5 Reasons to Visit Disneyland Paris

If you’re a Disney fanatic like I am, then visiting Disneyland Paris is probably already on your bucket list, and you don’t need any further convincing to visit Disneyland Paris.

If you’re teetering on the edge of whether you should visit Disneyland Paris or not, this is the post that will convince you that you need to go!

Disneyland Paris is the only Disney park in Europe, which makes it the perfect addition to any Europe trip. The park is centrally located, so it is easy to get from London to Disneyland Paris as well as from other major European cities such as Brussels.

The park is also easily accessible using the Paris metro and only takes 30-45 minutes to get to from central Paris! It really is one of the best day trips from Paris!

If Disneyland Paris being central and easy to access from all over Europe isn’t enough of a selling feature, then read on. I bet you’ll be convinced to visit Disneyland Paris once you’re done reading this post.

1. Disneyland Paris Has One of the Best Attractions in Any Disney Park in the World

You read that right! Disneyland Paris has one of the best attractions in any Disney park in the world, and you can only find this attraction at Disneyland Paris.

The attraction I’m talking about is Crush’s Coaster! I love this attraction so much and wish it was at other Disney parks around the world, but you’ll have to go to Disneyland Paris if you want to ride it!

Crush’s Coaster starts off as a slow-moving, relaxing ride until you enter the East Coast Current and go for a wild ride through the ocean. The slow-moving ride turns into a rollercoaster in this section of the attraction.

To make it even more fun, not only is it a rollercoaster, but your ride vehicle (which is adorably designed to look like a turtle shell) independently spins as well! The combination of the rollercoaster mixed with a spinning ride vehicle is what makes Crush’s Coaster one of the best Disney attractions in the world.

It is a crowd favourite and always has a long wait so get there early if you want to ride it! There is also the option to ride as a single rider. This queue is often shorter, but you won’t get to ride with your friends and family. You will be used to fill an empty seat when a group in the normal queue has an odd number of people.

There are a number of other unique Disneyland Paris attractions, but Crush’s Coaster is by far my favourite!

A Note of Caution for Anybody who Suffers from Motion Sickness:

There is a lot of spinning, and there is the possibility that the rollercoaster could turn in one direction, and your ride vehicle could spin in the opposite direction at the same time.

But if you don’t suffer from motion sickness, this ride should be at the top of your must-ride list for Disneyland Paris. Trust me. It’s amazing! I wish I could ride it every time I went to a Disney park and not just in Paris.

Crush's Coaster

2. The Castle is Stunningly Beautiful

Disneyland Paris’ castle is unlike any other Disney castle. It is pink with blue and gold accents. I love it so much!

Although I can’t decide though whether I like Disneyland Paris’ castle or Shanghai Disneyland’s castle better. It is a tough choice I keep going back and forth on. They’re both so beautiful in their own way.

Anyways, the castle is another reason you should visit Disneyland Paris. I know you’ll be in awe when you see it. It is absolute perfection.

In addition to being beautiful, the castle also has a sneaky reason why it is so special. You can go underneath the castle and see an animatronic dragon!

You walk into a dimly lit “cave” under the castle and get to watch a dragon sleeping. Every couple of minutes the dragon “wakes up” and starts moving its head around and puffing smoke out of its nose.

It is a really cool experience and completely unique to Disneyland Paris. You can’t go under the castle at any other Disney park.

How to Get Under the Disneyland Paris Castle to See the Dragon

It is quite easy to get under the castle to see the dragon! There are entrances from both Main Street USA and Fantasyland. There are also entrances on both the left and right sides of the castles from both areas of the park.

You can enter and exit the dungeon from any direction, and it is a fun way to get from Main Street USA to Fantasyland. The only thing you can’t do is exit from the right if you entered from the left and vice versa.

Disneyland Paris Castle

3. You Can Visit Both Parks in One Day

There are technically two parks at Disneyland Paris: Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios. Both parks have a lot of attractions and shows, so you could easily spend two or more days at Disneyland Paris.

But you can also strategize and see most of what Disneyland Paris has to offer in a single day. You need to know what attractions you want to ride and shows you want to see in order to get the most out of a single day at the parks, but it is very doable.

You’ll want to make use of the Fastpass system at Disneyland Paris to get the most out of your day at both parks. A Fastpass allows you to get a ticket with a return time on it. When it is your return time, you simply go to the attraction, enter through the Fastpass queue, and get on the ride with little to no wait time!

Not every ride has the option to get a Fastpass so be sure to do your research beforehand in order to make the most of your time.

Here is a handy one-day Disneyland Paris itinerary to help you plan your perfect day in Disneyland Paris! I never follow one-day itineraries exactly, but they are a good starting point to get inspiration on how to plan your day.

Even if you don’t have a firm plan and like to play things by ear, you’ll be able to see Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios in a single day.

But Should You Visit for Only One Day?

No matter how much or how little you plan there will still be things you have to miss out on if you only visit the parks for one day. You won’t be able to ride every single ride, watch all the shows and parades, or meet many characters.

I recommend visiting Disneyland Paris for two days in order to get the most out of your trip to the parks.

P.S.- If you’re planning on visiting both parks in one day, don’t forget you need to purchase the park hopper ticket!

Walt Disney Studios

4. Disneyland Paris is More Affordable than the US Disney Parks

Disneyland Paris is significantly less expensive to visit than Disney parks in the United States (excluding airfare of course). It is the perfect Disney park to visit if you need a little Disney magic, are in France, and don’t want to have the outrageous expense of visiting Walt Disney World or Disneyland California.

For comparison, a one-day park hopper ticket costs the following in each park (at the time of writing):

  • Walt Disney World: $172 USD plus taxes
  • Disneyland: $179 USD plus taxes
  • Disneyland Paris: $86 USD plus taxes

It is nearly $100USD less per adult to visit Disneyland Paris for one day than it is to visit a US park. That’s a huge difference! Those savings really add up.

