After Four Months, Disney Finally Gets Government Approval for New Theme Park Project
Disneyland Paris Resort is one step closer to unveiling its next big expansion. After months of anticipation, government officials have officially approved a brand-new theme park land based on The Lion King (1994). The project will eventually open as part of Disney Adventure World, the reimagined version of Walt Disney Studios Park.
On April 14, 2025, Disneyland Paris Resort submitted permits for “Project SUN,” the internal codename for the Lion King land. Exactly four months later, on August 14, authorities signed off on the plans. Just a few days after that, the permit details surfaced online, revealing new information about the ambitious project.
Theme park news account @DLPWorks shared the highlights on X (formerly Twitter), 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 expansion will be a log flume attraction reminiscent of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom Park. Rising to 121 feet, the two-story building will be camouflaged as Pride Rock. Inside, there will be four distinct spaces: the attraction itself, Disney cast member facilities, an exterior queue shaded by themed thatched canopies, and a retail shop.
Disneyland Paris Resort’s permit also outlines immersive theming for the entrances, which will use resin, wood, and other materials to resemble caves and rocky landscapes. Landscaping will play a massive role in creating the environment, with stamped concrete walkways designed to mimic the savannah, nearly 300 trees added throughout the area, and sculpted rockwork to block sound and views from outside the land.
In addition to the headlining attraction, the Lion King land will include an outdoor character meet-and-greet, restrooms, and a Quick Service food kiosk with covered outdoor seating. The project also calls for backstage improvements, including more parking and expanded facilities for Disney cast members. The design will also incorporate emergency routes and new service access points.
Infrastructure will be upgraded to support the new area, though no additional electricity will be required. Instead, the land will use existing power loops. A water basin will be created to store ride water, along with stormwater drains hidden beneath the attraction building.
The Lion King land is just one piece of a larger puzzle. The soon-to-be-renamed Walt Disney Studios Park is undergoing a massive transformation into Disney Adventure World. The World of Frozen is already under construction and will debut alongside the renamed park sometime in 2026. The Lion King area is expected to open later.
Which other movies should Disney bring to life in its theme parks? Share your ideas with Disney Dining in the comments!
