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Disneyland Paris, now Europe\u2019s most popular theme park, initially haemorrhaged money - at an estimated rate of $1 million per day. But, after three years, it finally returned its first profit on 16th November, 1995.\xa0\nThis change in the park\u2019s fortunes can be attributed to the popularity of two trains: the opening of the Eurostar direct line from London, and the building of the world\u2019s most expensive roller coaster, Space Mountain, which\xa0launched in Discoveryland on 1st June.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly unpick how the Disney Corporation consistently underestimated the French inclination for wine with lunch, surly customer service and a unionised workforce; reveal how Spain and Britain had competed for the opportunity to be considered as alternative sites for the park\u2019s development; and recall the French antipathy for Americana that led to one critic to label the attraction \u2018a cultural Chernobyl\u2019...\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; Euro Disney Reports Profit for '95, but the Future Remains Cloudy\u2019 (The New York Times, 1995):\xa0https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/16/business/international-business-euro-disney-reports-profit-for-95-but-future-remains.html\n\u2022 \u2018Why Was Euro Disney Considered a Failure?\u2019 (The First Drop, 2021):\xa0https://thefirstdrop.net/disneyland-paris-resort/why-was-euro-disney-considered-a-failure/\n\u2022 \u2018Your destination: outer space. Your speed: astronomical.\u2019 (Space Mountain advert, 1995):\xa0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlKKTSVETt0\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2021.\n#90s #Arts #Food #France\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices