Originally Posted By FerretAfros >Ferret, please don't get me wrong, I didn't want to criticize the way how the US handled 9/11.<< I didn't take it as a criticism at all! It just think it's fascinating how things are being done so differently in France, even though we consider ourselves pretty similar to them in the grand scheme of things. Their whole approach just feels so completely different that it's catching me off guard But it's those sorts of little differences that make life interesting. If we were all the same, nobody would travel to Paris from the US, and the attacks wouldn't have been so impactful abroad. Despite how much the world has "shrunk" in recent years with easy travel and instant communication, it's fascinating to see how many cultural differences remain, even in places that are fairly similar
Originally Posted By dagobert Apparently TWDC holds 76% of ED SCA now. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://lexpansion.lexpress.fr/actualites/1/actualite-economique/walt-disney-company-detient-76-7-du-capital-d-euro-disney-suite-a-son-offre_1737287.html">http://lexpansion.lexpress.fr/...287.html</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros It seems like Disney's been rapidly increasing their ownership of EuroDisney. Is there any indication that they might be looking to completely buy it out in the next few years? If I'm not mistaken, it was only a few years ago that they had significantly less than 50% stake in it, right?
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Is there any indication that they might be looking to completely buy it out in the next few years?<<< I think so, but Prince Alwaleed maintains his 10% in ED SCA. He ist investing another 50 Million Euros into the company. So Disney can only hold 90%. I still haven't sold my shares, but I get letters all the time that I can participate in certain share rights. >>>If I'm not mistaken, it was only a few years ago that they had significantly less than 50% stake in it, right?<<< The legal structure of DLP is very strange. According to TWDC's annual reports, Disney had effective ownership of 51%, although the company only held about 40% of ED SCA until recently. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance/index.xhtml#contentj">http://corporate.disneylandpar...contentj</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert The river is almost empty. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/302042929839518/photos/pcb.981984051845399/981983941845410/?type=3&theater">http://www.facebook.com/302042...&theater</a> IASW update <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/302042929839518/photos/a.408006435909833.89949.302042929839518/981982228512248/?type=3&theater">http://www.facebook.com/302042...&theater</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Wow, the iasw façade looks really bold. I think I like it, but I will wait to see some more photos under different lighting conditions to really judge it. Similar to DL's too-pink castle for the 50th, I assume this will look even better in 2-3 years when the color fades a little I just hope that the colors chosen won't look dated in a few years like what happened when DL decided to add color to their façade in the 90's. Within a few years, the color choices looked passe and they reverted to the original all-white scheme; these colors look very current (as opposed to the structure itself, which is more rooted in early 90's postmodernism), so there's a chance it will happen again
Originally Posted By dagobert Disney CEO Iger is currently visiting DLP. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/RadioDisneyClu/status/667325334812016640/photo/1">http://twitter.com/RadioDisney.../photo/1</a> I guess he is at the resort because of TWDC purchasing ED SCA.
Originally Posted By dagobert D&M did an update about DLP. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2015/11/disneyland-paris-reopen-after-four-days.html">http://disneyandmore.blogspot....ays.html</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Iger sure doesn't look happy to be there, does he! Given how infrequently he's spotted in the US parks (despite working a mere 33 miles from one; for reference DLP is about 20 miles from the city), I would have to assume he was there for something big like the ownership change
Originally Posted By dagobert I thought the same, he doesn't look happy. But when did a Disney CEO ever looked happy when it was about DLP? Since French newspapers reported about the recapitalization yesterday, I'm sure that's the reason he is in Paris.
Originally Posted By dagobert Christmas at DLP Part 1: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.disneygazette.fr/saison-noel-2015-disneyland-paris-partie-1-news-1829.html">http://www.disneygazette.fr/sa...829.html</a> Christmas at DLP Part 2: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.disneygazette.fr/saison-noel-2015-disneyland-paris-partie-2-news-1831.html">http://www.disneygazette.fr/sa...831.html</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert The cleaning of the river has begun. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/ED92live/status/669082254610702336">http://twitter.com/ED92live/st...10702336</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Ick, that river looks really gross. I don't envy the crew that has to clean it out, especially with the cold weather coming the next few months It's also kind of funny to see the Big Thunder 'splashdown' area is only a couple feet deep. Obviously the entire river isn't as deep it appears, but I didn't think it was *that* shallow
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt How has the Paris attacks impacted traffic at DLP? It can't be good I'm assuming.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>How has the Paris attacks impacted traffic at DLP? It can't be good I'm assuming.<<< November is one of the least crowded months at DLP and from live pictures I've seen, like Twitter or Instagram, it doesn't look less crowded than usually during November. December is the busiest time for DLP, so there we might see an impact.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I just read that the park was closed for 4 days following the attacks and attendance has been very slow since reopening. Understandable given the circumstances.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I just read that the park was closed for 4 days following the attacks and attendance has been very slow since reopening. Understandable given the circumstances.<<< Yes, the park was closed for four days, but in my opinion that way way too long. I'm sure DLP's attendance will be effected in the next months, but we have already planed our next trip.
Originally Posted By dagobert Here's a new pictorial DLP update. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.disneygazette.fr/gazette-sols-msstation-iasw-jeep-frontierland-affiches-bbhotel-merchandising-news-1837.html">http://www.disneygazette.fr/ga...837.html</a> The new look of IASW looks so much better then the old one.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I agree that IASW looks really good! However, the colors seem to clash a little bit in the photo with the Bella Notte pizzeria. I wonder if they have any plans to change some of the surrounding paint schemes too, or if they'll just wait for IASW to fade some so that it blends in more Do you know how much longer they will be working on the repaving project in front of the Disneyland Hotel? It seems like that's been going on forever, though I understand the difficulties of working in phases to maintain access to the park and hotel (similar to the recent work in MK's hub) The B&B hotel manages to look traditional and distinctly French, while also looking completely sterile and cold. I thought it was still under construction until I saw the photo with the Christmas tree in the courtyard. I understand the architectural style they're going for, but perhaps some different landscaping (trees and bushes?) would help liven it up some
