Huge news came from the Disneyland Paris Resort on Tuesday as Bob Iger announced a TWO BILLION EURO multi-year expansion plan was being put into effect for the French resort that would heavily see a major expansion and renovation made to the Walt Disney Studios Paris theme park. While the exact plans were not laid out in detail, they did confirm that the expanded Studios park would have three new themed areas added for: Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars, along with the addition of a huge lake at the back of the park. This mega-expansion will "roll out in phases beginning in 2021.
Now lets go over what we think we know based on rumored plans as well as what we can see in the concept art released.
Marvel - The transformation of the Rock 'n Roller Coaster was already confirmed by a previous announcement earlier this month that will give the ride a new Iron Man theme. Looking at the concept art, you can also make out a new circular shaped facade will transform the front entrance of the attraction building as well. It is also clear that this entire area of the park will be given the Marvel treatment, with some kind of new attraction likely to take over the Armageddon special effects attraction space, and you can see an Avenger's QuinJet parked where the entrance to the Lights, Motors, Action stunt show is, which is being replaced by a rather large but non-detailed looking structure in the background, which I can only assume may be similar to the rumored Avengers attraction that is also being planned for Hong Kong Disneyland for 2023.
The Lake - Hard to miss the giant lake now placed in the back of the park, but it is also worth mentioning what isn't here anymore... as there is no trace of the backlot studio tour in the artwork. In the lake you can make out giant fountains shooting water into the sky on the left and right sides, as well as a boat making it's way across the lake. The lake is also surrounded by a large circular pathway that will take guests back to the two other new themed land, but also seems like it would provide a great viewing area for a giant nightime spectacular. Like... the kind of lights, water and projection show that Disney is famous for... but also the kind that was rumored last week as a possibility for the lake near the resort hotels. Good project rumor... wrong location. Seems that rumored new nighttime spectacular was actually for the Studios park, though Disney made zero mention of it in their announcement. All in good time...
Star Wars: Galaxy Edge - Clear to see in the artwork that Paris will be the first international location to get their own version of Star Wars: Galaxy Edge, and with ample space to build into plus the added benefit of extra time, I wouldn't be surprised if a few new innovations and surprises find their way here as well.
Frozen - Disney is still betting big on the idea of building Frozen themed lands. While we have no timeline for the long hinted at Frozen land in Japan, the one announced for Hong Kong Disneyland is expected to open by 2021. Much like Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, this will be a second generation land, where the Imagineers will have had time to review what works and what didn't in the first version and make improvements for this one by the time it is built.
Even more impressive is the fact that we're only talking about what is coming to the Studios park as part of this massive expansion. I'm sure there are some goodies planned for Disneyland Paris as well next door. So nice to see what can happen here now that Disney has taken full ownership of the parks.