We’ve all dreamed about what we would do if we had the parks all to ourselves but Disney is far too fun to be that empty. Peak season might be scary for people who don’t like waiting but, trust me, there’s so much to do that you can still have the most magical day ever regardless of the crowd level. Here are the top 10 rides to do on a moderate/high crowd day at Disneyland Paris with little to no wait.
1- PHANTOM MANOR
If you’re one of those people who like going left first (like me) then a good ride to start your day is Phantom Manor. People usually go straight to Fantasyland so they can meet their favorite princess or ride Peter Pan so this is a great moment to head over to Frontierland instead and go over to Melanie’s to see what’s new with her twist-filled love life. Expect a wait time of 10-15 minutes but it could be lower than that. And since you’re galloping around there anyway, check out Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. You might be a lucky nugget and get to ride it with less than half an hour wait!
2- INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF PERIL
Be it that some people apparently can’t find it, or its intimidating looks, Indiana Jones in Adventureland never seems to have long lines. I rarely see a wait time longer than 15 minutes and if it’s longer, there are always FastPasses available with a much shorter return time. Mornings are the perfect time to follow in our favorite archaeologist’s footsteps because it will give you the right dose of thrill you need to start your day at Disneyland Paris. Don’t let the ride scare you away! Be brave like Indy and get past the snakes. If you have a hard time finding it make a right on Fuente del Oro Restaurante and then make a left. Go past Colonel Hathi’s Pizza outpost and keep going straight. (Check out the map here)
3- PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Since you’re already at world’s end you might want to head out to the other side of Adventureland and embark on a different ride and have a great time without even a single drop of rum fun! Pirates of the Caribbean doesn’t usually have long lines because of its capacity so if I ever see a line longer than 20 minutes, I go back loot-er in the day. My favorite time to ride is early evening because I get to sit down, relax, and live my best pirate life. Please remember though to keep your flash off, you don’t want to poke the Kraken in the eye!
4- SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
The only thing scarier than looking in the mirror as soon as you wake up is the line for Princess Pavilion at Fantasyland. So if you’d rather experience her story instead, you should head over to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The average wait time for this ride barely doubles the amount of cute little miners you’ll find. If you visit at a very busy time, the line shouldn’t be much longer than 15 minutes but it might be best to ride it early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Beware, the apple doesn’t fall far from the Queen.
5- MAD HATTER’S TEA CUPS
Spinning rides might not be everyone’s cup of tea but the good thing about this Fantasyland mad party is that you can choose how fast to go. Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups is the perfect attraction to head to after you’ve had a taste of Snow White’s gooseberry pie since they’re very close. There’s a choice of 18 blends but I usually choose one of the purple ones for some extra spice. Brewing time is usually around 15 minutes because a lot of people are invited at the same time so it moves faster than it seems. I like riding it late afternoon because of those beautiful lanterns.
6- LE PAYS DES CONTES DE FÉES
Just around the corner from the Old Mill you will find Le Pays de Contes de Fées (Storybook Land Canal). It’s the perfect ride to sail across different storybook classics and see a whole bunch of (not so) new worlds. The great thing about this ride is its capacity and the fact that the line is always flowing. I’ve never seen a line longer than 10-15 minutes there even in the Chernabogiest of days. Keep in mind that it’s one of the rides that close early in Fantasyland so I’d recommend you ride it before or right after the parade but not much later than that.
7- IT’S A SMALL WORLD CELEBRATION
My favorite area to watch the parade from, in Fantasyland, is near It’s a Small World. So when I feel like testing different waters, I stand near Bella Notte and then just head straight there when the ride is a walk on. In the crowdiest of days the longest wait time I’ve seen is 20 minutes but that’s a very rare thing. I guess that the world isn’t that small after all.
8- STAR TOURS
Lines at Star Tours, much like a Stormtrooper’s aim, can be a bit of a hit-and-miss. It usually has lines shorter than 20 minutes but there have been times when the lines have been longer than a summer at Tatooine. When I want to punch it, I Kessel run to Discoveryland as the parade is starting because the lines are usually around 15 minutes. While you’re there you might want to try your hand at a meet with Vader (keeping it is not guaranteed) or go for a ride on Hyperspace Mountain; I’ve often seen short lines during the parade there too.
9- SLINKY DOG ZIGZAG SPIN
If you feel like toying around Andy’s backyard then you should take Slinky for a spin. This whole area is fantastic especially in the evening. You can see all of Walt Disney Studios Park and beyond from RC Racer and Toy Soldier Parachute Drop, but the lines tend to be a bit longer. If you wait until closing time you can cover a light-year of attractions in a very short time but no matter the time of day you visit, Slinky is guaranteed to have a tail shorter than 15 minutes.
10- RATATOUILLE: THE ADVENTURE
You might find it weird to see such a popular ride on this list but hear me out: single riders. I know you and your gang probably want to ride together but it’s worth it to part ways if it means getting the Skinner crowds of your tail. If you still decide to ride together, remember that lines for Ratatouille can be a bit linguini without a FastPass. Fear not because you can often ride it with less than a 20-minute wait if you go first thing in the morning when you enter Walt Disney Studios or right before the park closes. Once I got in so quickly through the single riders line that I didn’t even see the glasses and a cast member had to hand them to me. Talk about a rat race.
You could also ride virtually any attraction around Disneyland Park if you do it an hour before Disney Illuminations. You will probably sacrifice getting a good spot to watch the fireworks but it’s definitely worth the time you save. I usually get to ride Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor, Hyperspace Mountain, Star Tours and Buzz Lightyear a little over an hour before the fireworks start. (If you want to get to know me better, click here). So remember, make smart choices about when to go on best Disneyland rides, don’t forget to use those free FastPasses, take advantage of the early hours and closing time, and whatever you do, don’t have lunch between 12:30 and 2:00 pm at a quick service!
Please remain seated and keep your arms and legs in at all times.
-Emperor’s New Groove
beautiful page Cate. I’ve known Disney a little more.
Thank you!
This is amazing and the best tips to be able to ride the most in shorter time!! Thank you for sharing them
I’m glad you liked it
Very informative and love these rides 😍 love the puns too 😆
I’m so happy you enjoyed it
What a great post! I will be sure to come back to it if I ever get to go to Disneyland Paris!