FAQ 1st time visitors - Touring Plans, Rides & Shows

[Karin1984]

As I mentioned in the general FAQs for 1st time visitors, Disneyland Paris doesn’t have a touring plan site like WDW and DL in the US have. But we have a lot of Type A-planners on the board, so this is my attempt to create a general touring plan. This is not based on any figures, more common sense and visiting Disneyland Paris several times a year. Other experienced visitors, please add your feedback to my attempt and if you want: add your touring plans.

Preparation to create your own touring plan

Before you can make a touring plan there are several variables. Think about your trip and see what is applicable to you.

• Who is in your party?
  The more people in your party, or people who need breaks, elderly, infants, children, the slower you go.
  
• How do you tour?
  Rushing from ride to ride, or stop to smell the roses? (also depends on…)
  
• How much time at DLP do you have?
  If it’s a one day visit, it’ll be a different visit than a multiple day visit.
  
• Are you staying onsite? Can you make use of EMH?
  
• Are you used to Disney parks?
  Some rides are identical, some are similar to rides in other Disney parks. With limited time, you might be able to skip a few.
  
• Thrill rides, yes or no?
  
• Are you a show/parade person?
  
• Do you enjoy meeting characters?
  
• Will you make use of the purchased fastpass?
  
• Will you have table service for lunch or dinner?
  
• Are there special events or is there seasonal entertainment when you visit?https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/events/

When your time is limited, make a plan on which rides / shows are important to you.
Involve your family with this.

• What are your must dos?
  A trip to Disney is not complete without…
• What are the nice to haves?
• What are the rides/shows you would do when you have time left?

Next tip: Study the map on forehand. Especially when you are a frequent visitor to the US parks, at DLP, rides and shows are not where you expect them:
https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/maps/
(Example, WDW goers – Pirates of the Caribbean is at the very back of the park, not your first left. Approx where WDW has the Haunted Mansion, DLP has Pirates, and vice versa.
DL goers – Approx. where DL has Space Mountain, DLP has Autopia. Where DL has Star Wars Launch Bay, DLP has Space Mountain.)

Check if there are any closures/refurbishments:
https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-us/calendars/park-hours/

Here’s a list of the rides:

Unique to Disneyland Paris & Studios
For online videos, I would suggest the channels of SoCal Attractions 360 and DLP Welcome.
https://www.youtube.com/user/SocalAttractions360
https://www.youtube.com/user/DlrpWelcome

• Ratatouille- Speedy 3D ride - Fastpass available, Single Riders entrance available
• Crush Coaster – Coaster – Single Riders entrance available (not always open)
• Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin – Carnival type ride, not to be confused with Slinky Dog coaster in WDW
• Alice’s labyrinth – Walkthrough Alice in Wonderland (1956)
• Casey Jr. – Le petit Train du Cirque – Kiddie Coaster
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril – Coaster with inversion, not to be confused with Indiana Jones in Disneyland Anaheim
• La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant – Castle walkthrough (Balcony at the back sometimes closed)
• La Taniere du Dragon – Walkthrough with an amazing huge animatronic of a dragon.
• Le Passage Enchanté d’Aladdin – Walkthrough with the story of Aladdin
• Les Mystères du Nautilus – Walkthrough around Jules Verne’s Nautilus
• Les Voyages de Pinocchio – Kiddie dark ride
• Cars Quatre Roues Rallye - Kiddie bumper ride

Similar but different

• Big Thunder Mountain: The best Big Thunder Mountain of all Big Thunder Mountains. No competition. Photopass available
• Tower of Terror, identical to Disneyland Anaheim before the Guardians of the Galaxy layover. Photopass available.
• Autopia, similar to Tomorrowland Speedway
• Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast – Slightly different rooms and decor, blasters are not fixed to your starcruiser. Fastpass Available – Photopass Available
• Dumbo, Aladdin, Orbitron - it’s identical, but your view will be different
• It’s a Small World
• La Cabane des Robinson – Similar to Tarzan’s Treehouse, but then themed around the Swiss Family Robinson.
• Le Carrousel de Lancelot – Carrousel, but different theming
• Le Pays des Contes Fées – Similar to Storybook Land Canal Boats, but without a CM making jokes.
• Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups – Practically identical as in US parks.
• Peter Pan’s Flight – Practically identical as in US parks.
• Mickey’s Philharmagic – Some songs in English, most in French.
• Phantom Manor – Similar to Haunted Mansion but with a slightly different plotline and order of scenes
• Pirates of the Caribbean – Similar to the other Pirates rides (with Jack Sparrow addition) – 2 drops, Photopass available
• Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains – Snow White’s Scary Adventures
• Star Tours – Fastpass available
• Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain – Fastpass available – Single Riders available (not always open) – Photopass available
• Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing – Similar to Liberty Square Riverboat, but different scenery.
• RC Racer
• Rock ’n Roller Coaster – With inversion – Fastpass available – Photopass available
• Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop – Not available in the US parks, but copies can be found in Disneyland Hong Kong and Shanghai

