Disneyland Paris Reaches Milestone 30th Anniversary, Introduces New Products and Experiences for Guests of All Ages

This weekend, Disneyland Paris welcomed guests for the 30th Anniversary launch, premiering new products and experiences such as the “Dream…and Shine Brighter!” daytime show, the “Disney D-Light” nighttime sequence featuring drones, and the new “Gardens of Wonder” where art meets nature.

Europe’s number one tourist destination – with more than 375 million visits since opening on April 12, 1992 – also announced the upcoming reopening of iconic Walt’s – An American Restaurant and new collaborations with well-known brands such as Bodum, Pandora and Bic.

The 30th Anniversary is a milestone moment for the resort and the beginning a new era marked by transformation, limitless creativity and the collective contribution of its 16,000 Cast Members to provide an even more immersive and unforgettable Guest experience.

NEW ENTERTAINMENT AROUND ICONIC SLEEPING BEAUTY CASTLE

“Dream…and Shine Brighter!”

Daytime Show Unique and unforgettable entertainment is a core part of the Disneyland Paris DNA. The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands and Disney Junior Dream Factory are just a few recent memorable examples of shows that Guests continue to enjoy.

Now, Guests can experience the all-new Dream…and Shine Brighter! show, performed several times a day at Disneyland Park on Central Plaza in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, an icon than is more beautiful than ever following a 12-month refurbishment.

Dream…and Shine Brighter! tells a story around three key themes – “Smile and Laugh Louder,” “Open Your Heart” and “Believe in Your Dreams” – with more than 30 dancers and Disney Characters, new colorful floats, two new songs and a fun mash-up of 20 Disney songs. The new floats appear in a contemporary style with abstract forms, iridescent and transparent materials which are illuminated by the sunlight and elevate the performance even further.

This daytime show is an opportunity for Guests to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and their friends decked out in new iridescent costumes created just for the 30th Anniversary, joined by other favorites including the Genie from Aladdin, Rapunzel from Tangled, and Jessie and Woody from Toy Story.

FUN FACTS:

30 Years of Costume Design Expertise at Disneyland Paris

•    Mickey and Minnie’s dressing room has more than 450 costumes, now including the new iridescent costumes and hats designed just for the resort’s 30th Anniversary.

•    Since 1992, more than 200 000  costumes pieces have been designed in the Disneyland Paris ateliers, one of the largest costume collections in Europe.

•    Currently more than 40 Cast Members contribute their unique expertise and creativity at the Disneyland Paris ateliers, such as milliners, pattern makers, seamstresses and more.

•    To design the 30th Anniversary costumes, more than 2,000 lines of rhinestones were sewn in, more than 700 meters of fabrics were printed, and more than 190 jewels were used.

“Disney D-Light” Nighttime experience

At nightfall and for a limited time, the Disney D-Light sequence will offered in addition to the Guest-favorite Disney Illuminations show, combining video projections, illuminated water jets, lighting effects, mist, lasers, and nodes to famous Disney songs for an unforgettable moment ending with a drone display above the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle.

This illuminated drone* display – designed with the help of European expert Dronisos, an Official Technology provider based in Bordeaux – will bring a memorable close to an eventful day. The synchronized drones will form a sparkling figure “30” in the sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle, as the new 30th Anniversary theme song, “Un monde qui s’illumine,” plays in the background. This new anthem was recorded with a symphony orchestra of 60 musicians at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.

This marks the first time that a Disney resort uses drone technology as part of a daily outdoor show above the Castle, a next step in the development of experiences that are increasingly immersive and engaging for Guests through innovative technologies.

News: Meet and greet with characters are gradually returning to their original format. They offer Disneyland Paris visitors the opportunity to experience a moment of exchange, and the chance to get closed to their favorite characters again, pose for a photo with them, get an autograph and simply live an unforgettable moment. The famous and highly anticipated Mickey and the Magician show will return on April 23.

UNIQUE “GARDENS OF WONDER” INSTALLATION

To mark the 30th Anniversary, Disneyland Park will be decked out with brand-new décor such as the Gardens of Wonder with 10 enchanting themed installations of 30 kinetic Disney and Pixar sculptures that “come to life” in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The art pieces celebrate nature, embody the diversity of popular Disney and Pixar Characters, and offer a pleasant promenade for Guests.

