Originally Posted By dagobert As you may or may not know, Twon Square Photography at DLP has closed and reopens as New Century Notions and Flora's Boutique. I don't know, if the bankruptcy of Kodak had something to do with that. Here are the first pictures: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/InsideDLParis/status/494034060579454977">http://twitter.com/InsideDLPar...79454977</a> <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/InsideDLParis/status/494033887543455744">http://twitter.com/InsideDLPar...43455744</a> https//twitter.com/InsideDLParis/status/494033158426624000
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The new shops look nicely themed, but just like anything else on Main Street. It's a shame they had to lose such a unique space for them, though I can understand that there aren't as many guests who want to buy photo supplies in the park as there were 20 years ago
Originally Posted By dagobert I still have faith in DLP. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/InsideDLParis/status/494398731241132033">http://twitter.com/InsideDLPar...41132033</a> <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/InsideDLParis/status/494393978759163904">http://twitter.com/InsideDLPar...59163904</a> The golden ornament on top of the highest spire has returned after more than two years. I already thought, that it will be gone forever.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I never knew it was missing. It's a beautiful detail. I get the sense that despite maintenance challenges and the financial problems the folks running DLP do have a deep sense of pride about the place.
Originally Posted By dagobert The CEO of Euro Disney SCA, Philippe Gas, has left the company to take over the Shanghai Disney Resort. He will be replaced by Tom Wolber, head of DTD and ESPN WoS. What do you Americans know about him? I think it's a pitty that Gas leaves, since he did a good job to improve DLP. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/CORP/EN/Neutral/Images/uk-2014-08-01-Philippe-Gas-Tom-Wolber.pdf">http://corporate.disneylandpar...lber.pdf</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert I guess the information about being head pf DTD and ESPN WoS was wrong. From the press release: >>>Tom Wolber is German and was the head of Walt Disney World Resort and Transportation Operations, overseeing all of the 28 resort hotels and the property’s extensive transportation network. He has also overseen a number of complex expansion projects, including the successful launch of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy and was instrumental in the Disney Springs master plan and the continued growth of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ sports business.<<<
Originally Posted By dagobert D&M has posted a new pictorial update about DLP. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2014/07/disneyland-paris-update-part-two.html">http://disneyandmore.blogspot....two.html</a>
Originally Posted By Malin *** I think it's a pitty that Gas leaves, since he did a good job to improve DLP. *** I disagree his run as CEO was one of the worst times at the Resort. Huge cost cutting in live shows. Attractions falling apart. Multiple injuries and accidents blamed on poor maintenance. Massive decline in restaurant food. The list goes on and on... His departure is long overdue. And while I know very little about Tom the new guy. His background in the Cruise Lines sounds encouraging that he might try and bring some of that quality back to Disneyland Paris. I wish him and Daniel Delcourt the best of luck.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>> I disagree his run as CEO was one of the worst times at the Resort. Huge cost cutting in live shows. Attractions falling apart. Multiple injuries and accidents blamed on poor maintenance. Massive decline in restaurant food. The list goes on and on... His departure is long overdue. And while I know very little about Tom the new guy. His background in the Cruise Lines sounds encouraging that he might try and bring some of that quality back to Disneyland Paris. I wish him and Daniel Delcourt the best of luck.<<< The more I think about it, I get the same impression that you have. I guess I was blinded by the refurbs of the hotels, the 20th Anniversary and Ratatouille.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm not especially familiar with the details of how DLP operates, but I was under the impression that Gas did a decent job with the limited resources he had. He initiated some long-needed refurbishments and created stuff that drew guests into the park. No, it's still nowhere near perfect, but given DLP's well-known financial issues and limitations, I thought he did a decent job given the circumstances It will be interesting to see how he does in Shanghai. That park already seems like it will be a very different animal from the rest (from design, to guests, to cheap labor/construction costs, to TWDC's definition of success), so I'm interested to see what happens
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>D&M has posted a new pictorial update about DLP.<< It's great to see that they're getting some projects moving, but it's a shame that such a large chunk of Main Street is being refurbished at the same time. I guess they're assuming it's better to get it all over with quickly, rather than make it a long drawn-out process I'm also glad to hear that the cannon effects on Space Mountain are working. I was very disappointed to discover that they were inoperable when I visited a couple years ago. It's such a unique part of the attraction that I think it should be required to keep the ride running; no cannon, no Space Mountain today.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I'm also glad to hear that the cannon effects on Space Mountain are working. I was very disappointed to discover that they were inoperable when I visited a couple years ago. It's such a unique part of the attraction that I think it should be required to keep the ride running; no cannon, no Space Mountain today.<<< The recoil effect of the canon still doesn't work, but unlike the article says, the smoke effect was working an January.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I guess it's better than nothing, but it's a shame that they can't get the whole thing working. It doesn't seem like it's *that* complicated of an effect
Originally Posted By dagobert I don't know what's the big problem with the recoil effect. If I remember correctly, they fixed it for the 20th Anniversary, but a few weeks later it was already broken agin.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Yah, it must have broken pretty quickly if it was working for the 20th. I was there in early May 2012 and there was no indication that it was supposed to move
Originally Posted By u k fan I also think Mr. Gas did a reasonable job given the financial constraints he was under. I always got the impression that he wanted to do more. I think there are interesting times ahead!!!
Originally Posted By dagobert Contra Gas: - vegetarian food offerings went from bad to worse - too many restaurants are closed at the same time, so the lines get very long. - staggering opening hours (attractions only open for several hours) - accidents Pro Gas: - interaction with fans increased (eg fan events, round table discussions) - financial restructuring with TWDC - new attraction based merchandise (eg Phantom Manor and posters) - WoDS - Ratatouille Maintenance should be mentioned in both sections, because it got better, but there is still a long way to go. I wouldn't say he was a bad CEO, but he wasn't a good one either. Under Karl Holz DLP started to improve a lot, unfortunately he had to take over DCL.
Originally Posted By u k fan My point is that at least two of those cons, namely restaurant closures and attraction opening times, were most likely due to budget constraints. I doubt Mr. Gas wanted to do either of those things. In fact, without those money saving measures some of the pros may not have happened!!!
Originally Posted By Malin Closing Restaurants at 5.00 pm when the Park is open until 10.00 pm is a stupid decision. Ok it cuts costs but it also results in not making any money. Where is the logic in having a night-time show like Dreams but closing all money making facilities early. You are keeping Guests inside the park for longer without any financial reason.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros ^^It's also dumb to leave the restaurants open as late as 5pm (though the quiet afternoon hours) but close before the dinner rush. Seems like the extra revenue from staying open 3-4 hours longer would help offset the relative lack of revenue in the hours leading up to 5pm Do most guests eat dinner at Disney Village? Or do they just go home hungry? I really struggled to find anything when I was there (at one point, wandering around for about 30 minutes looking for anything that served counter service meals), but I did manage to eat in the park. I can't imagine all guests would be as determined as me, especially since Europeans tend to eat later than Americans
