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April 12, 1992 marked the historical opening of Disneyland Paris, the kingdom of dreams and Magic that has been enchanting Guests of all ages for 30 years. Having hosted more than 375 millions visits – and having innovated and offered new experiences many times – Disneyland Paris has created unforgettable memories that live inside each of us and became Europe’s top tourist destination.
From the Agreement signed with French public authorities in 1987 to the celebration of the 30th anniversary, the resort has known several momentous occasions, including the opening of a second park, Walt Disney Studios Park in 2002, and the construction of a brand new TGV station in 1994. Let’s take a look back at some of these dates which have impacted the history of Disneyland Paris.
Walt Disney’s dream of “a family park where parents and children could have fun – together” became a reality for Europeans when Disneyland® Paris first opened its doors in April 1992. Since then, Disneyland Paris has helped several generations create lifelong memories in the Disney tradition. Disneyland Paris has grown with its guests to become Europe’s number one tourist destination. Since then, Disneyland Paris has become Europe’s leading tourist destination, with more than 445 million visits recorded since its opening on April 12, 1992. Today, Disneyland Paris is a destination that encourages extended stays, with two theme parks, seven Disney Hotels, and the Disney Village® entertainment complex. It is also one of Europe’s top integrated business tourism destinations. Disneyland Paris employs more than 20,000 people across over 500 different professions, with more than 120 nationalities represented.
May it be with family, friends or loved ones, there is always something unique to experience at Disneyland Paris®. With its focus on delivering the best possible guest experience year after year, the resort is often recognized with awards and rankings in Europe and globally. Disneyland Paris continues to push the boundaries of storytelling and innovation for excellence.
The Agreement for the creation and operation of the Euro Disneyland project in France was signed on 24 March 1987, in Paris. The signing of this document by French public authorities and The Walt Disney Company laid the foundation for building a Disney resort in France. This was the birth certificate for what would become Europe’s number one tourist destination. Construction began as soon as 1988 in Marne-la-Vallée.
On April 1st 1992, the Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy RER regional train station opened. This station links the tourist destination to the rest of Île-de-France. Disneyland Paris is now accessible from Paris in just 35 minutes.
On 12 April 1992, Disneyland Paris officially opens its doors to the public. At the time, the resort included one theme park, several hotels, and an entertainment complex, Disney Village®.
Disneyland Paris opens the Indiana Jones™ and the Temple of Peril attraction, a runaway wagon that races you in and out of the dark and mysterious jungle ruins.
On 12 April 1992, Disneyland Paris officially opens its doors to the public. At the time, the resort included one theme park, several hotels, and an entertainment complex, Disney Village®.
On 26 May 1994, the Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy TGV station opened. This train station, which today welcomes 88 TGV trains by day, has become the biggest TGV hub in France, serving 54 French and international cities daily. This asset adds new ways of accessing the resort. To celebrate its opening, a huge 300 meter long paper train traveled down Main Street, U.S.A.®.
Disneyland Park has set up the first version of the Destination’s flagship attraction: Space Mountain – From the Earth to the Moon. A journey immersed in darkness that takes you from Earth to the Moon!
Disneyland Paris turns 5 with a carnival decor on the Castle, celebrating The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Announced for the first time on 29 September 1999, Walt Disney Studios Park opened its doors to the public on 16 March 2002, the same year Disneyland® Park turned ten. In this new park, Guests are invited to discover the magic of the movies. Euro Disney is constantly investing in this park, welcoming Toon Studio, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Toy Story Playland, and Ratatouille: The Adventure.
The opening of Walt Disney Studios Park in 2002 coincides with the 10th anniversary of Disneyland Park. For the occasion, “The Wonderful World of Disney Parade” welcomed a new float – a giant cake!
A revival for this attraction which unveils its brand-new space journey: Space Mountain: Mission 2.
Disneyland Paris opens the Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast attraction. Blast off immediately to help Buzz defeat Zurg in this intergalactic laser-shooting gallery.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction opens at Walt Disney Studios Park on an unforgettable evening that transports guests to 1930s Hollywood, complete with luxury cars, billionaires and starlets in costume. But the experience took an even more incredible turn when they were suddenly transfigured into pale ghosts and came to pick them up for their very first visit to the attraction, which they would not soon forget…
An amendment to the Agreement of 1987 was signed on 14 September 2010 between the Euro Disney group, the French government, the Île-de-France region, the Seine-et-Marne département, and the urban planning authority of Marne-la-Vallée. This amendment was the next step in the partnership between Euro Disney and French public authorities. This amendment, which goes until 2030, provides for the continued development of the tourist destination and of Val d’Europe, as well as the development of a new tourist destination project, Villages Nature.
Coinciding with the theatrical release of Toy Story 3, Toon Studio is hosting the world’s first-ever Toy Story Playland in August. A land in which you will find yourself reduced to the size of toys to explore Andy’s garden.
Disneyland Paris celebrates its 20th anniversary with more magical festivities than ever!
Disneyland Paris is expanding and the Walt Disney Studios Park welcomes a brand new land : Place de Rémy including Ratatouille : The Attraction, restaurant Bistrot Chez Rémy and shop Chez Marianne (Souvenirs de Paris). A revisited Paris where you will be reduced to the size of rats to accompany Rémy in his adventures.
This year also saw the opening of Ratatouille: The Adventure, with a ceremony that welcomed Fleur Pellerin, Secretary of Commerce, of Tourism Promotion and of the French abroad, and Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris. A few months later, the boutique Chez Marianne (Souvenirs de Paris) opened next to the attraction.
In order to continue offering innovative experiences to guests, Disneyland Paris kicked off an unprecedented renovation and enhancement plan in January 2015. Guests can re-discover certain iconic attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain, “it’s a small world,” and La Cabane des Robinson.
In 2017, Disneyland Paris celebrates its 25th anniversary, and the 30 years of the signing of the 1987 Agreement. A historic moment that brings renewed ambition for Europe’s number one tourist destination!
Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Robert A. Iger announced plans for a 2 billion euro, multi-year expansion for Disneyland Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais de l’Elysée in Paris.
With more than 350 pieces of artwork on display spanning both comics and movies created by more than 110 artists from Europe and beyond – including about 50 exclusive pieces – it will be one of the largest publicly viewable collections of Marvel artwork in the world.
Disneyland Paris is celebrating its 30th anniversary! A renewal for the Destination which suggests new things to come such as the expansion of the Walt Disney Studios Park or the transformation of the Disney Village.
July 20, 2022 marks the heroic opening of Marvel Avengers Campus, a key milestone in Walt Disney Studios Park multi-year transformation plan. An epic, immersive ceremony that immersed visitors in the Avengers universe alongside their favorite Super Heroes.
The reopening of Disneyland Hotel is an integral part of the resort’s strategy to enrich the guest experience with even more immersive storytelling that is uniquely Disney.
Disney Tales of Magic brings the façades of Main Street, u.s.a. to life for the first time at Disneyland Paris, alongside the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle, celebrating the magic that lives within each of us.
Formerly known as Disney Studio 1, this reimagined entrance sequence now transports guests to the heart of a Hollywood premiere, under a permanent starry sky.
Renamed Disney Adventure World, it welcomes guests into three spectacular immersive lands: the new World of Frozen, the colorful Worlds of Pixar, and the epic Marvel Avengers Campus, which will later be joined by a fourth world inspired by the classic Disney Animation film The Lion King.
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