Disney Village
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 Disney Village Marketplace
(now Downtown Disney), it was designed by architect
Frank Gehry
with towers of oxidised
silver and bronze-coloured stainless steel
under a canopy of lights. It is adjacent to the two theme parks of Disneyland Paris and its Lake Disney hotel area.
, 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:
In 1996, just four years after opening, Festival Disney was renamed Disney Village and Planet Hollywood
opened in front of the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show building. The following year, an eight screen Gaumont multiplex cinema complex was opened next door to Planet Hollywood, blocking the Wild West Show's original entrance.
Many changes and adjustments took 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 3 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”....
The neon lights, oversized signs and the central stage were all removed main thoroughfare. 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 resort management added large planters that contain trees, hedges and flowers to the main thoroughfare. Terraces were added to restaurants and cafés and the facades of buildings were repaired. In the same year, a new beverage stand/snack bar was added near the entrance to Disney Village, and the tourist kiosk nearby was rebuilt in more of a neo-industrial "Parisian" style. In 2009, the Buffalo Trading Company closed and the premises is now occupied by a Starbucks
coffee house.
Shopping
Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....
, dining and entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
complex in Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée
Marne-la-Vallée
Marne-la-Vallée is a new town located near Paris, France.Disneyland Paris, Val d'Europe,Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée,and École des Ponts ParisTech are located in Marne-la-Vallée.-Status:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan 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 Disney Village Marketplace
Downtown Disney (Florida)
Downtown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Downtown Disney is open to the public, requires no admission fee, and offers complimentary parking and transportation to all Disney-operated Walt Disney...
(now Downtown Disney), it was designed by architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
with towers of oxidised
Redox
Redox reactions describe all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation state changed....
silver and bronze-coloured stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
under a canopy of lights. It is adjacent to the two theme parks of Disneyland Paris and its Lake Disney hotel area.
Original Concept
The chosen architect, Frank GehryFrank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
, 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
Disneyland Park (Paris)
Disneyland Park is a theme park at Disneyland Paris, a resort complex just outside of Paris, in the new town of Marne-la-Vallée, France. The first of two parks built at the resort, it opened as Euro Disneyland on 12 April, 1992...
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:
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 was renamed Disney Village and Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood, a restaurant inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, 1991, with the backing of Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.-History:...
opened in front of the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show building. The following year, an eight screen Gaumont multiplex cinema complex was opened next door to Planet Hollywood, blocking the Wild West Show's original entrance.
Many changes and adjustments took 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
Rainforest Cafe
Rainforest Cafe is a themed restaurant chain owned by Landry's Restaurants, Inc. of Houston, Texas. It was founded by entrepreneur Steven Schussler. The first location opened in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota on February 3, 1994. In 1997, the chain consisted of only six restaurants,...
in 1999, replacing Key West. 1999 also saw the opening of a large McDonald’s fast food restaurant. On 3 December 2004, an Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
themed multi-story parking structure opened, called VINCI Park. Later in 2004, a 570-seat IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
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”....
Place making project: 2005 -
In 2005, the resort management began renovations that would take several years to complete.The neon lights, oversized signs and the central stage were all removed main thoroughfare. 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 resort management added large planters that contain trees, hedges and flowers to the main thoroughfare. Terraces were added to restaurants and cafés and the facades of buildings were repaired. In the same year, a new beverage stand/snack bar was added near the entrance to Disney Village, and the tourist kiosk nearby was rebuilt in more of a neo-industrial "Parisian" style. In 2009, the Buffalo Trading Company closed and the premises is now occupied by a Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
coffee house.
Attractions & Entertainment
- Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show with Mickey & Friends. Buffalo BillBuffalo BillWilliam Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a United States soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the Iowa Territory , in LeClaire but lived several years in Canada before his family moved to the Kansas Territory. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US...
