Disney have revealed the newest additions to its theme park in Paris that are scheduled to open in 2026. New attractions and themed areas will be opened at Disneyland Paris in 2026 as part of a £1.72billion investment plan launched in 2018.

In a world first, the company has announced the creation of an attraction and immersive themed area inspired by the Lion King, as well as a world centred around the Frozen franchise. Other additions include the construction of an attraction themed around the Up film, another world first, while the park’s central lake will soon play host to a nightly show featuring water screens, fountains and light-up drones. By the end of next year, parkgoers will be able to immerse themselves in the Kingdom of Arendelle, the setting of the Frozen films. They will also be able to meet iconic characters Anna, Elsa and Olaf.

Riders of the new Up-themed experience will climb aboard a flying carousel set to spin in the air, mimicking Carl and Russell’s adventures in the movie.

The ride’s construction is set to begin by the end of this year, alongside a nearby garden inspired by animated favourites Tangled and Toy Story.

In the Autumn, construction will begin on the new Lion King world, which was feature a water experience with state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics technology to bring the famous Simba character to life with songs from the 1994 classic.

Michel Den Dulk, creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, said: “From the moment the sun rose on the big screen in theatres all around the world, audiences were captivated by the story of The Lion King, and its characters, and it has not lost any momentum since.

“Our goal as Imagineers is to translate the emotional core of the film into this exciting project and have you relive that feeling all over again as you experience this unique attraction.”

Since the start of the year, Disneyland Paris has also operated a “nighttime spectacular” featuring iconic songs and projections of Disney character onto the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Dana Harrel, the park’s executive entertainment director, said: “For this new show, we reimagined the way of telling stories with our Castle as the main attraction. This exclusive experience at Disneyland Paris is a testament to our creative expertise – skill which has been honed over the years.

“This can’t-miss experience will make it possible for guests to end their day in the parks all together in the most unforgettable way.”

These ventures are Disney’s latest efforts to refresh fans’ experiences, after it reopened Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel – in 2021.

Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris, said of the changes: “They show the extent of our transformation, which aims to reinvent the experience delivered within our resort in the coming years.

“We are confident that all these changes will contribute to strengthening our position as a tourism leader in Europe, along with the pioneer status that Disney has earned in the theme park industry.”

She added: “At the end of its expansion journey – which includes the opening of Adventure Way, Adventure Bay, and World of Frozen in 2026, and later an immersive world themed to The Lion King – we’ll have reimagined more than 90% of the park’s offerings since its debut in 2002, and roughly doubled its footprint to truly become a can’t-miss experience!”