The Millennium Dome could be a very different place after Frenchman Pierre-Yves Gerbeau, takes over at the helm as its new chief.

Mr Gerbeau, the vice-president of the parks operation at Disney, has been credited with turning around Disneyland Paris after it experienced a problematic launch.

The 34-year-old has been with French operation since 1991 and before that was a management consultant.

A senior source at the New Millennium Experience Company said: "He is a bubbly, cheery chap and I am sure that everyone will be impressed by his ideas and enthusiasm."

Increased revenues

And a Disney spokesman confirmed that Mr Gerbeau left Disneyland in Paris last year to take a business degree in France.

He left his job as vice-president of park operations to improve his academic qualifications with a Master of Business Administration degree.

An influx of British tourists to Disneyland Paris last year helped Euro Disney to increase revenues by 2.5% to 920.2 million euros (£588 million) in the year to 30 September.

However royalties and management fee payments to Walt Disney sent net income tumbling from 44.2 million euros to 23.6 million euros.

Scary ride

But the Disneyland chiefs predict that profits will be boosted this year by a lower loan repayment rate, millennium celebrations and a new road and rail access to the park.

Disneyland Paris, unlike the Millennium Dome, contains some of the scariest rides in the world, including the daunting Space Mountain.

One idea introduced in Disneyland last March was a 3-D cinema called Honey I Shrunk The Audience, a 600-seat hall that gives visitors the sensation of shrinking.

The object was actually to increase the audience and shrink the Euro Disney debt.