Disneyland Paris Resort has cleared another major hurdle in its multi-year transformation. After months of waiting, government officials have officially approved the construction of a brand-new land inspired by The Lion King (1994). The project, which was first announced at D23 Expo 2024, will become part of Disney Adventure World, the reimagined version of Walt Disney Studios Park.
The process began on April 14, 2025, when Disneyland Paris Resort filed permits under the name “Project SUN.” Four months later, on August 14, authorities approved the plan. Just days after that, on August 18, the details began circulating online. The X (formerly Twitter) account @DLPWorks revealed highlights of the theme park filings, writing:
[News] 🚨⚠️ Lion King land Permit granted, revealing exciting details of the future #WDS2 expansion!!
➡️ Named “Project SUN”, the permit filed on April 14 was approved by the authorities on August 14, 2025 (precisely 4 months later). The land will feature:
➖ The Lion King covered attraction
➖ A retail store (inside the attraction building)
➖ A food kiosk with covered seating
➖ Guests restrooms
➖ An outdoor character meet-and-greet area!
➡️ Project area: 30,368.64 m², with a Gross Floor Area of 11,392 m²
➡️ With more than 297 trees to be planted (heights ranging from 1.5 m to 10 m), landscaping will play a major role. Details:
➖ Guest paths will be made of stamped concrete designed to evoke the savannah (total guest paving: 3,664 m²)
➖ Sculpted rock motifs with planted slopes; berms and screening to reduce visual and sound impact
➖ Planters along paths, contributing to a total green space of 5,396 m²
➡️ Utilities & Infrastructure:
➖ Electricity supplied from existing park loops; no additional power required!
➖ Extension of potable water network
➖ Creation of a basin to store attraction water, with stormwater collection via infiltration drains (located below the show building).
➡️ A new backstage area will be created, including a new parking. From the land, there will be several Cast Member entrances, as well as access for emergency and service vehicles via new car-accessible paths. Emergency exits will connect to service zones.
➡️ The permit also specifies that the surplus capacity generated by this land will be maintained within existing #DisneylandParis guest parking lots.
The centerpiece of the new area will be a log flume attraction similar to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom Park, the rethemed version of Splash Mountain. This two-story attraction will be housed inside a towering 121-foot building designed to resemble Pride Rock. The structure will also include a retail location, a themed exterior queue with thatched canopies, and Disney cast member facilities.
The entrances themselves are set to be highly themed, with resin, wood, and other natural-looking materials used to mimic caves and rocky formations. Nearly 300 new trees will be planted throughout the land, while stamped concrete paths will be designed to look like the African savannah. Berms, rockwork, and planters will help reduce sound and visual intrusions from surrounding theme park areas.
The Lion King land won’t just feature an attraction and landscaping. Plans also include practical guest amenities such as restrooms, a Quick Service dining kiosk with covered outdoor seating, and a dedicated character meet-and-greet. Behind the scenes, Disney will create a new backstage area with expanded employee parking and multiple cast member access points. Emergency routes will be carefully integrated into the design.
The documents also explain that the land will not require additional electricity. Instead, it will connect to existing loops in the park’s infrastructure. A new water basin will be created to handle overflow from the log flume attraction, with stormwater collected and filtered underground.
Disneyland Paris Resort has already begun work on the World of Frozen, which is taking shape nearby. Both projects are part of a larger plan to transform Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World. The newly renamed park is expected to reopen alongside the Frozen (2013) land next year. However, the Lion King area will debut later, once construction is complete.
What do you think about the transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
