After lengthy negotiations, Disney executives and French officials finalized terms for a theme park on farmland at Marne-la-Vallée, east of Paris. French intellectuals initially derided the project as a 'cultural Chernobyl,' fearing American consumerism would swamp French identity. The park opened in 1992 and, despite early financial struggles, eventually became Europe's most visited tourist attraction.
The negotiations were tense from the start. France competed against Spain for the park, ultimately winning by offering favorable tax terms, cheap land, and excellent rail links, including a direct TGV line and later a Eurostar connection to London.
When the deal was announced, a chorus of French cultural critics erupted in outrage. Playwright Ariane Mnouchkine famously branded the project a 'cultural Chernobyl,' predicting it would flatten French cultural distinctiveness beneath Mickey Mouse's boots. The government pressed ahead regardless, eager for the jobs and tourism revenue promised across a economically depressed region.
The park that eventually opened in April 1992 struggled badly at first, losing money for years amid European recession, high interest rates, and cultural friction over things as small as whether wine could be served in park restaurants. Disney eventually relented on the wine. Decades later, Disneyland Paris draws more annual visitors than the Eiffel Tower.
Key people: Michael Eisner