Disneyland Paris announced the first-ever ride and themed land inspired by The Lion King, which will come to life after the opening of World of Frozen at Disney Adventure World. This shares details, new concept art & model photos, and everything we know about the upcoming area to what’s currently known as the Walt Disney Studios Park. Plus comprehensive commentary and a recap of a few other announcements for the transformed park.
This news was announced during the “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase” or Parks Panel presentation during the 2024 D23 Expo at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro offered a sneak peek at concept art for the future in addition and teased what was to come in a few years. We had been expecting a huge D23 Expo for Disneyland Paris, and this Lion King land ended up being the highlight.
This was just one of several blockbuster announcements for Parks & Resorts at Horizons, during which D’Amaro revealed several ‘shovel to soil’ projects that will come online in the next 5 years, including over a half-dozen additions that will debut before the end of 2025. He and head Imagineer Bruce Vaughn followed through on their promise to deliver concrete details and not just tease more ‘Blue Sky’ possibilities.
Disney unveiled the upcoming creation of an all-new area at Disneyland Paris dedicated to one of the most beloved Disney franchises, around the world and particularly in Europe – The Lion King! This larger-than-life area will bring guests on a journey through the African savanna and immerse them into the unforgettable adventures of Simba, Timon, Pumbaa and many other iconic characters from the beloved Disney film, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
For the attraction, Disney Imagineers will bring to life the majestic Pride Rock, which will serve as the gateway to an adventure-filled water attraction that will plunge guests beneath the rock to follow Simba on his journey from cub to king, in a retelling of the story from the classic animated feature film. When visiting this first-ever themed area, guests will be immersed in the world of The Lion King thanks to Disney character greetings, themed dining, and shopping opportunities, which promises an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages.
“We are very excited and proud to be unveiling the next new land of Disney Adventure World, our second park that has been undergoing an expansion on a never-before-seen scale. This marks another milestone in the ongoing transformation of Disneyland Paris…the creation of an immersive experience dedicated to The Lion King is a testament to our commitment to immersing our guests into breathtaking adventures inspired by their favorite films, at the heart of themed areas that are faithful to the originals. This new area – which is inspired by the unforgettable story that has enchanted several generations of viewers – exists nowhere else in the world. It will make it possible for guests of all ages to make one of their wildest dreams come true: exploring the Pride Lands alongside all their favorite characters,” said Natacha Rafalski, Présidente of Disneyland Paris.
Inspired by the African savanna and iconic locations from the franchise, this new area will push the boundaries of immersion with its unparalleled level of detail and a new, unique attraction, which will seamlessly blend a spectacular water experience with state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics technology. Imagineers have dreamed up the perfect way to carry forward Disney’s unique storytelling tradition!
“From the moment the sun rose on the big screen in theaters all around the world, audiences were captivated by the story of The Lion King, and its characters, and it has not lost any momentum since. Our goal as Imagineers is to translate the emotional core of the film into this exciting project and have you relive that feeling all over again as you experience this unique attraction. I’m thrilled and excited that The Lion King will make its attraction debut here at Disneyland Paris.” said Michel Den Dulk, Portfolio Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris.
(Although the above concept art showcases the live action Lion King, this attraction is confirmed to be based on the OG animated Lion King. Why Disney opted to release outdated concept art is beyond us, but our guess is that this was actually for a pitched reimagining of Splash Mountain at Disneyland. Note the logs in the art show single-file seating, which thankfully is not consistent with the model.)
Before the future opening of the themed area dedicated to The Lion King, guests will be treated to an array of new experiences at Disney Adventure World. These novelties include the Adventure Way promenade surrounded by lush landscape, the family attraction Raiponce Tangled Spin, the stylish The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge offering spectacular views over the majestic Adventure Bay and the highly anticipated land inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Frozen.
When the Kingdom of Arendelle opens its gates in 2026, guests will not only have the opportunity to embark on an unforgettable journey alongside Anna and Elsa inside the all-new attraction at Disneyland Paris, Frozen Ever After, but they will also be able to take part in shopping and dining experiences and meet the beloved sisters in person during a royal encounter.
