Disneyland Paris’s second park embarks on a transformative journey into a new era.
With a fresh creative vision, novel experiences, unprecedented expansion, and the unveiling of a revamped visual identity, the park sets the stage for an exhilarating chapter. To commemorate this milestone, Walt Disney Studios Park will be rechristened Disney Adventure World. The inauguration of World of Frozen, an immersive domain dedicated to the wintry wonderland of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen, will serve as a highlight, nestled alongside a magnificent bay. As the ongoing evolution of the park promises to redefine the guest experience, the entire resort looks ahead to a future filled with elevated offerings and boundless excitement.
Each anniversary brings its share of surprises, and this year is no different! On 12th April, Disneyland Paris lifted the curtain on an ambitious future for the place where dreams come true, during an immersive presentation delivered in front of an audience of nearly 1,000 fans and Cast Members. The resort’s executive and creative teams took the stage to share information about groundbreaking entertainment that will debut in the coming months, the next phase of the ongoing transformation of Disney Hotels, and ongoing reimagining of Disney Village.
The resort has seen an unprecedented number of projects brought to life to reinvigorate the guest experience and make Disneyland Paris a must-visit destination. One of the top priorities of this exceptional transformation plan – which is coming to fruition thanks to a two-billion-euro investment – is a complete makeover of Walt Disney Studios Park while continuing to expand its footprint with new themed areas that will join Marvel Avengers Campus, which welcomed its very first recruits back in 2022, and Worlds of Pixar. At the end of its expansion journey, the soon-to-be-renamed park will have roughly doubled its footprint and become a can’t-miss experience for an all-day getaway!
Immersive Worlds Bringing to Life Beloved Disney Franchises
When it opened in 2002, the original idea driving the creation of the second park was to give guests a behind- the-scenes look into the making of movies, animated feature films and television shows. The park concept has since evolved creatively to offer more immersive worlds, and in 2007 it embarked on an exciting expansion journey with the launch of multiple large-scale, immersive projects like The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror, Toy Story Playland and Ratatouille: The Adventure. From the recent opening of Worlds of Pixar and Marvel Avengers Campus to the creation of a Frozen-inspired land, the park continues to welcome beloved franchises, allowing guests to step into their favourite stories in a uniquely Disney way. And the fun is just beginning, as immersive worlds inspired by the most popular Disney movies of all time become the cornerstone of the park’s transformation!
“Today, we are changing the story of Walt Disney Studios Park, evolving from “how it’s done” soundstages to celebratory theaters and adventures that come to life in immersive worlds.
These fully realized adventure worlds will become the focus of the park’s new identity and appear as realms that guests discover as they navigate deeper within the park and are invited to participate in adventures inspired by our most beloved stories,” commented Tom Fitzgerald, Walt Disney Imagineering Chief Storytelling Executive and Senior Creative Executive for Disneyland Paris.
“Embracing a transformation that involves the overhaul of more than 90% of Walt Disney Studios Park since its debut in 2002, we’re unveiling a fresh creative vision that has completely redefined our second gate. Guests will embark on a journey that blends the magic and emotion of our beloved franchises with explorations into faithfully recreated new worlds. This significant evolution inspired us to rename the Park, heralding a vibrant new chapter for Disneyland Paris. The new name will officially take effect coinciding with the grand opening of our next themed land, World of Frozen, marking a harmonious start to this exciting new era. With our commitment to pushing the boundaries of immersion and innovation, we’re crafting breathtaking new experiences and spectacular moments at Disney Adventure World that will resonate more than ever with our guests. It’s set to offer unique adventures in immersive worlds, serving as a perfect complement to Disneyland Park,” shared Natacha Rafalski, Présidente of Disneyland Paris.
With an unprecedented level of immersion and powerful storytelling, the latest experiences delivered across the park already reflect this new creative vision. Among the breathtaking experiences that will be offered in the future, World of Frozen is going to take guests on a journey to the kingdom of Arendelle with its colourful facades and remarkable North Mountain that are gradually coming into view. The land will be well located on the edge of Adventure Bay, a 70,000 cubic meter body of water surrounded by picturesque banks and a promenade at the heart of the park expansion, serving as a gateway to the new themed universes that will surround it. More than a scenic icon, Adventure Bay will serve as a unique entertainment stage with a 360-degree viewing area. It will be fitted with the latest technologies to provide exciting water-based entertainment, complete with fountains, music, lights and special effects that are sure to delight guests.
And that’s just the beginning! A brand-new immersive world, whose concept and design are currently being finalised by Imagineers, will further enhance the appeal of this reimagined park in the years to come. More details will be shared in the future.
A Reimagined Park Entrance to Mark the Start of a New Chapter
Beginning this month, the park’s transformation work will extend to the entrance area to immerse guests in the brand-new story as soon as they step into Disney Adventure World. After passing through the turnstiles, guests will be transported into a vibrant, contemporary open-air movie studio before becoming special guests of a glamorous film premiere in the heart of Hollywood on a starry night. To bring this all-new immersive experience to life, the interior décor of the “soundstage” – which currently depicts a filming scene on Hollywood Boulevard – will be replaced with crafted décor that pays homage to historic movie theaters in Hollywood and the entertainment industry as a whole. The new entrance building, renamed World Premiere, will reopen in Spring 2025.
