Disney Paris to get Star Wars, Frozen and Marvel lands

February 27, 2018, 7:53 AM · Disney CEO Bob Iger today announced, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, a two billion Euro plan to transform the Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris with new lands themed to Star Wars, Frozen and Marvel.

“We’re very excited about the future of Disneyland Paris and continue to invest in its long-term success,” Iger said. “The resort is already the leading tourist destination in Europe, and the transformative expansion we announced today will add even more of our beloved characters and unparalleled storytelling to create new lands, attractions and entertainment that further elevate the guest experience and drive new opportunities for tourism in this dynamic region.”

The new developments will roll out in phases starting in 2021, and will include the addition of a large lake in the Studios park, with new lands surrounding it. Here is the concept art that Disney released today.

Walt Disney Studios Park expansion concept art

You can see Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge to the left of the new lake, and what looks like the now-abandoned plans for Tokyo DisneySea's Arendelle land from Frozen on the far side. Disney previously announced that Paris' Rock n' Roller Coaster would be rethemed to The Avengers, and that appears to be the anchor for the new Marvel land.

However, WDS' Tower of Terror, which is the same layout as the one at Disney California Adventure, does not appear to have the Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout overlay on it in this image, raising doubt about whether the Paris park will be getting that attraction.

As for timing, if Disney started construction immediately, it would be two years behind Disneyland on its Star Wars land construction, which would fit with a 2021 opening since Disneyland is slated to open its Galaxy Edge land in 2019. However, with existing attractions and infrastructure in place for Marvel land, it also would make sense that Marvel would be the first phase of the expansion to open, taking the 2021 slot. That would leave Walt Disney Studios Park more time to develop the lake and prep the surrounding land for the Star Wars and Frozen lands.

Replies (18)

February 27, 2018 at 8:53 AM · Exciting news! Bud also long overdue. Nothing about Disneyland Paria main park?
February 27, 2018 at 9:40 AM · I believe it when i see it.

Furthermore it doesn't look like Frozen or Marvel will be new lands but attractions. I'm predicting Iron Man (as seen in Hong Kong) will replace the Star Tours(it uses the same exact ride), and we will get a standalone Frozen mini area as seen in Epcot.

The main attraction will be Star Wars Land.

February 27, 2018 at 9:58 AM · Looks like their taking Universal’s approach to cloning their biggest new attractions at several (if not all) of their global resorts.

Also I don’t know what a Marvel land is since their only immersive locations would be Wakanda and Asgard (RIP).

February 27, 2018 at 10:08 AM · Well, that park needs a spark and this does look good. The Paris guys always try to give a good spin to things so this might be worth waiting for.
February 27, 2018 at 10:17 AM · Looks like ther is also a aliens swirling saucers clone to be added to toy story land, as seen from the two green saucers just to the right of the centre of the photo.
Also hopefully they're adding a toy story mania ride aswell.
February 27, 2018 at 10:29 AM · I read Star Wars Land is a mini-version without the Millennium Falcon attraction. Maybe they're saving it or doing something different in the future. Also, rumored is Twilight Zone is slated to be removed so it might get an unique version not unlike Tokyo DisneySeas' version.

Interesting that they announced Marvel Land (and Frozen) for Paris before it coming to Anaheim. Anaheim will just have to wait.

Good times for theme parks.

February 27, 2018 at 11:28 AM · If Disneyland Paris is "the leading tourist destination in Europe", why does it lose money year after year?

I know Disney hates to throw in the towel, but this is a case of throwing (yet more) good money after bad. The French are just too snooty to embrace Disney; that's been the problem with this "resort" from day one. As for other Europeans...they prefer to come to WDW!

February 27, 2018 at 11:40 AM · Disney continues to make MASSIVE investments on themed entertainment. Well outpacing it'd contemporaries. By the way, whatever happened to that Nintendo Land thing?
February 27, 2018 at 11:52 AM · Look, as long as they don't touch my Tower in Florida, they can do whatever they want to the other ones.

More seriously, this looks like the much needed total overhaul the WDS park needs to exist as a true Disney park alongside the others in the chain. Even if Galaxy's Edge is just a smaller version with the headlining Battle Escape attraction, that's a huge pull, and the Frozen land would be unique in all the world. Well done, Disney.

February 27, 2018 at 2:20 PM · I'm impressed. Without the Millennium Falcon ride, it would be a big watered down. But adding the lake is a huge deal. Imagine EPCOT without the lake.

Exactly.

I don't know how much land WDS has available, and I'm curious if that has anything to do with why they're going small with Star Wars land (if the rumor is true, that is), but regardless - Star Wars Land and Arendelle are going to massively improve the park.

