Last year, Disneyland Paris unveiled Marvel’s Avengers Campus at Walt Disney Studios Park. Home to attractions Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, Heroic Encounters, and Training Center, eateries Pym Kitchen, Stark Factory, Super Diner, WEB – Worldwide Eating Brigade, FANtastic Food Truck, merchandise outlet Mission Equipment, and inight-time event Avengers: Power the Night, the MCU-themed land has been a welcome addition to an otherwise faltering park.
And soon, Walt Disney Studios Park will also be introducing a Frozen-themed land, which is currently under construction behind the scenes. While there’s no opening date as yet, it’s great to see that Walt Disney Studios is finally catching up with the main next door – perhaps not in terms of identity, but at least where themed lands are concerned. After all, the main park already boasts four themed lands.
Image: DisneyWith that said, there’s still something lacking in Walt Disney Studios, and it’s not that easy to put your finger on. Perhaps identity here really is a problem. Even with Marvel’s Avengers Campus, the park still feels like it’s a bit of everything simply thrown together. While of course the Hollywood theme is present mostly throughout, simply put, the park just doesn’t have the same magic as its flagship neighbour.
So how can this be fixed? Well, we think Walt Disney Studios is definitely on the right track, but it shouldn’t stop with Frozen’s Arendelle. Here are three other themed lands, each based off major Disney franchises, that could really help turn things around. In fact, we’d even go as far as saying that they should take over what’s left of the park that isn’t Marvel’s Avengers Campus and Frozen…
1. The World of Monsters, Inc.
Image: Theme Park Tourist
Monsters, Inc. might only have two films and a Disney+ series to its name, but it’s one of the most beloved Disney and Pixar franchises. However, there’s very little evidence of this in either of the two parks at Disneyland Paris, with the exception of the selfie spot at Walt Disney Studios, which is neither fun-filled nor scary. In fact, it’s rare to ever find the likes of Sulley and Mike Wazowski there.
But we know just how Disneyland can fix this problem – a Monsters, Inc.-themed land, of course! Where exactly this themed land would be located is another matter entirely, but the Scare Floor would be a great start from a conceptual standpoint. It doesn’t have to be enormous, but even if it houses the awesome Monsters, Inc. ride from Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland California, that would be something.
2. Downtown Zootopia
Image: Theme Park Tourist
A Zootopia-themed land is already under construction at Shanghai Disneyland, although there’s no opening date as yet. Like Monsters, Inc., Zootopia (known also as Zootropolis) is small in terms of content, but soon it too will have two movies and a Disney+ series under its belt, as a sequel was recently announced by Disney. And it’s also just as rich and exciting; it’s a franchise that’s begging for its own themed land.
Well, why not make some space at Walt Disney Studios? Correction: there’s a ton of space at this park, and who cares if there’s not much in the way of dividing lines between Zootopia and Frozen and Marvel’s Avengers Campus? We need to immerse ourselves in the hustle and bustle of Downtown Zootopia, and enjoy bitesize versions of all the surrounding districts, each with their own “climate”.
3. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge 2.0
Image: Theme Park Tourist
We know what you’re thinking – there probably isn’t enough room for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to fit into Walt Disney Studios, but we’re talking about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Version 2.0! Forget Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. In fact, forget all the other rides such as Star Tours and Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain, both of which can be found over in Discovery Land anyway.
A brand-new Star Wars-themed land at Walt Disney Studios wouldn’t necessarily need to concern itself with attractions, especially seeing as there are some in the neighbouring park anyway. But Character Greetings, merchandise outlets (another Star Traders wouldn’t hurt anyone), themed eateries and more would be most welcome. It would also be a great excuse to bring back Legends of the Force.
