Disneyland - Disneyland Paris celebrates Avatar: Fire and Ashes with an immersive and ephemeral drone show

By Mulder, Chessy, Disneyland Paris, 17 december 2025

Disneyland Paris celebrates Avatar: Fire and Ashes with an immersive and ephemeral drone show. To mark the European release of Avatar: Fire and Ashes, Disneyland Paris has unveiled a breathtaking nighttime drone show that transforms the sky above Walt Disney Studios Park into a living canvas inspired by the world of Pandora. Presented for a strictly limited time, from December 13 to 17, 2025, the show is designed as both a cinematic celebration and a technological showcase, combining Disney's growing expertise in drone choreography with the visual language of James Cameron's science fiction saga. Although short-lived, the event quickly established itself as a must-see for visitors to the complex during this mid-December period, offering a rare crossover between theatrical storytelling and large-scale live entertainment.

Each evening, as night falls and the park approaches closing time, hundreds of synchronized drones rise into the night sky, moving with remarkable precision to create animated formations that echo the elemental themes of fire and ash. Visitors can recognize familiar images from the Avatar universe as the drones assemble to form floating mountains, Na'vi silhouettes, mythical creatures, and fiery volcanic shapes, all flowing seamlessly from one image to the next. The entire sequence is underscored by music taken directly from the Avatar: Fire and Ashes soundtrack, composed by Simon Franglen, whose score accompanies the film and was also used for the drone show premiered in Paris. The result is a captivating fusion of images and sounds that elevates the nighttime presentation beyond spectacle to an evocative narrative experience that mirrors the emotional arc of the film itself.

The music of Avatar: Fire and Ashes, available on the film's official soundtrack released in early December 2025, combines orchestral grandeur with thematic elements unique to Pandora. It includes notable tracks such as Simon Franglen's soundtrack, as well as standout tracks such as “Dream as One,” a song co-written and performed by Miley Cyrus (with Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt). This song, which appears during the film's end credits, is now associated with the cultural significance of the franchise and could feature in the show's soundtrack or in promotions related to the event.

The installation at Disneyland Paris is closely linked to a broader promotional campaign that began earlier this month with a large drone show held above Paris during the film's European premiere. That previous event featured thousands of drones set to the Avatar: Fire and Ashes soundtrack composed by Simon Franglen, highlighting how essential music has become to the impact of the drone show, reinforcing the emotional resonance of each formation in the sky. Although the park version is more compact, it retains the same sense of grandeur and spectacle, specially adapted to the space constraints and viewing angles of the complex. The result is a show that feels exclusive to Disneyland Paris while retaining the weight of a highly successful global campaign.

Despite its relatively short duration (estimated at around five minutes), the drone show has already become a central part of the nighttime programming during its run. Show times vary slightly depending on park opening hours, with the first shows taking place around 6 p.m. at the start of the campaign and the last shows aligning with park closing times as the week progresses. This schedule allows the show to function as a visual crescendo to end the day, encouraging visitors to linger and enjoy one last moment of spectacle before leaving the park.
The Avatar: Fire and Ashes drone show reflects Disneyland Paris's evolving approach to live entertainment, favoring flexible, event-driven experiences that can be quickly deployed around major cultural releases. As the resort continues its long-term transformation, including the upcoming renaming of Walt Disney Studios Park to Disney Adventure World, limited-time offerings like this demonstrate how the destination is using technology and storytelling to remain culturally relevant, even between major permanent attractions. For Avatar fans and visitors looking for a truly unique experience during the winter season, this ephemeral show offers a glimpse into how cinema, innovation, and theme park magic continue to converge in new and unexpected ways.

You can view our photos on our Flickr page

Synopsis:
Jake Sully and Neytiri's family are still grieving the death of Neteyam. They encounter a new aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Ash People, led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on Pandora intensifies.

Avatar: Fire and Ashes
Directed by James Cameron
Written by James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Story by James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman, Shane Salerno
Produced by James Cameron, Jon Landau
Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet
Director of Photography: Russell Carpenter
Editing: Stephen E. Rivkin, David Brenner, Nicolas de Toth, John Refoua, Jason Gaudio, James Cameron
Music: Simon Franglen
Production Company: Lightstorm Entertainment
Distribution: 20th Century Studios (United States), The Walt Disney Company France (France)
Release dates: December 1, 2025 (Dolby Theatre), December 17, 2025 (France), December 19, 2025 (United States)
Running time: 197 minutes

Photos and video: Boris Colletier / Mulderville