Transformative Multi-Year Expansion Announced for WDS Paris

[MisterPenguin]

No budget cut.
According to insiders, Disney does not want to allocate more budget than what was already planned in the expansion plan, and the initial vision for the ride did not fit within this budget (~€ 40 Million in excess). Ultimately, DLP was able to secure a bit more money, but Disney will not give more. A budget cut is when a project is about to be funded, and at the last minute, Disney revises the proposed budget downwards compared to what had been promised.

The final version of the ride has been greenlit last week, they can now move foward.

Indeed, this happens often when what is built is less than the artist concept advertised.

As you've said, it's not the budget being cut. The problem is that it's over-budget in spending. And so, to stay within the budget, the *scope* of the attraction is cut back.

Disney isn't taking money away. It's bad at estimating the final cost, or, just is bad at staying within budget. That's why elements get cut (for the most part). Disney is spending the money it allocated, only, that money is buying less than what they thought it would.

 

[mrflo]

Disney isn't taking money away. It's bad at estimating the final cost, or, just is bad at staying within budget. That's why elements get cut (for the most part). Disney is spending the money it allocated, only, that money is buying less than what they thought it would.

The question now still remains what elements worth of ~€ 40 Million that were initially envisioned had to get cut. The rumour might not have captured the budget situation itself correctly. Though the more essential part that they have to make some downgrades (e.g. shorter ride, fewer animatronics and more screens and/or changes to the ride-system, etc.) to stay within the allocated budget actually seems confirmed.

Insiders were quite enthusiastic about the ambition and scale of this ride. I would assume those opinions were based on the originally envisioned version. At least - based on the latest model - the outside of the ride with the massive rocks still looks very impressive.

 

[mrflo]

Thank you again for the additional information! I assume having an original attraction for DLP with all the extra development costs comes at a higher price tag as well. We will see if it is still the ambitious blockbuster ride - comparable to RotR, FoP, etc. - that the park would deserve and I would have liked to see. I just hope they are not planning to spread the construction & costs over too many years again. Are we still talking 2028 or 2029 - or later?

 

[marni1971]

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Final model revealed!

It's amusing to me how much the overall profile and silhouette resembles Splash Mountain despite this being a brand new flume ride built from the ground up.

 

[Bernswss]

It's amusing to me how much the overall profile and silhouette resembles Splash Mountain despite this being a brand new flume ride built from the ground up.

It does resemble Splash, but it's much bulkier and the top section a lot bigger too. While Splash had the tree, this Pride Rock looks HUGE compared to it. This model and angle is an outstanding way to comprehend just how big this ride façade, if you can even call it that, will be. Also, note the lack of animals around the mountains, I wonder if that could've been an area they cut some of the budget on, wouldn't be too bad if that means a more impressive attraction.

 

[Bernswss]

Here's a few better quality shots from the video reel:

 

[IMDREW]

Super excited for this! This is the scale and feel we hoped for from these investments. Frozen land is also very charming if judged by Hong Kong. Two absolutely great new areas. Just wish for a second ride in both, even a small one, to make those lands feel like proper lands. But, if eventually we have 4 or 5 of this quality around the lake, it'll be a great great park to be in.

They do really need to fix the heart of the park someday again though. These paint jobs and floors won't do it and drag the quality feel of the park down.

 

[Aramar]

Guys, on the first image there's clearly a person working on the model, so it's a work in progress. That's what models are for, to test how the idea and project look before building it. If there are some elements missing, like the animals, maybe it's because it's not fnished yet. Or maybe they put the animals and didn't like the result so they removed them. Or maybe they were indeed cut to save money, we can't assume anything yet.

Aslo, talking about outdoor animated figures, they just put an animated Mickey figure outdoor at the Lego Store, so I can see a similar thing for Simba/Mufasa just moving his head a little. It doesn't need to be a very detailed animatronic considering how far it will be.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Aslo, talking about outdoor animated figures, they just put an animated Mickey figure outdoor at the Lego Store, so I can see a similar thing for Simba/Mufasa just moving his head a little. It doesn't need to be a very detailed animatronic considering how far it will be.

I really hope they cut animal figures from the outside of the "mountain", to be honest. Given that they're going to be sitting out in the cold and wet Parisian weather, we can't really hope for much animation beyond a Jungle Cruise figure if there is any at all. Moreover, they're liable to start getting very mossy if they don't clean them regularly, which is not a given.

Perhaps it's a lack of imagination on my part, but I think the mountain will look more impressive without a bunch of animal statues staged around it.

 

[Bernswss]

I really hope the cut animal figures from the outside of the "mountain", to be honest. Given that they're going to be sitting out in the cold and wet Parisian weather, we can't really hope for much animation beyond a Jungle Cruise figure if there is any at all. Moreover, they're liable to start getting very mossy if they don't clean them regularly, which is not a given.

Perhaps it's a lack of imagination on my part, but I think the mountain will look more impressive without a bunch of animal statues staged around it.

I agree, to a certain extent. Big Thunder Mountain has several animal animatronics that work all year round, eg: the donkeys on the second lift hill. I'd love if the animals were on some kind of elevator that together with Simba all had a mini show happening every once in a while, kinda like the IASW clock. However, if that's where a part of the budget had to be cut to meet TWDC's budget, I'd be happy to say goodbye to them if that means a more impressive attraction.

