After the establishment of Disneyland Paris on April 12, 1992, a second park opened in France on March 16, 2002. This is the Walt Disney Studios Park, designed to further develop the range of shows and attractions. Located in the Val d’Europe shopping center in Seine-et-Marne, this second theme park of the Disneyland Resort Paris immerses both young and old in the heart of cinema with extraordinary attractions and breathtaking shows.
Walt Disney Studios: a park dedicated to the seventh art
Opened 10 years after the first park, Walt Disney Studios is part of the Disneyland Paris leisure complex. It is located opposite the Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy TGV-RER station and Disney Village. Dedicated to cinema, animation, and television, it offers a setting, attractions, and shows revolving around Disney animated films. Notably, the stunning nighttime show ‘Avengers: Power the Night’ takes visitors into the Marvel universe.
The Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris briefly drew inspiration from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to offer both Hollywood and European architecture. It is designed to celebrate the art and talent of storytellers from Europe and around the world who create so much magic.
Initially, the park consisted of four production zones or lots, such as Front Lot, Toon Studios, Animation Courtyard, and Backlot. Over the years, Animation Courtyard underwent modifications to become Toon Studio. A new ‘Worlds of Pixar’ area was created during the transformation of Backlot (in August 2021) which led to the birth of Avengers Campus. This new area was established from three-quarters of Toon Studio (Toon Backlot, Toy Story Playland, and La Place de Rémy). At its launch, it also included the area around Cars Road Trip, opened two months earlier.
The Front Lot: the entrance land of Walt Disney Studios
The Front Lot is a themed area located at ‘Place des Frères Lumière’ serving as the main entrance area of the park. The place reminds us that Walt Disney’s career began in the film industry.
Similar to Main Street USA, the Front Lot offers various services and shops. There is a large fountain set in a beautiful garden, offering an unobstructed view of the Mickey water tower, the icon of the park.
The Front Lot also includes Les Légendes de Hollywood, a shop inspired by a film studio. This place is ideal for shopping. You can find gifts and souvenirs inspired by numerous Disney films.
Toon Studio: a futuristic circular gallery
Inaugurated on June 16, 2007, Toon Studio is the part of the park dedicated to animation. It is a transition between the real world and the world of ‘toon’ or cartoons, as it is here that they come to life. Visitors experience strong moments alongside Disney characters, such as Marvel Super Heroes, Frozen heroines, and many others.
To the right of Studio 1 is a large blue building of Toon Studio called ‘Animation Celebration’. Made in the form of Mickey the Sorcerer’s huge hat, it overlooks the attraction. Fans of animation studios and Frozen can thus discover the animation profession and several rooms dedicated to the film.
Toon Studio also includes a large theater called Animagique Theater. Visitors meet Disney characters from all universes. Opened on March 16, 2002, it closed on January 31, 2016, and was later replaced by Mickey and the Magician in July of the same year.
It is also possible to take a shopping break in a store to buy a small souvenir to take home. The choice will certainly be made from the selection offered by this gallery dedicated to animation.
Production Courtyard: the zone of all possibilities
Inaugurated in 2002, Production Courtyard is another thematic section of the Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris. It is located to the left, directly at the exit of Studio 1, and extends over a long distance. From the splendid Partners statue to the Tower of Terror, passing through the Place des Stars and Hollywood Boulevard, it has everything to charm.
In this area, visitors can discover the world of film sets, studios, and costumes. There are also restaurants, shops, and meeting points with characters found in Production Courtyard. Not to forget the attractions, such as Stitch Live (Paris), Studio D (Paris), and ‘The Twilight Zone of Terror’ (Paris).
Worlds of Pixar: a reference to Walt Disney Studios
The Toon Backlot of Walt Disney Studios, opened in 2007, was the first space composing Worlds of Pixar. Comprising iconic attractions such as Armageddon, Rock’n’Roller Coaster with Aerosmith, and Moteurs… Action, it was rehabilitated to become Worlds of Pixar. The Rock’n’Roller Coaster will therefore be closed in July 2022 to return with a new theme, that of Iron Man and the Avengers. Closed on March 31, 2019, Armageddon will also make way for Spider-Man.
The rehabilitation of a second zone dedicated to the ‘Frozen’ license is planned between 2024 and 2025. It will be Arendelle, the famous Kingdom of Queen Elsa, which will be reconstructed. Just like Elsa’s castle, it will become the emblem of the park, similar to the Sleeping Beauty castle in Disneyland Paris Park. If these works will impact the alleys and Studio 1 of Walt Disney Studios, the attractions and shows will not be affected. Only the ‘Flying Carpets’ attraction will be closed from January 2024 for renovation.
The Marvel land: an action-packed adventure alongside superheroes
Following the opening of Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris, plans for transformation and expansion were conceived. The most ambitious of these plans is the establishment of a thematic area dedicated to the Marvel universe: the Marvel Avengers Campus. This last welcomed its first visitors on July 20, 2022.
You can now visit the Marvel Avengers Campus in Disneyland Paris to witness spectacular stunt scenes. This new thematic area also allows visitors to immerse themselves in the action alongside Marvel Super Heroes.
The Marvel Disney attractions are: Avengers Assemble Flight Force and Spider Man W.E.B Adventure. Participating in a Marvel Disney attraction allows you to interact with the Avengers to create your own story. Unquestionable Marvel fans or participants in this universe in Disneyland Paris for the first time all become new recruits as soon as they enter the campus.
To continue the immersion, the Disney Hotel New York: The Art of Marvel welcomes visitors who wish to stay in this hotel. They will experience an ultimate Marvel adventure.
To explore the Walt Disney Studio plan, it is important to consult a dedicated map available on the site.
On the map:
- the Marvel Avengers Campus area at the bottom (below the Tower of Terror)
- Front Lot, at the entrance at the top
- Toon Studio, with the Aladdin and Nemo attractions
- Worlds of Pixar on the far left
- Production Courtyard located between Marvel Avengers Campus and the Front Lot
- The future Frozen zone is visible between Worlds of Pixar and Marvel Avengers Campus.