You most likely will be spending fewer days at Disneyland Paris than you would at either Disneyland or Disney World, so the cost of food and accommodation should be lower as well.

Food and accommodation are comparable, but since you’ll only be at Disneyland Paris for one or two days, the cost for these won’t be as high as if you spent three or four days at Disneyland or a week at Disney World.

All in all the expense of visiting Disneyland Paris is much less than visiting the US Disney parks. The money you save in ticket prices alone will probably be able to pay for all your meals and a few extra souvenirs.

I mean who doesn’t want to have a great time at a Disney park for significantly less money? It sounds like the perfect combination to me!

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

5. It Makes a Great Conversation Starter

Co-Worker: “How was your trip to Paris? What cool things did you do?”

You: “It was great! I saw all the major sights and went to Disneyland Paris.”

Co-Worker: “Wow! That sounds so cool. I didn’t even know there was a Disney park in Paris. I’m jealous.”

That could be you if you plan a day trip (or more) to Disneyland Paris! You’ll be surprised how many Disney nerds you uncover when you casual mention you visited a Disney park while on vacation.

People love talking about Disney even if they aren’t the biggest fans. It has a nostalgia factor to it that people love.

A lot of people dream of getting to visit an international Disney park but never get the opportunity to. The fact that you got to visit Disneyland Paris will make a lot of people wish they had the same experience as you.

Even if the people you’re talking to aren’t Disney fans, they will still be interested in hearing about your trip to Disney in Paris!

Disneyland Paris is a unique experience that many people don’t know exist. They’ll been keen to hear about the parks and what there is to do there.

Trust me, people will be interested in hearing about your trip to EuroDisney (as it was formally called).

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

Final Thoughts

Are you convinced yet? Are you frantically scribbling Disneyland Paris on your bucket list?

I wouldn’t be surprised if you were!

There are so many reasons to visit Disneyland Paris. From experiencing a Disney park with a French twist to comparing similar attractions in both the Parisian park and the US parks to trying all the French snack, and so much more, there are so many reasons to visit Disneyland Paris next time you’re in France.

I could have included a lot more reasons to add Disneyland Paris to your bucket list. But I thought these were the five most convincing reasons to visit the parks next time you’re in Paris.

I promise you’ll have a great time!

How to get from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau

Château de Fontainebleau is a great day trip from Paris. It is only 55km outside of Paris, and it is extremely easy to get from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau. It is one of the largest royal palaces in all of France and is filled with beautiful decor and lots of history.

History of Château de Fontainebleau

Château de Fontainebleau is an interesting piece of French architecture. It was a royal Château then became a palace and one of the many residences for the French monarchs. It was used as a palace from the reign of Louis VII to Napoleon III.

The monarchs would go from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau in order to relax and get away from the capital city. The location was favourable because the monarch could easily go from Paris to Fontainebleau for a short retreat and not have to worry about extensive travel.

The palace is now a UNESCO World Heritage sight and is visited by hoards of tourists every year.

It truly is one of the best places in France to learn about French history!

How to Get From Paris to Château de Fontainebleau

The Most Common Way: By Train

The most common (and easiest) way to get from Paris to Fontainebleau is by train. The train rides takes approximately 40 minutes, and it is faster than taking a private car!

Step One

The first step to getting from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau is to get to Gare de Lyon station in Paris because that is where the trains to Fontainebleau leave from. Gare de Lyon is the sixth largest train station in Paris, and it is very busy.

You have to take the local Paris metro to Gare to Lyon and then transfer to another train to get to Château de Fontainebleau .

The metro lines that stop at Gare de Lyon are:

  • M
  • 1
  • 14

The RER lines that stop at Gare to Lyon are:

  • A
  • D

To figure out to get from where you are staying to Gare de Lyon, click here. This is an interactive map that will help you plan the best route for you to take!

Paris Metro

Step Two

Now that you’re at Gare de Lyon, you will have to exit the Paris metro portion of the station and follow the signs to the actual train station portion of Gare de Lyon. There will be lots of signs, so you shouldn’t get lost.

You are now in the train station portion of Gare de Lyon. You’ll need to take a Transition train (that’s the fancy name for the type of train you will be taking to Château de Fontainebleau). You will want to take a train in the direction of Migennes, Montargis or Montereau. All three of these trains will take you to Château de Fontainebleau.

You need to get off the train at Fontainebleau-Avon. This will be either the second, third, or forth stop depending on what train you take.

How to Buy tickets

You will need to purchase a ticket before you board the train to Fontainebleau. Tickets can either be purchased at a ticket machine or at a ticket booth. You cannot purchase a ticket to Fontainebleau-Avon at the metro stations, so you will have to purchase it once you walk to the train station.

The ticket machines will be purple on the side and have SNCF written on the side. The ticket machines accept both cash and card.

You are also able to purchase your ticket online and collect it at a ticket machine. Simply input your reservation number and the credit card used to purchase the ticket, and you’ll easily be able to collect your ticket!

You can also purchase a ticket at a manned ticket booth if you feel more comfortable with that. Make sure to leave a little bit of extra time if you plan on purchasing your ticket at a ticket booth because there is often a queue.

Château de Fontainebleau Paris France
how to validate your tickets

You have to validate your ticket before you board the train! There will be a square metal box as you enter the platform. You have to stick the end of your ticket in the box in order for it to validated.

Step Three

Once you get off the train, you will have to take a local bus to Château de Fontainebleau. The bus departs across the street from the train station exit, and you will be able to see the bus stop as soon as you walk out of the station.

It is impossible to get lost on your way to the bus. You will be able to see the station, and you can simply follow the other tourists who are heading to Château de Fontainebleau as well.

You need to take the Ligne 1 (line 1) bus in the direction of Les Lilas. Ride the bus until you hear the stop called Château is announced, and you will get off there.