Each piece takes inspiration from a unique source – whether it be windmills or the world of Salvador Dali – combining materials, colors, and luminescent effects to create an immersive atmosphere in the middle of Central Plaza.

These creations were imagined thanks to the expertise of the resort’s Landscaping and Entertainment teams and produced by two local craft businesses – After and Plastic Studios – with expertise in décor production, whose unique skills have contributed to the Guest experience for many years.

This installation required the talents of many specialists such as engineers, technicianspainters, 3D modelers, and more who worked for months in collaboration with Disneyland Paris teams to create the poetic Gardens of Wonder.

The Disneyland Paris Landscaping team also worked with Parisian start-up, Aglaé Design, to design an innovative process of luminescence for the surrounding plants to glow in the dark thanks to a biodegradable and 100% natural nutrient serum. This technique reveals an entirely new beauty for the natural environment around Sleeping Beauty Castle.

FUN FACTS:

Biodiversity at Disneyland Paris

•    With more than 35,000 trees, 450,000 shrubs and one million flowers planted every year, Disneyland Paris has beautiful biodiversity that changes based on the seasons and experiences at the resort.

•    About 100 Cast Members design and take care of the exceptional green landscapes that are notably inspired by those dreamed up by Walt Disney and contribute to making the dream a reality. The Landscaping teams play a key role in the creativity and immersive atmosphere of Disneyland Paris.

•    The environment and nature at Disneyland Paris are considered part of the resort’s daily operations, thanks to a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship. At Disneyland Paris, there are nine horticulture professions, along with arborists and a watering system with 6,000km of hoses that is unique in Europe, Additionally, Disneyland Paris boasts its famous indoor plants that Guests can admire every day at all seven Disney Hotels.

•    Guided by The Walt Disney Company environmental goals, Disneyland Paris’ sustainability efforts rely on multiples initiatives. A recent example is one of the largest solar canopy plants in Europe being built on the main Guest parking lot. Expected to be completed in 2023, it will reduce the Val d’Europe territory’s greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 890 tons of CO2 per year and produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of 17% of Disneyland Paris current consumption.

NEW FOOD & BEVERAGE OFFERINGS AND WALT’S RESTAURANT REOPENING

At Disneyland Paris, the food and beverage experience is an extension of the resort experience. For months, resort chefs have passionately developed and tested new dishes to complement the 30th Anniversary, while also preparing for the highly anticipated reopening of Walt’s – An American Restaurant on April 12 – 30 years to the day after Disneyland Paris first opened its gates.

This iconic restaurant located on Main Street, U.S.A., represents a timeless backdrop of Walt Disney’s finest moments, with six themed dining rooms that honor the six lands of Disneyland. For the 30th Anniversary, Disneyland Paris chefs have imagined a brand-new bistronomy menu of refined American signature courses with a French touch, inspired by the cities of Chicago, Illinois and Marceline, Missouri, where Walt Disney was born and lived as a child. Some recipes have even been created around the famous Isigny cream, as a wink to Walt “D’Isigny” ancestors in Normandy.

The new menu includes a choice of delicious options such as a Corn Chowder with Isigny cream, smoked popcorn and pastrami, and an exclusive version of Chili con carne – one of Walt’s favorites dishes, with tortilla, cheddar cheese, Isigny cream, white rice, red beans and slices of beef – plus a new Mac and Cheese dish with cheddar cheese and shiitake mushrooms.  Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy a selection of gourmet desserts such as Pineapple Upside-Down cake, vegan hot chocolate or hazelnut chip cookie skillet, and the “Celebration Cake,” a white chocolate and strawberry pastry cake served under a dome.

A selection of vegan options and a kid’s menu will also be available, and the beverage team has created a large choice of exclusive cocktails such as the refreshing Fruit Celebration Cocktail with  a tasty blend of Gin, Elderflower Liqueur, Blackberry, Green Apple, Grape and Lemon, and mocktails such as the Shirley Temple with sprite, ginger ale and grenadine syrup.

Other restaurants and snack bars will also reopen their doors on April 6. Toad Hall Restaurant will return with a new fish and chips recipe served in a genuine newspaper (vegan option also available). Ice Cream Company will have new ice creams and a Mickey milkshake. Coffee Grinder will offer a large selection of beverages and for the first time a selection of vegetable drinks.

