Exclusive Preview Event – 24 November 2025
On November 2025, I had the chance to step into Disney Adventure World and discover World of Frozen for the very first time. This was part of an exclusive press event celebrating the long-awaited announcement of the opening date: March 29, 2026.
In this article, I’m sharing my honest first impressions of the new experiences we previewed. Some areas were still unfinished and not accessible yet and Disney requested that a few elements not be filmed or photographed. Even so, it was an unforgettable afternoon full of surprises.
A Warm Welcome in the Disney Village Dome by Elsa, Anna and.. Olaf!
The event began inside the Disney Village Dome, where the Disneyland Paris Ambassadors welcomed us on stage alongside Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski and Bruce Vaughn, President and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Natacha spoke passionately about the transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park, explaining how its upcoming evolution into Disney Adventure World will be a defining moment for Cast Members, Imagineers, and guests and for the future of Europe’s leading tourist destination.
Bruce Vaughn reflected on how the park originally opened in 2002 to show guests the “behind-the-scenes” world of movie making. Now, more than 20 years later, that concept is being completely reimagined. When Disney Adventure World opens, the park will have nearly doubled in size, and over 90% of the original experiences will have been transformed since opening day.
Then came our first magical surprise: Anna, Elsa, and a brand-new robotic Olaf appeared on stage, a world premiere for this advanced character. Olaf shared how everyone in Arendelle is busy preparing for the Snowflower Festival and that he was looking for friends to make the celebration even bigger.
The robotic Olaf is truly stunning, a huge achievement from Walt Disney Imagineering. Earlier this year, the BD-X droids amazed fans in the parks, but this Olaf takes everything to the next level.
After the presentation, we were allowed to explore the merchandise and décor displayed inside the Dome, including the first look at Disney Adventure World-branded merchandise. Unfortunately, photos and videos were not permitted because many items were on display early for Cast Member previews.
Off to Disney Adventure World!
Then it was finally time for everyone in our group to head toward the Walt Disney Studios Park. We walked through Disney Village together and entered the construction zone where the walls had been removed for this special preview. This brought us to the start of Adventure Way, the new pathway that will lead guests into the future themed areas of Disney Adventure World.
On our way to Arendelle, we passed the new entrance sign for Toy Story Playland, now featuring a huge statue of Woody welcoming guests. Jessie’s statue, which will eventually stand on the other side, was not yet in place. We also got a look at The Gazebo Garden, which Disney had previously referred to as the English Garden.
It is located right next to Adventure Way, and I can easily imagine this area hosting entertainment offerings throughout the year, including the return of fan-favorite Disney Music Festival programs depending on the season. There are many English-inspired design touches; I noticed a Peter Pan statue near the entrance of the garden, though it looked quite different from the concept art Disney originally shared.
We were told that The Gazebo Garden will feature bronze statues and specially themed benches celebrating classic British stories from Disney Animation such as Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians, but we were not allowed to explore the space up close yet. Photography was not permitted while walking along Adventure Way, so for now these early impressions remain mostly in memories rather than photos.
After this, we finally arrived at World of Frozen. Three major icons immediately catch your attention the moment you enter: Arendelle Castle, Elsa’s Ice Palace high on the North Mountain, and the clocktower that serves as the entrance to Frozen Ever After. The attraction itself, the Arendelle Boutique, and the meet-and-greet inside the castle with Anna and Elsa were not open during our preview, but one of the shops was already welcoming us: the Fjord View Shop.
World of Frozen merchandise & Food offerings:
Inside, we were treated to a preview of the upcoming merchandise and some of the food items that will be offered next year. One thing that brought visible relief: the merchandise range is not just a copy of what exists at Hong Kong Disneyland.
We saw several different collections displayed in a rather small retail space. Some pieces felt like collector’s items aimed directly at Disney fans, while a new lifestyle collection looked more like something designed for everyday wear, whether inside or outside the parks.
One of the most unique products is an interactive Troll Runa figure that guests can “adopt”. The Runa figures will be able to communicate with certain areas in Arendelle and even with other Runas. There will also be a special post box installed in the land, along with a dedicated postcard, so guests can mail a memory from their visit directly to home.
We were even told that special dated collections will be released, including a pre-opening merchandise line.
