After more than two decades, Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris has officially closed its gates forever, marking the end of an era for the European resort. The park, which debuted in 2002, ceased operations permanently on March 28, 2026, at 9 p.m. CET, as it prepares for an ambitious transformation into Disney Adventure World. This rebranding signifies a major overhaul aimed at revitalizing the park and enhancing the guest experience.
From Humble Beginnings to Grand Ambitions
When Walt Disney Studios Park first opened, it was conceived as a celebration of filmmaking and Hollywood production, serving as the second theme park at the Disneyland Paris resort. However, its initial reception was often lukewarm. Visitors frequently criticized the park for its limited attraction lineup, sparse theming, and a general feeling of being incomplete, especially when compared to the expansive and richly immersive Disneyland Park next door. Many guests considered it a ‘half-day park,’ characterized by large, backstage-style areas and a higher emphasis on shows rather than immersive rides.
Over the years, Disney invested significantly in addressing these critiques. Major additions like the Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy attraction in 2014 and the Avengers Campus in 2022 — which included the retheming of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster to Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and the introduction of Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure — aimed to bolster its appeal. These efforts mirrored similar reinventions seen at other Disney parks, such as California Adventure, which underwent extensive transformations including the addition of Cars Land and Pixar Pier after its own initial struggles.
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Disney Adventure World Opens Its Doors
The closure of Walt Disney Studios Park paves the way for its grand reopening as Disney Adventure World. This comprehensive rebranding is set to introduce several highly anticipated new lands and attractions. Among the key additions are World of Frozen, inspired by the beloved film franchise; Raiponce Tangled Spin, a new attraction; Adventure Bay; and a variety of new dining establishments, including The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge.
While the new identity officially launches on March 29, Disneyland Paris has advised guests planning visits in the immediate days following the reopening to consider attending on March 30 or March 31. This recommendation comes amidst expectations of extremely high attendance, particularly for the much-hyped World of Frozen. During recent annual passholder previews, the land experienced significant capacity challenges, with lengthy queues forming not only for its sole ride, Frozen Ever After, but also at the land’s entrance itself, compounded by periods of attraction downtime. It’s worth noting that Hong Kong Disneyland’s version of World of Frozen also features an additional attraction, Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, which is not present in the Paris iteration.
Beyond the new areas, Disney Adventure World will continue to feature popular existing sections like Worlds of Pixar, home to the Toy Story Playland sub-area, and World Premiere Plaza, which hosts acclaimed stage productions such as TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure and Mickey and the Magician.
