Disneyland Paris has confirmed the development of a new immersive land themed around The Lion King, the 1994 animated feature. This project is part of a broader €2-billion transformation of the Walt Disney Studios Park, which will be renamed Disney Adventure World upon completion of the ongoing expansion.
The new Disney Adventure World coming to Disneyland Paris – Disney
The new themed area, codenamed Project Sun, will be located adjacent to the upcoming World of Frozen land. Together with the nearby Avengers Campus and the central Adventure Bay lagoon, these new areas will reshape the park into a collection of immersive, story-based environments.
Centerpiece Attraction and Layout
The land’s main feature will be a large-scale water ride built into a show building of approximately 13,755 square meters. Guests will board log-flume style vehicles and journey through themed scenes from the film, including “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata.” The attraction will include three drops, with the largest measuring about 16 meters. Think Splash Mountain… I mean Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom.
⚠️ Lion King Attraction stats based on new blueprints we unveiled today:
– 13,755m2 show building
– 23m building height, 37m Pride Rock peak
– 2 lifts, 3 drops
– 19 scenes
– High-cap dual platform load station
– Separate unload station
– 3 queues
– PhotoPass pic.twitter.com/4nC5W1Mh3N— DLP Report (@DLPReport) August 21, 2025
Pride Rock will serve as the visual landmark for the land, reaching a height of approximately 37 meters. Early renderings show that the queue and show spaces will be integrated into the surrounding savanna-themed environment. Disney Imagineers plan to use Audio-Animatronics and projection effects to bring characters to life.
Permits and Construction Timeline
Construction permits for the area were approved on August 14, 2025. These documents outlined plans for backstage access roads, guest pathways made of stamped concrete, utilities, drainage, and extensive landscaping. A total of 297 trees will be planted to integrate the area with the surrounding zones.
Concept art for the new Lion King attraction in Disneyland Paris – Disney
Construction is expected to begin in late 2025, following the opening of the Frozen-themed area. Although an official opening date for the Lion King land has not been announced, the timeline suggests completion between late 2027 and 2028.
Supporting Amenities and Guest Experience
In addition to the attraction, the land will include a quick-service food location, a retail shop, and dedicated character meet-and-greet spaces. Permits detail a 63-square-meter food kiosk with an overall food and beverage area of approximately 307 square meters. The adjacent retail space will cover about 299 square meters.
⚠️ First Look: New official digital renderings inside the upcoming Lion King themed land at Disneyland Paris (construction permit filing, do not show all theming):
– Attraction Entrance
– Shop Entrance
– Food Kiosk
– Restrooms pic.twitter.com/dVVcMqJEoc— DLP Report (@DLPReport) August 18, 2025
Restroom facilities will include family-accessible features. Walkways will connect the land with the wider Adventure World layout, enabling guest access from both the Frozen land and the central lagoon area.
Strategic Significance and Context
This land is part of Disney’s evolving park strategy to prioritize narrative-rich spaces over traditional theme park zoning. The redesign of Walt Disney Studios Park as Disney Adventure World signals a shift toward individual, detailed worlds similar to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or Pandora at other Disney resorts.
Concept art for a new night time show coming to Disneyland Paris – Disney
Park officials describe the Lion King addition as part of a multi-year investment aimed at attracting international audiences and strengthening year-round attendance.
What do you think of this new area for Disneyland Paris? Do you like the more individual areas for the parks? Let us know in the comments!
