First Water-Based Show “A Celebration in Arendelle”: How the Magical Boats for Disney Adventure World Were Created

Frozen fans, get ready! The very first show to take place primarily on the water is heading to Disneyland Paris – specifically to the brand-new Disney Adventure World. In “A Celebration in Arendelle,” three specially designed boats will carry Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and the villagers across the fjord in World of Frozen. Set designer Thomas Gallou, who is celebrating his tenth anniversary at Disneyland Paris this year, gives us a fascinating look behind the scenes of this unique production.

Each of the three boats has its own distinct personality and silhouette. Kristoff’s boat proudly features Arendelle’s official colors and the crocus emblem, a symbol of renewal. The real standout, however, is the bow: shaped like Sven, it’s an elegant, handcrafted sculpture paying tribute to Kristoff’s inseparable best friend. “If he couldn’t be on board in person, this was our way of honoring him,” Gallou recalls.

The second boat puts the villagers of Arendelle spectacularly in the spotlight and beautifully recreates the snow flower, the festival’s central symbol. The third boat, built on a royal scale for Anna and Elsa, picks up the queens’ signature colors – exactly the tones of the snowflower that perfectly blend sun and ice.

The technical challenge was huge. “We’ve known Scandinavian longships for centuries. But building boats that meet all our show and ‘magic’ requirements is something else entirely,” explains Gallou. Unlike regular parade floats, the lighting and special effects had to be visibly integrated into the design, because these boats are hand-piloted with no rails or autopilot. Real Arendelle villagers, specially trained for the role, stand at the helm.

The boats were sized precisely for the venue: large enough for the performers to move safely on board, yet maneuverable with the right draught for the fjord. Gallou still remembers his first visit to the completely empty site. He had to imagine the entire village of Arendelle, the harbor and the lake – and design the boats for it at the same time. Since the harbor sits a little higher than the fjord, the team also considered every possible guest viewpoint, including interior details, to make sure everything looked coherent from all angles.

Thomas Gallou knows Frozen’s visual language inside out. He also dove deep into the history of Nordic shipbuilding for this project. He worked closely with the Disneyland Paris Technical Show Department and trusted the hull construction to the renowned French shipbuilder Couach Construction Navale, which brings over 120 years of experience. The exterior decoration was handled by the artisans at Prelud. “They’re all family-run companies with real craft traditions – the collaboration was technically, artistically and humanly just wonderful,” he enthuses. In total, nearly 400 suppliers were involved, 83 percent of them French.

From the very first sketch through the 3D models to the final detailing, every single step felt special. The highlight for the whole team was the moment the boats finally arrived at the park, were lifted into the air and carefully lowered into the water – floating for the first time in daylight, reflecting like something out of a fairy tale.

The colorful 15-minute show “A Celebration in Arendelle” runs several times daily during the Snowflower Festival. While Olaf, Kristoff and the villagers prepare for the celebration, the lovable snowman – put in charge of the decorations – runs into a few problems. Thanks to help from his friends and Queen Elsa’s magical powers, the party comes beautifully to life and lights up Arendelle Bay. Accompanied by iconic songs such as “Let It Go” and “Into the Unknown,” guests are invited to join in and become part of this magical moment.