Today Disneyland Paris has shared an overview of the upcoming new additions, changes and projects planned for the resort in the near future. While the announcement contains several interesting developments, most of them are already known.
The list once again highlights projects such as the new Disney Wonders shop coming to Disney Village, the new UP-themed attraction planned for Disney Adventure World, and the arrival of the original Space Mountain, which will result in the closure of Hyperspace Mountain.
One of the more remarkable announcements is that Mickey and the Magician will not be performed in 2027. The fact that another theatre will remain closed for such a long period is certainly noteworthy, especially considering the popularity of the show.
At the same time, the announcement appears to add some fuel to rumours that Mickey and the Magician could eventually return with an update, potentially including new scenes. If that is indeed the plan, the updated show would most likely return in 2028, rather than during the 35th Anniversary year.
And 2028 is already shaping up to be an important year for Disneyland Paris. The resort has also announced that a new parade for Disneyland Park is planned for that year.
So what will actually happen in 2027?
That is perhaps the biggest question following today’s announcement.
2027 will mark the 35th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris, yet the official communication contains surprisingly little about the celebrations. In fact, the anniversary is mentioned in just one short sentence:
“As Disneyland Paris turns 35, rediscover the timeless magic of Disneyland Park with some extra sparkles and special moments.”
That wording does not exactly suggest a major anniversary celebration.
Instead, it seems increasingly likely that Disneyland Paris will focus on celebrating the 35th Anniversary by bringing back some of the “timeless magic” of Disneyland Park, potentially including renovations and refurbishments of elements that have simply been allowed to deteriorate too far.
A good example is the Pirate Ship in Adventureland, which has been showing its age for some time. Renovating elements such as this is certainly welcome, but it would hardly feel like a major 35th Anniversary offering.
Could Disney Village projects be part of the anniversary?
There are, of course, several projects around the resort that could potentially be included in the list of 35th Anniversary improvements.
Projects in Disney Village, such as the renovation of Annette’s Diner, could technically be promoted as part of the wider anniversary celebrations. By combining several ongoing projects, refurbishments and improvements, Disneyland Paris could create a considerably longer list of “35th Anniversary” additions.
However, many of these projects were already planned independently of the anniversary.
The new UP attraction in Disney Adventure World is likely to be one of the more significant additions associated with 2027. But even this project is not specifically an anniversary project; it is part of the resort’s broader expansion and transformation.
A new nighttime spectacular seems unlikely
Another major question is whether Disneyland Paris could introduce a completely new nighttime show for the 35th Anniversary.
That currently seems unlikely.
The resort’s existing nighttime spectaculars are still relatively recent, making a complete replacement difficult to justify so soon. This leaves only a few realistic options if Disneyland Paris wants a major entertainment offering specifically for the anniversary.
One possibility could be a new daytime spectacular in the style of Dream… and Shine Brighter! or A Million Splashes of Colour.
Another possibility would be a new show on Royal Castle Stage near Sleeping Beauty Castle.
And then there is the merchandise…
One thing we can probably count on is a whole range of new 35th Anniversary merchandise.
Disneyland Paris has always been particularly strong when it comes to anniversary merchandise, and a major new collection featuring the 35th Anniversary logo, special designs and limited-edition items seems almost inevitable.
But merchandise alone obviously cannot carry an entire anniversary celebration, although Disney seems to think increasingly otherwise in recent years.
But based on what Disneyland Paris has officially revealed so far, it seems that we should not expect too much from the 35th Anniversary itself.
The really big changes may instead be waiting for 2028, when the new Disneyland Park parade could arrive and, potentially, an updated Mickey and the Magician could return.
For now, the wording from Disneyland Paris may be the biggest clue of all: “some extra sparkles and special moments.”