There is a map inside the bus, so you can track where you are on the route and be prepared to get off when your stop is coming up. You can also get off when the rest of the tourists get off.

After you get off the bus, you have to walk about a block and a half before you get to the palace. There will be signs showing you what direction to walk when you get off the bus.

Château de Fontainebleau is right in the heart of the city. The bus stop you get off at is in a residential area, and it can seem a bit odd getting off there, but you are in the right place!

Tips for riding the bus
  • You need change to ride the bus so make sure you have some with you!
  • Make sure you check the bus schedule, so you know what time to be back at the bus stop after touring Château de Fontainebleau
  • It is polite to give up your seat for elders, people living with disabilities, and pregnant women (but that’s common knowledge everywhere).
Chateau de Fontainebleau Paris France

Getting from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau by Car

You can drive yourself from Paris to Fontainebleau. It will take approximately an hour and fifteen minutes, but that is subject to traffic, of course.

You take the A6 from Paris (Porte d’Orléans or Porte d’Italia) and take the exit for Fontainebleau. After you exit, you will follow signs that say Château until you get to the palace.

To find nearby parking, visit this link.

Getting from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau by Coach

You can take an organized tour from Paris to Fontainebleau, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The tours are normally overpriced, and they don’t give you the freedom to do what you want when you want.

That being said, there are instances where it is better for people to take a coach tour rather than travelling to Château de Fontainebleau on their own. People who are living with disabilities and cannot easily take public transportation or people with mobility issues who want to walk as little as possible.

Paris City Vision offers a guided tour that comes highly recommend (although I have never personally gone on it).

Chateau de Fontainebleau Paris France

Conclusion

It is easy to get from Paris to Château de Fontainebleau, and it is an amazing day trip. Château de Fontainebleau is so close to Paris that it makes for the perfect day trip.

The most efficient and stress-free way to get from Paris to Fontainebleau is by train. I promise that having to take the train then a bus isn’t as difficult as it can seem to an inexperienced traveller.

The journey is extremely easy, and it is nearly impossible to get lost along the way. The only thing you need to worry about is getting on the right train and getting off at the right stop. Even if you get off on the wrong bus stop, you will be able to walk to the palace because it is a small town.

Château de Fontainebleau is a great piece of French history. I actually enjoy it more than Versailles. It is less busy, just as beautiful, and has some amazing history attached to it.

You won’t regret your trip to Château de Fontainebleau!

A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

Disneyland Paris is the perfect day trip from Paris. It is easy to get to from central Paris and is tons of fun! There a lot of Disneyland Paris attractions. Many of them are similar to attractions in other Disney parks and some of them are unique to Disneyland Paris.

You will want to have an understanding of Disneyland Paris attractions before you go to the parks. You will be better able to optimize your time if you know what you want to ride before you get to the parks.

This article will go through all of the Disneyland Paris attractions available. It should help you create a game plan for your visit. There are a lot of Disneyland Paris attractions to choose from. If you are only in the parks for one day, you won’t be able to ride everything. You will have to pick and choose what Disneyland Paris attractions are most important to you.

I’m going to cover some general Disneyland Paris information before getting into discussing Disneyland Paris attractions. Feel free to skip right to the Disneyland Paris attractions content if you’re a Disney expert and know all about FastPasses and park hopping!

General Disneyland Paris Information

Before I start breaking down Disneyland Paris attractions, there are some general things you need to know about Disneyland Paris.

Disneyland Paris France

There are Two Parks

There are two different parks on Disneyland Paris property. Disneyland Paris park is the main park. It has most of the classic Disney attractions that you know and love. It has a similar vibe to Magic Kingdom and Disneyland California.

The other park is Walt Disney Studios Park. This park has a lot of Pixar-themed areas. It is also home to a number of more thrilling attractions. Disney Studios park is also home to a number of outstanding stage shows that you should try catch if you have the time.

Navigating the Two Disneyland Paris Theme Parks

It can be difficult to locate attractions if you are a first-time Disneyland Paris visitor or not familiar with the way Disney lays out their parks.

There are guide maps available at both parks. You can pick one up as you enter the parks. There is a stand shortly after you scan your ticket and go through the turnstile.

The maps are available in multiple different languages, so you won’t have to try to read a French map if you don’t speak French. You only need to pick up one map because the map contains information for both parks, which makes it easy to plan your day if you have a park hopper ticket.

Your guide map will show you where all the Disneyland Paris attractions and restaurants are located as well as what time the shows and parades are running that day. The guide map will also give you information about what characters are meeting that day and where to find them.

Tickets

It is expensive to buy tickets to theme parks, and Disneyland Paris is no exception, unfortunately. You should consider purchasing a park-hopper ticket. This ticket gives you access to both Disneyland Paris parks on the same day.

The parks are very close to one another. You can easily walk from one park to the next in less than 5 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about building in transportation time like you have to in Walt Disney World.

Purchasing a park hopper ticket gives you a lot of flexibility and freedom. You are able to do what you want throughout the day without being confined to a single park. You are able to hop from one park to the other to avoid crowds and make the most out of your time.

It is important to purchase a park hopper ticket if you’re only going to be at Disneyland Paris for one day. There are unique attractions in each park that you won’t want to miss. There are must-ride Disneyland Paris attractions in each park, so you will definitely want to have a park hopper ticket in order to ride them all!

Information regarding ticket pricing can be found here.

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

FastPasses

To make the most out of your time at Disneyland Paris, you should use FastPasses. FastPasses give you front-of-the-line access to various Disneyland Paris attractions.

You have to scan your paper ticket at a FastPass kiosk located near the ride. FastPass kiosks are clearly marked, so you shouldn’t have any trouble locating them. Once you scan your park ticket, you will receive a FastPass that has a return time on it. You can return to that attraction during the designated time slot and go through the much quicker FastPass queue.