In the same year, an all-new breathtaking nighttime show will also debut on the lake and above. The banks along Adventure Bay and The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge will be the perfect spot to admire the awe-inspiring combination of water screens, fountains, special effects, and never- before-seen drone choreography.
Honoring its long legacy of innovation in nighttime entertainment, and in partnership with its France-based Official Technology Provider Dronisos, Disneyland Paris is also developing the first of their kind water-drones to be used just for this special show, that will bring each adventure-filled day at Disney Adventure World to a spectacular close.
All of these new experiences will roughly double the footprint of the Walt Disney Studios Park, which is ushering in a new era marked by a fresh creative vision. To celebrate this new chapter, the second park will even be renamed Disney Adventure World when the next themed area comes to life in 2026!
With construction set to begin in 2025, the Lion King Pride Lands near Adventure Bay will continue the resort’s ongoing transformation even after these additions to Disney Adventure World debut. (No opening date or timeframe has been revealed for the Lion King Pride Lands, but our expectation is 2027 or 2028–probably 2028.)
Turning to commentary, I’m really looking forward to visiting Disney Adventure World.
Those were not words I ever thought I’d type over a decade ago when experiencing the Walt Disney Studios Park for the first time (after Crush’s Coaster, but before Ratatouille–so not quite the opening day incarnation of WDSP, but still terrible). I knew everyone thought it was bad, but I couldn’t believe it was this bad. And after spending a couple days in the beautiful Disneyland Paris, I also thought that maybe Parisian Disney fans had too high of expectations. Nope.
It was the worst Disney theme park in the world by a wide margin–where it has stood ever since in our Disney Parks Power Rankings. Back in 2013, we even questioned whether the Walt Disney Studios Park was deserving of the “Disney” name, arguing that it didn’t even have the defining characteristics to be called a “theme” park. (That wasn’t hyperbole–it was really that bad.)
In any case, what a difference a decade (give or take) makes. The Walt Disney Studios Park still has a long way to go, but in looking at the model on the show floor, I’m actually…excited? It’s an unprecedented feeling for the second gate at Disneyland Paris.
Before I get to the excitement, let’s quickly cover a couple areas of disappointment. I still wish the front entrance were going to be razed and replaced. The soundstage idea is neat in theory as it puts a roof over guests’ heads to shelter them from the elements, but execution is terrible, and it’s only a good idea in theory. They should’ve followed the same playbook as the Arcades at Disneyland Paris, which are practical but don’t interfere with the awe-inspiring opening act that takes center stage.
Then there’s the name. My first impression of “Disney Adventure World” wasn’t positive, but it also wasn’t the almost visceral negative reaction some fans had. However, I pause now every time when hearing or writing it, thinking that can’t be it. I’m reminded of regional amusement parks in Michigan and Indiana, and those are not favorable comparisons. I expected this name to grow on my over time and become more natural. Instead, the opposite has occurred. It’s probably too late to change course now, but I still wish they’d reconsider. It’s not too late for the obviously superior Disney’s CineMagique Adventure!
To be clear, these are minor nitpicks in the grand scheme of things. This is still a massive leap forward in the right direction. Disney is investing more now on the transformation into the soon-to-be Disney Adventure World than they spent on the opening day Walt Disney Studios Park.
Turning to the Lion King attraction specifically, I’m mildly surprised that they’d do a water ride in Paris. There were rumblings for the longest time about Splash Mountain, which never came to fruition due to financial worries. That concept wouldn’t happen now for obvious reasons, but I am curious about whether there are any trepidations about doing a water ride in a place where it snows.
To be clear, this is idle curiosity and not a claim that they shouldn’t be building a water ride in Paris. I don’t know. It also snows in Tokyo, and yet, Splash Mountain endures there and remains one of the most popular attractions in the park. Wait times are definitely lower in the winter, but it’s still no slouch.
