7. Disney-MGM Studios Europe

Location: Marne-la-Vallée, France

Planned in: Early 1990

Theme: Working movie studio

Lands: Front Lot, Hollywood Boulevard, Animation Courtyard, Attraction Studios, New York Backlot, Indiana Jones land

The background

When the EuroDisney Resort opened in 1992, it featured just one theme park that was closely modelled on the original Disneyland. But Disney had already agreed with its partners and the French government that a second park would be installed, and it planned to base it closely on Walt Disney World’s Disney-MGM Studios. Disney was so confident in its plans that artwork for the new park was shown off during EuroDisney’s televised grand opening.

Disney CEO Michael Eisner was determined to spread the “studio park” model all over the world, particularly as rival Universal was planning to do exactly the same. A similar park was also proposed at one stage for the Tokyo Disney Resort, but was never built.

Just like the Florida park, Disney-MGM Studios Europe would combine working production facilities with theme park attractions. While many of its rides would be clones of Florida versions, it also had some new tricks in store.

The plans

The plaza between Disney-MGM Studios Europe and the adjacent Euro Disneyland would be updated to include a lake, complete with a towering Sorcerer’s Hat icon in the middle.

Front Lot

The entrance to the park would feature buildings in Pueblo Deco-style on either side. The icon of the park itself would be located here - the Earful Tower, just as it was at Disney-MGM Studios in Florida.

Hollywood Boulevard

Guests would pass through an indoor version of Hollywood Boulevard, contained within a giant soundstage-style building. This would be designed to resemble Disney’s original Hyperion studio.

Plaza

On exiting Hollywood Boulevard, guests would see the park’s main attraction, The Grand Movie Palace – contained within a recreation of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. It was to be the park's version of Disney-MGM Studios' Great Movie Ride, and would take riders on a tram-based tour of famous movie scenes, complete with audio-animatronic figures and live actors.

To the left of the theatre would be the Gangster Shootout attraction, inspired by the Dick Tracy movie. This was to combine elements of Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast to create a stunning interactive attraction housed inside a huge mock factory. Occupying the same building would be the Backlot Express restaurant.

A small recreation of the famous Route 66 “Mother Road” would host the Route 66 Roadside Diner, another of the park’s themed restaurants.

Animation Courtyard

On the right hand side of the courtyard would be the Animation Commissary restaurant, with the Magic of Disney Animation exhibit on the left. A real, working animation studio would be housed here. The courtyard would also host a clone of the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant.

Attraction Studios

This would be the departure point for the Backlot Tram Tour, featuring a clone of the Catastrophe Canyon set-piece from Florida.

New York Backlot

As well as New York-style streets and a waterfront area, this would host the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area.

Indiana Jones Area

A clone of Disney-MGM Studios’ Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular would be located here, along with an Indiana Jones-themed restaurant.

What went wrong?

At the time of EuroDisney’s grand opening, Disney hoped to open Disney-MGM Studios Europe within three years. However, it quickly became clear that the French resort was badly underperforming, to the extent that its very survival was at stake. The opening date of the studios park was pushed back to 1996, and by mid-1992 the project had been canned altogether (along with swathes of other expansion projects at Disney’s US resorts).

The legacy

Eventually, the project was revived, and Walt Disney Studios opened in 2002. However, the plans had been dramatically scaled back, with the park being about half the size of the proposed Disney-MGM Studios Europe. It was derided by many for its lack of attractions and bland theming. Even today, it is still widely considered to be the worst Disney theme park in the world.