It feels like it was announced a decade ago, because it pretty much was, but here we finally are. As Walt Disney Studios Park becomes Disney Adventure World, it finally gets the placemaking fix of scale that it desperately needed. Introducing, Adventure Way and Adventure Bay, a road, a marina, a gateway to the “worlds” but most important a future proofing exercise to (hopefully) avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
Note: Disney Adventure World opens March 29, photos and observations are from preview events.
Raiponce Tangled Spin
But Adventure Way isn’t just a road, it’s sprinkled with a number of attractions (and future attractions). The idea for this area is not to fully immerse guests in the story (like the “worlds” around the lake) but rather create a garden-like area inspired by Disney stories. “Raiponce Tangled Spin” is the most prominent result of this approach.
It’s a teacup-style attraction. It has low capacity. These are the obvious flaws but what it doesn’t have in efficiency or thrill, the attraction makes up in cuteness with its whimsical show building, wonderful painted ceiling and many story details throughout.
Next to the attraction is a small themed gazebo and a small shop with a bright pink ceiling, tying this “garden” together.
English Gardens
Across from “Raiponce Tangled Spin” are the English Gardens, design to host small characters shows.
The English Gardens also feature bronze benches with lovely character statues.
In this area you’ll also find a new popcorn cart “Promenade Popcorn” that’s very Disneyland Park, adapted for Adventure Way.
Toy Story Gardens
More than just a new entrance to Toy Story Playland, the Toy Story Gardens are an extension of the land (albeit with no additional attraction or even a fixed meet and greet location), giving it what it desperately needs: room breathe.
“Up” Attraction
Designed to mirror “Raiponce Tangled Spin”, the “Up” spinning chairs attraction is unfortunately slated for 2017, following the same “garden inspired by the Disney story” idea. So in the meantime we have to deal with this first series of walls. It’s not shocking in person but too bad that the full vision of Adventure Way couldn’t be realized straight from opening.
At the end of Adventure Way, the “Regal View Restaurant and Lounge” is the upscale dining location of the expansion project, offering dining with the Disney Princesses in special outfits and a lounge bar. The venue is also prime viewing location for the nighttime show Disney Cascade of Lights. Look out for our dedicated article about the “Regal View Restaurant and Lounge” , coming soon!
Adventure Bay North
On the North (right) side of Adventure Bay is where a lot of the new food locations are built. Here you will find:
- Terrasse Panoramique (Bread Bowls)
- Chez Marie (themed choux)
- Chez Berlioz (potatoes patties)
- Chez Toulouse (brioche bun sandwiches)
A lot of the buildings feature some lovely details and signage inspired by the overall Art Noubeau vibe of Adventure Way and Adventure Bay.
And here are all the latest menus from these locations.
Over the course of the previews we got to try a lot of these item. Overall these fare way better than the World Of Frozen quick service (thankfully) and offer a unique tasty addition to the options in the park. One common issue is the quality of the various breads (it’s France, come on). The mojito cocktail is pretty decent and a fun option to walk around the marina with something in your hand.
And a standout was the potato pancakes from Chez Berlioz. Try these !
We’ll also note the themed paper plates, cups and napkins- a nice touch !
Across Adventure Bay it’s evident that the design teams planned for the future: big walkways, plenty of benches, a variety of surfaces and levels, we’re building a proper theme park here – we just don’t have all the lands yet…
You know we had to show you the restrooms – they’re great! A special note here for the wonderful tile job.
Adventure Bay North also features the “Pont des Lumières”, the unique and beautifully themed rotating bridge. With its own set of lampposts, detailing and gate houses, it gives the area some depth. The bridge will open about 3 hours before the night show to let the Disney Cascade of Lights barges in and will remain inaccessible from that time due to safety considerations.
Adventure Bay South
On the south side of Adventure Bay you’ll find Cafe Luminosity. The gorgeous building (again matching the area’s aesthetic) is also the show control tower (one of them at least).
But it’s also a quick service location serving loaded hot dogs. While they’re not very special, they are good value as they’re much bigger than the sandwiches served in Adventure Bay North and priced around the same.
This functional building also hosts one of restrooms, and ATM, battery charging point and more.
Adventure Bay South is also.. the Lion King Land construction site. And no matter how you twist it, there’s no way to hide it. It’s here, it’s visible, it’s big long walls. Again, Adventure Bay is the place making we needed and at least Disney is working on putting something in that.. place.
One of the backstage gate (and the landscaping, see photo in next section) already gives us a taste of the Pride Lands with wall color and lighting fixture. There’s also the big concept art of course which now features the animated characters.
The area is also the location for.. the World Of Frozen queue. And you may spend a lot of time there from March 29 (and a decent amount during the Disneyland Pass previews as well).
All in the Details
In making Adventure Way and Adventure Bay, imagineers carefully worked on many of the details : signage , lampposts, landscaping, railings, all of it is meant to reflect various area in the large expansion.
As you’d expect from Disney, various bin designed were deployed to each area with unique themes and colors.
The Blessing of Size?
Once upon a time, this was all parking lots and empty fields.
With Adventure Bay, Disney is setting the stage for the future, something to keep in mind when you see all these large spaces. Vegetation needs to grow and critically more lands need to be added beyond World Of Frozen. The Lion Kind Land of course but hopefully a third and even fourth land, to complete the vision.
Characters and Entertainment
Disney Friends are joining Guests in Disney Adventure World: Mickey in his special outfit, Toy Story characters, Rapunzel and Flynn..
Alice and the Mad Hatter, Peter and Wendy, Mary Poppins and Bert, Minnie and her Marching Band and likely some more in the future.
And from this Summer, the “Disney Princess Cavalcade” will travel down the new Disney Adventure World parade route with 4 floats inspired by adventurous Disney Princesses.
Disney Cascade of Lights
At night fall, Adventure Bay comes to life with Disney Cascade of Lights, a new 15-min nighttime spectacular celebrating “heroism” with unique low drones, water drones, fountain, water screens and pyrotechnics effects. The show looks beautiful, is technically impressive and a great way to close a day at Disney Adventure World, but it lacks in storytelling compared to its (soon to be drone-free) Disney Tales of Magic neigbor, instead serving a series of franchise clips that don’t always make sense as a whole.
You can check out the full show in our YouTube video above!
By Night
Disney Cascade of Lights isn’t the only nighttime spectacle at Disney Adventure World. When the sun sets, many of the building and trees twinkle with lights, adding a whole new dimension of magic.