Fastpass:
Fastpass is available at the following rides:

• Big Thunder Mountain
• Peter Pan
• Hyperspace Mountain
• Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
• Indiana Jones
• Star Tours
• Ratatouille
• Tower of Terror

Phantom Manor should have a Fastpass entrance available after the refurbishment

Single Riders:
The following rides have a single riders access, however these are not always open. The entrances are clearly marked at the regular entrance.

• Hyperspace Mountain
• Ratatouille
• Crush Coaster
• RC Racer

Rides with minimum lengths:

• Autopia – 81cm (31 inch, 2.6 foot)
• Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop - 81cm (31 inch, 2.6 foot)
• Star Tours – 1.02m (40 inch, 3.3 foot)
• Big Thunder Mountain – 1.02m (40 inch, 3.3 foot)
• Tower of Terror – 1.02m (40 inch, 3.3 foot)
• Crush Coaster – 1.07m (42 inch, 3.5 foot)
  
• Space Mountain - 1.20 (47 inch, 3.9 foot)
• RC Racer – 1.20m (47 inch, 3.9 foot)
• Rock ’n Roller Coaster – 1.20m (47 inch, 3.9 foot)
• Indiana Jones – 1.40m (55 inch, 4.5 foot)

Rides open during EMH
(subject to change)
Studios:

• Crush Coaster
  
• Ratatouille
• Rock 'n Roller Coaster

Disneyland Park

• Peter Pan's Flight
• Dumbo
• Mad Hatter's Tea Cups
• Caroussel
• Princess Pavillion
• Buzzlight year
• Orbitron
• Space Mountain

And a list of the shows
- The entertainment schedule is NOT published on forehand, but released each Monday.
https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/entertainment/shows-and-parades-in-disneyland-parks/
- For more information about meeting characters, read this: https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-how-to-meet-characters-in-dlp.3736237/

Shows:

• Shows can vary per season, check the entertainment schedule.
• Each show is on every day, unlike in DL in California.
• The two shows that are available every day are the parade and the fireworks shows. Unless severe weather conditions, these two will always go on.

Disneyland Park

• Disney Stars on Parade

The parade launched fort he 25th anniversary in 2017. Like any good Disney Parade, loads of characters on floats to catchy music.
The parade runs once a day from It’s a Small World, to the castle, to Main Street.

Below are lists of who & what is in the parades & shows. For those who care: Be aware SPOILERS AHEAD!


The floats
Pre-parade characters: Aladdin, Genie, Alice, Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, Bert, Tigger, Pinnochio
First float: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Chip & Dale, Pluto
Second float: Buzz, Woody
Third float: Rafiki, King Louie, Timon, Mowgli
In between: Wendy and the Lost Boys
Forth float: Peter Pan, Mr. Smee, Captain Hook
In between: Nemo, Dory, Marlin
Fifth float: Squish & Crush and other Finding Nemo & Dory characters
In between: Prince Phillip
Sixth float: Maleficent dragon. The same as the fire-breathing dragon in WDW.
Three carriages with: Rapunzel & Flynn, Belle & Prince Adam, Cinderella & Prince Charming
In between the carriages: Tiana & Naveen, Snow White & Prince, Ariel & Eric, Aurora and the three fairies (these are face characters at DLP)
In between: Kristoff
Seventh float: Anna & Elsa, Olaf.

- Philharmagic
Similar to the show in WDW, however it’s a mix of French and English.
Mickey speaks English. “Be Our Guest” is fully in French, “Part of Your World” is mainly in French, ending is in English, “I can’t Wait to Be King” is in English, “You Can Fly” is in English, “A Whole New World” is in French.

- The final show of the day in Disneyland Park is “Illuminations” (Not to be confused with Illuminations you have in Epcot) is a combination of projections, fireworks, lasers, and fountains.
There is less fireworks as in the US parks due to enviromental reasons.
Sometimes there are pre-projections, like for St. Patricks Day, 14th of July and World Nature Day.
- A dream is a wish your heart makes – English
- Circle of Life – English
- Can you feel the love tonight - English
- Part of your world – French
- Finding Nemo – French
- Pirates of the Caribbean – English
- How can a moment last forever – (Beauty and the Beast 2017) – English
- Star Wars
- Let it Go – French
- For the first time in forever (reprise) – French
- A dream is a wish your heart makes – English

In the Studios
Unless seasonal items, the Studios do not have evening entertainment.

