Disneyland Paris shared an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the design of the park’s very first boat show and its brand-new watercraft designs.
Behind the Shipbuilding at “A Celebration in Arendelle”
Yesterday, Disneyland Paris shared a spotlight post detailing “A Celebration in Arendelle,” the resort’s first show built primarily around on-water performance.
For the production, the team created three original boats specifically for the fjord setting in World of Frozen, with each vessel given its own visual identity and role in the show.
According to project set designer Thomas Gallou, the boats were designed to reflect different parts of Arendelle’s story world. Kristoff’s vessel uses Arendelle colors and insignia, while also incorporating a decorative front piece inspired by Sven. A larger barge was designed to highlight the townspeople and the festival imagery, and a third boat for Anna and Elsa draws from the sisters’ signature color palettes to connect themes of warmth and ice.
The craft also had to be carefully sized so performers could move safely while still allowing the boats to navigate the lagoon and suit the depth of the fjord. Given that their unique needs are both functioning watercraft and entertainment platforms, Gallou also emphasized that the project was as much an engineering challenge as a creative one:
“We’ve known about Scandinavian longshipsfor centuries. But building boats that meet our show and ‘magic’ constraints is something else entirely! On a parade float, all the technical elements are hidden. If we had done that on a boat, it would have caused serious issues. So we chose to embrace the reality: we integrated lighting and special effects into the design itself, as well as the helm because our boats are hand‑piloted. There’s no rail, no autopilot. On the contrary, we have true Arendelle villagers at the controls, specially trained for the occasion!”
Notably, as Gallou shared, the boats featured in the show are true watercraft; they do not ride along a fixed rail or operate by autonomous means.
Since the harbor and guest viewing areas allow audiences to see the boats from multiple angles, the interiors and exterior finishes both received close attention. The team also researched Nordic shipbuilding traditions while collaborating with technical specialists and outside partners, including French shipbuilder Couach Construction Navale and longtime Disneyland Paris partner Prelud. Nearly 400 suppliers contributed to the broader transformation effort, with 83% of them based in France.
As a point of personal celebration, Gallou celebrates ten years at Disneyland Paris in 2026. His work on the new Frozen show comes as a landmark achievement in his tenure with the company, during which time he has contributed to the resort’s Disney Halloween Festival, Disney Fan Daze, A Million Splashes of Colour, and the Disney Music Festival.
“This project is highly anticipated because it touches both Frozen and the opening of Disney Adventure World,” Gallou said in the release. “It’s a real challenge, and at the same time a great source of pride. I can say I’m the first to design boats for a Disneyland Paris show. As a [tenth] anniversary gift, I think that’s a pretty wonderful one!”
“A Celebration in Arendelle” is a 15-minute water show presented several times a day for the land’s in-theme “Snowflower Festival” event. Guests are invited to watch and sing-along with iconic songs from the Frozen saga, including “Let It Go” and “Into the Unknown”.
The show is also notable for including a high-tech walking animatronic of Olaf. However, recent performances have replaced the animatronic with a simpler puppet, which you can see more of in our coverage here.
Have you or someone you know had the chance to watch the new show during its ongoing passholder preview period? Let us know your thoughts and experiences on social media!
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