Disneyland Paris Highlights French Innovation and Expertise
Paris, France – March 26, 2026 – Disneyland Paris is preparing to inaugurate Disney Adventure World, its completely reimagined second park, on March 29. Behind the magic, several French companies have played a key role in bringing this ambitious project to life. From Gironde naval carpentry to Alsatian artistic ironwork, and Bordeaux drone robotics, this endeavor showcases French expertise at the service of Europe’s premier tourist destination.
A Transformed Site with a Two Billion Euro Investment
The Walt Disney Studios Park has undergone a significant metamorphosis, officially becoming Disney Adventure World. This transformation, costing two billion euros, includes a new 3-hectare lake named Adventure Bay, a new main avenue, a new attraction inspired by Rapunzel, the World of Frozen with its castle, and a spectacular nighttime show featuring drones, flames, and fountains. According to Disneyland Paris, nearly 400 European artisans and partners contributed to this transformation. Among them, four French companies particularly stood out for their involvement.
Couach Construction Navale: Crafting the Imaginary Ships
Founded over 120 years ago in the Arcachon basin, Couach Construction Navale is a major player in French shipbuilding. For Disney Adventure World, the company designed and manufactured the floating bases for the three boats used in the “Célébration à Arendelle” nighttime show on Adventure Bay. This project, their first collaboration with Disneyland Paris, mobilized sixty of their 250 employees. Yann Huort, Europe Commercial Development Manager, highlighted the company’s integrated expertise in naval architecture, calculation, design, and production, which provided significant agility. The vessels developed were technically complex, featuring electric propulsion, high-precision positioning systems, and numerous special effects equipment. This project also served as an innovation accelerator, allowing Couach to adapt systems initially developed for its naval drone, creating a virtuous cycle between defense innovation and public entertainment.
Schaffner: Forging Fairy Tale Elements
For seven generations, Schaffner workshops in Strasbourg have been shaping metal in the tradition of Alsatian artistic ironwork. This family business, founded in the early 19th century, was responsible for the monumental canopy overlooking the entrance of the Regal View Restaurant & Lounge, which offers views of Adventure Way and the lake. Vincent Schaffner, General Manager, explained the technical challenge of modeling such a complex geometric structure with millimeter precision. The manufacturing process involved hundreds of hours of work by highly skilled craftsmen, including a “Meilleur Ouvrier de France,” combining traditional ironwork with innovative techniques like laser welding. The work on stainless steel in an artistic ironwork context further increased the execution demands. Schaffner emphasized the human dimension of the project, calling it a stimulating experience to contribute to such a significant human adventure.
Dronisos: Magic from the Sky
Dronisos, a Bordeaux-based start-up and official technological partner of Disneyland Paris since 2022, is behind the drone ballet that is a highlight of the Disney Cascade of Lights nighttime show. For this new spectacle, Dronisos developed two exclusive innovations: new-generation aerial drones and aquatic drones called “ducks.” More than 350 devices will operate simultaneously in the sky and on the lake. This achievement is the culmination of five years of work involving robotics engineers, legal experts for flight authorizations, and artistic and operational teams. Disney granted creative carte blanche, allowing for the invention of new technologies if they served the emotional impact of the show. This led to the creation of the ducks and a mobile barge launch system. Jean-Dominique Lauwereins, co-founder, highlighted the synchronization as the true feat: “We make flying drones, floating drones, pyrotechnics, and fountains dance together in a ballet timed to the millisecond and centimeter.”
Prelud: Handcrafted Decor
The magic of a Disney park largely relies on the realism of its decor. For Kristoff’s boat, an iconic character from Frozen, the challenge was to faithfully reproduce the visual universe while integrating the constraints of a real-life aquatic show. Prelud, an atelier near Dijon established in 1985 and a long-standing partner of Disneyland Paris, met this challenge. Sculptors, painters, and carpenters worked together for over six months, from receiving the floating base from Couach to launching the boat, to adorn the hull with handcrafted decor that captured the spirit of the film. Sébastien Lallemand, President of SAS Prelud, explained the need for early anticipation in visual research, material selection, and technical feasibility, with constant attention to technical constraints and deadlines. He also saw the project as a skill accelerator, pushing the boundaries of traditional expertise and enhancing precision and attention to detail.
Source: https://bigmedia.bpifrance.fr/nos-actualites/disneyland-paris-met-a-lhonneur-linnovation-et-le-savoir-faire-francais