Disney Junior Live is the same as in the US parks – Check the schedule when it’s presented in English and when in French.

Stitch Live! – Similar concept as Turtle Talk with Crush in the US – Check the sign at the entrance when it’s presented in English and when in French.


Mickey and the Magician
- The only fixed show in the Studios, it usually does include a stop in Winter. Otherwise it is on every day. Closest comparison in story is Mickey and the Magical Map in Disneyland California or Mickey and the Wondrous Book in Disneyland Hong Kong, but without projections.
It’s more a show like Aladdin & Frozen in DCA, with live singers and dancers, but then for only 25-30 minutes.
(In my humble opinion, if you can only see one show: See this one)
- The show is mainly in French, with some English songs.


Again SPOILERS AHEAD

What is it about?
Mickey is a cleaner at a magician's place, but he wants to be a magician himself. He gets a task to clean before the moon is full. Only he gets distracted by all the magic in the room.

Who is in it?
- The Magician speaks English, Mickey speaks French (but he’s on stage alone often talking to himself, so no real explanation).
- Fairy Godmother speaks English & French, sings Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo in French
Cinderella on stage without lines
- Lumiere speaks English (yes, I know.) Be Our Guest is in English. Beauty and the Beast is French.
Belle & the Beast on stage without lines
- Rafiki (as a face character as in the Broadway show) speaks English & French. Circle of Life is in English (the chorus is also similar to the Broadway show)
- Genie speaks English & French. Friend like Me is in French.
- Olaf speaks English, Elsa speaks English & French. Let it Go is in English.
- Let the Magic Shine, half English and half French.

 

[Karin1984]

Okay, those were the facts, now on to touring plans.​

Two adults, one day, staying off site
I’m picturing two adults, no children, they love Disney and are frequent visitors to Disney World or Disneyland California. However, they only have one day during low season (late winter/early spring or autumn), and are coming from the city. No EMH. They want to experience as much as possible, focussing on (thrill) rides they do not know. They will stay open to close. They do not mind criss-crossing the park to get fastpasses.

I take this as a first example as this is (in my opinion) the “least favourable” option when you are a huge Disney fan, as staying off site, no EMH and low season give you shorter opening hours. This doesn’t mean below will be a disappointing or underwhelming visit, but it comes with some limits and is about making choices.

My advice would be:

• Have a good breakfast at the hotel in Paris. Depending on where you are in Paris, take 60-90 minutes to get to Disneyland Paris. Rush hour in the Parisian subway (RER) gets busy.
  (if you want, there is a store called ‘Relay’ at the subway station at the park where they sell snacks, sandwiches, bottles of water etc. cheaper than in the park)
• Be at the gates around 9, 9:15 to take your time to get through security.
• At 9:30 they will let guests go in. You will be held back at the entrances of each country.
• Grab a map and entertainment schedule along the way (or have the app on your phone)
• Parks open at 10, Studios close at 19:00, Disneyland Park at 20:00

Start at the Studios

• Ride Crush Coaster
  If possible use the single riders line
• Ride Ratatouille
  Also here, use single riders line if possible or get a fast pass.
  If using a Fast Pass, and you have a bit of a wait. Walk into Toy Story Land and do RC Racer (single riders if possible). Or if you familiar to Disneyland California and nostalgic about the original Tower of Terror without a Guardians of the Galaxy layover, check the waiting times.
• Rock ’N roller coaster – Optional as this ride is only slightly different from its US counterparts.
• Leave the Studios and go to Disneyland Park.

• Get a fastpass for Big Thunder Mountain (unless wait is under 30 minutes, which is unlikely at this time).
• Depending on what time it is, either go for lunch, or go to Phantom Manor first. (fingers crossed it opens in May)
  Quick service options nearby: Fuente del Oro, Colonel Hathi’s Pizza Outpost, Hakuna Matata.
• Ride Pirates of the Caribbean.
• You probably can pull another fastpass, if so cross over to Space Mountain
• Ride Big Thunder Mountain.
• Ride Indiana Jones
• Ride Space Mountain.

YOU HAVE NOW ACCOMPLISHED THE BIG RIDES!
My guess is, it’s now mid afternoon and as my couple has done a lot at a high speed, it’s time to take a step back.