Your FastPass will tell you when you are eligible to get another FastPass. You normally have to wait 90 minutes or use your current FastPass before you are eligible to get a new one. This helps spread the FastPasses out to all the guests and prevents people from hoarding them.

FastPasses are included in the price of your ticket, so you should make the most out of them! You should try to get FastPasses for the rides that have the longest wait time. You can ride attractions that have a short wait time while you are waiting to use your FastPass at a popular attraction. This is the most time efficient way!

You are able to get a FastPass in Disneyland Paris then go to Walt Disney Studios while you are waiting for your return time and go back to Disneyland Paris to use your FastPass. You have a lot of flexibility with FastPasses. Just be sure not to miss your return time!

Getting to Disneyland Paris from Central Paris

You have to take the RER A regional train to get to Disneyland Paris. The last station is Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy, and you will get off the train there. You will be able to see Disney Village when you exit the station.

It will take approximately 30-45 minutes to get from central Paris to Disneyland Paris using public transportation.

There is a shuttle bus Disney provides from central Paris to the parks, but it is overpriced and not as efficient as the train. I wouldn’t recommend using the shuttle unless you have an impairment that prevents you from riding the train.

Disneyland Paris Attractions

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

Fantasyland

Fantasyland is home to some of the most iconic and nostalgic Disneyland Paris attractions. It is filled with bright colours and child-friendly rides. This land is often what people think of first when they think of Disney. It is truly classic.

Fantasyland is located behind Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. It is located in the middle of the park. You are able to access it from Discoveryland, Adventureland, and Main Street, U.S.A.

Sleeping Beauty Castle

This is the castle that you see as you are walking down Main Street, U.S.A. when you first enter Disneyland Paris. This castle design is unique to Disneyland Paris, and, frankly, it is one of the most beautiful Disney castles.

You are able to go inside the castle. There are scenes from Sleeping Beauty depicted inside the castle. You are also able to go outside on a balcony where there is a fantastic view of Fantasyland.

Note: You are required to walk up a flight of stairs to visit the inside of the castle. This may be difficult for people with mobility issues.

La Tanière du Dragon

What would Sleeping Beauty’s Castle be without an evil dragon lurking underneath it?

You are able to walk through the bottom of the castle to see a sleeping (or is it?) dragon. Be sure to wait around for a few minutes: the dragon just might wake up.

You are able to access this attraction from both Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland. It is dark in the cave, but the floor is flat, so this is one of the Disneyland Paris attractions that is suitable for people with mobility issues to participate in without having to be accommodated.

As I mentioned, it is dark in the cave, so children (and adults) with a fear of the dark may not enjoy seeing the dragon. It isn’t pitch black, but there is just enough light to see where you are walking.

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

It’s a Small World

This is a classic Disney attraction that is found in every Disney park in the world except for Shanghai Disneyland. This is a slow-paced boat ride that takes you through various scenes that shows people and animals from all over the world.

It is a brightly coloured attraction with tons of animatronics wearing clothing traditional to the part of the world they are representing. It is filled with classic, Disney nostalgia and is great for people of any age because there isn’t a height limit.

While It’s a Small World is popular amongst hard-core Disney fans, it normally doesn’t have a very long queue. It is a great option if you have a FastPass for a different Fantasyland attraction and have a few extra minutes to spare before their return window begins.

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups

This is another classic Disney attraction. The Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups are themed based on the tea party scene in Alice in Wonderland. It is a colourful ride that is perfect for taking a picture of!

This attraction consists of various tea cups. You pick a tea cup, get in, and then spin around and around and around and around. The tea cups themselves spin, but there is also a wheel in your individual tea cup that lets you spin even faster if you choose to.

This attraction is beloved by both children and adults alike. It is a fun attraction that oftentimes doesn’t have much of a wait time.

You can get rather dizzy on this attraction, so you may want to give it a miss if you get motion sick or have just eaten.

Alice’s Curious Labyrinth

Continuing with the theme of Alice in Wonderland, the next attraction is Alice’s Curious Labyrinth. This is a walk-through maze where you get to see all the main characters from the movie.

You get to choose your own path, so be sure to choose wisely otherwise you will have to retrace your steps to find the proper route!

This attraction is a lot of fun- especially if you have children in your group. It allows them to run around a little and burn off some energy.

The maze isn’t too long, so it won’t take you more than 10-20 minutes to complete depending on how long you spend looking at all the theming. It can get busy in the maze during peak times (aka mid-afternoon), so you may want to try to visit it mid-morning or early evening.

This is another one of the Disneyland Paris attractions that people with mobility issues are able to participate in without having to be accommodated. If you are able to walk through the maze, you will be able to experience it! You are able to walk as slow as you want, and you can stop and rest mid-maze if you need to.

There is one section of the maze that requires you to walk up a few stairs. You can easily bypass this portion of the attraction if you are unable to climb stairs. There is often a queue to climb the stairs, so many people bypass it in any event.

You aren’t able to bring motorized scooters or wheelchairs into the maze. You will have to walk by yourself if you want to go through the maze.

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains

This translates to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It is a dark-ride where you board a wooden mine train and go through the scenes from the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

It is a slow-moving ride that is suitable for children of all ages and sizes. Other versions of this attraction can be found in Disneyland California and Tokyo Disneyland.

It can be a popular attraction, and it doesn’t offer a FastPass. If you really want to ride this attraction, I would recommend riding it in the morning before the park gets busy or in the evening after most of the children have gone home for the day.

Warning: This attraction has a number of scenes that may scare young children. The attraction focuses more on the relationship between Snow White and the Old Hag than on Snow White and her relationship with the Seven Dwarfs.

Le Carrousel de Lancelot

This attraction is the classic carrousel ride that you will find in the centre of every Fantasyland in every Disney park around the world.