I've never been, and I've always read such horrible things about the Studios park, in stark contrast to the glowing reviews about Disneyland park itself. Once these improvements come to pass, I believe it will mark a turning point for the park.

I love what Disney is doing with all of their parks. Sure, I could be a homer and whine that they're not doing everything in the States, but they're thinking big, and from what I recall, the theme park business is the only one that was profitable. So double down!

I have no idea when I'll finally make my first trip to the Paris resort, but at least now I have a reason to go, and something to look forward to!

Kudos Disney!

February 27, 2018 at 2:46 PM · I can't wait for this to happen, I've always been a fan of disneyland paris, but it's always been a bit of a let down in comparison to the parks in the states. With this expansion however, it's sure to make it more well known. Could this expansion possibly be to do with the London resort aiming to open in the next 5 years?
The only issue I take with this is that they may be putting too many eggs in one basket, it may have been better to see some of that €2 million go to the disneyland park for example a new beauty and the beast land. However, there may still be more to be announced.
Definitely looks amazing though, and will definitely turn disneyland paris into a place to stay for longer.
February 27, 2018 at 2:48 PM · I'm curious if this lake is designed with the intent/design to handle a show like unto Fantasmic, Rivers of Light, or World of Color. Those nighttime shows really enhance the Disney park experience.
February 27, 2018 at 3:37 PM · Zzzz...I remember when Disney used to make lands based on original IP.
February 27, 2018 at 11:45 PM · I've been saying a DCA-style makeover would be coming to this park, and it looks like this is it. While I'm not sure anything here will be 100% unique to Paris, 98% of those who visit the resort will not see most of these attractions elsewhere, and it may convince a fair portion of Europeans to opt for Paris over Florida (particularly for a shorter trip). Walt Disney Studios is the Disney park I had no interest in ever visiting again (though I probably would if I visited Disneyland Paris just to pick up the missed attractions), but if this expansion is as good as it looks, it may become a must-do destination the next time I visit Europe.
February 28, 2018 at 3:30 AM · Long needed plan for this park! They are getting ready for the 20th anniversary of WDS and this timing also works with the Olympics Games that will draw attention on Paris.
Glad they don't touch TOT as this version looks better than the californian one. But they might change it in the future since the Hollywood theme will be gone and it stands right at the entrance of Marvelland.

They will also need to make the entrance bigger (currently 16 gates and it's barely enough on busy mornings. But there are buildings on both sides (ticketing to the right, store to the left)

That said i am a bit worried with the Disneyland Park that has not got anything new since Buzz Lightyear in 2005 (asides from upgrading Star Tours). Looks like this park won't see anything new in the upcoming years.

February 28, 2018 at 1:38 PM · Thought 1: I think some readers on TPI overestimate the number of Europeans who decide between a vacation/trip to DLP or WDW. There are simply not that many theme park or Disney crazy Europeans. I'd even argue that many Europeans are not fully aware of WDW (the British might be an exception). Even smaller is the number of Europeans who make US trips dedicated to Orlando or Anaheim. Yes, if Europeans are in Florida or LA anyway, they might spend a day or two at Disney or Universal. But the ones who are so dedicated that they make full-fledged Orlando trips (I'm pretty sure that's a very small number of people--I only know through the Internet that this community exists) usually also check out DLP every once in a while.

Thought 2: I love that Disney invests in the Studios Park. However, I was hoping that they would give the park a coherent concept and not just add seemingly random and trendy lands. But this seems to be the current theme for the Disney parks: IP before coherent park concepts. Anyway, I am more than happy about the announcement.

March 1, 2018 at 3:47 PM · Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom are the most successful parks in the world, and while the lands have a unique theme, the park does not. The movie studio theme was just a rip off of Universal, and they've largely abandoned it too except at Hollywood, the only one that actually is a real studio. Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Sea all have good themes, this park doesn't. WDSP is essentially becoming a more modern version of Disneyland, which is way better than an imitation of Universal. They just need to get rid of the film studio aspect entirely, and come up with a better name.
March 1, 2018 at 11:38 PM · It's about time they spent some money on the main park at DLP. It's 25 years old this year and it must be 20 plus years since it got a new ride and just a refurb or replacement. I am a Brit who has been to WDW 12 times but don't belie the rubbish you read about DLP, every time I go there the place is packed with queues like I have never seen elsewhere, at Christmas despite sub zero temperatures nearly every ride in the main park had 2 hour plus waits, even It's A Small World had lines spilling onto the concourse with at least a 90 minute wait, the main park simply needs more investment and more E Ticket attractions like the Ariel and Snow White mine train rides at other parks.

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