If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland Paris, you’ll want to know what to expect when its comes to rides and attractions before you get to the park. In this post, we’ll walk through all the rides and several other important attractions so that you can start planning what’s a must-do and what’s a maybe-miss for you. Read on to learn all about the rides and attractions of Disneyland Paris!
Best Rides Disneyland Paris
Before we get to the full guide, everyone always wants to know—What are the best rides at Disneyland Paris? Here’s our list of the five best attractions in this park:
Big Thunder Mountain
Phantom Manor
Pirates of the Caribbean
Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains
La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Gallery)
Obvious this list is subjective, but there’s no other way to make such a list. Most guests probably wouldn’t have the Snow White and Seven Dwarfs dark ride at #4, but we think it’s a great dark ride!
About This Guide
We try to provide the French and/or English names depending on which is in more common use. We also provide the following key in brackets following the attraction name:
PA - This attraction uses Premier Access (read more about Disneyland Paris Premier Access here)
SR - This attraction has a Single Rider line
U - This attraction is unique to Disneyland Paris
UI - This attraction is a notably unique interpretation of another Disney ride
Disneyland Park, the castle park at Disneyland Paris, is a place of great fun and great detail. If you’re looking for tips on putting together an itinerary for these rides, check out our one-day Disneyland Paris itinerary. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, you’ll also have access to Extra Magic Time to help you get through some of the best rides early in the day.
Finally, this post uses “Disneyland Paris” to refer to Disneyland Park (except where necessary to avoid confusion), the castle park at Disneyland Paris. We also have a post discussing the attractions at the other Disneyland Paris park, Walt Disney Studios Park.
Main Street U.S.A.
Main Street U.S.A. primarily consists of shops and food stops, but the Disneyland Paris version also contains two covered walkways (“arcades”) behind the shops that make this a unique space. As always, it’s worth reading the names and slogans on the buildings. Main Street U.S.A. really sets up Disneyland Paris as a place of great detail.
Disneyland Railroad
Type: Slow train
Height Requirement: None
The Disneyland Railroad is an enjoyable, albeit slow, attraction that takes you around Disneyland Park. There aren’t any especially exciting views, but there are some nice moments. This is not a must-do attraction, except in the sense that Walt loved trains so all train attraction are must-do.
If you want to do it, check your Disneyland Paris app for the shortest wait time or visit early in the day. Don’t get on at Main Street U.S.A., but also don’t miss the best section of it, between Main Street U.S.A. and Frontierland.
Main Street Vehicles
Type: Slow vehicles
Height Requirement: None
The Main Street Vehicles are familiar to any guests of the American Disney parks. There are a few different vehicles that can hold around ten people, driving them on one-way trips between the front of the park and the hub in front of the castle. Always mind their operating hours, as the vehicles typically close early in the day.
Liberty Arcade and Discovery Arcade [U]
Type: Walkthrough Attraction
Height Requirement: None
These aren’t listed by Disney as attractions, but these two arcades are must-do regardless. Liberty Arcade is an indoor path from Town Square to Central Plaza along the backside of the Main Street U.S.A. stores on the Frontierland side.
It presents the story of the Statue of Liberty and provides access to the shops along Main Street U.S.A. It is great as something to do, and essential as a way to bypass the crowds.
Discovery Arcade is the same idea on the Discoveryland side of Main Street, and it includes exhibits on technological progress in the 19th century.
Statue of Liberty Tableau [U]
Type: Walkthrough Attraction
Height Requirement: None
The tableau in a small nondescript room in the Liberty Arcade. The tableau is okay on its own, and you should definitely visit it since it takes no time, but it’s really a must-do as part of the Liberty Arcade.
Frontierland
Frontierland is rare among the older Disney lands in that it actually is intended to present a cohesive narrative about the fictional city of Thunder Mesa. Besides that, it is a large space with great views both big and small.
Phantom Manor [UI, PA]
Type: Dark ride
Height Requirement: None
Phantom Manor is the Disneyland Paris interpretation of Haunted Mansion. It’s a dark ride that takes you on a tour of a haunted house.
Unlike the American Haunted Mansion attractions, Phantom Manor has a relatively complicated plot that ties it into the broader story of the land. That said, this is difficult to discern from the attraction itself, and most guests will probably just notice the bride as being a more central figure…and the not-so-subtle Western motifs.
The mansion itself is very cool arguably the most traditionally “spooky” of Disney’s mansion attractions (note that Walt demanded the original Disneyland mansion look pristine and pretty to fit into the park overall). This is definitely a must-do.