Similar to any other carrousel, this attraction allows you to climb aboard a horse of your choosing and spin around slowing in circles. It is great fun for people of all ages. It has no height limit, there are seat buckles for smaller children, and parents are allowed to stand by their small child and help to hold them up.

The best part of the carrousel is that if you’re very, very lucky, you may get to ride with a Disney princess! Occasionally throughout the day a princess (normally Belle) will go for a ride on the carrousel. It makes for a very special memory if you are lucky enough to experience the attraction with a Disney character.

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

Peter Pan’s Flight

This is undoubtably the most popular attraction in Fantasyland. It is a cult classic amongst adult Disney fans and children love it too. This is one of the most popular Disneyland Paris attractions, so you will want to either ride it first thing in the morning or get a FastPass for it.

Peter Pan’s flight is a dark ride where you board a boat and soar above the story of Peter Pan. You start in the Darling children’s bedroom and end by defeating Captain Hook. You get to float through all the iconic scenes the make this movie the Disney classic it is.

Peter Pan’s Flight in Disneyland Paris is quite similar to other versions throughout the world. If you’re a huge Peter Pan’s Flight fan, you should definitely take the time to ride it. However, if you’ve ridden it in other parks throughout the world and are only a so-so fan, you may want to spend your time riding Disneyland Paris attractions that you can’t find anywhere else in the world.

Les Pays de Contes de Fées

This is a slow boat ride that takes you through miniature dioramas that depict your favourite Disney fairytales. You see scenes from Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and more!

The scenes are quite well designed. This attraction rarely has a queue, so it is a great way to relax during the middle of the day when your feet start to ache.

There is no height limit for this attraction, so it is suitable for children of all ages. The is a lot to see, so your young children will have lots of sensory stimulation (I mean, what at Disney isn’t sensory stimulation?).

Casey Jr.- le Petit Train du Cirque

This attraction is specifically geared towards young children. You board Casey Jr. and go for a fun ride through Storybook Land.

The train allows you to get an overhead view of Les Pays de Contes de Fées and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. You can get some great pictures of Fantasyland while your child is enjoying the train ride!

This attraction does not have a height limit because it was designed with children in mind. It doesn’t normally have much of a queue, so it is another great choice for the middle of the day when you and your child(ren) are getting tired and need a bit of a break.

Les Voyages de Pinocchio

This attraction is very similar to the Snow White dark ride in Fantasyland. The ride layout and vehicles are the same.

The difference is that you are riding through Pinocchio’s story on this attraction rather than Snow White’s.

This attraction is also a lot less scary for young children because it has brighter colours and fewer scary characters. There are still a couple of scenes that a young child might find scary but not nearly as many as in the Snow White attraction.

This attraction does not offer a FastPass and can be quite popular. You should try to ride it first thing in the morning or in the evening when most of the children have left for the day. This will allow you to experience the attraction without queuing for a long time.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

This is the second most popular attraction in Fantasyland behind Peter Pan’s Flight. It is a staple attraction that is found in every Disney park in the world, and is a favourite among children.

The ride vehicles are in the shape of an elephant. You choose your elephant and are lifted into the air. The elephants go in a circle, and there is a controller in your vehicle that allows you to raise or lower your elephant, so it feels like you are flying.

You get amazing views of Fantasyland while riding the Dumbo attraction. You should make sure to have your camera ready to make sure you get a couple of great pictures.

This attraction does not offer FastPasses, which is surprising considering how popular it is. You should ride it first thing in the morning if you have a child that loves Dumbo and has to ride it everything s/he is at the park.

If you can’t ride it first thing in the morning, later in the evening is another good time to ride it. Many children leave the parks early in the evening, so the queue is shorter near the end of the night. There will still be a queue, but it will be shorter than during the day.

There is no height restriction for this attraction, so your entire family will be able to ride it with no problem. It makes for a great family memory and tradition!

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Discoveryland

Discoveryland is equivalent to Tomorrowland in the rest of the Disney parks around the world. It is home to futuristic attractions and metallic colouring.

It is located on the left-hand side of Main Street, U.S.A. You can enter Discoveryland either from Main Street, U.S.A. or Fantasyland.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

This is the newest Disneyland Paris attraction. It is a 4D show that features Donald getting into trouble and Mickey helping save him.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic takes you on a musical journey where you get to hear your favourite classic Disney songs. Other versions of this attraction can be found in Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland.

This attraction doesn’t normally have much of a wait time and can fit a large number of people into one show, so it is perfect for people who are looking for something to do in the middle of the day when the queues are long. Or people who are looking to catch a midday nap (Disney really is exhausting!).

There is seating for people in wheelchairs, so this attraction is accessible to people with mobility impairments. If you have a wheelchair or motorized scooter, you will be shown into the theatre first, so you don’t have to try to fight the crowds and find your designated seating area.

Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast

This is a great attraction for people of all ages. It is a slow-moving game where you try to shoot targets with a laser gun to defeat evil Emperor Zurg.

Each ride vehicle has two laser guns, and you are competing to see who has the best score. This is one of the longer non-show Disneyland Paris attractions. The ride takes approximately 5 minutes. You are shooting the entire time, so five minutes goes by pretty quickly, and you might end up with a hand cramp by the end of it.

There is no height limit for this attraction, so anybody in your party can ride it. If you have a small child and two adults, the three of you will go into one car with the child seated in the middle for safety.

This is a very popular attraction in every Disney park around the world- including Disneyland Paris. FastPasses for this attraction don’t run out too quickly, so you can get FastPasses for another attraction you want to ride and then come back and get a FastPass for Buzz Lightyear later in the afternoon.

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Les Mystères de Nautilus

This is a walk through attraction where you board a submarine and explore the world Jules Verne created with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. You get to explore the submarine and see some of the discoveries the crew has made deep in the ocean.

This is a fun attraction for people who are a fan of the novel or people who love sea-themed things. It isn’t the most engaging attraction at Disneyland Paris. You may want to give it a pass if you’re not into 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or submarines.

