Planning a trip to Disneyland Paris with kids or someone who prefers their rides to go at a gentler pace? You’re in the right place! This complete guide to family-friendly rides will help you find all the magic without big drops, high speeds or adrenaline rushes. From whimsical boat rides to classic Disney favourites, there’s so much to enjoy at Disneyland Paris without the thrills, it’s just magic! In this guide I’ll show you the very best experiences to enjoy at Disneyland Paris and some top tips to make the best of them.
Best Family-Friendly Rides at Disneyland Park
Main Street Vehicles, Main Street USA
Catch a ride on one of the ‘modern’ motor vehicles between Town Square and Central Plaza. There are five different vehicles to ride and each of them has it’s own stopping spot at the end of Main Street, just look for the ‘City Vehicle Stop’ sign. It’s worth noting that this is a shuttle service between Town Square and Central Plaza and not a loop and that the vehicles don’t run at all during parades or other street entertainment.
Fun fact: Disneyland Paris has the largest collection of Main Street vehicles of any of the magic kingdom parks.
TIP! Not all the vehicles operate at the same time so check that your transport of choice is running before waiting at the stop sign.
Disneyland Railroad, Main Street Station
Located at the entrance to Disneyland Park, the stunning facade of Main Street Station is an icon of Main Street USA. No time to dawdle though, the engine is blowing it’s whistle and you don’t want to miss your train! Head up to the station balcony, past the ticket booths – don’t miss the tourist information signs with information about journeys to Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discoverland which you’ll also find depicted in stained glass on the four circular windows on the front of the station.
The wait time here is the longest of any of the Disney railroad stations (and in our experience, the longest wait of any ride in Disneyland Paris,) especially in the first part of the day.
TIP! While you’re waiting in line, check out the stunning views of Town Square and Main Street from the station balcony.
Phantom Manor, Frontierland
Disneyland Paris’ version of the Haunted Mansion is the home of 999 happy haunts and one very dark secret. This dark ride is based upon the legend of Melanie Ravenswood whose father, Henry Ravenswood prevents her from marrying any of her suitors after his own mysterious death. Guests at the mansion ride in ‘doom buggies’ through it’s spooky (but not especially scary) scenes.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Fantasyland
Right in the heart of Fantasyland you’ll find this carousel in the sky. The ride only lasts about 1 1/2 minutes and is the perfect ride for little ones or for adults who are faint of heart! As it’s super popular and relatively low on capacity, be prepared to wait in line. Dumbo can fly as high as 7m above the ground, just use the small lever in front of your seat to move him up and down.
TIP! Sit on the right hand side for the best views over the whole of Fantasyland!
It’s a Small World, Fantasyland
Sail on this whimsical world tour where dolls from around the world sing to the infamous (and only slightly annoying) theme song. The ride features no less than 281 audio animatronic characters and has to be one of the tamest rides at the park. Best of all, the ride has such a high capacity that queues are often short and if there’s a long line, it will move quickly.
Les Voyages de Pinocchio, Fantasyland
You’ll find Pinocchio and his friend Jiminy Cricket in the “Italian Quarter” of Fantasyland. On this dark ride, follow Pinocchio as he embarks on a quest to become a real boy. The ride has 12 different scenes taking Pinocchio all the way from the puppet show to Pleasure Island, and finally back home. Some of the scenes are dark in every sense of the word and might be a bit scary for little ones although the overall tone is fun and playful. This ride is pretty popular so be prepared for a wait.
TIP! If you can, sit in the front row for the best view of all the scenes.
Peter Pan’s Flight, Fantasyland
This ride is an absolute crowd favourite and it has the wait times to prove it! In this ride, you step aboard an enchanted pirate ship and fly over London and into Never Never Land. In 3 minutes you’ll fly through 11 different scenes made up of over 300 individual pieces of props and scenery.
