Disney has reopened its new theme park based on the Frozen movie franchise. The cost of renovating the park has come in at £1.7billion, but fans of the franchise are so thrilled with the new look that even sceptics are being won over.
The World of Frozen area of Disneyland Paris was debuted to an exclusive set of guests ahead of its grand reopening later this year. Several high-profile attendees were at the launch of the new attraction — including Naomi Campbell and even French President Emmanuel Macron.
The park is now hoping to capitalise on millions of tourists who flock to Disneyland Paris every year after spending around €2billion (£1.7billion) on expanding the park to make it even more magical for kids and adults alike. And it seems that even those who would not even consider themselves Disney fans are loving the new look.
According to the Daily Mail, the opening of the World of Frozen is the crowning moment of the expansion, with a slew of A-list celebs and figures being invited to check the place out. Among the lucky few invited were Spice Girl Emma Bunton and ex-This Morning host Holly Willoughby.
The new section of the park is modelled on Arendelle, where the 2013 smash movie franchise was set in, and goes all out with the old medieval aesthetic. From large castle fortifications to tall church spires, the new additions have left fans begging to be let in to explore the world of Elsa, Anna and Olaf.
Those who were invited to the unveiling of the section spoke of the “whimsical Scandi in the gabled rooftops and colourful Nordic-style waterfront buildings” that line the streets of Arendelle. There is even a “mountain” that clocks in at an impressive 118ft (36m) high that fans can marvel at.
Adventure Bay, a lake spanning a huge 7.5acres, also dominates the new area of the park, as it boasts a stunning aquamarine hue. And it isn’t even the architecture of the buildings that helps to immerse fans into the world of Frozen, as characters such as Oaken, Mossie and even Olaf are often seen roaming the streets.
Once inside the castle, punters can get a true feel of the Frozen magic as some of the film’s most recognisable songs such as “Let It Go” are blasted whilst being performed by animatronics. And fans are even able to immerse themselves in the environment, even being able to go on a boat ride along the “fjords” of Arandelle.
But despite Disney going all out with its latest attraction set, this is just the beginning of Disney’s plans to drastically expand the park. Currently, construction is underway to include a section dedicated to The Lion King, telling viewers it will bring them “deep into the Pride Lands to follow Simba’s adventures”.
Even those who would consider themselves non-fans of Disney were bowled over by the spectacle of the park. Benjamin Parker from the Daily Mail — who described himself as someone who is not a typical fan of all things Disney, was won over after this time at the attraction.
“By the time we make our way home, I’m humming Disney tunes that have, it turns out, been lodged somewhere in my mind since childhood,” he wrote. “For parents, the experience may be exhausting, but to see the happiness in your child’s eyes is entirely worth it.”
Meanwhile, Disneyland Paris continues to contribute heavily to France’s entire economy, accounting for around 6.1% of the country’s tourism income since it first opened. And with other high-profile franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella proving to be as popular as ever, Disneyland Paris shows no sign of slowing down.
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