It’s a big month for Disneyland Paris. Disney Adventure World and World of Frozen are just around the corner. The Easter holidays will soon be kicking off too. And that means a lot of potential fun in the Disneyland Paris parks – and a LOT of people. Queue times are likely to be high. Thankfully though there’s some attractions that rarely if ever have a long wait, and we’re sharing them here so you know where to head when you just can’t deal with waiting in another line!

Molly Brown Riverboat at Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing

Beginning in Frontierland in Disneyland Park, I’m kicking off with the Molly Brown Riverboat that sails from Thunder Mesa Riverboat landing. This ride on a classic paddle steamer takes you for a leisurely sail around the Rivers of the Old West in Frontierland, with great views of Big Thunder and Phantom Manor and some unique scenes to enjoy.

The waiting area for the Molly Brown does look like it gets busy, but this ride has one big advantage – the Molly Brown can take a lot of people. As a result it is extremely rare not to get on the next departure of the riverboat, and you can often walk up just as boarding begins and easily get on the ride. It’s a great way to feel like you’re still experiencing a ride without the long lines that can come with them!

A couple of things to note with the Molly Brown – it often has shorter operating hours than the rest of Disneyland Park so do check those on the Disneyland Paris app. Also the Riverboat typically only has two departures an hour so you might need to time your arrival at the dock to ensure a short to no wait.

Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade

Not far from the Molly Brown dock sits this old fashioned shooting arcade, where you pick up a rifle and take aim at some suitably themed Wild West targets, triggering special effects if your aim is good!

To experience the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade typically you can just walk up to an empty spot and start playing, there’s rarely if ever a wait here to take part, and it can be a fun way to experience the Wild West vibes of this land.

The downside? It costs extra! And to release your gun and start shooting you need to insert coins too. If you need to change up some cash you can normally do so in the nearby Thunder Mesa Mercantile shop.

Aladdin’s Enchanted Passage

Hopping next door into Adventureland, near the land entrance you can find Aladdin’s Enchanted Passage. This simple attraction retells the story of the animated film Aladdin through a series of animated dioramas and tableaus.

This is a walk through attraction, and typically you can walk right on in and spend as much or as little time enjoying the scenes. Also the theming of the building it’s in is lovely so take some time to admire the details like the stained glass and fountain. There’s also a neat use of the Pepper’s Ghost special effect (used for the dancing ghosts on Phantom Manor) in the Friend Like Me scene to make the Genie appear and disappear.

If you’re very unlucky with this attraction you can have a large group suddenly descend which can make it feel very congested in there, but if you stand off to one side and let the group pass you’ll normally a find a lull in the crowds where you can have a more chilled out walk round the exhibit. The attraction certainly isn’t advanced or fancy, but its simplicity is part of the charm.

Adventure Isle

The centrepiece of Adventureland is Adventure Isle. Accessed via multiple bridges from other parts of the land, Adventure Isle is home to a series of caves, stairways, passages, bridges, overlooks and hidden pirate treasure!

Most people tend to use Adventure Isle as a cut through from one side of Adventureland to the other. But we’d really recommend stopping and taking time to explore the details of this area – the caves are wonderfully detailed, there’s surprises around every corner, and even on busy days you can find yourself alone in some of the crevices of these caves.

The downsides of Adventure Isle? To really experience it you need to be able to do stairs, so it’s not ideal for folks with mobility differences. Also it’s very dark in there and very easy to get lost, so keep a close eye on anyone who may try to wander off!

Adding to the appeal of Adventure Isle now is the new Pirates Scavenger Hunt, where you search among the caves for items associated with the nearby Pirates of the Caribbean ride. We recently released a YouTube video on us attempting to do this – it’s surprisingly hard! Watch the video below.

Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse

While technically on Adventure Isle, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is an attraction in its own right. As the name suggests, on this attraction you get to explore the treehouse home of the Swiss Family Robinson after being marooned by a shipwreck.

This is another walkthrough attraction. On your way up and down the treehouse you get to peep into room, listen to the Swisskapolka (I promise it’s a thing), and get some pretty gorgeous views of Disneyland Park to boot. And there’s very rarely any sort of wait here.

The downside of this attraction? Stairs! And a lot of them – there’s nearly 200 in all. So naturally if you have mobility differences this is not the attraction for you (I tend to avoid it for this reason to be honest). But if you can manage the stairs it’s a good way to see some great Disney imagineering in action.

Alice’s Curious Labyrinth

From Adventureland we move into Fantasyland, and you like Alice can explore Wonderland in Alice’s Curious Labyrinth!

In this walkthrough attraction it’s up to you to find your path through a winding labyrinth, with scenes from Alice in Wonderland along the way and some fun photo opportunities too. At the centre of the labyrinth once you’ve negotiated your way past the Queen of Hearts and her playing card Knights, you can find the Queen of Heart’s Castle that you can explore, getting some unique views of the park along the way.