It’s also worth noting that Splash Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland does not get you wet when it’s cold out. So I would imagine that, so long as it’s engineered correctly, neither will the Lion King ride at Disney Adventure World.
Okay, now it’s time for the excitement. I cannot wait for the Pride Rock area of Disney Adventure World. As an elder Millennial who grew up during the Disney Animation Renaissance, I feel like my childhood dreams are finally being fulfilled. It only took three decades, but they’re giving The Lion King its own land (miniland?).
The ride is also a matter of wish fulfillment. Splash Mountain was one of my favorite rides as a kid, and I can only imagine how much more I would’ve loved that, but with Lion King characters. I even loved The Legend of The Lion King at Magic Kingdom (for fellow old-timers), and expect this to be so much better. First Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast at Tokyo Disneyland, now this.
What’s next, an Aladdin ‘Cave of Wonders’ attraction featuring the Shanghai Pirates or Fantasy Springs Peter Pan ride systems?! In looking around the Disney Adventure World model, that seems like an actual possibility. There are still a few expansion pads in this park!
The timing is also right for a Lion King ride. Even though it has flashes of brilliance, the Little Mermaid dark ride came too early. Same goes for Frozen Ever After at EPCOT. The technology wasn’t quite there to bring those to life properly, but it is now. Audio Animatronics are next-level, and shouldn’t run the risk of looking dated a decade from now.
I’m also optimistic that Imagineering will learn lessons from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. That’s an apples to oranges comparison since it was a retrofit, but I think it’s fair to be concerned about dead space in the Pride Lands similar to all of the empty grass in the bayou. Hopefully Imagineering realizes what went wrong with that, and undertakes world-building and show design and doesn’t just have clusters of marquee Audio Animatronics without much in between. I’m confident that they’ll get it right.
The Pride Lands area itself looks interesting, but it’s somewhat difficult to ascertain what’s what in the model. And as someone who has visited Animal Kingdom since opening, I’m admittedly less impressed by this since I have a hard time imagining it’ll surpass what Disney Legend Joe Rohde and his team of Imagineers accomplished there. Nevertheless, it should be a strong addition to Disney Adventure World. And speaking of the models, here are more photos of them:
That last look at the model is what excites me the most. This park is essentially going from being the size of Future World at EPCOT to adding its own World Showcase, albeit the animated world. Frozen and Lion King are superlative starts–I’m so happy it didn’t end up getting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Even after all of this, there are still a good 3-4 major expansion pads left in Disney Adventure World (it’s safe to assume Cars Road Trip is in the chopping block). This park is on the precipice of improving by leaps and bounds, and it still has a tremendous amount of untapped potential even after Lion King comes online. It really could get an Aladdin area (continuing the animated worlds trend) and maybe even Beauty and the Beast (although two France lands in the Parisian park might be excessive).
The possibilities truly are endless for Disney Adventure World or Disney’s CineMagique Adventure (whichever name they end up choosing), and I’m really excited about the decade to come…and beyond. That’s not something I ever thought I’d say about the theme park that I once described as Disney setting up shop on a Walmart parking lot. The second gate at Disneyland Paris has a bright future, and I’m really looking forward to it coming into its own!
For the basics of planning a visit to Disneyland Paris, check out our Disneyland Paris Trip Planning Guide. Find the best place to stay in Disneyland Paris Hotel Reviews. Check out 101 Disneyland Paris Tips for some (101, to be exact) of our best random tips for doing DLP like a pro. See Disney Park Tickets Tips & Tricks for ways to save on tickets. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. Finally, for advice beyond Disney, check out our Ultimate Travel Guide to Paris, France.
Your Thoughts
Are you excited for the Lion King Pride Lands, Adventure Bay, World of Frozen, or any other upcoming additions to the second gate at Disneyland Paris? Excited to finally stroll around the central lake and experience the reimagined park? What do you think of the name Disney Adventure World? Good, bad or indifferent to it? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