We were also given a look at early food options for the Nordic Crowns Tavern. Surprisingly, guests will be able to customize their dish, something that is very rare at Disneyland Paris. First you choose your base, either quinoa or mashed potatoes, then vegetables that are included in every meal, and finally the choice between meatballs, fish, or vegan balls. There is a finishing option of either cranberry or mustard sauce.
It is clear that the teams are working to create an inclusive menu that works for most dietary needs, which is genuinely great to see. Personally, I was hoping for a slightly broader menu, especially when it comes to desserts.
A Celebration in Arendelle on Arendelle Bay:
Our tour continued with a stop at Adventure Way across from La Terrasse Panoramique for what turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the day. Show director Matteo Borghi appeared to introduce A Celebration in Arendelle, a new daytime show that will be performed several times per day as part of the Snowflower Festival.
This colorful performance will take place on Arendelle Bay and will include Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and villagers joining in the festivities aboard three beautifully designed Viking longships. These ships have been created in collaboration with Couach Construction Navale, a respected French shipbuilder from the Bordeaux region, while artisans from Prelud near Dijon worked on the detailed decorative elements, including Kristoff’s ship. Scale models of all three ships were on display for us to view during the presentation.
The show will invite the audience to sing along to beloved Frozen songs such as “Let It Go” and “Show Yourself.” Even more exciting, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the Oscar-winning duo behind the film’s music, have composed new pieces specifically for this show. This gives me high hopes that the soundtrack will be truly memorable.
A Celebration in Arendelle will be essential entertainment for World of Frozen, especially since Paris will not include Hong Kong’s Playhouse in the Woods show. My only concern is that this show takes place outdoors and may be vulnerable to cancellations during bad weather or during seasonal downtime, something we have unfortunately already experienced with shows in Avengers Campus and other park locations.
We also received more details about the future meet-and-greet with Anna and Elsa inside Arendelle Castle. Matteo confirmed that this character experience will operate with the reservation system through the Disneyland Paris app, the same system used for the Hero Training Center in Avengers Campus and which recently expanded to additional locations like the Princess Pavilion.
I asked specifically about the future of Frozen: A Musical Invitation at Animation Celebration once World of Frozen opens, but there was no confirmation yet regarding whether the show will close permanently or continue.
The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge
Our next stop was The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge, located across from the Raiponce Tangled Spin attraction. Filming was allowed inside but not outside the building. Going in, I had mixed feelings about this restaurant, but my first impression changed a little bit. It is very clear that Disney invested a significant amount of money into The Regal View Restaurant, and the results show.
As guests enter, they will notice two separate entrances: one leading to the restaurant and one to the bar/lounge. We first visited the restaurant space, where guests will be able to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a sophisticated setting filled with embroidered drapes, elegant floral tapestries, detailed woodwork, and large murals of Disney Princesses including Snow White, Tiana, Moana, and more.
One of the most eye-catching elements is the display of nine handcrafted Delft Blue plates made exclusively for this location by Royal Delft. They were created in collaboration with Bowie Faas, a Dutch Principal Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris who personally guided us through the restaurant and proudly spoke about this artistic detail.
I also noticed beautifully made vases inspired by Mulan and Tiana, but the murals were the real highlight for me, the style instantly reminded me of how Fantasy Springs in Tokyo DisneySea approached its theming, especially in their merchandise shop.
Even though the theming is of very high quality, a question still lingers in my mind: does Disneyland Paris truly need a third Princess-focused restaurant? We already have Auberge de Cendrillon in Disneyland Park and the recently opened La Table de Lumière in Disneyland Hotel. With The Regal View Restaurant, Disneyland Paris will actually have more Princess character dining experiences than Walt Disney World. Clearly, Disney sees a strong demand from the European audience for this type of dining experience.
The Regal View Restaurant will offer both adult and children’s menus. The lounge area next door will be accessible without a reservation and features playful nods to the Princesses’ animal companions such as Heihei from Moana, Pascal from Tangled, and Mushu from Mulan, along with touches inspired by Sleeping Beauty. Here, guests can enjoy signature cocktails based on Princess personalities, while the stunning views of the lake and World of Frozen create the perfect backdrop.
