Zukunft: Lion King Land

Important note: This page looks ahead to the future of Disneyland Paris. Lion King Land is still under development and has not yet opened. The information on this page is based on the details released by Disney to date and is subject to change until the opening.

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Lion King Land

The world of The Lion King comes to life at Disneyland Paris

A new themed area based on The Lion King is being developed at Disney Adventure World. For the first time, the Disney classic is receiving its own immersive land in a Disney park, and it is being built at Disneyland Paris.

Lion King Land takes you into the Pride Lands, the world of Simba, Timon, Pumbaa and many other characters from the 1994 animated film. Pride Rock will form the centrepiece of the new area, rising on the shores of Adventure Bay as a landmark visible from across the park.

At the heart of the land will be a major water attraction that takes you through familiar scenes and songs from The Lion King. Disney has announced modern Audio-Animatronics, special effects and several drops. The attraction will be something new for Disneyland Paris, which has never had a true water ride before.

Lion King Land will offer more than just one attraction. Restaurants, shops and encounters with Disney characters are intended to draw you further into the world of the Pride Lands and make the area an important part of Disney Adventure World.

For many visitors, Lion King Land is likely to be one of the main reasons to follow the development of Disney Adventure World particularly closely over the coming years and to plan a holiday at Disneyland Paris once the area opens.

Welcome to the Pride Lands

Lion King Land is bringing the Pride Lands to Disney Adventure World, with a landscape inspired by the African savannahs of The Lion King that places you in the middle of Simba’s world.

Pride Rock will form the central landmark of the new area. At around 37 metres tall, it is expected to have a significant impact on the silhouette of Adventure Bay and will be visible from a distance. If you are one of the film’s many fans, the sight will probably bring one of the best-known scenes from the animated film The Lion King straight to mind: the moment when Rafiki holds Simba aloft and presents him to the kingdom.

An environment inspired by the design and atmosphere of the Pride Lands is taking shape around Pride Rock, with warm colours, rocks, vegetation and paths leading you deeper into the world of the film. The result is a landscape in which the story of Simba, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa comes to life all around you.

The Lion King has been one of Disney’s most important animated classics since 1994. Until now, it has been represented at Disneyland Paris mainly through shows such as The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands, a seasonal festival and meet-and-greets with characters such as Rafiki. Lion King Land will give this world a permanent place in a Disney park for the first time.

The Lion King Water Attraction

Simba with Timon and Pumba in the jungle - a boat with guests passes this scene

The centrepiece of Lion King Land will be a major water attraction built around Pride Rock. It will take you into the caves beneath the rock and on a musical journey through Simba’s story.

During the ride, you will experience familiar scenes and songs from The Lion King, with modern Audio-Animatronics and special effects intended to bring Simba’s story to life.

In the concept art, the attraction resembles classic Disney water rides such as Splash Mountain. Both technically and in terms of its story, however, it will be an attraction in its own right, following Simba’s journey from a young lion to king of the Pride Lands.

Based on the information released so far, the ride is expected to feature three drops. The largest will be around 16 metres high and clearly visible from outside the attraction. Disneyland Paris has never previously offered this combination of a water attraction, extensive show scenes and a genuinely fast-paced drop.

Restaurants, shops and meet-and-greets in Lion King Land

Lion King Land is not set to consist solely of the major water attraction. Disney has announced that the new area will also include dining options, shopping facilities and opportunities to meet Disney characters.

No specific names for restaurants or shops have been revealed as yet. Nor has Disney yet disclosed in detail which characters you’ll be able to meet in the Pride Lands. This information will follow at a later date.

From Star Wars to Simba: The evolution of Disneyland Paris’s expansion plans

Concept drawing of the Disney Adventure World with studio buildings in the foreground, a lake and various themed areas

Lion King Land is part of the major expansion of Disney Adventure World. A different theme was originally planned for this area. When Disney announced the expansion of what was then Walt Disney Studios Park in 2018, a Star Wars area was among the new themed lands in development.

However, this Star Wars area was never built at Disneyland Paris. Over the years, the project gradually disappeared from Disney’s communications about the park expansion. The announcement of Lion King Land eventually confirmed that the site originally intended for Star Wars Land would instead become home to the world of The Lion King.

More recent concept art shows Lion King Land on the left bank of Adventure Bay, with its distinctive Pride Rock. The Star Wars area shown in earlier plans for the park expansion is no longer included.

For Disney Adventure World, this represents more than a change of theme. Instead of another Star Wars land along the lines of Galaxy’s Edge, which already exists at other Disney parks, Disneyland Paris will receive a globally unique themed land centred on Simba and the Pride Lands.

The development of the Lion King area

Lion King Land is part of the major development of Disney Adventure World. Since the initial announcement, further details have gradually emerged, particularly about the water attraction in the new themed area on the shore of Adventure Bay.

As Lion King Land is still being developed, much of the information is being released gradually. New details about the attraction, design, restaurants, shops and character encounters will be added here as soon as Disney announces them officially.

Work is now also visible on the expansion site. The test track is particularly interesting, as it is being used to test the future drop of the water attraction at full scale. These visible preparations show that the project no longer consists only of concept art and models, but is moving into a more tangible phase of construction and testing. You can get a good view of the expansion site from Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, which offers a wide view across Disney Adventure World. PanoraMagique in Disney Village is another option for seeing the construction site from above.

Frequently asked questions about Lion King Land at Disneyland Paris

When will Lion King Land open?
There is currently no official opening date for Lion King Land. Based on the information available so far, an opening around 2030 appears realistic.
Which park will Lion King Land be in?
Lion King Land is being built at Disney Adventure World, the former Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris.
Where exactly will Lion King Land be located in Disney Adventure World?
Lion King Land is being built on the shore of Adventure Bay. Pride Rock will be the central landmark of the new area and is expected to be visible from a distance.
What attraction will Lion King Land have?
A major water attraction based on The Lion King is being built at the centre of Lion King Land. The ride will take you into the caves beneath Pride Rock and is expected to combine familiar scenes and songs from the Disney classic with Audio-Animatronics, special effects and several drops.
Will the water attraction have a minimum height requirement?
Disney has not yet announced a minimum height requirement for The Lion King water attraction. We will update this information as soon as official details are available.
Will you get wet on the water attraction?
As this is a water attraction with several drops, you should expect that you may get wet during the ride. Disney has not yet revealed how intense the water effects will be.
Will Lion King Land have restaurants and shops?
Yes, Disney has announced dining and shopping options for Lion King Land. Specific names, menus and details about the shops have not yet been revealed.
Can you meet Disney characters in Lion King Land?
Disney has announced character encounters for Lion King Land. However, it has not yet revealed exactly which characters from The Lion King will appear there.
What happened to the planned Star Wars land?
The Star Wars area originally announced as part of the Walt Disney Studios Park expansion was never built at Disneyland Paris. Instead, Lion King Land, based around Simba, Pride Rock and the Pride Lands, is now being developed at Disney Adventure World.
Can you already see the construction site?
The area is being built on the Disney Adventure World expansion site on the shore of Adventure Bay. You can see construction fences and, at times, cranes or larger structures.
When will new information about Lion King Land be released?
Disney usually releases new details gradually while a themed area is being developed. New official information about the attraction, restaurants, shops, character encounters or opening date will be added to this page.