From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Disney Village is a shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Disneyland
Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France. Originally named Festival
Disney, it opened April 12, 1992 with what was then the
Euro Disney Resort and originally covered an area
of approximately 18,000 m².
Based on Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney district, it
was designed by architect Frank Gehry with towers of oxidised silver and bronze-coloured stainless steel
under a canopy of lights.[1] It is
adjacent to the two theme parks of Disneyland Paris and its
Lake Disney hotel area.
History
Original
Concept
The chosen Architect, Frank Gehry, was presented with a blank
canvas on which to design Festival Disney, an
entertainment district for the Euro Disney Resort and also a
transitional space for free access from the Euro Disneyland theme park
and RER/TGV train station
to the Resort Hotels. Festival Disney would attract guests
to spend time relaxing with family and friends, finish the day
shopping or spend a lively evening in restaurants, bars, attending
concerts, seeing shows or having fun in the nightclubs. The concept
was a large open space full of life and music, lit from all sides
around a central avenue with a starry sky. The columns that
supported the starry sky would be the remnants of an old power
station, left standing after the site was converted into a festival
of 90’s contemporary American entertainment.
Gehry noted:
|
“ |
The idea of a station in
the U.S. made me think of power stations which are often found this
close to a railway line. Festival Disney is a bright place, full of
life. The power stations are illuminated at night, hence my idea of
a network of 3,600 low-intensity bulbs that cover all of the
structures. Naturally, the lights will be suspended between towers
and, as and a measure of the design process, I blew and embellished
the towers that I wanted to sparkle without merely being
decorative. Once the sky and towers were imagined, I disposed of
buildings and other parts of a normal avenue...[2] |
” |
Changes
& Alterations
Although the starry sky was initially seen as appealing, there
was much unanimity felt towards Festival Disney. From the
outset, the project was accused of giving a cold, industrial and
soulless feeling from guests and Cast members alike. Gehry’s
concept mangled and misunderstood, metal plates on many of the
pylons were now being removed from the centre downwards, with
statues or food counters placed in the frames.
In 1996, just four years after opening, Festival Disney is
renamed Disney Village and Planet
Hollywood opens in front of the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
Show building. The following year, an eight screen Gaumont
multiplex cinema complex is opened next door to Planet Hollywood,
blocking the Wild West Show's original entrance.
Many changes and adjustments take place in existing buildings over
the next ten years such as the opening of Café Mickey in
2002, replacing the Los Angeles Bar & Grill, the
opening of King Ludwig's Castle in 2003, replacing
Rock'n'Roll America and the opening of the Rainforest Café in 1999, replacing
Key West. 1999 also saw the opening of a large McDonald’s fast food restaurant.
On 03 December 2004, an Art
Deco themed multi-story parking structure opened, called VINCI
Park. Later in 2004, a 570-seat IMAX cinema
opened as part of the Gaumont multiplex.
The atmosphere during night time was the highlight of Disney
Village, but daytime was another story. The alterations to Disney
Village had so far served nothing but to flout the architectural
work of Frank Gehry. The buildings were beginning to look ill and
real place making was needed to give coherence to the “Mecca of
entertainment”....[3]
Place making project: 2005
-
In 2005, the resort management begin to tackle the issues head
on and launched a place making scheme that would take several years
to complete. The starry sky and its supporting pylons on the main
thoroughfare, neon lights, oversized signs and the central stage
were all removed to release the street and give a better sense of
space. Colourfully lit balloons were added onto the remaining
columns in order to light up the village at night. PanoraMagique
was also opened in 2005: a large helium filled captive balloon that
carries up to 30 passengers 100 meters into the sky.
In 2008, in order to break up the space and bring life to the
Village, the main thoroughfare introduces large planters that
contain trees, hedges and flowers. Terraces are added to
restaurants and cafés and the ageing facades of buildings are
repaired. Also in 2008, a new beverage stand/snack bar has been
added near the entrance to Disney Village, and the tourist kiosk
nearby has been rebuilt in more of a neo-industrial ‘Parisian’
style.
In 2009, the Buffalo Trading Company shut up shop and the
premises is now occupied by a Starbucks coffee house.
From the outset, there seemed to have been a blatant desire to
remove all traces of Festival Disney and Gehry’s original
concept. Festival Disney had a unique personality that
certainly could offend, but ultimately the changes that followed
shortly after opening totally distorted the space, to a point where
there was no going back. Gehry’s concept relied on a single theme,
a festival of American entertainment and nightlife. Here lies a
major shortcoming of today’s Disney Village: no consistent
theme....[4]
Current
Venues
Attractions &
Entertainment
- Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show with Mickey & Friends. Buffalo Bill's
original show has been re-enacted twice nightly in a purpose-built
arena since 1992. Although 1990s technology has enabled more
dynamic production elements than the 1890s, the show retains a high
degree of authenticity, including real Native American
Indians, Rodeo Cowboys, bison, longhorn cattle, and quarter horses imported from North America. Most
of the more famous elements of the original show also remain,
including the Pony Express, Indian Attack, and Stagecoach Robbery.
A Dinner Show, entry includes a themed menu including chili and BBQ
ribs. A cowboy hat is also included. The show is approaching
world-record attendance with over 10,000 shows performed in front
of nearly 10 million guests. Since 2009 the show stars Mickey Mouse
and his friends.
- Gaumont Cinemas & IMAX
- Hurricanes Discotheque
- NEX Fun Bowling & Games
- PanoraMagique Balloon. Opened in April 2005, PanoraMagique is
the largest captive balloon in the World, and carries up to 30
passengers 100 metres into the sky.
Restaurants
& Bars
Planet Hollywood at Disney Village
- Annette's Diner (Table Service Restaurant)
- Ben & Jerry's Kiosque De Glaces (Ice Cream Kiosk)
- Billy Bob's Country Western Saloon (Table Service Restaurant
& Snack)
- Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show with Mickey and Friends (Show
& Table Service Restaurant)
- Café Mickey (Table Service Restaurant)
- King Ludwig's Castle (Table Service Restaurant)
- La Grange (Buffeteria)
- McDonald's
(Counter Service)
- New York Style Sandwiches (Counter Service)
- Planet
Hollywood (Table Service Restaurant)
- Rainforest
Cafe (Table Service Restaurant)
- Sports Bar (Snack)
- Starbucks
- The Steakhouse (Table Service Restaurant)
Shopping
- Disney
Store
- Disney Fashion
- The Disney Gallery
- Hollywood Pictures
- World of Toys
References
See also
External
links
Coordinates: 48°52′09″N 2°47′05″E / 48.86917°N
2.78472°E / 48.86917;
2.78472
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search
