Disneyland Paris 25th Anniversary celebrations will officially begin on March 26, 2017. The park first opened on April 12, 1992 as the Euro Disneyland Resort. Over the past 25 years the Euro Disneyland Resort has been renamed and rebranded several times and is currently known as Disneyland Paris. Disney is busy getting ready for the anniversary celebrations that are sure to delight everyone who visits.

Disneyland Paris 25th Anniversary. Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Disneyland Paris 25th Anniversary Celebration

Twenty-five years ago the Walt Disney Company decided to open their first European park to guests and let them step into the magic that is Disneyland. Beginning March 26, 2017 “Disneyland Park turns spectacularly sparkly to celebrate their 25th Anniversary!” Over the years the resort has grown and now includes two parks – Disneyland Park and The Walt Disney Studios  along with a shopping venue known as Disney Village.

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris. Photo Credit: Mandy van Meningen

The Hotels of Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Hotel in Disneyland Paris. Photo Credit: Mandy van Meningen

In April of 1992 there were just six hotels, a campground, Davy Crockett Ranch, and the main park, Euro Disneyland. The six hotels included the Disneyland Hotel, the flagship hotel right above the main gate of the park, Hotel New York in New York city style, New Port Bay Club in Marine Style, Sequoia Lodge, inspired by great mountain lodges, Hotel Cheyenne, themed like an old frontier village and Hotel Santa Fé.  All of the hotels  have the same original theming, but with extra Disney-touches added to the rooms. Character visits will be returning to the hotels this Spring!

Attraction Refurbishments

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Photo Credit: Mandy van Meningen

Disneyland Paris is busy working to finish all of the refurbishments in time for the Anniversary. Big Thunder Mountain is open again after closing for over a year. The entire ride has been renovated to its opening day state.  The attraction had a complete technical overhaul to make sure it has all the technical standards of a modern coaster. Not only that, but they also refreshed the theming and added several new elements, plants, animals and even a brand new explosive ending in the final blast tunnel. Unlike the United States counter parts, this ride is on an island in “the Rivers of the Far West” making it the only version completely surrounded by water.

Star Tours also had a major overhaul and will be reopening in March as Star Tours: The Adventure Continues. Star Tours in Paris was the last attraction with the original film. Disney has updated the ride to match the other versions with random destinations and fully in 3D. The whole area surrounding Star Tours will be renovated. It’s getting a brand new photo location in the pavilion that used to be the Star Trader Shop, which in turn will move in to what used to be the arcade at the exit of the ride. This will make the shop almost four times as big as it originally was.

Attraction and Park Updates

its a small world Disneyland Paris. Photo Credit: Mandy van Meningen

• It’s a small world has been painted from top to bottom, inside and out, and the audio systems have been updated.
• Peter Pan’s Flight received fresh coats of fluorescent paint throughout the ride and they’ve added some new effects too.
• Space Mountain is getting an update to become Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain.
• Pirates of the Caribbean will finally add Captain Jack Sparrow and more movie theming to the ride.
• The resort hotels are also getting upgrades. After Santa Fe, Cheyenne, Seqouia Lodge, New Port Bay Club, now it’s time for both Hotel New York and the Disneyland Hotel.
• Even Disney Village (the European version of Downtown Disney) is getting new restaurants and shops.
• And also Moana found her way across the ocean to Paris!

New Parades and Shows

Starlit Waltz with Disney Princesses. Photo Credit: Disney

A reimagined daytime Disney Stars on Parade will be making its way to Disneyland Park. The parade will feature new floats, including a fire-breathing dragon like the one in the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom.

Disney Illuminations, a new nighttime extravaganza centered around Sleeping Beauty Castle featuring Le Château de La Belle au Bois Dormant, will include scenes from Star Wars, Frozen, Pirates of the Caribbean and even the new Beauty and the Beast movie.

New shows expected for the celebrations include Mickey Presents ‘Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris’ and The Starlit Princess Waltz.