Big Thunder Mountain [PA]
Type: Roller Coaster
Height Requirement: 102cm / 40in
Big Thunder Mountain is an awesome, exciting coaster. It’s definitely the most comfortable coaster at all of Disneyland Paris and probably the best overall. This is definitely a must-do.
Premier Access is available, but it is the one of the most popular rides at Disneyland Paris, so Premier Access One can be expensive. You’ll want to prioritize this ride, but if you get there before 11AM and the line is longer than an hour, don’t wait in it until you’ve done a few other rides.
Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing
Type: Slow boat
Height Requirement: None
The Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing is the boarding point for the Molly Brown, a riverboat that will take you on a 20-minute journey around Frontierland. This isn’t a must-do, but it is a nice way to spend a half an hour if you’re looking for scenery.
Adventureland
Adventureland is our favorite land in Disneyland Paris. It is beautiful, complex, and imposes on you from all sides both far (as La Cabane des Robinson, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Arabian gateway are nearly always visible) and near (as when you’re lost in the caverns on Adventure Isle). The top attraction in Adventureland is simply being in Adventureland.
Adventure Isle [U]
Type: Walkthrough
Height Requirement: None
Adventure Isle is the heart of Adventureland and home to La Cabane des Robinson. It is a great spot to get lost (literally).
The caverns seem so innocent until you’re lost among them, searching for Davy Jones’ Locker. You’ll pass through Adventureland a number of times while at Disneyland Paris, so be sure to step into the caverns once in a while.
This map won't save you from getting lost on Adventure Isle.
La Cabane des Robinson (AKA Swiss Family Treehouse)
Type: Walkthrough
Height Requirement: None
La Cabane Des Robinson is a near-copy of the Swiss Family Treehouse. It has some great views. This is a must-do, especially on clear days and nights. Waits are incredibly rare.
Le Passage Enchanté d’Aladdin [U]
Type: Walkthrough
Height Requirement: None
This is a very short walkthrough attraction with figurine scenes from Aladdin. Not a must-do, but it’s a very short attraction worth the five minutes it will take you.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril [U, PA]
Type: Roller Coaster
Height Requirement: 140cm / 55in
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril is an exciting, but uncomfortable, coaster. We’re always surprised the ride isn’t busier, but its location might be part of that. It’s a borderline must-do, but you shouldn’t wait more than 10 minutes for it.
It’s a coaster that’s definitely inferior to Big Thunder Mountain and Hyperspace Mountain. It goes upside down once, and quickly, and I think that makes it a first good upside down coaster for anyone who makes it to 55 inches without going upside down. This ride has Premier Access and often has short waits.
Pirates of the Caribbean [UI, PA]
Type: Slow boat
Height Requirement: None
There’s lots of good debate to be had about which of the three versions of this ride—Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, or Disneyland Paris, is best (Shanghai’s popular Pirates attraction is unique). Paris strikes a balance between the two American parks in terms of length and spooky elements, and it has a few great additions.
The queue is also quite well-designed, and at or after sunset you may lose track of whether you’re inside or outside. This is a must-do attraction with Premier Access. Without Premier Access, you’ll likely need to wait a bit for either this or Phantom Manor, and we’d pick this one to wait for (visit Phantom early or late to avoid its relatively uninteresting queue).
Fantasyland
Fantasyland in Disneyland Paris offers a huge amount to do. It’s packed with rides (with no height requirement), walkthrough attractions, scenery, shopping, and snacks.
Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle) [UI]
Often heralded as the best of the Disney castles, Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris truly is a gem to behold and to experience. Take some time to walk around the inside and outside of the castle.
Take in the views of the castle from different angles, and while in the castle be sure to enjoy the different views of the park. Pay special attention to the next two attractions, located in the castle. So much do we enjoy the castle that it makes our list as one of the best Disney “rides” in the world.
La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Gallery)
Type: Walkthrough
Height Requirement: None
Sleeping Beauty Gallery is a walk-through attraction around the inside of Sleeping Beauty Castle telling the story of Sleeping Beauty with stained glass windows, artifacts, and other displays (similar to the Disneyland version).
La Tanière du Dragon (The Dragon’s Lair) [U]
Type: Walkthrough
Height Requirement: None
The Dragon’s Lair is one of the finest parts of Disneyland Paris and really any Disney park. A small, simple attraction, it literally is a small lair with a dragon underneath the castle.
The dragon is a fantastic piece of animatronics, and the lair is overall a spooky place, enough to get small children nervous. If you’re walking in during daylight, you’ll be blinded for a few seconds while your eyes adjust, adding to the effect.
