What to Know About International Disney Parks

Editor's Note: This story was originally published on Dec. 12, 2021. It was last updated on Dec. 21, 2023.

Vacations to Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida are always appealing destinations for family clients, but Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disney Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland Paris also offer unique experiences and signature one-of-a-kind attractions, including new lands and attractions.

With theme park attendance returning to pre-pandemic levels, Disney has invested millions to create all-new, highly immersive themed experiences in its international parks, making the global destinations more magical than ever.

Here’s the latest at international Disney parks.

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Disneyland Paris Resort

Considered by many to be Disney’s most beautiful park, Disneyland Paris (originally named Euro Disney) opened in 1992 about 25 miles outside Paris’ city center. This property also features two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.

Unique experiences at Disneyland Paris include a castle with an audio-animatronic dragon lurking beneath; landscaping featuring box trees and sculpted hills inspired by the iconic Eyvind Earle illustrations for “Sleeping Beauty”; and Discoveryland, which features an updated Nautilus submarine walk-through attraction based on French novelist Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”

In January 2024, the resort will debut the renovated and royally themed 487-room Disneyland Hotel, with guestrooms and public spaces inspired by Disney classics such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty,” as well as modern fairytales like “Frozen” and “Tangled.”

“We are thrilled to unveil the newly reimagined Disneyland Hotel, a one-of-a-kind five-star property celebrating Disney’s beloved royalty and storytelling,” said Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris. “Our commitment to innovation and unparalleled guest experiences remains unwavering, and we look forward to welcoming guests to one of the most immersive hotels in Europe.”

We are thrilled to unveil the newly reimagined Disneyland Hotel, a one-of-a-kind five-star property celebrating Disney’s beloved royalty and storytelling.

In addition, the Le Pays des Contes de Fees (“The Land of Fairy Tales”) boat ride in Disneyland Park will debut new “Frozen” and “Winnie the Pooh” miniatures in 2024, and the third all-new Frozen-themed land — as well as new Tangled-themed gardens — are expected to debut in Walt Disney Studios Park in 2024-2025 (no official opening date has been announced).

Hong Kong Disneyland

Thanks to the success of the “Frozen" movies, popular characters Anna, Elsa and Olaf appear in nearly every Disney parade and nighttime spectacular worldwide, and clients can head to Hong Kong to experience Disney's first Frozen-themed land.

Opened in November, World of Frozen transports guests to the magical kingdom of Arendelle and offers an extended version of Epcot’s Frozen Ever After attraction that features Imagineering’s most advanced, fully electric audio-animatronics figures yet. There’s also Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs — the first Frozen-themed roller coaster — and the land is expanding the Summer Snow Day celebration introduced at Epcot.

“We had the story for Summer Snow Day in the original ride, but for this beautiful immersive land — where the new version of Frozen Ever After is the anchor attraction — that story is expanded,” said Michel den Dulk, executive creative director for Walt Disney Imagineering. “It was fun to think of new things that would happen in Arendelle when it’s Summer Snow Day, and the highlight is the story behind Wandering Oaken’s ride and our Playhouse in the Woods theater experience.”

Clients can extend their experience beyond the gates with the World of Frozen In-Room Surprises package, which decks their hotel room with Frozen-themed decorations and goodies.

Shanghai Disney Resort 

Opened in 2016, Shanghai Disney Resort offers clients attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure; the original Tron Lightcycle Power Run, a high-speed high-tech race (a second version opened in Orlando, Florida); and a just-opened “Zootopia” theme land, which includes the all-new Zootopia: Hot Pursuit attraction.

“‘Zootopia’ has fostered a strong connection with its audience since its debut, and we are thrilled to bring that connection to life in Shanghai with this one-of-a-kind themed land,” said Joe Schott, president and general manager for Shanghai Disney Resort. “Talent from more than 140 disciplines created a unique ‘mammalian’ experience for our guests, immersing them in this metropolis’ vibrant animal world.”

Talent from more than 140 disciplines created a unique ‘mammalian’ experience for our guests, immersing them in this metropolis’ vibrant animal world.

During Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, guests will become rookie police officers at the Zootopia Police Department. After being greeted by a high-tech audio-animatronic Officer Clawhauser, they’ll be recruited to help Officer Judy Hopps and her partner, Nick Wilde, save music superstar Gazelle, who has been kidnapped on the eve of the big Zootopia Day celebration. 

Tokyo Disney Resort

The first Disney theme park to open outside the U.S., Tokyo Disneyland debuted in 1983 and includes two parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.

Built around a theme of exploration, Tokyo DisneySea has ports of call rather than lands, and in June 2024, the park will introduce its newest port, Fantasy Springs, featuring “Frozen,” “Tangled” and “Peter Pan” theme lands.

Similar to World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland, Fantasy Springs’ Frozen Kingdom will transport guests into the magical kingdom of Arendelle, where they can ride the Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey attraction, which follows the story of the first movie (including its popular songs).

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The Rapunzel’s Forest area, meanwhile, will feature a boat ride to see the annual Lantern Festival, just like the long-haired princess did after escaping her tower, and Peter Pan’s Never Land features a ride where guests must rescue John from Captain Hook and his band of pirates. There's also Fairy Tinker Bell's Busy Buggies, where clients will be enlisted to help Tink deliver parcels and packages in Pixie Hollow.

The new port will also include the new park-integrated Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel, where there are two accommodation options: the Fantasy Chateau, offering 419 deluxe rooms, and the Grand Chateau, offering 56 luxury rooms.

Additionally, Tokyo Disneyland’s iconic Space Mountain attraction is preparing for a complete relaunch, with a nearly half-billion-dollar transformation and an all-new galactic adventure set to debut in 2027.

Visiting a Theme Park With Adventures by Disney

For clients who dream of visiting Disney’s international parks but prefer the peace of mind that escorted travel provides, Adventures by Disney (ABD) offers guided group vacations that incorporate theme parks, either as part of the planned itinerary or as an optional add-on.

On ABD’s 12-day China itinerary, for example, clients can see the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors, as well as visit both Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disney Resort, with exclusive opportunities and priority attraction entry. Clients who book the eight-day England and France vacation, meanwhile, can add additional nights at Disneyland Paris, including special amenities and VIP attraction access.

ABD takes travelers to people, places and cultures throughout the world, with Disney magic sprinkled in.

“ABD takes travelers to people, places and cultures throughout the world, with Disney magic sprinkled in,” said Lesley Kay Combs, senior manager of land and cruise operations for ABD. “When selecting a vacation that visits international Disney theme parks, families enjoy a hassle-free experience featuring authentic activities, insider access and family fun combined with Disney service.”

For clients seeking a truly bucket list-worthy experience, ABD offers two 2024 departures for the 24-day Disney Parks Around the World - A Private Jet Adventure, which visits all four international Disney destinations (plus Disneyland and Walt Disney World).