There's no need to wait until 2026 to discover some major new features from Mickey. On April 12, Disneyland Paris celebrated its 33rd anniversary and took advantage of the festivities to share glimpses of its future. Unsurprisingly, the majority of visitors already have their eyes fixed on the Kingdom of Arendelle, which will open its doors in 2026 and will definitively mark the transition of Walt Disney Studios Park to its new identity: Disney Adventure World.
But the first inaugurations and other major changes will begin to appear in the second park in the coming months, so here are the surprises you can expect during your next visits.
The new entrance to Walt Disney Studios Park
The next step in the evolution towards Disney Adventure World will take place from May 15. One year after its closure for a complete renovation, Studio 1 located at the entrance to Walt Disney Studios Park will finally reopen its doors in its new form: World Premiere. This area has been completely redesigned to recreate the feel of a Hollywood premiere, giving visitors the impression of entering a magical cinema where Disney universes come to life. Eventually, the World Premiere exit will lead directly onto Adventure Way, the long walkway leading to the new lake and the exclusive worlds that surround it.
A controversial Up There attraction
Adventure Way was also at the center of Disneyland Paris' 33rd anniversary announcements. Park director Natacha Rafalski unveiled a new attraction that will be located right in front of the Tangled Spin spinner. In keeping with the retro and carnival themes of this aisle, the choice fell on flying chairs, with decorations inspired by the Pixar feature film Up.
This announcement was not very well received by amusement park aficionados, and rightly so. While Universal is revolutionizing the industry with the inauguration of its Epic Universe park and has already followed up with the announcement of its first European destination, the construction of a funfair attraction at Disneyland Paris is a blot. Especially since the Walt Disney Company had already been criticized for the same reasons when Disney California Adventure opened in 2001.
The flying chairs of Up will, however, have the merit of relieving congestion in the rest of Disney Adventure World, while also filling the Adventure Way space, which seemed almost too empty in the first concept art. The opening is scheduled for sometime in 2026, as is the Kingdom of Arendelle.
New details for The Lion King attraction
Disneyland Paris also gave some news about its more distant future. Construction on the new Simba and Friends themed area will begin in fall 2025, with an expected opening date of a few years, although details are not yet available. The land will be located around the lake at Disney Adventure World, just steps from the Kingdom of Arendelle. We now know that the attraction will be “more focused on sensations” to differentiate itself from the boat ride in Frozen, as Natacha Rafalski stated following a question posed by Le Point.
The Lion King ride will consist of three drops, one of which is 16 meters high, which can be seen in a new concept art shared on the occasion of Disneyland Paris's 33rd anniversary. A second piece of concept art also confirms that the attraction will pay homage to the animated classic, and not to the live-action adaptations, contrary to what the first images might have suggested.
The renovation of the Sequoia Lodge hotel
Finally, let's not forget the complete renovation of the Sequoia Lodge hotel. This resort complex will be the next to receive a redesign of its rooms and common areas to incorporate more connections to major Disney franchises. Unsurprisingly, the focus will be on animals and nature.
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