My First Visit to Disney Adventure World: What I loved (and What Surprised Me)

There’s something quite surreal about walking into a brand new Disney land for the first time.

Sure, we’ve seen Disney parks refurbished (new paint job) and reimagined (ride layover). But a brand new land? This is where Disney Adventure World Disneyland Paris really delivers — and then some.

I Went in Expecting One Thing… And Immediately Got Distracted

It’s beautiful. Genuinely beautiful.
But it also feels a little like you’ve arrived just before everything is completely finished.

So if you’re planning a trip this summer, here’s my honest first look at Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris — what I loved, what surprised me, and what it really felt like.

First Impressions: ‘Where am I… and can I stay here?’

The first thing that struck me was just this feeling as I walked in.

It starts darker than you’d expect

You come in from World Premiere, which is quite dark, quite enclosed — an indoor arcade with shops and the Hollywood Gardens restaurant on either side. It’s busy, a bit dim, very ‘inside’.

And when you come out of that… you don’t see the new land right away.

There’s a wall in front of you, with posters for different attractions, and you have to walk around that. It kind of holds everything back for a second, and there’s a tiny bit of suspense, which I actually really like.

And then everything opens up a bit

The ground changes first — or at least it feels like it does. It’s all newly paved, wide, clean, and suddenly, there’s space to spread out.

You pass Animation Celebration (the one with the big Sorcerer Mickey hat outside), and Tower of Terror is off to your left, so you’re still very much in that older part of the park.

And then… you step into Disney Adventure World.

What it’s like to step onto the all-new promenade

This is Adventure Way — the newest part of Disneyland Paris.

You’ve got these archways framing walkways on either side, trees giving it life, little details tucked in around the edges. It feels like somewhere you’d actually want to spend time, not just walk through. Especially at night (but more on that later).

And with the new soundtrack playing, for the first time at Disneyland Paris (ironically), I really felt what I’d call Disney’s version of France.

A bit more romanticised. A bit more polished than Walt Disney Studios is used to. And definitely more storybook.

First Peeks

Walk further down, you’ll see the Regal View princess restaurant — that gorgeously soft pink building right on the edge of the brand new lake. Yes, a new LAKE sprawls out, ready to host Disney Cascade of Lights.

And then beyond that…
You catch your first glimpse of the snow-topped mountains.

I’m not going to lie, that moment caught me a bit off guard. I remember just stopping there for a second, taking it all in, because it’s one of those views that kind of sneaks up on you.

Around Adventure Bay

So let’s take a little wander around the new lake.

If you head round from Regal View one way, you’ll come across a lovely Meet Mickey spot and a few food kiosks. Go the other way… and you’ll find what most people are quietly making a beeline for — World of Frozen.

I think this is the point where it clicked to me that the Disney Adventure World glow-up is not only an extension of one park, but a kind of world-building that enhances the whole Disneyland Paris experience.

What Disney Adventure World Gets SO Right

There were a few things that absolutely surprised and delighted me.

✨ 1. It finally feels cohesive

For the first time, this park doesn’t feel like just a collection of separate lands linked together geographically.

The promenade, Adventure Way, Adventure Bay and World of Frozen share a thematic core beyond what before felt like a soulless cement parking lot.

Disney Adventure World has a more grown-up feel than Walt Disney Studios Park ever did… the kind where fairytales are real and theming feels intentional.

🍽️ 2. The food (a Very promising start)

I tried a few of the kiosks and… I was pleasantly surprised.

Some really interesting options like soup in a bread bowl and Disney Princess themed ice cream. The food has a bit more variety than you might expect, and it all felt very thought-out rather than just standard park food. (which, if you’ve eaten at Disney before… you’ll know exactly what I mean 😅)

I’ll share a full food guide separately — because I have thoughts 👀— but for now, definitely worth exploring.

🌙 3. And then at night… it gets even better

If you take one thing from this post, let it be this:

You really need to see it after dark.

The trees light up. The arches along the walkway twinkle. The reflections dance across the lake. The whole promenade takes on this warm, glowing atmosphere that genuinely feels closer to a Paris evening than a theme park.

