Guests arriving at Disneyland Paris next month expecting a familiar “ride as much as you like” experience will encounter something different. During a short preview window, Disney is quietly reintroducing a limitation that feels closer to its earliest operating model than its modern one.
The restriction arrives at a pivotal moment. Disney Adventure World is nearing its long-awaited debut, marking the largest transformation of the resort’s second gate since it opened more than two decades ago.
For Disney, the preview period is meant to build momentum and test operations ahead of the park’s March 29 opening. For guests, it is positioned as an early look at the future. But the experience will not be identical to what follows.
At the center of the issue is Frozen Ever After, the new anchor attraction inside World of Frozen. Demand is expected to be high, even as opinions about the ride itself remain divided.
A Preview Experience With Limits
Annual passholder previews will run on March 15, 18, 23, 24, and 25 at the park currently known as Walt Disney Studios Park, ahead of its official renaming.
Guests attending those previews will be permitted to ride Frozen Ever After once. The limitation applies per person, regardless of how long guests remain inside the land.
According to information shared with preview attendees, access will be controlled using a voucher system. Guests will receive a voucher upon entering World of Frozen, which must be surrendered to board the attraction.
Once redeemed, the voucher cannot be reused. There will be no standby repeat rides during previews, even if wait times drop later in the day.
Disney has not announced whether the restriction will extend beyond the preview period. The measure appears designed to manage capacity and prevent the attraction from overwhelming early operations.
Notably, the same rule does not apply to Raiponce Tangled Spin. That attraction will be available without limits during previews, allowing guests to ride multiple times if they choose.
The contrast between the two rides has not gone unnoticed, particularly given how much attention Frozen Ever After has received during the park’s redevelopment.
Familiar Attractions, Mixed Expectations
Frozen Ever After is not a new concept for Disney parks. The attraction already operates at EPCOT, where it replaced Maelstrom in 2016.
That version has remained controversial. While popular with families, it is often criticized for its pacing and limited animatronic range compared to Frozen rides elsewhere.
Fans frequently compare it to the more elaborate attractions at Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, both of which feature updated ride systems and more detailed show scenes.
The Paris version closely mirrors EPCOT’s layout, leading some fans to question why the project required such a long development timeline.
Raiponce Tangled Spin has faced its own scrutiny. Early expectations centered on the possibility of a boat ride, especially after Tokyo DisneySea debuted a Tangled (2010) attraction in June 2024.
That ride, while short, delivered immersive environments and sophisticated audio-animatronics. Paris instead opted for a simpler spinner attraction, a decision that tempered enthusiasm well before previews were announced.
Taken together, the two rides reflect a broader shift in Disney’s strategy for the park — favoring recognizable intellectual property over bespoke experiences.
What Guests Will Still Get
Despite the Frozen restriction, preview guests will have access to most of the park’s new offerings. Disney has positioned the previews as a near-complete experience, rather than a limited technical rehearsal.
A new indoor meet-and-greet space for Anna and Elsa will open inside Arendelle Castle, providing a permanent, weather-protected character location.
Elsewhere, a Mickey Mouse meet-and-greet will debut at Adventure Bay, near the long-criticized Cars: Road Trip, helping draw traffic to that section of the park.
Entertainment will arrive in phases. During previews, guests can expect a marching band and a character moment featuring Rapunzel and Flynn.
Additional live acts are scheduled for later in the summer, including Miguel’s Fiesta Latina and Mary Poppins and the Pearly Band.
Preview guests will also see Disney Cascade of Lights, the park’s new nighttime spectacular combining water projections and drone technology.
Reserved viewing areas will not be available during previews. Booking access for those zones will open more than a week after the park officially launches.
Dining and retail will largely be operational. Most restaurants and food kiosks will open, including three named after the Aristocats kittens — Marie, Berlioz, and Toulouse.
What are you most excited to experience at Disney Adventure World?