We also received a small preview of new food offerings that will be available across Disney Adventure World once the expansion opens. More dining choices are very welcome because right now the park mostly offers burgers at Hollywood Gardens Restaurant, pizza and pasta at Stark Factory, and a limited selection of snacks from smaller locations that do not provide a full meal.
Along Adventure Way, there will be 14 food and beverage locations offering a wide range of new items exclusive to Disneyland Paris. La Terrasse Panoramique will serve bread bowls, New York rolls, and hot drinks. Café Luminosity will introduce a new hot dog concept with four signature recipes and sweet treats like cinnamon rolls. Additionally, several kiosks, chalets, and mobile carts will offer a variety of snacks including filled brioche rolls, stuffed potato waffles, and fun Princess-inspired desserts.
However, most of these locations will not have indoor seating and will mainly operate with pickup windows, similar to the Overland Trail Café in Frontierland. Because of that, cold winters or very hot summer days could make dining less enjoyable, and I suspect I will still prefer many of the restaurants located in Disneyland Park or Disney Village during those times.
Café Luminosity will also house the control room for the new nighttime spectacular, Disney Cascade of Lights, which will run daily at Adventure Bay. There were earlier rumors that the building was originally planned to be a Tiana-themed restaurant before a budget cut changed the concept, though Disney has never confirmed this.
Raiponce Tangled Spin : The second Rapunzel attraction ever built for a Disney park
We did not have to walk far for our next preview because it was right next door: Raiponce Tangled Spin. This brand-new teacup-style ride is inspired by Tangled and placed along Adventure Way, beside The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge. Even before the attraction was officially announced, rumors had been circulating for a long time that a Rapunzel-themed attraction was coming. The attraction will officially open on March 29, 2026.
There has been some criticism from fans about this addition. It is indeed a simple flat ride in a park that has a history of relying heavily on flat rides, and the concept does resemble the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups in Disneyland Park. The Imagineers clearly knew this and leaned heavily into theming.
Even during the day, the ride looked beautiful, and at night it will be even more magical, lit entirely by glowing lanterns above the attraction. The artwork painted on the ceiling structure reminded me once again of Fantasy Springs, where the first Rapunzel dark ride opened last year.
This will be only the second Rapunzel attraction ever built for a Disney park. Before Tokyo DisneySea opened a dark ride in 2024, the most Tangled we had in the parks was bathrooms at Magic Kingdom in Florida, plus the Rapunzel tower scene added to Le Pays des Contes de Fées here in Paris.
Raiponce Tangled Spin will include music from the film such as “I See the Light,” and Mandy Moore, the original voice of Rapunzel, recorded exclusive audio announcements for the ride.
We were invited to sit inside the ride vehicles (which are shaped like boats), but the attraction did not operate during our preview. While seated, we were given more information about The Gazebo Garden and its entertainment program, which will include seasonal offerings tied to returning Disney Music Festival activities. Disney also once again mentioned the construction of the new flying carousel themed to Pixar’s Up!, which is still in progress.
Disney Cascade of Lights will light-up Adventure Bay:
The next presentation was the one I was most excited about as a major Disney Live Entertainment fan: Disney Cascade of Lights. This show is one of the biggest projects launching next year, and until now, very few details were known.
The presentation was led by Ben Spalding, who worked on many drone-based shows such as Avengers: Power the Night, Disney Electrical Sky Parade, and even the annual Bastille Day Fireworks Spectacular.
As soon as Adventure Bay slips into darkness, the entire area transforms. Barges quietly move into position, each named after the land or attraction they point toward: “Racer” for RC Racer, “Frozen” for World of Frozen, “Lion” for the upcoming Lion King land, and interestingly one called “Na’vi,” which immediately sparked rumors that Disney may be exploring Avatar for a future expansion. Nothing is confirmed, but it definitely got people talking.
The barges will take position two hours before the show begins. Then the lights dim and suddenly you’re pulled into a one-of-a-kind experience designed to inspire wonder, courage, and that classic spark of Disney storytelling. The show is designed as a full 360-degree spectacle with tiered viewpoints, so guests get a great perspective from anywhere around the bay.
What sets this show apart is its groundbreaking technology. For the first time ever, Disney is combining a revolutionary new aquatic drone system with aerial drones. These drones move together across the sky and water, creating shapes and scenes that feel fluid and alive. The story celebrates courage and determination across Disney and Marvel films including Mulan, Hercules, Moana (Vaiana), Zootopia (Zootropolis), Up, and multiple Marvel heroes.
