Once Upon an American Dream: The Story of Euro Disneyland [Hardcover]

Andrew Lainsbury (Author)

Book Description

Series: Culture America | Publication Date: January 1, 2000

Branded a "cultural Chernobyl" and the "tragic kingdom," the Euro Disney Resort has been on its own thrill ride since opening in 1992. The much publicized version of the Magic Kingdom gave Europeans alcohol-free "mocktails," surly employees, even colors too muted for the Disney image. Facing financial disaster, was it any wonder that Disney execs found themselves wishing upon a star for answers? After so many knee-jerk criticisms of Euro Disney, this book combines firsthand experience and research to shed new light on claims that the park is nothing more than a form of American cultural imperialism. Andrew Lainsbury, a former Euro Disney employee who knows what the park meant to its visitors, goes beyond media bites and academic scorn to examine Europe's love/hate relationship with Euro Disneyland and some of the undiscussed issues surrounding it. Once Upon an American Dream is a story of global capitalism on a grand scale. Lainsbury has plumbed company archives and interviewed key players to give readers the real view from Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty's Castle). He cracks open the Euro Disney controversy to reveal the park not as a tragic experiment in exporting American culture but the result of European efforts to import a popular form of American entertainment. Lainsbury tells how the Walt Disney Company came to build a European park and locate it in France, how political negotiations affected its design and development, how it was promoted to continental audiences, and what caused its widely publicized financial woes before being rescued by a real prince from Saudi Arabia. He reveals what it took to win back the hearts of skeptical Europeans-such as serving wine, selling flashy merchandise, and placating disgruntled workers. Finally, he looks into the magic mirror to speculate on the role of Euro Disney and the Walt Disney Company in the twenty-first century. Ultimately, Lainsbury shows that cultural imperialism is not an exclusively American phenomenon but a global corporate strategy-and that global corporatism, by needing to be responsive to consumers, is so complex that it may not be as monolithic as feared. Once Upon an American Dream is a fairy tale for our times, reminding us that, for all the critical huffing and puffing, the creation and marketing of pleasure is what Euro Disneyland is all about.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"As Lainsbury shows, Euro Disneyland gave great aid and comfort to Disney critics for a number of reasons: cost, political ramifications, French cries of cultural imperialism, and the financial woes of the opening year. This book is based on Lainsbury's research here and in Europe as well as on interviews, archival data, and, most convincing, his direct experience as a Disney employee. In addition to setting the record straight, he makes a strong and convincing argument for doing cultural history/cultural studies in a new way, based on aesthetic principles and an appreciation for pleasure, as opposed to the literary theory and grim Marxian analysis currently in vogue. It is a bold stroke, a plea for a more inclusive mode of analysis, better suited to what is, after all, a pleasure garden and a work of art. "--Karal Ann Marling, author of Designing Disney's Theme Parks: The Architecture of Reassurance

"This well-written and well-documented book should appeal to readers in fields ranging from American studies and cultural studies to business and economic history, public history, and tourism studies."--Erika Doss, author of Elvis Culture: Fans, Faith, and Image

About the Author

Andrew Lainsbury worked as Prince Charming and served in a variety of other capacities during Euro Disney's hectic opening year. He holds a Ph.D. in American studies and has visited and studied theme parks around the world. He is currently an account executive and trend analyst with a major promotional marketing agency in Minneapolis.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 308 pages
• Publisher: University Press Of Kansas (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 070060989X
• ISBN-13: 978-0700609895
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,343,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delighting overview on the european Magic Kingdom, July 28, 2000

By 

ms - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once Upon an American Dream: The Story of Euro Disneyland (Hardcover)

So this is the real story of EuroDisney... I have to admit that I never even thought (hoped ? forget it...) to find such a well made book on this particular topic. It's fascinating, how Lainsbury packs all the different contents and perspecticves into a single, compact book. Comprehensive, informative and above all, entertaining; you'll really enjoy reading it. It's too sad that it only consists of about 200 pages, but hey... it's really well worth a try. If you are curious about the history of EuroDisney/ Disneyland Paris and searching for a comprehensive, interesting source, this is your book of choice.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An inside look in what really happened, June 4, 2000

By 

P. Schouten - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once Upon an American Dream: The Story of Euro Disneyland (Hardcover)

This is the result of thorough research. All the sources I once used for my own literature report have been used in this book and added to that information, are interviews with people like Tony Baxter, Ward Kimball, Bill Cottrell, Tim Delaney and Card Walker; people who were in key positions when important decisions were made about this European Kingdom, as negotiator, designer or imagineer.

A lot has been written about the park, and many people still believe it was a mistake to build it, primarily based on negative journalism. This book sticks to the facts and is intended for people who like to go beyond those rumors. If you are looking for a book to help you plan your trip to Disneyland Paris, this is not the book for you, but for researchers into international marketing and business, this is an essential volume.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight and quick read., June 12, 2000

By 

Seano "seanob" (Quincy, Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once Upon an American Dream: The Story of Euro Disneyland (Hardcover)

This is a great book, well documented and footnoted. Plenty of information for the Disney novice. There are anecdotes and paraphrases which imply first person research, but the notations are useful in clearing up issues.

A strong argument in favor of the theme park as a diversion and entertainment and not as an entity to spread American philosophy or forced culture. This is a compelling thesis for a talented author.

A little pricey, the book is a fine compliment to other books in the Disney library.