Disneyland Paris opens its extension, with Frozen in the spotlight

President Emmanuel Macron visited the site on Friday, where he was greeted by Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro. He thanked "the collective that makes all this possible," namely the company, elected officials, and government services.

The new space, designed to boost visitor numbers to what is already Europe's leading private tourist destination, offers a traveling experience between several worlds of the Disney universe.

At the heart of this area, a three-hectare lake designed for a nighttime show, with water jets, pyrotechnic effects and hundreds of aerial and aquatic drones.

Far away, the snowy mountain from the world of Frozen rises to a height of 36 meters, overlooking the fictional Scandinavian village of Arandelle and its pointed houses arranged around a frosted fountain, which look like they came straight out of the 2013 film.

"Frozen ever after", the flagship attraction, takes visitors into the frozen world of Anna and Elsa, a journey by boat and music, with river descents and encounters with the main characters from the classic.

The Frozen-themed area is intended to boost the appeal of Walt Disney Studios Park, the second park at Disneyland Paris – which will be renamed Disney Adventure World for the occasion. Opened in 2002, the area had not managed to achieve the popularity of the main park, which opened in 1992.

But the expansion also offers access to other Disney universes: the film "Tangled" notably inspired a spinning boat ride. And the work isn't finished yet: in the coming years, the park will welcome an attraction based on another of the company's biggest hits, "The Lion King."

“Attractiveness”

Shops and restaurants complete the offering, including an Art Nouveau restaurant with a view of the lake and a bar that offers alcohol, a first at Disneyland Paris.

The expansion was announced in 2018 by the Walt Disney Company at the Marne-la-Vallée site, with a multi-year development plan worth 2 billion euros.

"This investment decision is a vote of confidence from Disney in France, the rest of Europe and the potential of our company," explained the CEO at the time, Bob Iger, saying he was referring to a change in "political, economic and social climate" since Emmanuel Macron came to power the previous year.

The President of the Republic had welcomed this announcement on social media, seeing it as a sign that "France (was) back".

Emmanuel Macron stressed on Friday that the American group had invested a total of 13 billion euros since the decision to establish itself in Seine-et-Marne in 1987, which led to the opening of the park in the early 1990s. These are "1.000 additional direct jobs" that will be created by the latest extension, he said.

At the end of its transformation, this park will have "almost doubled in size", indicated Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris, last autumn.

Disneyland Paris, which employs around 19.000 people, remains very discreet about its visitor numbers and revenue. But its new attractions are expected to draw more customers and encourage them to stay longer, with more overnight stays in the region.

"Disney is a major driver of economic and tourist appeal," Alexandra Dublanche, vice-president of the Ile-de-France region in charge of economic development and attractiveness, told AFP, mentioning 63.000 indirect jobs.

"Foreign tour operators are asking for new things. This can give visitors a good reason to come back," she believes, while also betting on the influence of the territory as a whole.

"The aim is then to showcase another side of the region after Disney," she said, mentioning in particular the Château de Fontainebleau, also located in Seine-et-Marne.

Disneyland Paris - which manages 7 hotels and two conference centers - has already warned visitors on social media that longer waiting times are to be expected on Sunday.