January 5, 2016

A New Attraction for Disneyland Paris


Here is an interesting piece of news! Some mysterious poster on one European discussion board presented this piece of concept art for adding a version of California Adventure's Grizzly River Run to Frontierland at Disneyland Paris.  

Much hunch is this is part of something that was proposed long ago when the suits decided there needed to be something new at the park to drive attendance and before the (correct) decision to totally refurbish the place, bringing this most beautiful of all Magic Kingdoms up to Disney show standards. Perhaps is was even proposed before the bones of the California Adventure attraction became the backbone of the Grizzly Gulch's Runaway Mine Cars of Hong Kong Disneyland. Recycling in the parks is such a common occurrence, but so far, if you've noticed, nothing makes it over to the other parks if it came from Tokyo DisneySea.

Certainly this addition would more appropriate to the theme than Splash Mountain, which is full of cartoon characters and once also proposed for this park.  I'd hate to see the further cartooning of the lands there.  

However, a rapids ride is full of water, much more so than Splash, and Paris has very cold winters. I've been there in late October and in January, and it is already cold and sometimes harsh even in the Fall. So, we shall see how this plays out. However, I bet the Imagineers are on to something new for the park once all the refurbishments are complete. 

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

8 comments:

Adam said...

Tokyo gets snowy too, and they have a Splash Mointian. DLP should have gotten one years ago.

Mark said...

That is an excellent point, Adam! I agree with you. If Paris didn't get Splash Mountain (which I am obviously turn on), the park should have at least received something in the last decade. Parades and spectacles don't count. :)
Thanks for reading!

Peter said...

This plan is several years old - I remember seeing it around 2008 or so. There have been various proposals for this plot of land over the last 20 years, most of which require the relocation of the Frontierland Railroad Depot and a few backstage facilities, not to mention the enclosure and/or rerouting of the Railroad itself. Costs have kept all these plans on the drawing board so far but, fingers crossed, we'll get something there eventually!

Mark said...

I thought they were old, Peter. Thank you for clearing this up. I hope something goes in that plot of land, and I hope it is totally in theme. The old unbuilt Western River Expedition would be my first choice. Thanks for reading!

Peter said...

A new version of Splash Mountain with the Western River Expedition theme would be perfect for DLP's Frontier land.

Unknown said...

I hope we get to see that ride over here someday ... That part of frontierland really feels empty, a shame since it's one of the most beautyfull areas pf the park. a water ride like this one could open up to some more interractions with Rivers of America and the MollyBrown/Mark Twain steamboat voyage.

Let's hope if they ever build it, it will be an original theming and not Disney IP like a movie or animated feature (Please no Frozen river ride !)

Unknown said...

I hope we get to see that ride over here someday ... That part of frontierland really feels empty, a shame since it's one of the most beautyfull areas pf the park. a water ride like this one could open up to some more interractions with Rivers of America and the MollyBrown/Mark Twain steamboat voyage.

Let's hope if they ever build it, it will be an original theming and not Disney IP like a movie or animated feature (Please no Frozen river ride !)

Mark said...

I agree with both of you, Peter and William! That's a big piece of land, and if you walk through it, it certainly gives the impression something is supposed to go there.