Euro Disney says profits fell to hard times, and bad weather

Fewer people headed to Euro Disney near Paris earlier this year as bad weather and hard times made a day at a theme park all the less enticing.

Disneyland in Marne-la-Vallée outside of Paris RFI/Anthony Terrade

During the third qaurter this year, from April to June, Euro Disney said Tuesday that group sales slid by 1.7 per cent to 353.1 million euros down from 467 million euros.

The company, which also operates surrounding hotels, said the economic crisis in Southern Europe was the main driver in loss of profit, but also cited unfavourable weather has a deterrent.

However, Euro Disney said total revenues for the first nine months period increased and spending per guest rose in both the park and Disney hotels.

Earlier in the summer, the park's top visitor -- a Saudi prince -- celebrated his degree with 60 friends and forked out over 15 million euros in three days.

The company also said property activities remained robust with sales up from 1.7 million to 6.8 million euros from a big property deal in the first quarter.

But Euro Disney president Philippe Gas said he's remaining cautious for the rest of the year.

This isn't the first time Euro Disney has been rocked by hard times.

When Euro Disney first opened in the Spring of 1992 to much fanfare, the park struggled to attract visitors and saw major losses in its first year.