(Source: Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris: An Interview with Natacha Rafalski on The Walt Disney Company Newsroom)
On March 29, Disneyland Paris enters an exciting new chapter with the inauguration of Disney Adventure World, its reimagined and expanded second park that features a thrilling array of innovative new experiences that leverage Disney’s globally beloved stories and franchises.
From the moment guests enter through the majestic Adventure Way to the impressive brand-new World of Frozen — which recreates the kingdom of Arendelle on a life-size scale — they’ll discover an attraction inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Tangled, 14 new dining locations, an immense lake called Adventure Bay, a breathtaking nighttime spectacular, and more. That’s not to mention the new Olaf robotic character, who will be featured as part of the daily Celebration in Arendelle show.
To learn more about the resort’s exciting transformation, which will include a new world and attraction themed to The Lion King still to come, read this interview with Natacha Rafalski, President of Disneyland Paris.
On Mar. 29, the resort’s second park will officially become Disney Adventure World, with World of Frozen as its centerpiece. How did you determine which Disney stories and franchises would best resonate with guests across the EMEA region?
Our strategy was driven by two key pillars: the proven emotional power of our franchises and our ambition to introduce new stories that complemented those already featured in Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris. We chose franchises like Frozen, Marvel, and The Lion King because they offer something for everyone, from young children and families to adult fans. While Pixar already has a beloved presence in both our parks, we recognized that Frozen and Marvel have become absolute cultural phenomena that particularly resonate with our European guests.
By pairing these with The Lion King, a story that holds a unique, almost sacred place in the hearts of Europeans, we’ve created a perfectly balanced ecosystem of stories.
While Disneyland Park, our first theme park in Paris, remains the home of classic, timeless storytelling, Disney Adventure World is designed as a place where guests literally step into the stories they know and love. We wanted to move beyond watching the story to living within the familiar environments seen on screen. Whether it’s wandering the streets of Arendelle or immersing yourself in the high-tech world of the Avengers, we are inviting our guests to fully dive into the cinematic worlds they have seen on screen, providing a fresh, distinct contrast to our first park.
These stories clearly travel well beyond their original markets. What does their global appeal say about the enduring strength of Disney’s franchises?
It proves that our stories speak a universal language. Disney’s strength lies in building on themes that are foundational to the human experience: the importance of family and self-discovery in Frozen, the values of heroism and leadership in Marvel, or the responsibility and circle of life in The Lion King.
When you combine those themes with relatable characters and unforgettable music, you create a shared cultural touchstone. These stories connect people across generations and borders, creating an emotional bond that remains vibrant decades after a film’s release.
How did you bring these franchises to life in ways that felt authentic to the region and resonated with local guests?
It is a delicate balance between preserving the DNA of these universal stories and grounding them in an experience that feels authentic to our diverse guests, and weaving it into the cultural fabric of Europe. Many of the stories we tell, from Frozen and Tangled to Peter Pan, are originally based on traditional European stories. Our goal is to honor that heritage while inviting guests into the Disney version of those worlds.
We achieve this by drawing heavily from European artistic traditions. On Adventure Way, for example, we embraced an eclectic architectural style with a strong Art Nouveau aesthetic — and influential school of design that originated here in France. We also know our European guests have a unique appreciation for nature and the traditional stroll. Our landscapes bring this to life through an English-inspired Gazebo Garden and formal French-style parks, offering a more contemplative, distinctly European way to experience a theme park.
That commitment to authenticity carries through to the smallest details of craftsmanship and artistry. In The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge, for example, the decor features striking display plates from the Royal Delft manufactory in the Netherlands — authentic elements that help ground the fantasy in real‑world history. We even localize the experience through sound, collaborating with renowned French composer Philippe Rombi, who created a score for Adventure Way that brings a distinct cinematic sensibility to the land.
Finally, we think carefully about how language plays an important role in making the experience accessible and relatable. In our attractions, guests will hear characters naturally shift between French and English, ensuring the story is clear for everyone while maintaining the grand scale our guests expect. It is truly about honoring the European spirit of these tales while inviting every guest to become a part of the story.
What are some of the most exciting innovations coming to Disneyland Paris as part of this transformation?
Innovation at Disneyland Paris is about elevating every touchpoint of the guest journey, ensuring the magic feels more seamless and alive than ever before. We are particularly thrilled to introduce a next generation robotic figure of Olaf. Developed by Walt Disney Imagineering, this is a true milestone in character technology.
Unlike traditional animatronic figures, this Olaf is a free roaming, untethered robotic character that can walk and move with the same whimsical and slightly bumbling gait we know from the films. He can speak and engage with his surroundings in a way that creates a level of character fidelity previously only possible on screen. Guests will be able to see him soon at both Hong Kong Disneyland and right here in Paris as part of our entertainment offerings.
Looking beyond World of Frozen, we are bringing a world first to our nighttime entertainment with the introduction of autonomous aquatic drones. These surface vehicles allow us to use the water of Adventure Bay as a dynamic and choreographed stage. By blending this cutting-edge technology with our classic storytelling, we are creating a multisensory show unlike anything seen in a Disney park before.
We are also evolving the invisible parts of the guest experience. By introducing new digital ways to order food and modernizing our retail environments with intuitive technology, we are removing friction from the day to day. Our goal is to ensure guests spend less time in line and more time immersed in the stories they love.
This transformation is part of a broader €2 billion investment in Disneyland Paris. What does that level of investment signal about Disney’s long-term commitment to the resort and to its growing presence in EMEA more broadly?
This investment is a powerful vote of confidence in Disneyland Paris as the leading tourist destination in Europe. It reflects our continued evolution as a world‑class resort, designed to meet the needs of future generations of guests. By significantly expanding our footprint and diversifying our stories, we are reinforcing our commitment to the EMEA region, ensuring that we remain the gold standard for immersive family entertainment for decades to come.
The evolution of Disney Adventure World continues beyond March 29, with a new Up–inspired attraction and an immersive world based on The Lion King still to come. How do these future developments fit into your vision?
Our vision is one of continuous growth and layered storytelling. As we evolve, we are focused on creating a balanced park experience. For instance, the new Up-inspired attraction is a charming, family-style flying carousel that serves as a perfect celebration of the film’s spirit, beautifully complementing the lush greenery and atmosphere of Adventure Way.
Looking further ahead, the upcoming immersive world of The Lion King will be a massive cornerstone for the park’s future. These developments ensure that Disney Adventure World is a place of constant discovery. A destination that grows alongside our guests, offering everything from quiet moments of family fun to epic, large-scale adventures.