Meet Mickey Mouse
Type: Character Greeting
Height Requirement: None
Meet Mickey Mouse is one of two major character greetings in the park, the other being Princess Pavilion. While the greeting often starts later than park opening, it gets very long lines (among the longest in the resort) very quickly, and you can’t use Premier Access to skip the line. If this greeting is important to you, check the opening time and arrive 10-15 minutes early.
Princess Pavilion
Type: Character Greeting
Height Requirement: None
Princess Pavilion is the other major character greeting in the park, also in Fantasyland. This greeting is only one princess, and the exact one changes throughout the day, so you won’t know who you’re meeting in advance.
Princess Pavilion gets absolutely BONKERS waits once it opens—into 3+ hours even on slow days. If you have to do this, you definitely want to arrive at least 15 minutes before it’s scheduled to open.
Peter Pan’s Flight [PA]
Type: Dark ride
Height Requirement: None
Peter Pan’s Flight is a dark storybook ride where you fly through the story of Peter Pan. It’s nearly identical to the versions of the ride found in Magic Kingdom and Disneyland (California), and—as always, somehow—it tends to be one of the most popular rides in the park.
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth [U]
Type: Walkthrough
Height Requirement: None
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth is one of the more creative attractions in Disneyland Paris (I label it as unique for my primarily American / European audience, but actually it is duplicated at Shanghai Disneyland). It is a low-difficulty hedge maze filled with figures from Alice in Wonderland, culminating in a trip up the Queen of Heart’s Castle, which provides some of the better views of Disneyland Paris.
You can get lost in the maze, but you’ll usually be able to follow the crowds to your destination. This is a must-do for the views and as a cool attraction not found in the United States.
Le Pays des Contes de Fées (The Land of fairy Tales)
Type: Slow boat
Height Requirement: None
A gem of Disneyland Paris, familiar to Disneyland regulars, the boat ride around the miniatures is in Storybook Land at the back of Fantasyland, and it features some great miniatures of Disney stories. We consider it a must-do when it has the minimum 5-minute wait, but we understand if you skip it.
Casey Jr. - le Petit Train du Cirque [UI]
Type: Kiddie train
Height Requirement: None
The Casey Jr. circus train attraction at Disneyland Paris differs slightly from its Disneyland counterpart. While the basic outline is the same—ride Casey Jr. around the Storybook Land Canal Boats area—the Paris version of the ride is more of a kiddie coaster than a cozy ride. That said, with no height requirement, there’s no reason for anyone to avoid it.
“it’s a small world” [UI, PA]
Type: Boat ride
Height Requirement: None
This version is maybe most notable for its depiction of the United States (go football!), but the classic boat ride is a must-do in any case.
Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains
Type: Dark ride
Height Requirement: None
Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains is the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs dark storybook ride. Similar to other versions, you ride through scenes of Snow White. It’s a “must-do” in the sense that it’s a classic and you’ll likely have time for its moderate waits.
Les Voyages de Pinocchio
Type: Dark ride
Height Requirement: None
Les Voyages de Pinocchio is the Pinocchio dark storybook ride. Similar to Snow White, it’s a "must-do" in the sense that it's a classic and you’ll likely have time for its moderate waits.
Le Carrousel de Lancelot
Type: Carousel
Height Requirement: None
Every castle park has to have a carousel! Personally, I consider them a must do, but I must confess that in a world of really slow-loading carousels, Le Carrousel de Lancelot is absolutely one of the slowest-loading rides I’ve ever been on. Ride it when it has no wait at all or plan for it to take at least 20 minutes of your day.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Type: Aerial Carousel
Height Requirement: None
As with other versions, you sit in a Dumbo car that moves up and down. You might not consider it a “must do”, but you should know that waits for this one go up quickly and it isn’t a part of Premier Access. That means if you want your cliche Disney moment riding Dumbo and taking a selfie with the castle, you’ll want to plan to get here early.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups
Type: Spinning tea cups
Height Requirement: None
The nauseating classic where you spin around in tea cups. Only a must-do for nostalgia or if you need to lose your awful Disneyland Paris lunch.
Discoveryland
Discoveryland is a polarizing Disneyland Paris land. It is a European / Jules Verne take on Tomorrowland. I find that from the right angles (like the one below) it really shines. That said, the inclusion of things like Buzz Lightyear and Star Tours can take away from the ambiance a little.
