Disneyland Paris announced the transformation of the “North Block” of Disney Village is almost complete and work will soon move to the “South Block.”
Disney Village Transformation
Disney Village is the Disneyland Paris equivalent of Disney Springs or Downtown Disney. The shopping and dining destination opened as Festival Disney in 1992. Beginning in December 2023 with the opening of French restaurant Brasserie Rosalie, Disney Village has been undergoing a refresh.
The transformation has been carried out in phases with the aim of “sustainably enhancing the guest experience” by creating “an environment that is more welcoming, dynamic and contemporary, blending strong, well-loved brands with a warm identity enriched by artistic Disney touches.”
Redesigned façades combine brick, wood, and steel, plus transparent elements allowing visibility into boutiques and restaurants.
“Disney Village has always been much more than simply a route between our Parks and our Hotels. Today, we are strengthening that role even further, making it a destination in its own right, where guests can arrive earlier, take a break between visits, or extend their day well into the evening,” said Jillian DeKunder, Director, Operating Participants at Disneyland Paris.
As the first chapter of the transformation nears completion, with work on one side of the street — known as the North Block — soon coming to an end, Disney Village is preparing to launch the next phase of its transformation by turning to the other side of the main thoroughfare, or South Block.
Teams from Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, Operating Participants and Design & Delivery are already hard at work on the design, with the same ambition as before: to continue evolving Disney Village in a coherent and harmonious way, progressively modernizing façades, atmospheres and experiences, while maintaining activity across the site for guests.
A new piece of concept art offers a promising first glimpse at this next stage of the Disney Village transformation, once again featuring an architectural language that combines wood, brick and perforated steel. Work is due to begin next year.
While details of this new phase, including the concepts themselves, have yet to be revealed, it is worth noting that, as part of this transformation, Rainforest Café will close permanently by the end of 2026. More information about the changes to come will be shared in the months ahead.
Disney Wonders: A New Shopping Experience Opens Its Doors
As previously announced, Disney Wonders will open on September 22. It joins other new and refreshed Disney shops like Deco by Disney, Disney Glamour, Disney Style, and World of Disney.
The façade will set the tone with original artworks inspired by Peter Pan, Star Wars, and Toy Story. Inside, two central chandeliers will each showcase more than 40 finely crafted illustrations, paying tribute to iconic characters from the worlds of Disney and Pixar. Illuminated light boxes will guide guests through the space and feature characters from Marvel and Star Wars.
Guests will move through a series of themed areas inspired by these worlds, in a setting designed to turn shopping into a truly immersive experience. The two transaction areas celebrate the artistry of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios respectively through illustrations inspired by iconic scenes, brought to life by Tinker Bell’s pixie dust and Pixar’s Luxo Jr.’s lamp. Known as “Magic Moments”, they will offer yet another way to create moments of discovery for our guests and bring an added layer of storytelling to their shopping experience.
“Disney Wonders will offer a completely reimagined shopping experience, designed to bring Disney’s biggest franchises to life through themed spaces and contemporary staging,” said Jean-David Marque, Vice President, Merchandise Product & Operations.
Casa Giulia: A New Italian Restaurant by Bertrand Hospitality
By the end of 2026, Casa Giulia will open at the entrance to Disney Village, just a short walk from the cinema and the World of Disney shop. Operated by Groupe Bertrand, also the partner behind Brasserie Rosalie, this two-story family Italian restaurant will offer around 260 seats, complemented by an outdoor terrace with 120 seats. Inspired by Italian textures and architectural codes, combining terrazzo, brick and wood with abundant greenery, the atmosphere will create a warm and natural setting for this elegant new venue.
The great classics of Italian cuisine will be served generously through authentic, indulgent recipes, with a menu and ingredients that evolve with the seasons, alongside a delicious selection of drinks and Italian cocktails.
The restaurant will also include Giulia Express, a quick-service and takeaway area with a 40-seat outdoor terrace, serving pizza by the slice, focaccia, and a selection of traditional Italian pastries and ice creams.
Casa Giulia is scheduled to open by end of year 2026. Thanks to its prime location, this new venue is already shaping up to be a must-try experience at Disney Village.