• Ride Pays des Contes Fées
• Ride Casey Junior.
• Get a FP for Peter Pan (optional as the ride is identical, but it’s very iconic)
• Do some walkthroughs, like Alice’ Labyrinth, or Passage Enchanté d’Aladdin.
• Go explore the castle and don’t forget the dragon under the castle.
• Get some dinner. Quick service suggestions: Au Chalet de la Marionnette or Toad Hall (sometimes closes early) in Fantasyland, or Casey’s Corner on Main Street.
• Ride Peter Pan.
• Check which rides are now having a low waiting time, during dinner time the waiting time for kiddie/family rides goes down, so maybe check Voyages de Pinnochio, Snow White’s Scary Adventures (for those nostalgic WDW goers) or Buzz Lightyear (almost identical).
• Ride Star Tours for your last ride
• Find a place to view the fireworks.

***********************************************************************
Having a character day
You are or are with some character loving people. You love shows, parades, characters, characters and more characters: that’s Disney to you. Rides are an after thought.

Best scenario would be to stay onsite and make use of EMH for at least one day.

My advice:

• Have a good breakfast before you enter the park.
  
  
• EMH starts at 8:30, be at the gates between 8:00 and 8:15. Grab an entertainment schedule along the way or better, download the app. The app is better when meeting characters at it specifies sets.
  
  
• Get the beginning of Main Street, on your left right before the arcade you will find Mickey (and/or Minnie).
  This is the one with the longest line, get in asap.
  
  
• Go to the other side, in front of the other arcade you will find Goofy (and/or Pluto)
  
  
• Sometimes in the middle, near the gazebo, you will find Donald or Chip & Dale. If one is at the gazebo, the other is at the other end of Main Street.
  
  
• When you have done these characters, go through the castle, get to the Princess Pavillion. Check the outside sign to see which princess is meeting in the morning and who is meeting in the afternoon. This can be the same.
  
  
• If you have time before the park opens, ride Peter Pan (because you can).
  
  
• Check the entertainment schedule to see which characters are meeting in the Studios for which you want to use Lineberty (see end of first post in thread https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-how-to-meet-characters-in-dlp.3736237/), reservations open from 9:45. Try to make a reservation for the afternoon. These go quickly!
  
  
• When the park opens, check which meets start at 10.
  
  
• If Mickey wasn’t out during EMH, go meet him as soon as the park opens, in the inside meet
  
  
• Decide which other scheduled meets in Disneyland Park you want to see.
  
  
• Get in line about 15-30 minutes before the set starts
  
  
• Characters where the lines can build quickly (in order of popularity):
  - Peter Pan
  - Aladdin (a lot of people overlook this when they walk by)
  - Alice
  - Winnie the Pooh (if he meets at Casey Junior, a lot of people miss it as it’s all the way in the back)
  
  
• Have a quick service lunch or if the park closes early table service at Auberge de Cendrillon.
  
  
• Go to the Studios
  
  
• Meet Goofy in his Studios outfit.
  
  
• If necessary with Lineberty, go to your reserved character meet first.
  
  
• See Mickey and the Magician.
  
  
• Go back to Disneyland Park to see the parade. This works if the parade is around 5:00/5:30pm
  
  
• By now all meet & greets are over, so use your time to tour the park or if you are hungry already have dinner.
  
  
• If you enjoy thrill rides see if you can get a fastpass for Big Thunder Mountain or Space Mountain, ride Indiana Jones. Otherwise, you will probably enjoy Phantom Manor, and walkthroughs like Passage d’Aladdin, Alice’ Labyrinth and the Castle & dragon. But also Voyages de Pinnochio or Snow White’s scary adventures.
  
  
• If you are more of a shopper: Nice little shops to check out with lots of little Disney touches are Sir Mickey’s Boutique or La Chaumiere des Sept Nains in Fantasyland or Merlin l’Enchanteur in the castle. These three mainly have children’s toys & clothes. If you want some adult clothes, go back to Main Street, the shops on your right (when you face the castle) have adult sizes, as does the one section of the Emporium.
  
  
• Take your time to enjoy the park and depending on how busy the park is, find yourself a good spot for the fireworks 30 - 60 minutes before show time.
  If really busy and the fireworks are important to you and you MUST HAVE a good seat, be there 90 minutes before show time.

If are not staying onsite, but you do have time, money, and a big stomach (and don't want to queue all day), you could do:

• Breakfast at Plaza Gardens - can vary but often: Scrooge, Piglet, Eyeore, Tigger, Daisy, Mickey.
• Lunch at the Auberge – 4-5 princesses (and sometimes Suzy & Perla)
• Dinner at Inventions at the Disneyland Hotel - Fab Five
• In between meals, meet whoever you like on the schedule.

 

[Karin1984]

*place holder*

 

[pamcarey]

This is great and you’ve done so much work on this! Thank you so much!