You don’t have to walk up or down any stairs in this attraction, so it is suitable for people with mobility issues. The hallways are wide enough for a wheelchair, but you will have to check with a cast member to see if wheelchairs are allowed in the attraction or not.

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Orbitron

You get a bird’s eye view of Discoveryland on the Orbitron! This attraction is based off of one of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawing of the solar system.

You board a space ship and shoot into the solar system. You are able to control the height of your space ship just like on the Dumbo attraction. The two attractions are very similar. The main differences between them are the theming and that the Orbitron lifts you higher into the air.

This attraction is similar to the Orbitron in other Disney parks around the world. If you aren’t a fan of the attraction at any other park, you should give it a pass in Disneyland Paris as well.

There is no height requirement on this attraction, so anybody is welcome to ride it.

This attraction doesn’t offer a FastPass. It can get pretty busy at times, so you should avoid trying to ride it during peak hours to limit your wait time.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

Star Tours is a simulator attraction. You board a Starspeeder and go on a thrilling trip through the Star Wars universe.

The best part about this attraction is that the scenes are random. You never know what part of the universe you will be visiting until your Starspeeder takes you there.

This is a very popular attraction. The queue can oftentimes being more than 60 minutes long. FastPass is available, so if you have a Star Wars fanatic in your group, you will want to make sure you get one!

Star Tours in Disneyland Paris is identical to Star Tours in other Disney parks around the world. The characters speak in French, so you won’t be able to understand them if you’re an Anglophile, but you will be able to follow along with the story line through watching the show.

This is a simulator attraction, so you shouldn’t ride it if you get motion sick.

Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain

What could be better than a mashup between Star Wars and on the most popular rollercoasters in the Disney universe? This attraction is amazing. It is one of the few Disneyland Paris attractions that is better than the original, classic version found in the US parks.

This attraction not only has a great theme, but it is also a lot more thrilling than the original version. The Disneyland Paris version has an upside down loop and a corkscrew, so it takes the thrill level up a notch.

Hyperspace Mountain is one of the few Disneyland Paris attractions that offers a single rider line. This line is normally shorter than the normal line. The only downside is that you will not be able to ride with anybody else in your group. You will be used to fill an empty seat when a party in the normal line has an odd number of riders.

Unsurprisingly, Hyperspace Mountain is a very popular attraction. It does offer a FastPass. If your party wants to ride the attraction together, you should get a FastPass or ride the coaster first thing in the morning.

If your family doesn’t mind splitting up, the single rider line is a great option. It allows you to ride a popular attraction with a short wait time while having a FastPass for another popular attraction. This is a great strategy for people trying to optimize their time in the parks.

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Autopia

Autopia is a driving attraction geared towards young children. Children are able to drive a motorized car through a closed course.

There is a metal track along the track under each car that prevents children from driving out of their lane, so you don’t have to worry about your child crashing the car or getting crashed into by another child.

Children love this attraction, so a long queue can form during peak hours. There is no FastPass for this attraction. You will have to strategize when you want to ride this attraction around all the other attractions you want to ride that don’t offer a FastPass.

Autopia in Disneyland Paris is the same as the Autopia attractions found in the US parks. There is nothing new or special about it, so you may want to skip this attraction unless it is a favourite of someone in your party.

Adventureland

Adventureland is located to the left of Fantasyland and the right of Frontierland. You can get to it from Fantasyland, Frontierland, or Main Street, U.S.A. It is one of the larger lands, and it has a number of popular and adventurous attractions.

Le Passage Enchanté d’Aladdin

This is a self-paced walk through attraction. You enter the world of Agrabah and get to see scenes from the movie Aladdin.

The theming of this attraction is great, and the dioramas you look at are intricate and colourful.

This is a self-paced attraction, which means that you can wander through it at your leisure. There won’t be a wait. Visiting this attraction while waiting for a nearby attraction you have a FastPass for or in the middle of the day are great options.

The passage you walk through is flat, so it is accessible to people with mobility impairments. You will have to check with a cast member to see if you have to transfer from a wheelchair or if you are able to take it into the attraction with you.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril

This is an outdoors rollercoaster that can only be found in Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea, so it is one of the more unique Disneyland Paris attractions.

This rollercoaster has an upside down loop and a couple of big drops (for Disney standards). It is a lot of fun, so you should plan to ride it while you’re in Disneyland Paris if you like coasters.

You are able to get a FastPass for this attraction. The FastPasses aren’t the most popular, so you can normally get FastPasses for another popular attraction and still be able to get a FastPss for Indiana Jones later in the day.

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La Cabane des Robinson

This attraction involves climbing up into a treehouse. It is based on the Family Robinson book. You get to walk through various areas of the treehouse and see how the family would have lived if this was their actual house.

There are a lot of stairs to climb. It is a great attraction for children that need to get rid of some energy, but it is not accessibly for people with mobility impairments. If you struggle with stairs, you will want to avoid this attraction.

There normally isn’t a queue for La Cabane des Robinson, so it is a great midday activity to do if you don’t want to wait in a long queue for a different attraction.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Ah, the classic Adventureland attraction. You board and boat and sail through different pirate scenes. It is a classic attraction that can be found in every Disney park around the world.

The Disneyland Paris version of Pirates of the Caribbean is slightly different from any other version. The layout and sequence of the scenes is slightly altered.

There is also a second small drop. This second drop does cause some disruption to the attraction though. The boats tend to get backed up waiting to go down the second drop, and you often get an extended viewing of the scene leading up to the drop.

This is a fairly popular attraction. It can often have a 30-45 minute wait consistently throughout the day. The wait time does tend to shorten as the day progresses, so riding it in the evening can save you some time standing in the line.

There is no FastPass for this attraction. You will have to wait in the queue every time you ride it, so you should try to avoid it during peak hours.

