Disneyland Paris just marked a major
milestone with the debut of Disney
Adventure World, the new name for its second park (previously Walt Disney
Studios Park), along with the grand opening of World
of Frozen.
The multi-day
celebration brought together executives from The Walt Disney Company,
government officials and a long list of celebrities, all there to witness what
Disney is calling a new era for the resort.
The event was
attended by Josh
D’Amaro, the new Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, who had
just officially taken up the mantle of CEO on March 18. French President
Emmanuel Macron was also in attendance, underscoring just how significant the
destination is to France’s
tourism economy.
Disneyland Paris was
touted as Europe’s
leading tourism destination, which is saying a lot. Since opening in 1992, the
park has welcomed 445 million visitors and accounts for more than six percent
of France’s tourism revenue, according to the company.
The expansion
itself stems from a €2 billion ($2.18 billion) investment first announced in
2018, which has added more than 1,000 Cast Members and involved nearly 400 suppliers.
At the heart of
it all is World of Frozen, a new immersive land that brings guests straight
into the snowy kingdom of Arendelle from the immensely popular Frozen franchise.
“Few stories have
resonated with fans around the world like Frozen,” said D'Amaro. “From the
screen to our parks, cruises, and beyond, its impact continues to grow, and
with World of Frozen and Disney Adventure World, we’re giving guests at
Disneyland Paris the opportunity to experience that story in entirely new
ways.”
“With Disney
Adventure World, we’re not only unveiling a reimagined second gate at
Disneyland Paris; we’re opening the door to a new era. An era where our guests
walk straight into the heart of the stories they love,” said Natacha Rafalski,
president of Disneyland Paris.
Rapunzel, Flynn Rider and friends perform during the grand opening ceremony for World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris. (Photo Credit: Disneyland Paris)
The grand opening
ceremony leaned heavily into that storytelling angle. Performers brought
characters like Rapunzel, Flynn Rider and their friends to life, delivering an
emotional musical performance that highlighted the new Raiponce Tangled Spin
attraction along Adventure Way.
Next, French-American
singer Santa performed “Into the Unknown” (from Frozen 2) on an ice-themed
piano before teaming up with an 11-year-old Make-A-Wish participant for a
touching rendition of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” The moment marked a
major milestone for the resort, with 25,000 wishes granted to ill children
since 1992.
The evening
wrapped with a full-scale finale featuring Anna, Elsa and Olaf, complete with
pyrotechnics lighting up Arendelle Village and the new lake, Adventure Bay.
“We continue to
expand Disneyland Paris with ambition and purpose,” said Thomas Mazloum, Chairman
of Disney Experiences. “The reimagining of our second gate reflects the very
best of what Disney represents: boundless imagination that brings people
together.”
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