Confirmed: Disney Permanently Shuts Down Hated Theme Park After 24 Years
A long-criticized Disney theme park closed its gates for the final time today — bringing an end to more than two decades of operation at Disneyland Paris.
Across its global portfolio, Disney theme parks have evolved dramatically since Disneyland Park first opened in California in 1955. The Walt Disney Company now operates major resorts in Florida, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
The company has also expanded through licensing agreements. Tokyo Disney Resort is operated by The Oriental Land Company, while a similar arrangement will bring Disneyland Abu Dhabi to the Middle East in the coming years.
Not every Disney park opened to immediate success. Some required years of redevelopment after disappointing debuts.
Disney California Adventure is one of the most notable examples. When it opened in 2001, the park’s California theme was widely criticized by guests who felt its attractions and environments lacked the immersive storytelling typically associated with Disney parks.
Disney ultimately invested heavily to reshape the park. Cars Land opened in 2012, and Paradise Pier was later rethemed into Pixar Pier.
Hong Kong Disneyland also struggled in its early years before major expansion projects helped turn the resort around.
The addition of new lands — including World of Frozen and Stark Expo — played a major role in helping the park attract more visitors and improve its financial performance.
A Second Gate That Struggled From the Start
Few Disney parks, however, faced criticism as consistently as Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris.
The park opened in 2002 as the resort’s second gate, built around the theme of filmmaking and Hollywood production.
Guests entered through a stylized studio entrance before exploring areas designed to resemble a working movie lot.
The opening attraction lineup included Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, Armageddon: Les Effets Spéciaux, and the Studio Tram Tour.
Despite those attractions, many visitors felt the park lacked the scale expected of a Disney theme park.
Early criticism focused on its small ride count and large open spaces that resembled backstage areas rather than themed environments.
Guests frequently described it as a “half-day park,” especially when compared with Disneyland Park next door. Over the years, it became known for cheap experiences and minimal rides.
Several experiences also focused on shows and special effects demonstrations rather than traditional rides, reinforcing the perception that the park felt unfinished.
Over time, Disney began investing in larger expansion projects to address those concerns.
Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy opened in 2014, adding a trackless dark ride and a detailed Parisian-themed area inspired by Pixar’s Ratatouille.
In 2022, Avengers Campus debuted at the park. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster was rethemed into Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, and a new attraction — Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure — opened alongside it.
Walt Disney Studios Park Closed Permanently Today
That long period of redevelopment reached a major milestone today.
Walt Disney Studios Park officially closed permanently at 9 p.m. CET today, marking the end of its 24-year run at Disneyland Paris.
That’s a wrap!
Walt Disney Studios Park has officially closed its doors and will reopen tomorrow as Disney Adventure World.
Thank you for the memories, 2002–2026. :sparkles:
#DisneylandParis
🎬 That’s a wrap!
Walt Disney Studios Park has officially closed its doors and will reopen tomorrow as Disney Adventure World.
Thank you for the memories, 2002–2026. ✨#DisneylandParis pic.twitter.com/FmEqYVMcDy
— Pixie Dust DLP ✨ (@PixiedustDLP) March 28, 2026
Beginning tomorrow, March 29, guests will instead visit the newly renamed Disney Adventure World.
The transformation introduces several new additions to the park, including World of Frozen, Raiponce Tangled Spin, and Adventure Bay, a large central lake that serves as the park’s new focal point.
The redevelopment also includes new dining locations such as The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge, where Disney princesses have received new outfits.
Disney has warned that the opening period may bring unusually high attendance levels.
On the Disneyland Paris website, the company shared a notice advising guests to plan carefully when visiting the new park and its headline attraction area.
“Due to the inauguration of Disney Adventure World and the opening of World of Frozen, we expect very high attendance,” it says.
“Access to the land and the attraction Frozen Ever After cannot be guaranteed, and there will be a dedicated wait line at the land entrance. If you’re visiting for several days, we recommend visiting Disneyland Park on 29 March 2026, and then Disney Adventure World and World of Frozen in the days that follow.”
Early previews suggest crowd management may be a challenge in the short term.
During annual passholder previews, World of Frozen struggled with capacity. The new land currently features a single attraction — Frozen Ever After.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s version of the area includes an additional ride, Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, a small family roller coaster.
Photos and videos shared online during previews showed guests queuing outside the land while Frozen Ever After experienced extended downtime.
Alongside the new expansion areas, Disney Adventure World will also include existing sections of the park, such as Worlds of Pixar — home to Toy Story Playland — and World Premiere Plaza.
That area continues to host several stage productions, including TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure and Mickey and the Magician.
For Disneyland Paris, the closure of Walt Disney Studios Park today marks the end of a park long criticized by guests — and the beginning of a newly reimagined second gate designed to compete with Disney’s most ambitious theme park expansions.
Did you ever experience Walt Disney Studios Park?
