Disney has opened its much-anticipated “World of Frozen” attraction at Disneyland Paris, marking a major milestone in the company’s multi-billion-euro expansion and the first major international appearance of its new chief executive.
The immersive themed land, inspired by the popular animated franchise, opened to visitors on Sunday as part of a €2 billion ($2.18 billion) redevelopment project at the resort.
The expansion also includes renaming Walt Disney Studios Park to Disney Adventure World, as part of broader efforts to revamp the Paris complex. The inaugural programme several global celebrities were in attendance.
The development is the largest in the 34-year history of Disneyland Paris and forms part of Disney’s almost $60 billion global investment across its parks, resorts and cruise businesses.
New CEO Josh D’Amaro, who assumed office on March 18, took center stage at the event, highlighting the importance of storytelling across Disney’s operations.
“Storytelling remains at the heart of everything we do,” he told the audience, describing the new attraction as a “transformational moment” for the company.
The parks division — long a key revenue driver — accounted for more than half of Disney’s segment operating income last year, helping propel D’Amaro to the top leadership role.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the resort ahead of the opening, described Disneyland Paris as Europe’s leading tourist destination and a major contributor to the national economy.
He said the latest expansion would create around 1,000 new jobs, adding to the more than 20,000 people already employed at the resort.
Once criticized at its launch in 1992 as “Euro Disney,” the park has since evolved into a major economic asset, attracting hundreds of millions of visitors over the decades.
The new “Frozen” land recreates the fictional kingdom of Arendelle, featuring themed rides, character experiences and a Scandinavian-style village built around a central lagoon.
Among the highlights is a boat ride experience with advanced animatronics, as well as interactive attractions and live entertainment shows.
The revamped park will also feature new dining options, a large central lake, nighttime drone shows and additional themed areas, including a planned “Lion King” land currently under construction.
Disney said more than 90 percent of the park’s attractions will be redesigned as part of the transformation, with the overall مساحة expected to nearly double upon completion.
The opening underscores Disney’s continued focus on its parks business, which remains one of its most stable sources of revenue despite recent shifts in its streaming operations.