First look at new Lion King water ride opening at Disneyland Paris as part of multi-million pound expansion

DISNEYLAND Paris is set to undergo a multi-million pound expansion with the first pictures of the new Lion King water ride finally being released.

The thrilling attraction will take visitors “through the African savanna” on a log flume with iconic characters like Mufasa, Simba, Timon and Pumbaa all featuring.

A scale model for the upcoming ride has now been shared during the Disney annual shareholder meeting.

It shows the iconic mountain in the Lion King franchise covered in huge rocks, towering trees and a number of familiar faces from lions to zebras.

The log ride would take parkgoers through the middle of the tall Pride Rock on a fast-flowing body of water.

Images show a special Disneyland engineer still making tweaks to the incredible looking ride which has been in the works since 2022.

The attraction aims to bring the set to life as guests dive into the adventure-filled water attraction.

Visitors will be immersed in the world ofThe Lion Kingthrough character interactions and themed dining, creating an unforgettable experience for all ages.

Beloved characters will also roam around the park and interact with families and couples.

Last year, Disney announced they would spend a whopping £47billion over the next ten years.

Disneyland Paris is set to see a whopping £1.7billion investment at the theme park through an overhaul by bosses.

Présidente of Disneyland Paris, Natacha Rafalski, said: “Embracing a transformation that involves the overhaul of more than 90 per cent of Walt Disney Studios Park since its debut in 2002, we're unveiling a fresh creative vision that has completely redefined our second gate.

“Guests will embark on a journey that blends the magic and emotion of our beloved franchises with explorations into faithfully recreated new worlds.

“This significant evolution inspired us to rename the Park, heralding a vibrant new chapter forDisneyland Paris.”

Disneyland Paris has already revealed its first-of-a-kind show which they launched at the start of the year and it lets you pretend you are part of the movie.

DisneyTales of Magic is the new immersive night-time show that launched at the theme park in January.

It is the newest of the shows following Disney Dreams in 2012 and Disney Illuminations in 2017.

Using strobe lighting, pyrotechnics, lasers and drones, the 20-minute show features more than 20 famous songs from the iconic films.

This includes the newer Inside Out, Coco, Encanto and Wall-E as well as older classics such as Beauty and the Beats, Lion King and Cinderella.

And also opening will be the newFrozenland in 2026, along with a word-first Lion King land.

Thenew Frozen Landwill be the third of its kind in the world, following Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo's Disneyland.

Water-based performances will take place on the central lake with a Frozen Ever After boat ride, similar to the one in Disney World.

New Frozen-themed rooms will open at the Disneyland Hotel too.

Fan will also be able to meet Anna and Elsa, as well as visit immersive shopping and dining experiences.

A Tangled ride will also open at the newAdventure Way in Disneyland Paris.

Use these tips on your next theme park trip

NEXT time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.

1. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
2. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
3. Download the park's app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
4. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
5. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.