Disney promises an immersive setup with water screens, choreographed fountains, large-scale projections, dynamic lighting, special effects, and pyrotechnics. At the heart of it all: a world-exclusive ballet of 379 drones — 279 in the sky and 100 in the water — developed with technology partner Dronisos. Disney is even creating a Plan B version of the drone choreography in case of bad weather.`
The aquatic drones are a brand-new technology created just for Disneyland Paris, and according to Ben Spalding, some drones will fly as close as 20 meters from guests, much nearer than in any previous Disney show.
The soundtrack is recorded by a 90-piece orchestra and features new arrangements of beloved Disney songs, including a new adaptation of “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana and a completely original anthem titled “We Can Be Heroes.”
I asked Ben how long they’ve been working on the show, and he said about eight years, including the construction of Adventure Bay. The project was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I still wonder if they will add a Frozen scene to the lineup, as many guests will visit because of World of Frozen. It was also interesting that Frozen was not included in the new daytime show Disney Tales of Magic. I even asked if Elsa’s Ice Palace might play a role in the show, but his answer wasn’t clear. It feels like one final surprise scene might still be under wraps.
One moment I’m especially looking forward to, and one that nobody seems to talk about online, is the Zootopia scene. That franchise deserves way more attention in Paris.
We also got a VR preview of the Moana segment, including the manta ray formation in drones rising from Adventure Bay set to a powerful orchestral version of the music recorded at Abbey Road Studios. It’s going to be phenomenal.
Frozen Ever After has no secrets to us
Afterward, we returned to World of Frozen where Anna, Elsa, and Olaf greeted us (from a distance) at the entrance of Frozen Ever After. The Imagineers are in the final stages of work on the ride. Since it’s based on the EPCOT and Hong Kong versions, there aren’t many surprises — unlike the future Lion King attraction coming to the park, which will be exclusive to Disneyland Paris.
The decision to copy and paste EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After into the World of Frozen lands feels like a Bob Chapek-era choice (former CEO of The Walt Disney Company and chairman of Disney Parks & Resorts). It seems that under the leadership of Josh D’Amaro, Disney is moving away from cloning attractions and focusing more on original experiences again.
Still, I think this attraction will be very popular for guests who have never had the chance to visit other Disney Parks. For a lot of Disney Parks fans this ride doesn’t hold many surprises.
One thing I was curious about was the language mix, especially for “Let It Go,” which was a massive hit. We received confirmation that the dialogue will be in French while the songs, including “Let It Go,” will be in English.
We filmed a few outdoor shots before heading to the Nordic Crowns Tavern restaurant for a short break. We weren’t allowed to film inside, but Disney provided one official photo. It’s quite a large restaurant, with self-serve kiosks and Mobile Ordering (Click & Collect) available.
A Magical Ending and a Big Reveal
Finally, we gathered at Arendelle Bay where Elsa’s magic, with help from drones, lit up the area and revealed the World of Frozen logo in the sky along with the long-awaited opening date:
The music was a version of “Into the Unknown,” previously used in Frozen 2: An Enchanted Journey (Disneyland Park) in 2020. We had a few moments to enjoy the land at night. The Friendship Fountain looks especially stunning after dark, maybe already one of the most underrated icons of the new land. It reminded me a bit of the Ratatouille fountain and yes, I’m already worried about guests accidentally walking into it.
The event wrapped up in the Hollywood Gardens Restaurant in World Premiere.
Final Thoughts: A New Era for the Park
A new era is finally beginning for this park. The long-promised expansion that will double its size is about to open. World of Frozen does feel like the first phase, especially with construction walls to appear for the Up-themed flying carousel, which honestly would have been nice if it were already open on Adventure Way.
We also will have to wait a few years for the Lion King land to open.
More expansion clearly lies ahead. Tom Fitzgerald already mentioned that the expansion allows for future additions. Cars Road Trip will still fill space near the lake while we wait for new lands. Some views around Adventure Bay, like Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and Theater of the Stars, will take time to blend in as the new landscaping grows.
But 2026 is going to be a very exciting year for Disneyland Paris, and I can’t wait.
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