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Frontierland

Frontierland is the smallest land, but it is home to two of my favourite Disneyland Paris attractions. It may be small, but it worth spending some time in!

It is on the lefthand side of Main Street, U.S.A. and is the first land you come to on the left when you enter the park. You can access Frontierland from Adventureland and Main Street, U.S.A. There is also a fairly quick way to get there is you leave Fantasyland near Peter Pan’s Flight and keep to the lower part of the path.

Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing

This is the classic boat ride that is found in most Frontierlands around the world. You board a life-size boat and sail around Frontierland. You get excellent views of Big Thunder Mountain, and you can snap some good photos on it.

This attraction sometimes has a long(ish) queue mostly because there is only one ride vehicle. You will have to wait the length of the attraction if you miss the boat by a few seconds.

People using wheelchairs or motorized scooters will have to transfer and walk onto the boat, so it isn’t totally accessible to people with mobility impairments, unfortunately.

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Big Thunder Mountain

This is one of my absolute favourite Disneyland Paris attractions. It is similar to the other Big Thunder Mountain attractions found in other parks in the world, but it is so much better!

It is longer and has more dips and turns than any other version in the world. This attraction is truly a highlight of Disneyland Paris. You should definitely make riding Big Thunder Mountain a priority.

It is outside and doesn’t have an upside down loop, so it is pretty tame compared to the other rollercoasters in Disneyland Paris, but it still extremely fun. Adults and children will love it, so it is perfect for the entire family!

Big Thunder is a popular attraction, so it has a long wait throughout basically the entire day. It is best to get a FastPass for this attraction. There is no single rider queue, and the queue area tends to get very warm and humid during the summer months. It can make for an uncomfortable wait.

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Phantom Manor

Phantom Manor is Disneyland Paris’ version of Haunted Mansion. You board a doom buggy and tour through a old manor that is inhabited by ghosts.

It is a slow, dark ride, and there is no height restriction. It is a popular attraction that most guests visit during their Disneyland trip, but it often has a fairly short wait time. They are able to usher large numbers of people into the attraction at once, and that really helps cut down on the wait time. It does not offer a FastPass.

Just like Haunted Mansion, there is a narrator; however, this narrator speaks French. Not being able to fully understand that narration takes a little bit of the fun out of the attraction, but it is still worth going on.

The scenes you go through are similar to the scenes in the US parks, but there are a number of differences.

Must-Ride Disneyland Paris Attractions

There is a lot information to sift through surrounding Disneyland Paris attractions, and it can be difficult to decide what is worth riding and what isn’t.

These are my list of must-ride Disneyland Paris attractions. Obviously this is subjective to my opinion and what style of attraction I enjoy, but it can be used as a starting point to get a quick sense of what attractions a young woman enjoys.

Disneyland Paris Attraction I Ride Every Trip

  • Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
  • Big Thunder Mountain
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Sleeping Beauty Castle
  • Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
  • Phantom Manor

Walt Disney Studios Park Attractions

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

Toon Studio

This is the largest and most popular land in Walt Disney Studios. It is home to some of the most popular Disneyland Paris attractions, which means it is often very busy in this area.

Toon Studio is located at the back righthand corner of the theme park. You will turn to the right after you enter the park and follow the path. Toon Studio is narrow at the front of the land, but it widens out significantly the deeper into the land you get.

You can easily access the back portion of this land by walking straight when you enter the park to the Backlot area and taking a right. This will give you quick access to the Toy Story attractions.

Crush’s Coaster

This is one of the most unique Disneyland Paris attractions. You board a turtle shell and go on an ocean journey with Crush the turtle from Finding Nemo. The ride starts off slow and calm then picks up when you start riding the East Coast current.

It is a rollercoaster-type attraction with dips and turns. The unique part is that your turtle shell spins as well, so you are turning in circles as you go along the coaster track. It is an amazing attraction. I hope one day it comes to another Disney park.

Crush’s Coaster is a very popular attraction, and it doesn’t offer a FastPass option. The queue is normally 45-60 minutes throughout the entire day.

There is a single rider line, but it is slow moving as well. The single rider queue is often 30-45 minutes long. You shouldn’t let the long line deter you from riding Crush’s Coaster. It is an amazing attraction, and one of the few Disneyland Paris attractions that I am willing to wait in a long queue for.

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Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin

This attraction is designed for young children. The ride vehicle is a giant Slinky Dog chasing his tail. You go around and around in circles trying to catch Slinky’s tail.

Children seem to enjoy this attraction, and it regularly has a long wait. It is not unusual for the wait to be 30+ minutes. There is not FastPass offered, so you will have to watch the wait times on your Disneyland Paris app and try to ride it when there is a shorter wait time.

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Les Tapis Volants- Flying Carpets over Agrabah

Les Tapis Volants is the same as the Dumbo ride in the Disneyland Paris park. The only difference is that this attraction is themed around the Aladdin movie.

You board a flying carpet and flying over Agrabah (or at least this section of Toon Studio). It is bright and colourful just like Dumbo. The views aren’t as great as the Fantasyland views you get on Dumbo, but they are still pretty good.

This attraction isn’t as popular as the Dumbo attraction, so it is a good option if your child loves this type of attraction, but you want to limit how long you wait in line.

RC Racer

This attraction allows you to board a giant car and room up and down a half-pipe. It is basically the same as the boat half-pipe attractions that are in nearly every local theme park.

If you like the feeling of your stomach dropping time and time again, you will enjoy this attraction. The theming is cute, and you get a thrill, but it isn’t any different than the standard version of this attraction. You should skip this attraction if you don’t like this style of ride.

This attraction is hit-or-miss in terms of wait times. Sometimes it has a short wait times and other times it can be close to an hour. This is another one of the Disneyland Paris attractions that has a single-rider queue, so that is a great option if you don’t mind being split from your party.