Because of its central location in Fantasyland Alice’s Curious Labyrinth can sometimes get a short wait, but it moves very quickly and you’re unlikely to wait for very long if at all here. This is another attraction you can explore as quickly or as slowly as you like, and for fans of the story it’s a lot of fun.

A quick accessibility note though – folks in wheelchairs need to use special gates in some parts of the labyrinth to avoid paths that are too narrow. Also sadly to go upstairs in the Queen of Heart’s castle you do need to be able to go up and down stairs. Other than that though this is fun for pretty much everyone!

Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough

Upstairs in Sleeping Beauty Castle herself, in this attraction you can take a relaxed walk around stained glass windows, tapestries and scenery elements that retell the story of Sleeping Beauty.

The stained glass and tapestries here are simply gorgeous, and the scenery elements add some fun details. Look out for the spinning wheel, Prince Philip’s sword and shield, the snoring suit of armour, and Maleficent’s raven Diablo after he’s been turned to stone! There’s also a balcony with great views over Fantasyland.

To access the walkthrough you just need to walk up the stairs inside the archway under Sleeping Beauty castle. There never seems to be a wait here, although the upstairs spaces can feel a little congested at busy times. For folks with mobility differences there is a lift at the back of the Merlin the Enchanter shop that gives access.

The Dragon’s Lair

From the splendour of Sleeping Beauty’s story you can also investigate the dungeon’s below the Castle and come face to face with the dragon that lurks there!

The Dragon’s Lair is pretty simple attraction – you enter creepy caves and watch the dragon as it sleeps, and occasionally roars at the guests! (I get grumpy if people interrupt my sleep too so I sympathise there). The dragon animatronic is huge and incredibly impressive, and it’s another chance to appreciate Disney’s skill at storytelling and attention to detail. Here you can normally wander in when you like, watch the dragon, and leave again without any sort of wait.

There’s three ways to enter the Dragon’s Lair – a staircase at the back of the Merlin the Enchanter shop, and two entrances to the front and side of the castle. These entrances are wheelchair accessible so everyone should be able to investigate here. And we think it’s worth doing. A couple of things to note though – it is very dark when you first enter the lair, so give your eyes time to adjust. Also some folks, especially little ones, can find the dragon a bit scary!

Mysteries of the Nautilus

From Fantasyland we head now into Discoveryland, and another walkthrough attraction – the Mysteries of the Nautilus. Here you get to go on a walking tour of the Nautilus submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

We think the Nautilus is a great attraction. The attention to detail here is wonderful as you get to walkthrough machine rooms, past the treasure, through Captain Nemo’s bedroom and then into the main room, where a porthole opens on a regular basis to show glimpses of marine life outside. As you explore sound effects help add to the atmosphere and steampunk vibes.

I’ll be honest – I think the Nautilus deserves a lot more love than it gets, but the good news is as you never really see a queue here it’s a great one to explore when the other Discoveryland attractions are seeing longer waits (as pretty much the rest of them do!). Also, although it looks like stairs are the only way to reach the Nautilus, there is a lift for folks that need it – ask a cast member. The only slight caveat here is that it is a little dark in places and may make some folks feel a bit claustrophobic. We rarely if ever hear of people having issues here though.

Mickey’s Philharmagic

Tucked way at the back of Discoveryland is the Discoveryland Theatre, and inside the charming 3D film Mickey’s Philharmagic. In this attraction you follow the misadventures of Donald Duck as he tries to retrieve Mickey’s sorcerer hat from various musical scenes from Disney animated films. The result is a trip through well known numbers from films like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Fantasia, Coco, the Little Mermaid and more.

While some 3D films go in for the shock and jump scare approach, Mickey’s Philharmagic instead uses the 3D to immerse you into the various scenes of the film, with a few added 3D elements to add to the fun but there’s nothing here that’s particularly frightening (although Donald Duck does get beaten up by a load of musical instruments at the beginning. But he did try to kill a piccolo so you know, was kinda asking for it!). The theatre for Mickey’s Philharmagic is pretty large and it’s rare that not everyone waiting gets in, so this is one you can often turn up to the theatre a few minutes before show time and be able to enjoy the show without a wait.

It’s worth noting that Mickey’s Philharmagic tends to have quite limited opening hours, so be sure to check them before heading to the theatre. Also in those opening hours the show only tends to perform at set times (typically on the hour and half hour), check the app to time your arrival!

Main Street Vehicles

Circling back round to Main Street USA, in the mornings you can often hop on a historic vehicle for a trip up or down Main Street. These vehicles give guests a lift from the Town Square end of Main Street (near the train station) to the Castle Hub, and then back again. They really help add to the historical atmosphere of Main Street.

