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Credit: DisneyDisney has officially closed its least-loved theme park for good.
A lot has changed about Disney’s theme parks since Disneyland Park debuted in 1955. Over the decades, The Walt Disney Company has opened theme parks in Orlando, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. It has also put its name to Tokyo Disney Resort, operated by The Oriental Land Company, while a similar licensing agreement will see the opening of Disneyland Abu Dhabi in the coming years.
Not all of these theme parks have been well-received. When California Adventure opened in 2001, for example, its California theme was deemed cheap and non-immersive by visitors. What followed was years of reinvention, including the addition of Cars Land and the retheme of Paradise Pier to Pixar Pier (which very nearly became a Disney Villains area, as per a recent report).
Hong Kong Disneyland has also struggled, with the addition of World of Frozen and Stark Expo going a long way in helping it claw its way back to profitability.
However, few parks have been as poorly received as Walt Disney Studios Park.
Walt Disney Studios Park opened in 2002 as the second gate at Disneyland Paris, themed around filmmaking and Hollywood production. The park debuted with a limited lineup, including Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, Armageddon: Les Effets Spéciaux, and the Studio Tram Tour, leaving many guests feeling it lacked the scale expected of a Disney park.
Early criticism focused on the park’s sparse design and short ride list. Visitors often described it as a half-day park, especially compared with Disneyland Park next door. Large backstage-style spaces, minimal landscaping, and several shows instead of rides reinforced the perception that the park felt unfinished.
Disney has spent the past decade reshaping the park through major expansions. The Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy attraction opened in 2014, followed by Avengers Campus in 2022. This saw Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster rethemed to Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and a new attraction, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, added to the park.
Walt Disney Studios Park Closes Forever
In recent years, Disney has continued to pour more investment into the theme park.
As previously announced, it is set to reopen the park as Disney Adventure World. This will bring the opening of World of Frozen, Raiponce Tangled Spin, Adventure Bay, and multiple eateries, including The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge.
🎬 That’s a wrap!
Walt Disney Studios Park has officially closed its doors and will reopen tomorrow as Disney Adventure World.
Thank you for the memories, 2002–2026. ✨#DisneylandParis pic.twitter.com/FmEqYVMcDy
— Pixie Dust DLP ✨ (@PixiedustDLP) March 28, 2026
Today, Walt Disney Studios Park officially closed permanently as of 9 p.m. CET.
From tomorrow morning (March 29), guests can visit Disney Adventure World. However, Disney has advised that those visiting over the next few days visit the park on March 30 or March 31 to avoid peak crowds.
During annual passholder previews, World of Frozen has struggled with capacity. While the land has received a lot of hype, it only features one ride: Frozen Ever After. In comparison, Hong Kong Disneyland’s version of the area also features a charming (albeit short) roller coaster known as Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs.
Viral images and videos have shown visitors queuing outside the land, with the situation worsening during lengthy downtime for Frozen Ever After.
Disney has shared a notice on the Disneyland Paris website, warning guests of a queue to enter World of Frozen.
“Due to the inauguration of Disney Adventure World and the opening of World of Frozen, we expect very high attendance,” it says. “Access to the land and the attraction Frozen Ever After cannot be guaranteed, and there will be a dedicated wait line at the land entrance. If you’re visiting for several days, we recommend visiting Disneyland Park on 29 March 2026, and then Disney Adventure World and World of Frozen in the days that follow.”
Beyond the new additions to the theme park, guests can visit Worlds of Pixar, which includes the Toy Story Playland sub-area, and World Premiere Plaza. The latter features stage shows such as TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure and Mickey and the Magician.
Do you plan on visiting Disney Adventure World in 2026?