 

[infloencer]

I‘m sorry but what is this? It looks absolutely hideous. Why does the center part of the wall need to stick out like that in the first place? I thought at least it’s gonna get round corners to match the round style of the roof below but these harsh corners look terrible…

 

[jmuboy]

I think this is a bit dramatic. The exterior of this building was never gorgeous. Not sure this is a plus or a negative. More a net neutral.

The interior is the real winner.

 

[mrflo]

I'd love if the animals were on some kind of elevator that together with Simba all had a mini show happening every once in a while, kinda like the IASW clock. However, if that's where a part of the budget had to be cut to meet TWDC's budget, I'd be happy to say goodbye to them if that means a more impressive attraction.

I have just watched the actual 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Webcast. They are also still showing the smaller model with the animals on it. I assume the new model is more accurate and relevant for structural elements like the rock work and does not include all the decorations (yet?). Maybe we will get even more details at the next DLP presentation on April 12.

I would be also interested to see if/how they can add some more kinetic energy to the new land - which in my opinion still lacks at WDS/DAW in general compared to others Disney parks. Yes, there will be the ride vehicle dropping down the waterfall every couple of seconds. Though if you compare it to the original Splash Mt. - due to the weather conditions in Paris - they have to skip the additional outdoor sections from the beginning of the ride with boats floating by on multiple levels, there is no moving mill wheel, etc. In contrast they now have this massive rock work with the iconic hill from the movie but not much else to look at. Hopefully they will add some additional water falls to make it more lively.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I would be also interested to see if/how they can add some more kinetic energy to the new land - which in my opinion still lacks at WDS/DAW in general compared to others Disney parks. Yes, there will be the ride vehicle dropping down the waterfall every couple of seconds. Though if you compare it to the original Splash Mt. - due to the weather conditions in Paris - they have to skip the additional outdoor sections from the beginning of the ride with boats floating by on multiple levels, there is no moving mill wheel, etc. In contrast they now have this massive rock work with the iconic hill from the movie but not much else to look at. Hopefully they will add some additional water falls to make it more lively.

I think this is an issue for the land more generally and I probably beat this perspective into the ground already when a Lion King land was still a rumour. In short, it always struck me as an odd choice as the world of the film does not include any manmade structures, or humans at all. Whether they can turn a landscape of rocks, vegetation, and hills and mountains into something compelling remains to be seen as it will be difficult to replicate the grandeur of the African savannah and the animals that inhabit it in the film.

For example, Kilimanjaro Safaris is a great work of imagineering that recreates the kind of landscapes in which Lion King is set. However, I am not sure that wandering around it without the animals would feel as compelling or transportive as do the other lands in the park. I'm also a little curious as to how they handle live entertainment as, technically, there are no humans in the world of the film, but will they just ignore that and, for example, have African musical groups performing? In other words, how much can they "augment" the world of the film before the land looses the pretence of even taking you into it rather than just "Africa" which they have already kind of done next door.

 

[Aramar]

I have just watched the actual 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Webcast. They are also still showing the smaller model with the animals on it. I assume the new model is more accurate and relevant for structural elements like the rock work and does not include all the decorations (yet?). Maybe we will get even more details at the next DLP presentation on April 12.

I would be also interested to see if/how they can add some more kinetic energy to the new land - which in my opinion still lacks at WDS/DAW in general compared to others Disney parks. Yes, there will be the ride vehicle dropping down the waterfall every couple of seconds. Though if you compare it to the original Splash Mt. - due to the weather conditions in Paris - they have to skip the additional outdoor sections from the beginning of the ride with boats floating by on multiple levels, there is no moving mill wheel, etc. In contrast they now have this massive rock work with the iconic hill from the movie but not much else to look at. Hopefully they will add some additional water falls to make it more lively.

I guess the lion on top of the rock will move a little bit, adding some kinetic energy. Although the ride building is massive, the area accessible to guests isn't that big, so you don't need too many moving elements. In addition, I think Disney could bring life to the land with animations using animal puppets, like they do with kevin at Animal Kingdom. Actually, they already have the puppets from Mickey and the Magician.

 

[Phroobar]

I think this is an issue for the land more generally and I probably beat this perspective into the ground already when a Lion King land was still a rumour. In short, it always struck me as an odd choice as the world of the film does not include any manmade structures, or humans at all. Whether they can turn a landscape of rocks, vegetation, and hills and mountains into something compelling remains to be seen as it will be difficult to replicate the grandeur of the African savannah and the animals that inhabit it in the film.

For example, Kilimanjaro Safaris is a great work of imagineering that recreates the kind of landscapes in which Lion King is set. However, I am not sure that wandering around it without the animals would feel as compelling or transportive as do the other lands in the park. I'm also a little curious as to how they handle live entertainment as, technically, there are no humans in the world of the film, but will they just ignore that and, for example, have African musical groups performing? In other words, how much can they "augment" the world of the film before the land looses the pretence of even taking you into it rather than just "Africa" which they have already kind of done next door.

Better yet, reduce Kilimanjaro Safaris and add this ride to it but still let the live animals roam around in front of it.

 

[cjkeating]

Better yet, reduce Kilimanjaro Safaris and add this ride to it but still let the live animals roam around in front of it.

Reduce Kilimanjaro Safaris?! Why?! There is so much room in Animal Kingdom that is not used.

 

[Phroobar]

Reduce Kilimanjaro Safaris?! Why?! There is so much room in Animal Kingdom that is not used.

As long as the log ride has live animals I guess it doesn't matter where it is.

 

[marni1971]

As long as the log ride has live animals I guess it doesn't matter where it is.

That would never happen. But anyway we’re way off topic.