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Cars Quatre Roues Rallye

This is another one of the Disneyland Paris attractions designed specifically with children in mind. It is themed around the Pixar Cars franchise.

You choose which car you want to ride in and the cars move in a circles. There are three smaller circles that the cars run on, and they weave in and out of each other. The cars also swing a little bit to the left and right as they are moving.

It uses the same ride track as Alien Saucer Swirl at Disney World or Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Disneyland California.

There isn’t a FastPass offered for this attraction, but the line is often fairly short, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long if it is something you want to ride.

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Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop

This is the last of the Disneyland Paris attractions that are themed around the Toy Story franchise. It is a child-friendly version of the drop of doom-type attraction.

You sit on a green seat that looks like it has a parachute above it, so it looks like you’re one of the green toy soldiers from Toy Story dropping into action.

It is very mild and designed for children.

There is often a fairly long queue. It can get upwards of a 60 minute wait, but that is pretty rare.

There isn’t a FastPass offered, but there is a single-ride line. If your child feels comfortable riding without you beside him/her, this is a great way to save some time. Each bench holds 4 people, so the single-rider line tends to move pretty quickly if there are lots of groups of 3.

Ratatouille: The Adventure

This is one of the most popular (and best) Disneyland Paris attractions. It is so good, that Walt Disney World is bringing it to Epcot. You should 100% make this attraction a priority.

You shrink down the size of a rat and help Remy prepare a special meal. It is a trackless ride, so you never know where you will end up! Each time you ride the attraction, it will be a new experience. It is also a 3D attraction, so that adds another element of fun to the ride!

This attraction is, understandably, a very popular attraction at Disneyland Paris. It offers a FastPass, but they often run out early in the day- especially because not many attractions in Walt Disney Studios have a FastPass option.

There is a single-rider line that moves very quickly. The ride vehicle seats 6 people, so nearly every vehicle has a single rider in it. This is definitely a quickest moving single-ride line, so you should take advantage of it!

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Production Courtyard

This is the smallest land in Walt Disney Studios. It consists of only one attraction and serves more of a gateway to the Backlot than an actual land.

You can get to Production Courtyard by taking the path that go to the left when you first enter the park. You will be able to see the single attraction in this land when you enter. It is quite tall, so you can use it as a visual reference point.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

This is a thrill attraction where you board an elevator that stops working and you drop. It is basically a highly-themed drop of doom-type attraction. It is based on the Twilight Zone television show.

A version of this attraction can be found in many Disney parks around the world. It is always a fan favourite and normally has a long(ish) queue. There is now a Fastpass option available for Tower of Terror so be sure to snag one if you’re a huge fan of this attraction!

This version of the ride is similar to the versions found in Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios and Tokyo DisneySea.

If you love this type of attraction, you will want to make time to ride it. However, if you aren’t a huge fan of this attraction at the other Disney parks, you’re probably better off getting a Fastpass for a different, unique attraction.

Backlot

This is the final land in Walt Disney Studios park. It is located behind and slightly to the left of Production Courtyard. You can access it either through the Toy Story portion of Toon Studio or by walking past Production Courtyard.

You can easily miss this land if you don’t know how to get there. Walt Disney Studios isn’t built in a circle like Disneyland Paris, so you won’t just stumble upon a land in this park. It isn’t difficult to find when you know where you’re going though.

Armageddon: les Effects Spéciaux

This is basically a guided walk-through tour where you learn about special effects. You go through various rooms and see how some of your favourite movie effects were created.

The attraction ends in a room where everybody stands in a circle and experiences an explosion effect. It is very loud, and you shouldn’t participate in this attraction if you have sensitive hearing.

This is a walk through attraction, but people using mobility devices such as wheelchairs or motorized scooters have to transfer and walk through the attraction.

There isn’t a FastPass offered for this attraction, but it isn’t a very popular attraction, so you won’t have a long wait.

The attraction itself is quite long, so it is best to avoid it if you are running short on time and need to get to a FastPass or dining reservation.

Overall, this attraction falls flat for me. It isn’t terribly engaging, and it feels tacky. I wouldn’t make this a priority. There are better Disneyland Paris attractions that you should focus your time on.

Must-Ride Walt Disney Studios Attractions

There are far fewer attractions at Walt Disney Studios than at Disneyland Paris, but it can still be difficult to choose what to prioritize. Many of the attractions at Walt Disney Studios often have a long queue and don’t offer a FastPass.

This is my list of attractions that are worth spending time waiting for at Walt Disney Studios. Again, this is coming from the perspective of a young woman. Your priorities will change if you have a family.

Disneyland Paris France A Complete Guide to Disneyland Paris Attractions

Walt Disney Studios Park Attractions I Ride Every Trip

  • Crush’s Coaster
  • Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster
  • Ratatouille

Conclusion

There are a lot of Disneyland Paris attractions to choose from, and it is difficult to know where to begin- especially if you’re not an experienced Disney addict like I am.

Everybody’s Disneyland Paris experience will be different based on what they prioritize and the style of attraction they prefer. Disneyland Paris attractions range from extremely thrilling to tame enough that an infant can ride.

Disney offeres FastPasses and single-rider lines to help limit how long you have to stand in a queue to ride a popular attraction. These are huge time savers and should be taken advantage of whenever possible. A properly-planned day that takes advantage of these two time savers will be a lot more productive than a day that doesn’t.

In terms of attractions, I hope this guide helped you better understand what each attraction is about. Knowing what an attraction is will help you choose what you do and don’t want to ride before you get to Disneyland Paris. This knowledge will also help you have a well-planned day at Disney.

Overall, planning a trip to Disneyland Paris is no more complicated than planning any other Disney trip. There are a number of Disneyland Paris attractions that are unique to the park that you should be sure to visit, and now that you know what they are, you will be able to make sure you visit them!

Disneyland Paris is one of my favourite Disney parks in the world. I hope you enjoy your time there. Have a magical day!