Once outside the building, guests will arrive in the heart of World Premiere Plaza, an area that brings together theaters, currently celebrating Disney Animation and Pixar stories, in a stylish Art Déco-inspired setting. The Walt Disney Imagineering Paris teams are already at work to turn the park’s former central square into a dynamic and warm environment with décor inspired by the famous facades of Broadway and West End theaters. The atmosphere will be even more vibrant and magical at night, with bright lights illuminating the whole experience!
To gain access to the park’s immersive worlds, guests will be able to walk along Adventure Way, a beautiful promenade surrounded by lush landscape and themed gardens – the perfect spot for magical daydreams. As guests wander through this enchanting area, they will discover Raiponce Tangled Spin, an all-new family attraction offering a fun take on a classic ride, inspired by the beloved Disney Animation movie Tangled. It will invite guests to “take a spin” through the iconic floating lanterns scene that has touched the hearts of viewers of all ages. Finally, before setting off on new adventures, guests will have the chance to treat their taste buds to delicious dishes served at The Regal View Restaurant and Lounge, a stylish table-service restaurant that will offer guests spectacular views over Adventure Bay, along with a chance to meet some of their favourite Disney Princesses.
From Hotels to Entertainment, Every Aspect of the Guest Experience is Being Reimagined
Beyond the second park, the entire resort is undergoing significant changes.
Broadway is just one step away from Disneyland Paris! The place where dreams come true offers an exceptional entertainment lineup that wows guests and industry insiders alike. Yet the future holds much more, as the resort will soon add two new shows to its lineup, including a musical extravaganza inspired by Disney Animation’s Alice in Wonderland that will debut in the spring – Alice & the Queen of Hearts: Back to Wonderland.
Starting on 25th May, Alice, the Queen of Hearts and many more will return to Wonderland for a wild new show in Walt Disney Studios Park. It’s a hair-raising experience, where two teams go head-to-head in a high-energy showdown, with high-flying acrobats pushing their limits, and two alternative endings decided by the audience! It’s a chance for audiences to discover a new story of Alice and the Queen of Hearts, in an ultra-colourful, pop-rock face-off!
At the end of 2024, Marvel Avengers Campus will be the stage for a brand-new nighttime activation, which will come to life every evening on the Worldwide Engineering Brigade building, until Spring 2025. This engaging experience will combine projections, music and special effects with an all-new storyline, featuring some favourite and new-to-Disneyland Paris Marvel characters.
Enhanced offerings at Disney Village and in Disney Hotels
Located at the crossroads between our theme parks and Disney Hotels, Disney Village offers its own shopping and dining experiences. To enhance its offerings and exceed guest expectations, the retail, dining, and entertainment complex is also undergoing a complete reimagining. With the addition of new restaurants and shops, reimagined facades and enhanced landscaping, Disney Village is turning into a modern, warm, and dynamic experience for guests.
First, shopping enthusiasts will be delighted to discover the current shops are gradually being redesigned to pave the way for new experiences that will only be available at Disney Village. As part of a complete makeover and rebranding of most existing retail locations, two new Disney shop concepts will be introduced by the end of the year – a lifestyle stop with ready-to-wear clothing, jewelry, accessories, and new collaboration pieces; and a Disney home store with a selection of accessories and Disney collectible items so that all decoration enthusiasts can enhance their home interiors. Later on, and still under study, the current Disney Store will welcome all major Disney franchises under one roof. Part of the store will feature a seasonal range of products, in line with the resort’s celebrations or the latest Disney film releases. With these brand-new offerings, Disney Village is bound to become the ultimate shopping destination for all guests who want to bring a touch of Disney magic into their daily lives!
Additionally, the LEGO Group and Disneyland Paris are working on plans to continue their successful partnership, with a new and improved LEGO Store in Disney Village expected to come by the end of the year. The newly refurbished LEGO Store will feature exciting photo opportunities, awe-inspiring big builds and interactive play stations alongside the widest range of LEGO sets only available in the LEGO Store. Guests will be able to find all LEGO | Disney favourites alongside other creative sets for LEGO fans whatever their age.
Upgraded accommodations coming to Disney Davy Crockett Ranch
On the hotel side of the resort, all Disney Davy Crockett Ranch bungalows will also gradually be replaced to provide a modern and comfortable experience for guests, while continuing to be a haven of peace in the heart of nature. This refurbishment project – which will be launched this year – will elevate the hotel’s theming with bungalow decorations that nod to Disney characters such as the Junior Woodchucks, together with Donald Duck and his friends.
Earlier this year, the legendary Disneyland Hotel also reopened its doors following a regal makeover. All of these projects are part of our ongoing Disney Hotels transformation plan that began in 2012 and continues to strengthen the resort’s standing as the number one hotel chain in France for families1.
1 In family-friendly rooms by average pax capacity, according to MKG Consulting 2023 study of French and European hotels