Attractions Expert Q&A: Nicolas de Villiers

By Kendall Wolf

As a child, Nicolas de Villiers was a young extra in his mother’s arms in the Puy du Fou production, Cinéscénie. As he grew older, he took part in the Fête de Chevalerie and became one of the stunt riders for the show. In 2012, Mr. de Villiers became president of SAS Grand Parc du Puy du Fou, in 2018, he founded Puy du Fou International to expand shows globally, and in 2021, he opened Puy du Fou España in Toledo, Spain. Their first attraction in China will open in Shanghai this summer.

What theme park souvenir might we be surprised to find on your shelf? What’s the story behind it?

My favorite souvenirs are always from our most recent show. For our next show, we are using a motorcycle with a sidecar, which is my current favorite. (Is it a toy?) No, it’s real, and I have driven it several times.

What theme park have you always wanted to visit but have never been to? 

Disney Tokyo because it looks to be very beautiful. I will visit Epic Universe in Orlando as soon as it opens.

Was there a theme park or attraction that made you want to be in this industry? How did it inspire you?

I was inspired by many movies, but it was actually a play that drew me in (to the themed entertainment industry). I was a child in Paris and saw L’Avare (The Miser by the 17^th-century playwright Molière). There were a lot of props and mobile devices used, with set pieces moving around the stage. I was amazed.

What was your favorite ride/attraction as a child, and why?

When I was a child, before I visited theme parks, we had what was called Fête Foraine (fun fairs in local parks with rides and games). I remember enjoying the merry-go-round and the Ferris Wheel, which gave me a view of the entire fairground. We also had Foire du Trône (the largest and oldest fairground festival in France).

Was there a ride, attraction, or character that frightened you as a child?

The fair had a dark ride with a train and monsters that I didn’t like.

What’s the oddest or coolest job you’ve had in a theme park?

When I was younger, I worked at Puy du Fou as a stunt rider on horseback. I played a knight fighting and jousting with other knights, which was very exciting.

What ride/attraction do you think everyone needs to experience and why?

Of course, I will say Puy du Fou because we create emotional experiences. Unlike roller coasters which just give you a short physical sensation, our attractions create long-lasting and meaningful memories that you can share with friends and family.

If you were tasked with creating a new theme park food, what would it be?

At Puy du Fou, we have shows in our restaurants, with dancing waiters who give many surprises. We have a dinner show about a couple who are supposed to marry, but the groom ends up in jail. At the end, there is a wedding, and a giant wedding cake is brought on stage. Fireworks shoot out, and everyone in the audience gets a piece of cake for dessert. The restaurant holds 750 guests, and we have three shows a day, so not sure I could top that.

You’re a walk-around character for a day – who do you choose?

At Puy du Fou, we don’t have walk-around characters because we think it takes the mystery away from the characters. But I was happy to be a knight.

What types of attractions would you like to see more of and why?

I think it is important to have storytelling in the attractions, and the guests are immersed in the sets. They can walk through them and become the hero. I was inspired by those kinds of books as a child. You can be the hero because you chose which way to go. Our new attraction in Shanghai will offer guests different choices of paths to follow.

Do you have any interesting theme park pandemic stories?

It was very strange to have parks around the world empty, so hopefully, that is behind us now. We wanted to continue to touch people and show our stories, so we made a movie.

We also started the creation of a train ride – a one-week trip starting and ending in Paris and stopping in all the best places, called the Grand Tour. The train will be totally themed in nostalgic luxury and elegance like La Belle Époque, with bars and restaurants on board. There will be 20 attendants for 36 passengers. Along the way, guests will meet interesting characters who will tell them parts of a story. Guests will be immersed in the story, which starts simple but becomes more and more complicated as the train ride goes on. Guests will see castles and cathedrals, discover spies, travel on a boat, and drink fine wine. They will visit Van Gogh’s house and meet Van Gogh’s brother, who will tell visitors about him. The train will begin in Summer 2024.

Can you talk about what you are working on these days?

Besides the train ride we are working on, in the first week of March, we are opening a new outdoor show at our park in Spain. We also are adding a new indoor show to our park in France. The story takes place in the beginning of the 21^st century on a movie set. Guests will walk onto the set where a silent black-and-white movie is being filmed. The director’s dream is to have color and sound. It is a love story with one actor and one actress. The director believes that if the two characters actually fall in love, the sound and color will come to life.

You are going to your favorite theme park – which industry people (dead or alive) are you taking with you?

Bob Rogers, Yves Peppin, and Michael Eisner.