Having seen Disney’s new “Frozen”-themed land in Hong Kong last week, I think it would be an excellent addition to the Disneyland Resort.
Disney’s World of Frozen recreates the Kingdom of Arendelle with three attractions, a restaurant, a shop and live entertainment throughout the land. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro has teased that World of Frozen could be an option for Disneyland should the City of Anaheim approve the DisneylandForward proposal, opening more land at the resort for attraction development.
When I saw D’Amaro in Hong Kong last week, I asked him about the Disneyland expansion. While he would not commit to bringing the land to Anaheim, he maintained his enthusiasm for World of Frozen and its appeal to audiences around the world, including in California.
More than anything, World of Frozen creates an amazing space that makes visitors feel like they have stepped into Arendelle, much like Cars Land brings Radiator Springs to life for visitors at Disney California Adventure. The land includes a plussed-up version of the Frozen Ever After ride that first opened at Walt Disney World’s Epcot, but this installation has better animatronics and pacing than the Florida original.
Across a lake from the village of Arendelle street, Disney has built a new mountain to house Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, which is the best decorated one-minute kiddie coaster I’ve ever experienced. Hong Kong Disneyland did not have a children’s coaster before this, so I don’t know that attraction is needed at Disneyland, which already has Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster.
World of Frozen’s third attraction is Playhouse in the Woods, an intimate character show with Anna, Elsa and Olaf that allows fans to get close to and interact with some of their “Frozen” favorites. Throughout the land, World of Frozen cast members play as citizens of Arendelle, with characters such as Kristoff and a puppet version of Mossy, a baby troll, greeting visitors to the Kingdom’s “Summer Snow Day” holiday.
I worry that Oaken’s and the Playhouse show might not have the capacity to meet the demand at Disneyland, which draws many times more visitors than its Hong Kong sibling. But as far as I am concerned, a theme park cannot have too many indoor boat rides. Adding the plussed Frozen Ever After as part of an immersive village of Arendelle would be a big win for the Disneyland Resort.
While we’re dreaming about bringing stuff from Hong Kong to Anaheim, allow me to endorse Hong Kong’s Mystic Manor for inclusion at an expanded Disneyland, as well. Themed to a member of Disney’s Society of Explorers and Adventurers, this trackless dark ride ranks among the top 10 theme park attractions in the world, in my book. I would love to be able to experience it again without having to buy another $1,600 plane ticket to Hong Kong.
Disney has said that it plans to spend $60 billion improving its theme parks over the next decade. Adding World of Frozen and Mystic Manor to Anaheim would be a smart investment that rewards millions of Disney fans and visitors in Southern California.
