Mickey Goes to France: A Case Study of the Euro Disneyland Negotiations

Authors

Lauren A. Newell, Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law

Abstract

In 1984, The Walt Disney Company ("Disney") was riding the wave of success from its newest Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort ("Tokyo Disney"), which attracted 10 million guests in the first year alone, and its thoughts turned to further international expansion-this time, in Europe. After careful consideration of potential locations and preliminary negotiations with two European governments, Disney decided in 1984 to launch Euro Disneyland ("Euro Disneyland" or "EDL") in Marne-la-Vall6e, France. The realities of opening and operating EDL in France were far different than Disney's expectations when it began negotiations-so much so that the Resort narrowly escaped bankruptcy. For an "entertainment empire" like Disney, this was an unprecedented failure. This Article presents a case study of Disney's interactions with the French government and citizens through Euro Disneyland, and analyzes its mistakes and attempts to rectify them in the context of intercultural negotiation theory. It concludes with advice for how multinational firms like Disney should approach international deal-making in the future to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Disciplines

Dispute Resolution and Arbitration | Law | Law and Gender | Law and Race | Law and Society

Recommended Citation

Lauren A. Newell, Mickey Goes to France: A Case Study of the Euro Disneyland Negotiations, 15 Cardozo J. Conflict Resol. 193 (2013).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cjcr/vol15/iss1/8