TIP! Ride at Magic Hour or as early or late in the day as possible to avoid a lengthy wait.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, Fantasyland
This ride with music from Alice in Wonderland and it’s brightly coloured teacups spinning and spiralling is my absolute fave! There is usually only a small wait to join this party and the ride only lasts a minute or so. You can control how much you want to spin by turning the wheel in the centre of the teacup. The Paris version of the teacup ride is the only one to feature the exquisite petal shaped glass roof and beautiful surrounding gardens.
TIP! If you like a wilder ride, take to the teacups at night when Fantasyland is all lit up and the lanterns are illuminated.
Blanche Neige at Les Sept Nains (Snow White,) Fantasyland
Another dark ride, taking you on a journey through nine scenes from the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, including the Evil Queen’s castle, the haunted forest and the dwarves’ cottage. The ride features all the big tunes from the original movie.
TIP! When you’re outside, watch out for the Evil Queen who occasionally appears at the first floor window of the building as if she’s keeping an eye on all the unsuspecting visitors!
Pirates of the Caribbean, Adventure Land
This popular boat ride has been updated to include characters from the blockbuster film franchise including Jack Sparrow himself. The ride takes place in a battle tired fortress and takes it’s guests on a voyage through 17th century Caribbean complete with pirates looking for treasure. The Paris version of this ride has some unique features, most notably the two drops during the journey and the way both the queue and the ride pass around and through Captain Jack’s restaurant. The drops should not cause concern, a cast member told a nervous passenger that this is a baby ride!
TIP! The ride has big boats seating 20+ people so there’s rarely more than a 15 minute wait. As the ride is at the back of the park, if you head there in the morning and/or evening you can achieve that Disney dream of just walking right on to the ride with no waiting at all!
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, Discovery Land
To infinity and beyond! In this interactive dark ride, you join forces with Buzz Lightyear, become an honorary space ranger and save the toy universe by defeating the evil emperor Zurg. Use your onboard laser canon to blast canons, score points and compete for the highest score on your vehicle’s dashboard. Note that the ride is currently closed for refurbishment until the end of 2025.
TIP! There are 88 targets throughout the ride, if a target doesn’t light up or flash the first time you hit it, move on to another because you need to blast fast to save the toy universe!
Autopia, Discovery Land
In this driving attraction, inspired by a 1950’s vision of the future, you can take a retro-futuristic car AKA an astrocoupé for a spin! The cars have a working accelerator and steering wheel but they’re guided by a central rail underneath to keep you on track – be prepared for some inclines and sharp turns along the way! Each car typically fits 2 adults or 1 adult and 2 children.
TIP! Take a ride earlier in the day – queues will be shorter as other guests rush to the big-name attractions and you’ll find the petrol-powered cars running more smoothly and with fewer hiccups.
Starport Encounter, Discovery Land
Not a ride but not an experience to be missed either, head to Starport in Discoveryland for an out of this world, one on one, face to face encounter with the Dark Lord himself, Darth Vader. In case you’re wondering, old Darth is just as intimidating in real life as he is on the big screen although slightly more chatty! There’s a Photopass photographer in attendance who will be happy to get some shots with your phone. Even Darth needs a day off though, so you might see other popular Star Wars characters such as Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and Rey so check the Disneyland app for who’s holding court.
TIP! Starport encounters are super popular so to secure your spot, use the virtual queue system in the Disneyland Paris app as soon as it opens.
Best Family-Friendly Rides at Walt Disney Studios
Ratatouille: The Adventure
In this 4D dark trackless ride, guests ‘shrink’ to the size of a rat and join Remy on a fast moving action adventure through Gusteau’s restaurant, kitchen and even the walls! The ride queue starts in the Parisienne themed Place de Remy before guests board the rat mobiles and set off on their adventure. The 3D screens are very realisitic and there are some special sensory effects, like splashes of water. Remy’s adventure is not scary but it is a fast moving, essentially 4D adventure which if you’re prone to it, might leave you with a touch of motion sickness.
