Big changes are unfolding across Disney’s theme parks – and for one of its most criticized locations, one long-awaited transformation is nearly complete.
As part of Disney’s staggering $60 billion investment into its parks and experiences, major updates are coming to destinations worldwide. From new Encanto (2021), Monsters, Inc. (2001), and Indiana Jones expansions at Walt Disney World, to the upcoming Avatar land and groundbreaking Avengers Campus expansion at Disney California Adventure, no resort is being left behind.
Disneyland Paris has been undergoing a massive overhaul, with its Walt Disney Studios Park at the center of a huge reinvention for the French theme park resort. And now, it looks like the latest piece of that puzzle is finally set to debut in just one month.
A Long-Awaited Overhaul at Walt Disney Studios Park
For over two decades, Walt Disney Studios Park has carried an unfortunate reputation. Opening in 2002, the second gate at Disneyland Paris was widely panned for its lackluster theming, uninspired layout, and an identity crisis that made it feel like an afterthought rather than a fully realized Disney park.
Unlike other Disney parks, which immerse guests in richly detailed lands, this park relied heavily on generic studio backlot aesthetics, making it feel more like a collection of attractions than a cohesive world. For years, limited ride offerings, uninspired dining options (which, let’s be real, has been a Disneyland Paris-wide issue in the past), and a stark, industrial design left visitors underwhelmed, prompting Disney to embark on a major overhaul.
Over time, attempts were made to improve the park. The addition of Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy brought a much-needed dose of charm, while Avengers Campus injected energy with Marvel-themed attractions. But even with these enhancements, the park still lagged behind its global counterparts. That’s changing now, with Disney’s overhaul set to revamp 90% of the park by the time it’s complete.
Fortunately, the next major step in this transformation appears to be right around the corner – a change that can’t come soon enough, considering the complaints around Walt Disney Studios Park in recent months. While its current maze of construction walls is obviously necessary in the pursuit of the greater good, there’s no denying that the current state of the theme park is not-so-magical as we wait for the likes of World of Frozen and Disney’s first land inspired by The Lion King (1994) to debut.
Surprise Opening Date Dropped For New Disney Park Land
According to reports from DLP Report, the shops and restaurants within the park’s new entry land, World Premiere, are now listed with an opening date of April 26, 2025, which seems to suggest that that’s when the land will debut to guests.
World Premiere shops and its restaurant are all marked as open from April 26, suggesting this will be the opening date for the re-imagined venue.
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) March 20, 2025
Disney Prepares to Debut World Premiere
Replacing the park’s underwhelming Studio 1, World Premiere marks a shift from a generic soundstage aesthetic to a fully immersive Hollywood experience. Studio 1, which closed in April 2024, was cluttered with outdated decor, neon signage, and forgettable dining options—hardly a grand welcome to a Disney park.
Now, with Walt Disney Studios Park evolving into Disney Adventure World, the entrance is being reimagined to reflect the park’s new identity. World Premiere is designed to capture the glitz and glamour of historic movie theaters, offering guests an experience that begins the moment they step inside.
Inside the reimagined space, guests will find themselves at the heart of a Hollywood movie premiere, complete with Art Deco influences and an atmosphere designed to evoke the golden age of film. The Hollywood Gardens Restaurant, the main dining location, will feature a faux-outdoor setting akin to the neighboring park’s Captain Jack’s – Restaurant des Pirates, which sits within Pirates of the Caribbean.
Beyond the entrance, World Premiere Plaza will serve as the park’s theater district, home to productions like TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure and Mickey and the Magician, Inspired by Broadway and West End facades, the area is designed to transform from a stylish daytime hub to a glowing spectacle at night, with marquee lights illuminating the space.
The finishing touches are already being put into place. This week, Disney began the removal of an outdoor sign on the former Studio 1 building that previously read Walt Disney Studios Park, signaling that the final stages of rebranding are underway. While Disney has yet to make an official announcement, all signs point to World Premiere welcoming its first guests on April 26.
With this update, Walt Disney Studios Park is one step closer to shedding its reputation as Disney’s most underwhelming park. Whether it will live up to expectations remains to be seen, but at the very least, its entrance will no longer feel like an afterthought.
What do you think of Disneyland Paris’ transformation?
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