The Pathé Cinema (formerly Gaumont) Reimagined for 2027
As part of the ongoing transformation of Disney Village, the cinema, which first opened in 1997, will undergo a comprehensive refurbishment designed to deliver a more contemporary, comfortable and immersive experience for guests. The ambition is to offer the very best cinema experience Pathé can provide, featuring a new façade by Ora-ïto that will integrate more seamlessly with the architecture of Disney Village, fully refurbished auditoriums with recliner seating, enhanced projection systems, a Pathé Café with an expanded food and beverage offer, a reimagined Häagen-Dazs area with an outdoor terrace, and a Pathé Games area dedicated to leisure and entertainment, where guests can come together before or after their screening.
Delivered in phases, the project will begin with an initial stage in September, enabling the cinema to remain largely open throughout the works. Auditoriums will be refurbished in batches, in parallel with the transformation of the public areas and exterior.
A Major Refurbishment for Vapiano from Late 2026
After 10 years of operation, Vapiano, the fast-casual Italian restaurant and long-standing Disney Village partner, will go from the end of 2026 through a full interior redesign and modernisation. The interiors will be redesigned in a more contemporary, neutral palette, enhanced with touches of red in keeping with the brand, and with particular attention paid to natural light. The upper floor will also feature a new children’s play area, while the terrace will be updated with new furniture and planted décor. Works are due to be completed in early 2027.
Annette’s Diner Set to Reopen in the First Quarter of 2027
For the past several months, Annette’s Diner, one of Disney Village’s most popular restaurants, has been closed for an extensive refurbishment. When it reopens in 2027, guests will rediscover the retro spirit and charm that have made it a favourite since 1992, now brought to life in a reimagined space with a refreshed new look.
The work includes an expansion of the kitchens, creating a better working environment by repurposing the former currency exchange office and takeaway area. The dining room is also being completely redesigned, from the flooring to the furniture, with new booth seating in pink, blue and vanilla yellow inspired by the styling of 1950s car interiors.
The new design will introduce several distinctive touches. The service counter will feature a more enclosed frontage inspired by classic American diners, combining chrome and steel with pastel lighting reminiscent of neon. Above it, an impressive bar canopy featuring the words “Diner” and “Welcome” and a totem will be installed, taking inspiration from classic American “googie” architecture. The iconic jukeboxes, originally installed beside the booths, will be fully restored and repositioned as decorative wall features. A brand-new bespoke wallpaper created especially for Annette’s Diner will add playful 1950s-inspired details throughout the restaurant, featuring pastel burger, milkshake and jukebox motifs for guests to discover. The restaurant will continue to be presented by Ben & Jerry’s, whose presence will be highlighted indoors for this refurbishment.
Outside, the terrace will also reopen, featuring new paving and newly planted trees in the surrounding area, creating an inviting space that will be ideal for making the most of the warmer days.
“Our aim is to surprise guests with a restaurant that stays true to the spirit they love, while feeling more comfortable, more modern and fully refreshed. We sincerely hope they’ll experience a real ‘wow’ moment when they step into Annette’s Diner, while still finding the retro atmosphere and delicious burgers they enjoy so much,” said Keith Rector, Senior Manager, Creative Art Direction at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris.
Disney Village Wrapped in Christmas Magic
While Disney Enchanted Christmas is in full swing in Disneyland Park, the teams at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris have created new festive decorations that will arrive throughout Disney Village from November onwards. Their aim is to create an exclusive and refined setting, adding an extra touch of magic to Disney Village during this special time of year.
Guests will discover new Christmas trees, as well as exclusive giant decorative snowflakes inspired by iconic Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars™ characters. Created with the support of Coca-Cola, Official Partner of Disneyland Paris, this new installation will bring an additional touch of magic to the festive season. Brand-new photo spots will also enhance the experience, making Disney Village even more enchanting throughout the holidays. Sports Bar & Lounge will also receive extra festive touches, with Christmas wreaths and garlands.
A range of additional surprises will be introduced throughout Disney Village, including an exclusive postcard available from selected Cast Members*, as well as a limited-edition Christmas coaster by Coca-Cola*, offered to guests ordering a Coca-Cola beverage at Sports Bar & Lounge.
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