March 29th 2026, was no ordinary day for Disneyland Paris. That Sunday, the most visited theme park in Europe for the past three decades unveiled the biggest transformation in its recent history: the conversion of what was formerly known as Walt Disney Studios Park, its second theme park, into the new Disney Adventure World. One of the centrepieces of this ambitious renovation is World of Frozen, a themed area dedicated to the Frozen saga, which transports visitors to the Norwegian kingdom of Arendelle.
The total investment in the project amounts to €2 billion, a figure that reflects the company’s commitment to consolidating its position in the European market. Indeed, Disneyland Paris has welcomed more than 445 million visitors since its opening in 1992. And this enormous number of visitors currently translates into some 70,000 jobs, both direct and indirect.
Walt Disney Studios Park opened in 2002 with a theming proposal that drew from the intricacies of the films and animation produced by Walt Disney Studios. Twenty-four years later, that approach must have become outdated, as Disney’s management opted for a conceptual shift: the new Disney Adventure World invites visitors to immerse themselves in its stories, not just contemplate them.
As Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris, explained during the opening ceremony: “With Disney Adventure World, we’re not only unveiling a second renewed park; we’re opening the door to a new era. An era where our guests walk straight into the heart of the stories they love.” This second theme park is now organized around a large, 3-hectare central lake, along whose shores the various themed areas are situated: the aforementioned World of Frozen, the existing Marvel Avengers Campus, and the Worlds of Pixar. A fourth area inspired by The Lion King will be added in the future.
In the world of Frozen, visitors enter a recreation that blends references to Scandinavian architecture with Disney’s most advanced technology. The 36-meter-high North Mountain crowns the landscape, with Elsa’s ice palace at its summit. At its base, the village square, surrounded by colourful buildings in traditional Nordic architecture, leads to Arendelle Bay.
The main attraction of World of Frozen is Frozen Ever After, a boat ride that follows key moments from the films. Visitors set sail from the royal docks, travel through the village and forest, pass by Troll Valley, and ascend North Mountain to the interior of Elsa’s ice palace. There, the queen performs “Let It Go” as her ice magic unfolds with visual and sound effects. The journey concludes in Arendelle with a celebration of summer and friendship, accompanied by the main characters.
The attraction uses state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics figures, immersive projection technologies, and a soundtrack that includes iconic songs like “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and the aforementioned “Let It Go.” One of the most striking elements of the new world is the robotic Olaf that stars in the daytime spectacular “A Celebration in Arendelle,” which is performed several times a day.
Inside Arendelle Castle, visitors can participate in a Royal Encounter with Anna and Elsa. After passing through the palace’s portrait gallery, they enter a private space where they can chat and take photos with the two queens. Additionally, other supporting characters from the saga appear in the village streets, such as Oaken, the cheerful shopkeeper and sauna owner, and Mossie, a curious and endearing baby troll.
Adventure Bay Lake is not just a decorative feature. Spanning 3 hectares, it becomes the setting for the new nighttime spectacular, Disney Cascade of Lights, which uses what Disney describes as the world’s first aquatic drone system. During the day, the lake’s shores host meet-and-greets with Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse in a newly designed Victorian outfit.
According to Josh D’Amaro, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, the project is part of a global investment strategy in parks and experiences totaling €58 billion. In Paris, the expansion will create 1,000 direct jobs, as announced by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the park the Friday before the opening.
It’s no coincidence that Frozen and Tangled are the star attractions of this expansion. Both films have European roots: Frozen is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, and Tangled on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Rapunzel.
Sources: The Walt Disney Company, Disneyland París World of Frozen, Disneyland París, Euronews, Intergame Magazine Online.
Images: Disneyland Paris and Disneyland París World of Frozen.