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast [PA]
Type: Dark ride (with laser blasters)
Height Requirement: None
A dark ride / laser shooting ride, inspired by Toy Story 2, where you face off against your ride-mate, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast is quite similar to the Disneyland version of the ride, which is a little different than the Magic Kingdom version. If you’re into shooting challenges, the ride will be fun, but if you're not you may be disappointed.
Orbitron [PA*]
Type: Aerial Carousel
Height Requirement: None
This is the standard rocket spinner ride found at all Disney castle parks (aka Astro Orbiter). Not a must-do. Best to ride during Extra Magic Time or very early, as the waits tend to be longer later in the day.
Orbitron is odd in that—as of this update—it’s available on Premier Access One but not included with Premier Access Ultimate.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue [PA]
Type: 3D Thrill Ride
Height Requirement: 102cm / 40in
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is the modern take on the classic motion simulation ride that takes you on an adventure in the Star Wars universe. This is a must-do, although the ride, including most of its queue, is mostly identical to other versions of the ride.
Les Mystères du Nautilus (The Mysteries of Nautilus) [U]
Type: Walkthrough
Height Requirement: None
The Mysteries of Nautilus is a walkthrough attraction of the fictional Nautilus submarine from Jules Verne's novels. Since it doesn’t really get crowded, it’s definitely worth a visit. Coming from outside, it will take a minute for your eyes to adjust.
It’s a must-do as a unique attraction that only takes five minutes, but you'll appreciate it more if you take a little more time to go through it.
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain [UI, PA, SR]
Type: Roller Coaster
Height Requirement: 120cm / 47in
Prior to the start of the 25th Anniversary Celebration, this ride was Space Mountain: Mission 2. In its current version, the track is the same, but with a Star Wars overlay.
While the concept is most similar to Space Mountain (a space-themed indoor roller coaster), we found the experience, especially in the Star Wars version, to be more like Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. The ride has inversions and is generally an exciting, but horribly uncomfortable, roller coaster. This is a must-do.
Autopia [PA]
Drive cars around a small track. Not a must-do. If you really want to do it, be prepared to wait. Within 30 minutes of park open, Autopia can have 30+ minute waits.
Disneyland Paris Entertainment
Rather than go land-by-land in looking at the entertainment, it makes more sense just to talk about the items one-by-one. Keep in mind we’re just talking about the castle park here—there’s more entertainment over in Walt Disney Studios Park, too.
A Million Splashes of Colour (Through September 30 2024)
A Million Splashes of Colour is a super vibrant mini-parade / dance party featuring popular Disney characters. It typically occurs a few times a day, with most of the action taking place in the hub.
Disney Electrical Sky Parade (Until January 9 2025)
The Electrical Sky Parade is a wonderful homage to the Electrical Light Parade. Before the nightly firework / projection spectacular, drones take to the sky above the castle to put on the Electrical Sky Parade. It’s really an amazing show you shouldn’t miss.
The Lion King: Rhythm of the Pride Lands
Rhythm of the Pride Lands is a 30-minute musical stage show held in the Frontierland theater at scheduled times throughout the day. It is a popular show that can fill up, so you want to arrive early. You can pay (via the app) to reserve seating. This is a great show, and if you have a full (open to close) day at Disneyland Paris, I’d say it’s a must-do part of the day.
Given it’s remote location, just plan to arrive 20 minutes early for one of the first shows of the day. You don’t want to “just try” to get into a show 5 minutes before it starts—you might wind up walking all the way there, not getting in, and then having to come all the way back later.
Disney Stars on Parade
Disney Stars on Parade is the feature parade at Disneyland Paris. The route typically goes from “it’s a small world” through the hub, down Main Street. It’s a must-see and one of the cornerstones of planning your day.
Disney Illuminations
Note: Disneyland Paris will get a new nighttime show, Disney Tales of Magic, beginning January 10, 2025.
Disney Illuminations is the nighttime firework and projection show at Disneyland Paris. There’s no reason to miss it because it usually takes place at or around park closing time.
All Your Other Disneyland Paris Planning Questions Answered
Don’t be overwhelmed by Disneyland Paris planning! Take a second to check out our most important content! Just starting out? Check out our Disneyland Paris Trip Planning Guide. Need to know how much this is going to take out of your pocket? We’ve got a post on How Much it Costs to Go to Disneyland Paris.
Know what to ride with our: Disneyland Paris Rides Guide and Walt Disney Studios Park Rides Guide. And just as important, know how to get on the best rides without the wait with our Guide to Disneyland Paris Premier Access! For the complete guides to a day at the park, we have a One Day Disneyland Paris Itinerary and a Walt Disney Studios Park Itinerary.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.