Guests can enjoy 30th Anniversary products in the destination’s 59 restaurants, 10 bars and numerous take-out kiosks, including Mickey shaped pizzas and sandwiches, ice cream, macaroons, madeleines and waffles that will delight the taste buds of young and old. The products most popular with visitors in the various Disney Parks around the world, such as the Mickey Bar and Turkey leg, will now be offered at Disneyland Paris from March 6.

EXCLUSIVE COLLABORATIONS & A ONE-OF-A-KIND SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

With 63 themed boutiques, shopping is an experience in and of itself at Disneyland Paris. For the resort’s 30th Anniversary, more than 350 new exclusive items will debut, the most significant product development program ever at Disneyland Paris. Guests can discover a whole new range of products and collaborations in the coming months with renowned brands exclusively for the 30th Anniversary.

First, a collection of exclusive jewelry has been crafted in collaboration with Pandora, official partner of Disneyland Paris since 2017. Included in the collection is a “double dangler” inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle, in the style that Pandora is so well known for.

Rhinoshield, a new Disneyland Paris official partner as of this year, will offer two new models of its signature protective iPhone cases for a unique 30th Anniversary style.

Danish household accessories brand, Bodum, will combine its know-how and sense of design to celebrate “30 years of magic” with the release of three new iconic products: a glass cup, a French press coffee maker and a travel mug – featuring Tinkerbell, the Sleeping Beauty Castle and a touch of sparkle.

Guests can also take Mickey, Minnie and friends home dressed in their new costumes thanks to a new 3D 72-piece spherical puzzle imagined by German brand Ravensburger.

The legendary stationery brand Bic has even created a set of three four-color pens with the Resort Creative studio, inspired by the iridescent theme and iconic silhouettes of Disneyland Park.

FUN FACTS:

Merchandise at Disneyland Paris

•    Disneyland Paris has its own on-site creative studio dedicated to product development. Constantly monitoring the latest trends in terms of shapes and colors, it also watches closely the latest technological advancements.

•    Made up of around a hundred talented Cast Members – who work in the fields of drawing, procurement, fashion design, “visual merchandising” or window display design – the team worked on the development of these new collections for nearly 18 months.

MINNIE MOUSE’S NEW PANTSUIT, DESIGNED BY STELLA MCCARTNEY

For the 30th Anniversary, Minnie Mouse called upon the services of British designer Stella McCartney to create her first ever pantsuit at Disneyland Paris, adding to her extensive collection as a true fashionista. Visitors will be able to meet Minnie Mouse wearing the new outfit from March 6 to March 31, in honor of Women’s History Month, in Studio Theater. Guests will have the opportunity to pose with Minnie, and spend time with her in a colorful and pop atmosphere, reflecting her image as a fashion icon through the years.

30 YEARS OF TRANSFORMATION AND ENGAGEMENT

The historic opening of Disneyland Paris on April 12, 1992, marked the beginning of 30 years of magic for Guests of all ages. With more than 375 million visits* since then – and countless new experiences – Disneyland Paris has created unforgettable memories for every Guest and become Europe’s top tourist destination. The secret to its continued success lies in a commitment to bring innovative new ideas to life, exploring new paths and continuously reinventing what’s possible, while fulfilling Walt Disney’s dream to create memories for friends and family.

For 30 years, Disneyland Paris has continued to develop more immersive experiences to bring stories and Characters from Disney, Pixar, MARVEL and Star WarsTM franchises to life.

The role and talent of the resort’s 16,000 Cast Members is essential, and their attention to detail, creativity, quality of service and above all their passion, help bring the resort’s magic to life. Whether it be through attractions, shows – more than 200 since 1992 – restaurants, shops, hotels, gardens and even décor, more than 500 jobs contribute to shaping the future of entertainment every day.

Disneyland Paris is transforming the Guest experience at every level, introducing new innovative and immersive offerings at an accelerated pace across the resort. From the highly anticipated opening of Avengers Campus this summer – just the beginning of a multi-year expansion plan – to the reinvention of Resort Hotels with unparalleled storytelling, to a range of new digital tools and services for an increasingly customized experience, Disneyland Paris is constantly reimagining what’s possible to bring the magic to life for even more unforgettable memories in the years to come.