Disney Village

**Disney Village** is a shopping, dining and entertainment complex at Disneyland Paris.

It is adjacent to the two theme parks of Disneyland Paris and the Lake Buena Vista hotel area.

## History

### Original Concept

Disney specified that the primary focus of the new facility should be entertainment. It was envisioned as an attraction inside of the Euro Disney Resort, as well as a free transitional space for visitors of the Euro Disneyland theme park and train passengers from the RER/TGV train station traveling to the resort hotels. The space would include numerous shops, bars, concerts, shows and nightclubs.

The original concept was a large, open space full of life and music. It would be lit from all sides around a central avenue and include a starry sky as its crowning feature. The columns that would support this sky would be the remnants of an old power station, which had been left standing after the site had been converted.

### Changes and Alterations

Although the starry sky was generally well-received, the same could not be said for many other aspects of Festival Disney. From the beginning, guests and cast members alike criticised the project, perceiving it as having a cold, industrial and soulless atmosphere. As a result, many changes were made to Gehry's original concept. Metal frames that had been placed on many of the pylons were removed and replaced with statues and food counters.

In 1996, just four years after opening, Festival Disney was renamed Disney Village. Popular restaurant chain Planet Hollywood opened in front of the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show building and the following year an eight-screen Gaumont multiplex cinema complex 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 10 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). On January 25, 1999, a large McDonald's fast food restaurant opened with a theme based on Italy's Commedia dell'arte. Later in 2004, a 570-seat IMAX cinema opened as part of the Gaumont multiplex. Finally, on December 3, 2004, an Art Deco themed multi-story parking structure called VINCI Park (now Indigo) opened.

In 2004, the resort management team began renovations that would take several years to complete. The neon lights, oversized signs, and central stage were all removed from the main area. Colourfully lit balloons were added to the remaining columns for nighttime lighting. PanoraMagique, one of the largest captive balloons in the world, opened in April 2005. It carries up to 30 passengers 100 metres (330 ft) into the sky. In 2008, resort management added large planters that contained trees, hedges, and flowers to the main thoroughfare. Terraces were added to restaurants and cafés and the facades of buildings were updated. 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 are now occupied by a Starbucks coffee house.

As part of a €2 billion expansion of the Disneyland Resort, it has been confirmed that Disney Village will receive an overhaul and potential expansion. Further details have not yet been confirmed.

## Current Venues

### Attractions and Entertainment

* Buffalo Bills Wild West Show with Mickey & Friends
* Disney Stadium Arcade Games
* Disney Village Marina
* Disney Village Stage
* Dôme Disney Village
* Lake Disney Road Train
* Gaumont Disney Village - Cinema with IMAX, 4DX and D-Box Technologies
* PanoraMagique - Aerophile Observational Balloon

### Restaurants and Bars

* Annette's Diner
* Ben & Jerry's Kiosque De Glaces
* Billy Bob's Country Western Saloon
* Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show with Mickey & Friends
* Café Mickey
* Coca-Cola Cool Stop
* Earl of Sandwich
* Five Guys
* King Ludwig's Castle
* La Grange
* McDonald's
* New York Style Sandwiches
* Planet Hollywood
* Rainforest Cafe
* Sports Bar
* Starbucks
* The Steakhouse
* Vapiano

### Shopping

* World of Disney
* Disney Store
* Disney Fashion
* The Disney Gallery
* World of Toys
* Lego Store
* Planet Hollywood Gifts
* Rainforest Cafe Retail Village
* Bureau de change

## Closed Venues

* Streets of America (closed in 1993)
* The Surf Shop (closed in 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 in 2010)
* Hollywood Pictures (closed in 2013)
* NEX Fun Bowling & Games (closed in 2016)