Disneyland Paris Gets ‘The Lion King’ Animatronics, New Space Mountain Theme

Disneyland Paris may have just launched a new World of Frozen land earlier this year but it’s already looking towards its next land, which is set to be inspired by “The Lion King.”

Imagineers offered fans a sneak peek of the attraction at the D23 expo in Anaheim over the weekend, including a look at concept art featuring an animatronic Scar.

The ride will bring to life the iconic scene in the 1994 animated classic, where Scar confronts his royal nephew. Set in a new 30,000 square metre area designed to reflect an African savanna, it will include attractions, stores, restaurants and character interactions.

Although no opening date was announced for the highly-anticipated area, which will be the first in Disney’s global stable of immersive properties to be entirely dedicated to the big cat movie, construction is well under way at Disney Adventure World, one of two parks at the Disney’s French outpost.

“The teams at Walt Disney Imagineering, Disneyland Paris and Disney Animation are hard at work bringing to life the beloved world of ‘The Lion King,’ which has captivated audiences for more than three decades,” said Michel den Dulk, VP portfolio executive at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris. “We believe this epic story was also embraced thanks to its unforgettable villain, so we are excited to lift the curtain on Scar’s presence in this major attraction. Thanks to an extraordinary level of detail, our guests will experience the very heart of the film’s story, its emotion and thrills, in an entirely new way.”

In the meantime, visitors to the Paris-adjacent resort will have other attractions to look forward to. An “Up”-inspired ride called Wilderness Explorers Sky Swings will open next year while in 2028 Space Mountain is set to be re-themed, returning to its original 1995 version “De la Terre à la Lune” (“From the Earth to the Moon”) based on Jules Verne’s novel of the same name. (For the past ten years it has been themed to “Star Wars” as “Hyperspace Mountain.”) The ride will close towards the end of next year to accommodate the update, which will see a new spin on the original steampunk theme. Steve Bramson’s original score is also set to be fully remastered as part of the refurb.

Also in 2028, for the first time since 2017 Disneyland Paris will debut a unique new daytime parade led by Mickey Mouse and friends. It will include eight new floats with beloved characters from films including “Aladdin,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Rapunzel” and “Coco.” By the time of its launch, it will have required more than 10,000 hours of research and technical development and 225 sketches of costumes, wigs and makeup.

“A new dawn of storytelling is upon us at Disneyland Paris,” said Christophe Murphy, president of Disneyland Paris. “From a vibrant daytime parade and a classic comeback for Space Mountain in Disneyland Park to the continued development of a themed area inspired by ‘The Lion King’ in Disney Adventure World, we are investing in the stories our guests love while continuing to evolve what a Disney visit can be. By listening to our fans and never standing still, I’m confident we are creating experiences that will delight people for years to come.”