experience but also bolster park attractiveness and capacity.

Our 15th Anniversary celebration has been a huge success with our guests and helped drive a strong year with 14.5 million visitors. This year the party is continuing, but even bigger and we are unveiling a spectacular line-up of new entertainment and immersive attractions as part of the largest expansion since the opening of Walt Disney Studios Park. The opening of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Stitch Live and the High School Musical 2 Show help to broaden the appeal of the resort by introducing a wide variety of unrivalled new experiences which cater for all members of the family.  The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is one of the most popular attractions worldwide and is a mega-hit at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Disneyland in California and Tokyo Disneyland.

We believe these new offerings, in addition to the already incredible line-up of attractions like Crush’s Coaster and Cars Race Rally which opened last year, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blaster, Space Mountain, Peter Pan and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, make the Disneyland Park a one-of-a-kind experience in Europe.

As children seem to be growing up quicker and leaving the world of the “classic” Disney characters behind what is DRP doing to remain relevant?

As I have mentioned, we have the unique ability to leverage the wealth of creativity within Disney to bring to life the characters our guests are familiar with in their day to day lives. High School Musical is a fantastic example of how different areas of Disney have identified a hugely popular entity to add value to our customers. In April we are premiering the new High School Musical 2 show in Disneyland Resort Paris – the high energy interactive street party enables guests to join the fun, signing along to some of their favourite characters and practicing their dance moves. Walking around the parks you will see how Disney Imagineers continually introduce new characters from the latest films or TV series into the experience for our guests. 

However it is important to recognise that the Disney characters remain amongst the most popular – when you visit the parks, you can see children getting so excited about meeting Mickey and his friends, having lunch with a Princess or queuing up to have their photo taken. They are and will always be a fundamental part of our Parks.

How important is an online component to DRP’s marketing strategy and why?
A: Within our marketing strategy in the UK we are introducing elements of online marketing which can be seen with the ongoing Tower of Terror campaign. Combining traditional advertising with more innovative elements such as viral, we are reacting to the ways in which our audience interact with media outlets. We certainly envisage continuing to include online marketing as part of the strategy

What kind of experience do you want families to enjoy at DRP?

Disney Parks are about creating a completely immersive experience for all members of the family, where their dreams really do come true. Our dedication to ensuring the storytelling and creativity in the parks, but also in the hotels, is of the highest standard is not only a point of difference for us but helps to create a truly magical environment for our guests.

The hallmark of Disney Parks is clearly anchored in the creation of places so detailed and immersive they transport you to a different time and place – experiences that you can only find at Disney

What revenue streams is DRP exploring beyond gate admission, food and drink and merchandise?

Our revenues are mainly driven by our Resort activities, which include attendance, merchandise and hotel revenues. We also generate revenues through our convention activities and real estate transactions.