The Reality Check

Of course, it’s not all perfectly polished.

You do notice moments where things aren’t quite finished yet,like construction walls and cranes that pull you out of the illusion a little.

And World of Frozen… it’s busy.

These things don’t necessarily take away from the experience. But they do change how it feels to move through it.

I’ve broken that down properly in my guide to whether Disney Adventure World is worth visiting right now.

Disney Adventure World: New Entertainment

There’s a lot happening across the land, and I managed to catch quite a bit:

• Rapunzel and Flynn show (sweet, charming, very on theme)
• Minnie and her marching band (unexpectedly fun!)
• Cascade of Lights (an exciting way to end the night)
• Celebration in Arendelle (more on this below 👀)

Overall, the entertainment adds so much life to the area… but of course, with that comes a lot of people wanting to see it.

❄️ Stepping into World of Frozen (this is the bit everyone’s here for)

It can’t be understated: the moment you arrive in World of Frozen is where it all really clicks.

Because whatever you’ve been thinking up to this point — this is nice, this looks good, this feels different — it launches to the stratosphere when you get to Arendelle.

The theming is gorgeous.

The buildings feel right, the fountain, the water, the mountains towering behind, the little details everywhere… it’s enough to make a grown woman cry (ok… that grown woman is me).

What Makes it So Enchanting?

There are the little touches that make this land feel magical:

• The citizens of Arendelle wandering around, chatting, interacting, making it feel alive rather than staged.
• Being able to meet Anna and Elsa — in their castle — which feels like a bit of a full-circle moment if you’ve been coming here for years.
• The Nordic Tavern, which I was really impressed with (and I don’t say that lightly when it comes to park food).

And of course, the ride.

Frozen Ever After is exactly what you’d hope it would be. Warm, familiar, full of little moments that make you smile, and one of those rides you come off thinking, ‘okay… I’d happily do that again’.

👱🏻‍♀️ A Secret Favourite for Me

A Celebration in Arendelle, which plays out on the castle lagoon, was an unexpected highlight for me.

Boats, music, the real Olaf, Anna and Elsa, plus a cast of wonderful Arendelle citizens all come together in a surprisingly entertaining show. Thoroughly recommend getting there 45 minutes before to grab a spot on the bridge.

✏️ Tip: I’m putting all these new Adventure World moments into my Disneyland Paris planning guide, so if you want everything in one place, you’ll get the full updated version included — plus the current guide covering the rest of the parks.

A Few Things I Noticed

World of Frozen is popular. Like, really popular.

So expect queues for things like the Arendelle Boutique, Fjord View (everyone wants a baby troll) and Frozen Ever After. And you’ll need to get there early to see the lagoon show.

The Anna and Elsa character meet is on Virtual Queue, which can be a frustration factor. And the layout also takes a moment to get your head around — you’re essentially entering World of Frozen from one side and leaving from the other — and because it’s not a huge area, it’s going to feel busy.

😬 Crowds, virtual queues and construction — is it worth it?

If you’re trying to decide whether it’s actually worth booking right now, I’ve broken that down properly here: Is Disney Adventure World Worth it Right Now?

✨ If you’re Thinking of Going

If you’re thinking of visiting this summer, it’s definitely worth booking now, as dynamic pricing means Disneyland Paris prices only ever go up from their release date and some of the most popular dates do sell out.

👉 Book here directly with Disneyland Paris

And, ultimately take these Disney Adventure World tips with you:
•  Take your time.
•  Stay for the evening.
•  And trust me… check if you can see the water before committing to that Celebration in Arendelle show 😄

Only Just Getting Started

There’s so much at Disney Adventure World Disneyland Paris that I haven’t even had time to get into yet.

I’ve shared my favourite moments here — from Cascade of Lights to Minnie’s Marching Band — but this really does feel like just the beginning.

I’ll be diving into more detail in upcoming posts, but for now I hope this gives you a real feel for what it’s like to be there.

And if you’re heading there soon (or thinking about booking 👀), I’d love to know — what are you most excited for?