Another Park Addition Announced Amid Disney’s Hiring Freeze, Cost Cutting

It appears that Walt Disney Imagineers are still able to push some new ideas forward in the Theme Parks despite the cutbacks, hiring freeze, and potential layoffs coming the Company’s way.

According to Disney Parks Blog, those latest additions will be the first permanent installments of Pixar’s animated feature film, Luca. 

Disney Parks states that Guests will get a very literal taste of the seaside town of Portorosso at Disneyland Paris Resort as the iconic restaurant Pizzeria Bella Notte is rethemed for Luca, Alberto, and Giulia:

“This iconic restaurant features nods to the classic Disney stories ‘Lady and the Tramp’ as well as ‘Fantasia’ and will now be home to another classic that has charmed families around the world: Pixar’s ‘Luca.'”

But it appears that the restaurant will be at the center of an entire retheme of the surrounding area, transporting Guest of Parc Disneyland to Pixar’s version of the Italian Riviera.

“‘Luca’ is a beautiful coming-of-age tale that reminds us of the beauty of acceptance, of one another but also from within. Discovering who we are can be a daunting challenge, but friendships can help us on that journey,” shares Tracy Eck, Art Director at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris – Design & Show Quality. “I’m really happy that we are able to bring elements from the story of ‘Luca’ here to Fantasyland.”

Disneyland Paris Resort is already in the midst of expanding its second gate, Walt Disney Studios Park, which just opened its own Avengers Campus and will soon feature a Frozen-themed land. Along with the continued 30th Anniversary Celebration, Disneyland Paris is decked out in the Holiday spirit with Disney Enchanted Christmas.