After many, many months of speculation, Disneyland Paris executives confirmed that they were likely not moving forward with plans to build a version of “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” in Walt Disney Studios Paris as part of the parks ongoing overhaul and expansion plans. Speculation has run rampant since that was stated as to what could replace the space as the final phase of the park’s announced overhaul following Avengers Campus, a “Frozen” themed land, and more. Well, according to sources, Disneyland Paris is currently considering building massive themed lands for either “The Lion King” or “Avatar”.
“The Lion King” has done very well with guests in entertainment offerings at Disneyland Paris many times before, currently with “The Lion King Rhythms of the Pride Land” show in Frontierland at Disneyland Parc.
Given the affinity guests have shown towards the franchise, it seems a given that a land based on one of the most influential and beloved animated movies of all-time would be a massive success. Personally, this is the plan I hope they move forward with as it would differentiate the park more from the others around the world, giving tourists a reason to travel from far and wide to experience something they could not ANYWHERE else. In my opinion, Walt Disney Studios Paris needs a land and a true “E-Ticket” attraction exclusive to it to finally shed the unwanted “low-quality” or “second-rate” image the park currently has.
As for “Avatar”, of course a tremendous land based on the film already exists at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World and there are several new films in the series finally on the way. It also happens to be the 8th most-seen film in box office history in France, meaning it is well-known by the “local” audience. It’s unclear if this would simply be a lessened clone of “Pandora: The World of Avatar”, maybe only featuring the Flight of Passage ride as far as attractions, or if it would be something new, but given that the remainder of the expansion plans for Paris are mostly recycled from existing projects, our money is on the former.
It is not expected that either of these lands will be announced as soon as D23 Expo 2022, but plans are subject to change. As with any rumor, the above should be taken with a grain of salt until any official announcement is made.
So, what do you think? Which land would you prefer be built at Walt Disney Studios Paris?
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i’m betting that a land themed to “The Lion King” for the franchise’s 30th anniversary in 2024 would be the right way to go.
Nothing against the land, but I would be extremely surprised if a The Lion King land would open in Disneyland Paris by 2024. They’re not very fast with building in France.
Walt Disney Studios will become a smörgåsbord of different IP with honestly not a lot to tie it together. Personally, I wouldn’t mind it if they first build this unique The Lion King land and their version of Pandora: World of Avatar, but considering the huge IP Star Wars is and the amount of expansion room the park has, I hope they still open a Star Wars land.
On a sidenote, just like the Frozen land a The Lion King land seems more at home at the Disneyland Park, which hasn’t got an expansion since Space Mountain in 1995! I can understand that Frozen can’t fit at Fantasyland, but The Lion King could be built behind Adventureland (not on the expansion plot next to the Indiana Jones rollercoaster, there should the Indy darkride come!).
Given the current plans for the new main aisle of the Studios and its blunt and magic-less appearance (even if it’s not a concept art, it will stay a straight repetitive aisle) I have little hope that there will be any ambitious plans for the WDS. Arendelle is half of Hong Kong, Star Wars was about to be half of the US, a possible Avatarland will be as well and a unique Lion King land is absolutely unimaginable (in my opinion). There is no imagineering left for DLP.
Thoughts of a sour Disneyland Paris fan.
I think both proposed projects would be very good news for the Park but I don’t think we will get a final decision eather made public or internally untill Jan 2023 after the inicial release of the second Avatar film is concluded it’s inicial Theatre run.
I’d like to see something completely original. I’m fed up with them simply copying rides and building the same thing around the world- it’s nice to visit different parks for different rides/lands.
Definitively Avatar
They should stick with Star Wars, and retheme Frozen (really???) to Avatar.