Disneyland Paris Lion King Ride: Scar Animatronic Revealed As Simba's Story Takes Shape

Disneyland Paris has revealed its biggest look yet at the new Lion King attraction coming to Disney Adventure World during the D23 Parks Experiences Showcase in Anaheim. It includes the first-ever Audio-Animatronics figure of Scar. But Scar may not actually be the most important part of the announcement.

Disney has now confirmed that the new water attraction will retell Simba's journey from cub to king, taking riders through scenes and songs from the 1994 animated film before reaching his final confrontation with Scar. There is still one rather important thing missing that everyone is asking for: when will the ride open?

Lion King Ride News In A Minute

The key information you need about this Disneyland Paris D23 announcement, edging fans and visitors closer to being able to experience the first Lion King ride.

Construction is already underway on the first immersive world based on The Lion King, with foundations complete and the first structures now beginning to rise next to Adventure Bay, which you can clearly see as you walk around.

What has Disney revealed about the Lion King ride at Disneyland Paris?

The latest details were revealed during D23’s Horizons: A Carousel of Progress showcase, giving us a much clearer idea of what riders will actually experience when the attraction, eventually, opens.

Disney has previously shown Pride Rock, the ride layout, and the scale of the new area, but this announcement fills in an important part of the picture: the story.

Rather than creating a new adventure loosely based in the Pride Lands, this ride story will be a full retelling of Simba's journey from cub to king.

Travelling through memorable scenes from the 1994 animated film, riders will experience its iconic music, with Audio-Animatronics figures helping bring pivotal moments to life and special effects completing an emotional journey through the story.

And that explains why Scar suddenly needs such a prominent role.

Will Scar be in the new Lion King ride at Disneyland Paris?

Yes, and this will be the first time Disney has created an Audio-Animatronics figure of Scar. New concept art shows the villain confronting Simba as he attempts to reclaim his place as king of the Pride Lands, with Disney saying the scene is directly inspired by the climax of the original animated film.

Scar joins Simba, Timon and Pumbaa among the characters already confirmed as Audio-Animatronics figures for the attraction, with Disney saying more will appear.

Michel den Dulk, Vice President Portfolio Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, said Scar was important to the film's enduring appeal and that guests will experience the story, emotion and thrills of The Lion King in a new way.

Scar is a brilliant reveal, but this announcement is about so much more, it’s about sharing that we’ll experience a ride-through version of Simba's story. The film was emotional enough so knowing that Disney intend to capture those emotional moments in the ride is beyond exciting for Disney fans.

This is no longer about standing on the walkway by Adventure Bay looking at a rather impressive Pride Rock and guessing what happens inside it, we now know the story.

And Disney isn't only concentrating on what happens inside Pride Rock. Imagineers have revealed one particularly interesting problem with creating the Pride Lands outside Paris: real African acacias won't grow in the French climate.

Instead, Disney will use European trees that are carefully pruned and sculpted to recreate the flat-topped silhouettes associated with the African savanna. Imagineers are also adding smaller environmental details, including animal paw prints set into the ground to make it look as though wildlife has already passed through the area.

It's a small detail, especially compared with a 37-metre Pride Rock and a 16-metre water drop, but it shows just how incredible the imagineers plan to make the storytelling in this land.

When will the Lion King ride and land open at Disneyland Paris?

Disneyland Paris has not announced an opening date or even confirmed an opening year for The Lion King attraction and land. Construction began in autumn 2025, and the latest update says foundation work is now complete with the first structures beginning to rise from the ground.

Disney has consistently positioned The Lion King as a later phase of Disney Adventure World's transformation following World of Frozen, which opened in March 2026. Its new Up attraction, Wilderness Explorers Sky Swings, is confirmed for 2027, but Disney has made no equivalent 2027 announcement for The Lion King.

So, for now if you’re waiting to book Disneyland Paris specifically until the new Lion King area opens, don't book your 2027 holiday until dates are confirmed.

Magic in A Minute

D23 has given us a much better reason to keep watching. We now know this will be a substantial water attraction telling Simba's story from cub to king, with numerous Audio-Animatronics figures, including Disney's first-ever Scar figure waiting towards the climax.

The Pride Lands are taking shape; we just don't know when we'll be able to enter them yet.

This wasn’t the only Disneyland Paris news to come from D23, so why not check out the other exciting developments next in Disneyland Paris Hyperspace Mountain Closing In 2027 As Original Theme Returns and New Disneyland Paris Parade Coming In 2028: First New Daytime Parade Since 2017