Ahead of a grand opening on March 29th, French President Emmanuel Macron toured Disney Adventure World with Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro. The duo traveled with a number of Cast Members, including Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski, touring various areas of the Disney Adventure World expansion, including the new World of Frozen land.
French President, Disney CEO Tour Disney Adventure World
The visit, which included Josh D’Amaro, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, Natacha Rafalski, Présidente of Disneyland Paris, and Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, coincided with the release of a new independent economic contribution study conducted by SETEC, documenting Disneyland Paris’ sustained impact on French tourism, employment, and regional development.
The SETEC study highlights the scale of Disneyland Paris’ economic contribution: the resort accounts for 6.1% of France’s total national tourism revenue and supports 70,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs across the broader economy. Its supply chain spans more than 4,000 suppliers, 83% based in France — with deep roots in the Seine-et-Marne department and the wider Île-de-France region. More than 350 suppliers have maintained continuous partnerships with the resort for over 30 years.
Since opening on April 12, 1992, Disneyland Paris has welcomed more than 445 million guests, invested €13 billion in France, and grown to employ more than 20,000 Cast Members — reinforcing its standing as Europe’s number one tourist destination and one of The Walt Disney Company’s most significant long-term investments outside the United States.
In remarks, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro talked a bit about the relationship between Disney and France, noting not only 30+ years of partnership, but also recalling a 2018 meeting between then-CEO Bob Iger and President Macron, where Disney announced a 2 billion euro, multi-year expansion of the Walt Disney Studios Park.
D’Amaro said that Disney has made good on the promise of that initial announcement, saying that he believes that Disney’s work in Paris will “continue to be the #1 tourist destination”. D’Amaro said that he’s very proud of the partnership with France, noting that the new development at Disney Adventure World adds 1,000 jobs to the workforce. D’Amaro said that none of this would be possible without the Cast Members who bring the magic to life.
President Macron congratulated Disney on the opening, and thanked Disney for its partnership. President Macron also thanked D’Amaro for coming to Paris shortly after he took the new role as Disney CEO. President Macron had more remarks in French to Cast Members and the teams that brought the expansion to life.
“With the inauguration of Disney Adventure World and the opening of World of Frozen, we are entering a new phase of growth at Disneyland Paris — expanding our capacity, increasing tourism, and driving meaningful economic impact for France through job creation and local investment,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “This progress is made possible through our longstanding partnership with France, and grounded in the creativity, innovation, and world-class experiences that only Disney can deliver.”
World of Frozen officially opens on March 29, 2026, at Disney Adventure World, marking a major milestone in the ongoing transformation of the second park at Disneyland Paris. This ambitious expansion nearly doubles the size of the park upon completion of its transformation and introduces a host of new experiences, including a Tangled-inspired attraction, 15 brand-new dining locations, and a stunning lake that will debut an all-new nighttime spectacular.
At the center of it all, World of Frozen immerses guests in the kingdom of Arendelle with a charming village, a family boat adventure, a lively daytime celebration, royal encounters with Anna and Elsa, and themed shops and dining.
Representing the most extensive reimagining in the park’s history, refreshing more than 90% of its offerings since 2002, Disney Adventure World now brings Disney Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, and Marvel stories to life in unforgettable ways.
And that’s not all! Work is now underway on a new Lion King-themed land, featuring an all-new water attraction will plunge guests deep into the heart of the Pride Lands.
After making their way to the caves beneath the 120-foot-high Pride Rock, guests will take their own place in the Circle of Life when they embark on a sensational and musical adventure, moving through iconic scenes and sceneries from the beloved animated movie.
Brought to life through state-of-the-art special effects and advanced Audio-Animatronics technology, this new attraction will be one of the biggest at Disneyland Paris, featuring three exciting slopes – including an impressive 52-foot-high descent!
Once this attraction roars to life, it will be featured in an all-new immersive world dedicated to the characters and stories from the film, with plenty of dining, shopping and opportunities to meet some favorite characters.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!