By Chetan Sharma
Disney has pulled the curtain back on one of its most ambitious international projects yet — a $2 billion “World of Frozen” land in Paris — and the timing couldn’t be more symbolic. Just 11 days after taking over as CEO, Josh D’Amaro chose this moment to step onto the global stage, showcasing the very division that powered his rise to the top.
Set against the suburban landscape of Chessy, France, the new attraction is hard to miss. A towering 118-foot ice mountain now dominates Disneyland Paris, crowned by Elsa’s shimmering palace. Below it, a carefully crafted Nordic village brings Arendelle to life, blending Scandinavian architecture, storytelling, and technology into one immersive experience.
This is not just another ride launch — it’s the centerpiece of a wider 2 billion euro transformation of Disneyland Paris, marking the largest expansion in the resort’s 34-year history.
A defining moment for Disney’s new CEO
D’Amaro officially stepped into the CEO role on March 18, after nearly three decades inside Disney’s parks and experiences division. Unlike leaders who rose through film or media, his path was built on the ground — inside parks, operations, and guest experiences.
The Paris unveiling effectively serves as his first global statement.
The message is straightforward: Disney’s future is still rooted in physical experiences. Last year, parks, resorts, and experiences contributed about 57% of Disney’s $17.5 billion segment operating income — making it the company’s most reliable and profitable engine.
“Storytelling is fundamental to everything that we do,” D’Amaro said during the opening, reinforcing Disney’s strategy of turning narratives into real-world destinations that generate long-term value.
And Paris is just one part of that strategy. Disney is in the middle of a massive $60 billion global expansion across parks, cruise lines, and resorts, with multiple projects already underway.
Inside the World of Frozen
The new land recreates Arendelle around a central lagoon, where timber buildings are painted in soft Scandinavian tones and decorated with traditional Norwegian rosemaling art. At the heart of it all is “Frozen Ever After,” a next-generation boat ride that combines advanced animatronics, immersive projections, and water-based storytelling.
Visitors can meet Anna and Elsa inside the castle, interact with a responsive baby troll named Mossy that talks back in real time, and experience a lagoon show called the Snow Flower Festival, featuring original music.
A robotic Olaf roams freely through the land, adding another layer of interactivity, while nighttime brings a large-scale spectacle with fireworks and more than 380 drones lighting up the sky.
The expansion also introduces 15 new dining locations, including the upscale Regal View Restaurant, further pushing Disney’s strategy of increasing per-visitor spending through premium experiences.
More details on Disney’s global strategy can be explored via The Walt Disney Company.
From Euro Disney to economic powerhouse
The opening also highlights one of Disney’s most remarkable long-term turnarounds.
When Disneyland Paris first launched in 1992 as Euro Disney, it faced heavy criticism in France, with some calling it a “cultural Chernobyl.” Today, it stands as Europe’s most visited tourist destination.
French President Emmanuel Macron attended the expansion, calling the resort “a genuine ecosystem of success” and emphasizing its role in the national economy. According to officials, the latest project is expected to create around 1,000 new direct jobs.
Disneyland Paris now employs more than 20,000 people and supports an estimated 70,000 jobs across direct and indirect roles. Since opening, the resort has recorded over 445 million visits and accounts for roughly 6.1% of France’s tourism revenue.
The numbers reflect more than just popularity — they show how deeply integrated Disney’s parks have become in regional economies.
A broader transformation underway
The Frozen land is just one part of a sweeping overhaul of Disneyland Paris’ second park. Walt Disney Studios Park is being rebranded as Disney Adventure World, with a massive new lake called Adventure Bay at its center.
A Tangled-themed family ride has already been added, while a Lion King land is currently under construction and expected to be one of the next major draws.
By the time the full transformation is complete, Disney says the park’s footprint will roughly double, with more than 90% of its attractions redesigned or newly built.
The creative direction also reflects Disney’s deliberate focus on European storytelling roots. “Frozen” draws from Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” while “Tangled” is inspired by the Brothers Grimm — making Paris a natural home for these narratives.
The bigger picture
While Disney’s streaming business has recently moved toward profitability after years of losses, the Paris opening reinforces a key reality: parks remain the company’s most stable and scalable business.
They offer something digital platforms cannot — immersive, high-margin experiences that combine entertainment, retail, hospitality, and storytelling in one place.
For D’Amaro, this isn’t a shift in direction — it’s a continuation of the model that brought him to the CEO role in the first place.
As the ice palace glowed blue above Arendelle and fireworks filled the sky, Disney wasn’t just opening a new land. It was signaling the start of a leadership era built on the same foundation that has defined the company for over a century — turning stories into worlds people can step into.
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