 

[Karin1984]

This is great and you’ve done so much work on this! Thank you so much!

You're welcome I had some free time last night.
I've added a list of rides open during EMH and came across one website saying that from April 2019 Big Thunder Mountain and the Riverboat will be open during EMH! This will change some things
(If you have Fantasyland, Discoveryland and part of Frontierland open, then just open the entire park, I would think so)

 

[olafLover]

.

 

[Karin1984]

I didn't read the entire plan, I trust you on that I just wanted to add this and how it would really change the plan But you already knew

Strange I missed it, but when I googled it, I only found one page where it was already announced, so I started to think if it was wishful thinking or a rumor. It's a good development, as it should decrease waits during the day (a bit)

I'm not sure if it would really change the plan that much, the one above is for those without EMH. It might even have a positive impact if waiting times decrease. Also when it's open during EMH, the run on Fastpasses should get less. More available if you are behind the EMH crowds.

If you have EMH and limited time (as in 1 or 1,5 days), I would still advise to go to the Studios for Crush/Ratatouille/R&R coaster first. If you get in immediately at 8:30, you should be able to do these before 9. Then walk to BTM would take 15-20 minutes? So you could be on BTM before EMH is over, I guess.
If you have EMH for two days (or more), I would do one day Crush/Ratatouille/R&R, staying in the Studios and not park hop during EMH, and then on the second day BTM/Peter Pan/Space Mountain.

 

[olafLover]

.

 

[pamcarey]

Great advice! I have two days of EMH, and if the rumor is true about BTM, I will follow your advice for the two days of EMH!

 

[BrianL]

This is an awesome primer and very timely for me. Thanks!

 

[loloandstitch]

Thank you so much, this is so organized and helpful!
Question about managing Fastpass expectations- we are going in July over a Saturday and Sunday (unfortunately, dates are not flexible), so we know it will be crowded. We are planning to rope drop both days. Are there any Fastpasses that run out first (we would like to try for Ratatouille, PP, Space, BTM, Indiana, Star Tours), and what Fastpasses are usually still available towards the middle of the day?

 

[olafLover]

.

 

[Karin1984]

Thank you so much, this is so organized and helpful!
Question about managing Fastpass expectations- we are going in July over a Saturday and Sunday (unfortunately, dates are not flexible), so we know it will be crowded. We are planning to rope drop both days. Are there any Fastpasses that run out first (we would like to try for Ratatouille, PP, Space, BTM, Indiana, Star Tours), and what Fastpasses are usually still available towards the middle of the day?

You're welcome!

Big Thunder Mountain is your first target.
Peter Pan, Space Mountain and Ratatouille are all popular, but also open during EMH and the last two have single riders lines (not always open), so next would be Peter Pan, and then Space Mountain. Ratatouille if you are in The Studios.
Indiana Jones is so hidden in a corner, plus a minimum length of 1.40m and a inversion, that it's not that popular.
I'm definitely not a fan of Star Tours, so can't help there ;-)

Don't forget Buzz also has Fastpass, but is also open during EMH.
Tower of Terror also has a Fastpass, it is identical to California before the Guardians of the Galaxy layover.

 

[olafLover]

.

 

[loloandstitch]

Thank you both for the responses... we are used to major attractions like Space, RSR, and GOTG in DL CA being out of fastpasses by a certain hour of the day. Just wanted to see if there was something similar with DLP to expect. Like many others, just trying to make the best of our short trip there!

 

[olafLover]

.

 

[Karin1984]

Thank you both for the responses... we are used to major attractions like Space, RSR, and GOTG in DL CA being out of fastpasses by a certain hour of the day. Just wanted to see if there was something similar with DLP to expect. Like many others, just trying to make the best of our short trip there!

We have to see the impact of opening BTM during EMH, but my thoughts are that FP distribution will go slower than before. But what I would suggest is to ride it during EMH and try to pull a FP for after dark. Completely different experiences.

 

[kdfogliano]

Can someone tell me why the Indian Jones ride has such a large height requirement? We frequent WDW and even Universal in Florida, and that tops the roller coasters there as well.

 

[Karin1984]

Can someone tell me why the Indian Jones ride has such a large height requirement? We frequent WDW and even Universal in Florida, and that tops the roller coasters there as well.

The only reason I can think of is that it has a vertical loop. I think that bumps up the minimum length. Maybe in combination with the height of the coaster itself?

 

[B3rlingirl]

Oh this thread is very helpful... I really don’t know what i would do without the disboard... but the more I read the more questions arise... but still I learn a lot...
Thanks for putting it all together... I always feel bad if I ask questions that were answers 100 times prior already... so this helps a lot!