When Disney decided to build a theme park in Europe, they had many countries to choose from—including Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. But in the end, France won the bid, and Euro Disneyland (now Disneyland Paris) opened in 1992 near Paris.
So why France and not the UK? Here are five big reasons:
1. France Gave Disney a Better Deal
The French government really wanted Disney to build the park there. They made a deal offering tax breaks, land at a lower price, and help with transportation. They also promised to build a new train line (the RER A) that would connect Disneyland directly to Paris, making it easy for visitors to travel back and forth.
In contrast, the UK government did not offer as many incentives. Disney is a business, and choosing a country that helped pay for roads, trains, and development made France a much better choice.
2. Land in the UK Was Too Expensive
Disney needed a huge amount of land to build a theme park and hotels, and it had to be flat and easy to develop. The UK is a smaller country with less available land, and what was available was much more expensive than land in France.
Disney ended up choosing Marne-la-Vallée, an area about 20 miles (32 km) outside of Paris that had plenty of open land. This allowed them to build a massive park without paying London-level prices.
3. France’s Location Was More Central for European Visitors
France was a better location because it’s near many other countries. The site Disney chose was within a four-hour drive for nearly 70 million people and within a short flight for over 300 million Europeans.
The UK, while an important country, is an island. That means visitors from other countries would have to fly or take a ferry, making it harder for people from places like Germany, Spain, and Italy to visit frequently.
4. France Had a Better Climate for a Year-Round Park
The weather was another big factor. While Paris has cold winters, it still has milder weather than the UK, which is known for its rainy, unpredictable climate.
Since Disney parks rely on outdoor rides, shows, and parades, a drier, more temperate climate made France a better choice. Even today, Disneyland Paris can get snow in the winter, but the weather is still better suited for a theme park than most parts of the UK.
5. France Has a Strong Tourism Industry
Paris is one of the most-visited cities in the world. Millions of tourists visit every year, and adding a Disney park near Paris made sense. Many visitors already planned trips to Paris, and now they could easily add Disneyland Paris to their vacation.
While the UK has strong tourism, most visitors go to London and don’t often explore other areas. France’s commitment to tourism made it a better long-term investment for Disney.
Despite a rocky start, Disneyland Paris is now one of the most-visited theme parks in the world. If it had been built in the UK, it might have faced more challenges, such as higher costs, worse weather, and fewer European visitors.
In the end, France’s better land deal, cheaper costs, central location, and strong tourism industry made it the best home for Disney’s first European park!
Would you have liked to see a Disneyland UK instead? Let me know!
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