Disneyland Paris has unveiled a fresh set of Disney character topiaries in the green spaces surrounding Central Plaza at Disneyland Park, replacing the kinetic Gardens of Wonder sculptures that had been a fixture there for several years.
The first of the new additions is already in place: a topiary version of the Cheshire Cat from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Alice in Wonderland is now on display. A topiary inspired by Tick Tock Croc from Peter Pan is also on the way, set to complete this new addition to Central Plaza over the coming weeks.
The Gardens of Wonder, originally introduced as part of the Disneyland Paris 30th Anniversary in 2022, were kinetic sculptures of Disney and Pixar characters that had become a colorful highlight of the plaza. Disneyland Paris has indicated that those sculptures will return in the future at Disney Village, as part of the ongoing transformation of the entertainment district.
The new topiaries take a different visual approach from their predecessors. The Cheshire Cat, for instance, features a colorful non-growing face and paws, while the body is formed from living topiary plant — a style that draws comparisons to the character topiaries seen at EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival. By contrast, most existing Disneyland Paris topiaries are permanent landscape features that blend into the park’s themed environments, such as the animal-shaped shrubs found throughout Fantasyland.
The project is the result of collaboration across multiple teams. Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, the resort’s Horticulture team, and the Entertainment Workshops all worked together to bring the displays to life. Virginie Debray, Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, described the process as one requiring close coordination between creative and horticultural expertise. “Having access to such a breadth of expertise and talent means we can deliver beautiful projects like this one and sprinkle just a little more magic into our guests’ days,” she said.
The topiaries arrive as Central Plaza undergoes a broader period of change. The Plaza Gardens Restaurant on Main Street, U.S.A., shuttered on March 31, 2026, for a lengthy refurbishment into 2027 that will include roof work, facade repainting, and a full refit of the dining room. The new greenery provides a colorful counterpoint to the construction activity nearby, and is expected to serve as a popular new photo spot for park visitors.
Central Plaza has long been a carefully designed space at Disneyland Paris, with its four surrounding gardens using distinct regional vegetation to hint at the themed lands behind them — from American pines and sequoias facing Frontierland to palms facing the direction of Adventureland. The addition of character topiaries builds on that horticultural tradition while bringing a more overt sense of Disney storytelling to the park’s central hub.
Cover image courtesy of: Disneyland Paris
