Double the magic. Double the fun. Next spring marks the beginning of a new era at Disneyland Paris: its first major expansion in history. This will be done hand in hand with World of Frozen, a colossal tribute, built to real scale, of the global blockbuster that will offer all kinds of immersive experiences.
All of this was an absolute secret until yesterday, a cold evening in the outskirts of Paris. Even the bad weather seemed purposely ordered to unveil for the first time the spectacular new Kingdom of Arendelle.
Let's start with the overwhelming dance of numbers. The North Mountain, the highest point of Arendelle, stands at 36 meters high and weighs 400 tons. In the distance, you can see the Ice Palace of Elsa, 13 meters high and 15 tons, containing 300 crystals that shine both day and night thanks to its magic. To the right stands the Arendelle Castle, with the Royal Portrait Gallery. If you haven't seen Frozen, none of this makes sense. But if you're like most people, you'll likely recognize each of these places. So, as night fell yesterday in the French capital, this entire setting lit up to announce the opening date of this grand affair: March 29th.
World of Frozen will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the movie, but also to live their own adventures and become part of the story. "You will no longer be observing from a distance: from now on, you are the protagonist of your own story," explained yesterday Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris, introducing this new concept with which the park inaugurates a new era.
With the arrival of World of Frozen, the current Walt Disney Studios Park, the second park of Disneyland Paris, is reborn under a new name Disney Adventure World. When the Lion King themed area is unveiled in a few years, over 90% of the park's original offerings will have been reimagined. This is an investment of 2 billion euros. "This transformation reinforces our position as the number one tourist destination in Europe," Rafalski stated. "It's not just about new attractions or experiences. This is a new beginning."
Arendelle with the North Mountain in the background.
The main attraction of World of Frozen will take visitors on a boat ride full of adventures with Elsa, Anna, and their friends. Chrissy Allen, executive producer of the show, revealed the details yesterday: they will visit Elsa's Ice Palace, see Olaf, Sven, Anna, and Kristoff, and finally meet Elsa, who will sing Let It Go. The grand finale takes place in the Bay of Arendelle, accompanied by a complete soundtrack and snowflake-shaped fireworks. "The attraction includes 30 animated figures, several human, created with the most advanced technology to look extremely realistic," Allen added.
The Nordic Crowns Tavern restaurant will offer a gastronomic experience inspired by Nordic cuisine.
"Disney Adventure World will not only make the experience more immersive. It will also push technology to its limits. Our visitors will not only live the stories, they will experience them in a different, much more surprising way," added Bruce Vaughn, president and chief creative officer of Walt Disney Imagineering. "Walt Disney founded Imagineering with that spirit of invention, and innovation is still in our DNA." During the press conference, Vaughn introduced the next-generation robotic character: Olaf, the adorable snowman who promises to be the most beloved character in the park.
"Visitors have been able to meet Olaf in our parks for years. But today, we are excited to offer them a first look at the magic we have been working on. In the future, imagine not only taking a photo with Olaf... but having a conversation with him. That is our goal. That's why we continue to innovate: to create truly memorable and unique experiences."
Of course, in Disney Adventure World there will be much more than Frozen. The journey for movie lovers begins with World Premiere, an area full of glamour that makes visitors feel like they are at a Hollywood premiere. A central path called Adventure Way leads visitors to the new heart of the park: Adventure Bay, a spectacular new lake conceived as a stage in itself. There, every night, a new show called Disney Cascade of Light will take place.
Its producer, Ben Spalding, explained yesterday this technological delirium that combines highly complex visual and technical effects with pyrotechnics, moving lights, flamethrowers, water screens, synchronized projections... "The show includes 379 drones, 279 of which take off from the central barge. Unlike other drone shows, we place the drones at just 20 meters high, right in front of the audience, offering a unique immersive experience," Spalding pointed out. "It's very technical, but also very creative. Everything is designed to inspire. Visitors don't just see the show: they feel it, live it, and become part of the story."
From the lake, the other two extraordinary worlds are also within reach: Marvel Avengers Campus and Worlds of Pixar. These are already fully operational. And the adventure doesn't end there. The construction of another family attraction inspired by Up has already begun and will arrive even before the Lion King one.