'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 AmericanNative Americans in the United StatesNative Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
Indians, RodeoRodeoRodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
Cowboys, bisonBisonMembers of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
, longhorn cattleLonghorn cattleLonghorn cattle are a long-horned brown and white breed of beef cattle originating from Craven in the north of England. They have a white patch along the line of their spine and under their bellies....
, and quarter horses imported from North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. 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 8.5 million guests. Since 2009 the show stars Mickey Mouse and his friends. - Gaumont Cinemas & IMAX
- 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.
- Disney Village Marina
- Lake Disney Road Train
Restaurants & Bars
- Annette's Diner (Table Service Restaurant) - named in honour of Mickey Mouse ClubMickey Mouse ClubThe Mickey Mouse Club is an American variety television show that began in 1955, produced by Walt Disney Productions and televised by the ABC, featuring a regular but ever-changing cast of teenage performers. The Mickey Mouse Club was created by Walt Disney...
regular Annette FunicelloAnnette FunicelloAnnette Joanne Funicello is an American singer and actress. She was Walt Disney's most popular cast member of the original Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in a series of beach party films.-Early life and early stardom:... - 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)
- Earl of SandwichEarl of Sandwich (restaurant)Earl of Sandwich is a restaurant franchise based in Orlando, Florida, United States. It was founded by the current Earl of Sandwich, his younger son Orlando Montagu, and businessman Robert Earl, founder of Planet Hollywood....
(Counter Service Restaurant) - (New for 2011) - King Ludwig's Castle (Table Service Restaurant)
- La Grange (Buffeteria)
- McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
(Counter Service) - New York Style Sandwiches (Counter Service)
- Planet HollywoodPlanet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood, a restaurant inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, 1991, with the backing of Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.-History:...
(Table Service Restaurant) - Rainforest CafeRainforest CafeRainforest Cafe is a themed restaurant chain owned by Landry's Restaurants, Inc. of Houston, Texas. It was founded by entrepreneur Steven Schussler. The first location opened in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota on February 3, 1994. In 1997, the chain consisted of only six restaurants,...
(Table Service Restaurant) - Sports Bar (Snack)
- StarbucksStarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
- The Steakhouse (Table Service Restaurant)
Shopping
- Disney StoreDisney StoreDisney Store is an international chain of specialty stores selling only Disney related items, many of them exclusive. Disney Store is a business unit of Disney Consumer Products. James Fielding serves as the President....
- Disney Fashion
- The Disney Gallery
- Hollywood Pictures
- World of Toys
- Planet Hollywood Gifts
- Bureau de changeBureau de ChangeA bureau de change or currency exchange is a business whose customers exchange one currency for another. Although originally French, the term bureau de change is widely used throughout Europe, and European travellers can usually easily identify these facilities when in other European countries...
Closed Venues
- Streets of America - Closed in 1993
- The Surf Shop - Closed 1993
- Key West Seafood - Closed in 1999
- Los Angeles Bar & Grill- Closed in 2002
- Rock'n'Roll America - Closed in 2003
- Buffalo Trading Company - Closed in 2009
- Hurricanes Discotheque - Closed on March 1, 2010
See also
- Downtown Disney (Florida)Downtown Disney (Florida)Downtown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Downtown Disney is open to the public, requires no admission fee, and offers complimentary parking and transportation to all Disney-operated Walt Disney...
at Walt Disney World ResortWalt Disney World ResortWalt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt... - Downtown Disney (California)Downtown Disney (California)Downtown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment area, also known as a "shoppertainment center", located at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, United States...
at Disneyland ResortDisneyland ResortThe Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now... - IkspiariIkspiariis a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan. Owned and operated by The Oriental Land Company, it is the Japanese equivalent of the Downtown Disney complexes at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts in the USA, and Disney Village at...
at Tokyo Disney ResortTokyo Disney Resortis a theme park and vacation resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just east of Tokyo. It is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company with a license from The Walt Disney Company. The resort opened on April 15, 1983, as a single theme park , but developed into a resort with two theme...