TIP! This ride is hugely popular so if you want to avoid long queues, arrive first thing in the morning or later in the evening just before the park closes.
Cars Road Trip
This tram based tour with some scenic roadside attractions is a pleasant and slow paced affair. In my opinion, the Cars offering at Disneyland Paris isn’t a patch on Cars Land in Californian Adventure. That said, this is a great option if you want to relax, reset and take the weight off your feet for 7 minutes or so.
TIP! The queue and most of the ride are outdoors so bring a hat or a raincoat to protect yourself from the elements.
Non Ride Attractions Everyone Can Enjoy
The best thing about Disneyland Paris is that rides are only part of the magic. Don’t forget to carve out some time to enjoy character meet-and-greets, shows, parades, the magical gardens and the stunning walkthrough attractions.
Parades and Shows
Parades are one of the absolute highlights of any Disneyland Paris trip. If you’d like the best viewing spots and insider tips, I’ve put together a full guide on how to make the most of seeing the extravaganza that is Disney Stars on Parade.
Walkthroughs and Gardens
Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, Fantasyland
If you don’t get a photo of the castle at Disneyland Paris, did you even go? The castle stands exactly twice as tall as the original 23m high Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland, California. You can walk through the castle so bonus, there’s no wait time at all!
TIP! One of the best places to get a photo of the castle is from the small area on the left hand side of the castle bridge.
La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant, Fantasyland
Take the spiral stairs to the a beautiful gallery of stained glass windows and tapestries telling the story of Sleeping Beauty. Turn left at the top of the stairs and go right, continuing around the mezzanine in a clockwise direction before exiting through the wooden door onto the balcony overlooking Fantasyland. Take a minute or two to enjoy the view before continuing down the stairs and coming out on the eastern side of the castle.
TIP! Before you leave, check out the stunning La Boutique du Chateau – packed with all things Christmas all year round!
La Tanière du Dragon, Fantasyland
On your way out of La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant, you’ll see an inocuous looking green hill to the left of the chateau. There are three entrances to the cavern and once inside you’ll no doubt hear the dragon before you see him. Once your eyes have adjusted to the darkness of the underground lair, you’ll find the dragon defeated, chained and having forty winks. Be careful though he’s a very light sleeper and you won’t want to wake him! There is never a queue for the cave, it only takes a few minutes to explore and the dragon is unique to Disneyland Paris.
TIP! The dragon is very photogenic (especially if you don’t use a flash) and makes for a great video or reel.
Tips for a Stress-Free Visit
Disneyland Paris is magical, but it’s a lot! With a few simple tricks, you can keep your day stress-free and make sure everyone has a magical time.
Download the Disneyland Paris app – it’s a lifesaver! You can check ride times, see show schedules and even order food ahead so you’re not wasting time waiting in queues.
Get there early – arriving before the crowds really makes a difference, especially if there’s a must-do attraction on your list. If you’re staying on property be sure to take advantage of Magic Hour every morning.
Take breaks – don’t feel guilty about taking some time out. May I suggest a stroll through the gardens or hopping on the Disneyland Railroad for a gentle ride around the park?
Plan meals in advance – knowing roughly where and when you’ll eat takes the stress out of decisions. My Disneyland Paris food guide will help you find the best eats and treats.
Try single rider or Lightning Lane queues – if splitting up for a ride isn’t a problem, these can save loads of waiting time.
Pack your essentials – water, snacks, a power bank, suncream and maybe even a small poncho. It’s the little things like this make a big difference.
As you can see, Disneyland Paris isn’t just about high-speed thrills – it’s full of easy rides and charming attractions that everyone can enjoy. From whimsical classics to laid-back adventures and magical shows and parades, there really is an attraction for everyone at Disneyland Paris!
Are you a thrill seeker or an easy rider? Which Disneyland Paris attraction will be at the top of your must-do list?
All park entry fees were independently paid for and all opinions are my own.