Typically the vehicles available are a historic double decker bus, a horse drawn trolley, and sometimes even an old Police Wagon! Where they stop is marked at both Town Square and the Hub, and typically you can hop on a vehicle for a trip as you see a vehicle pull up with little to no wait. Then just sit back, relax and enjoy your trip up or down Main Street!

Are the Main Street Vehicles the most exciting attraction out there? No, not really. But they’re a charming addition to the park and Main Street, and if you want to rest your feet or just enjoy Main Street in a new way it can be fun to jump on board. Just note though that the vehicles can’t run close to parade or calvacade time, and often only run in the morning before the first parade of the day.

Statue of Liberty Tableau

Welcome to the attraction that most people have no clue it exists! Off of the Liberty Arcade on Main Street USA (the one to the left behind the Emporium if you’re looking at the castle) is a little tableau that commemorates the gifting of the Statue of Liberty from France to the USA.

Really this is a dark room with some mannequins, lighting and sound effects. The most exciting attraction at Disneyland Paris? Nope. But it’s a cute little tribute, and its tucked away location means that not only is there never a wait for this, often you’ll find yourself the only guest in there at all!

If you struggle with low lighting you might struggle a bit with the tableau, as the area the guests enter and stand in is very dark. Otherwise it’s a fun attraction just to pop into one day as you pass up or down Main Street USA.

Main Street arcades

Most people tend to see the two Arcades on Main Street USA (running on either side of Main Street behind the shops) as thoroughfares rather than attractions. But if you stop and admire the details there’s actually a lot to see here!

Both arcades share historical imagery and exhibits that tie in to that Arcade’s story – for the Liberty Arcade this is the link between the USA and France at the turn of the century. On the Discovery Arcade side this is views of the future as seen from the turn of the 20th Century. Pretty much everyone runs past the display cases and details here, but we think they’re worth a stop and look. And the best thing is you can always just walk right in without a wait!

World Premiere

We’re now over in the current Walt Disney Studios Park, future Disney Adventure World. And this park is tricky for a list like this. Pretty much every attraction is a heavy hitter in terms of having to plan waits.

But I did want to give a quick shoutout to World Premiere. This is the entrance building you pass through on the way to the park, and most people see it as a dining and shopping location. But it’s technically an attraction in its own right! And there’s a lot to enjoy here. Take time to look in the windows of the Disney animation studio to see hints of what the animators are working on. Looking for the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars and see who’s being honoured here. Admire the Hollywood skyline. And look at the posters and bills pasted near the toilets and see how many Disney references you can find – it’s a lot! And the good news is most people just run through this space without stopping to look around, which means it’s a good space just to take time to explore without worrying about waits.

Superhero encounters

Over in Avengers Campus, there are set meet and greets with Marvel superheroes that require waits or virtual queues. But if you have time to linger in this area for a little while you’ll often find yourself having an unexpected encounter with a superhero, whether they’re wandering the land, giving some training or taking on bad guys on the roof tops!

These encounters don’t have waits because they also don’t have set times – they happen spontaneously to add to the vibe of this land and to help you really feel like you’re on Avengers Campus. Characters wandering can get swamped by crowds but they’re normally pretty good at keeping moving to say hello to as many folks as possible. The mini shows are often announced by a change in soundtrack and the cast members clearing a path! Our advice? If you’ve got some time, sit (or stand) and admire the details in Avengers Campus outside Stark Factory and Avengers Flight Force – this is a good spot for watching any spontaneous shows on the roof tops, or spotting any Avengers as they wander by!

Honourable mentions

I did want to pop in a few extra attractions as honourable mentions into this list. These are rides that can and do sometimes build up a wait, but can often be experienced with little or no wait either earlier in the day or later in the evening.

• Phantom Manor, Frontierland – the efficient ride system means waits here often get low in the morning or later in the evening
• Storybook Canal Boats, Fantasyland – As these boats are typically continually moving, often you can board this ride with little or no wait
• It’s a Small World, Fantasyland – While in the middle of the day it can get a long line, It’s a Small World is good at moving a lot of crowds efficiently, meaning wait times can and do drop at less busy times. (Tip, don’t head here straight after the parade ends in Fantasyland – a lot of other folks have the same idea!)
• Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Discoveryland: Star Tours can at times build up some serious waits – but it can also move a lot of people through it quickly! We’ve often experienced this essentially as a walk on earlier in the day or later in the evening.
• Disneyland Railroad, Main Street USA and Frontierland – How long you wait for the train is dependent on a lot of factors – notably how long its opening hours are that day, and how many trains are running. If it’s a day with shorter opening hours and only one train then it gets some seriously long waits, but if there’s multiple trains it can be possible to ride this soon after it opens without a long wait.
• Flying Carpets over Agrabah, World Premiere Plaza – While this ride can get some longer waits, its tucked away location means that it can be a bit overlooked by guests, especially in the mornings and evenings where it’s often possible to get on with no wait.
• Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin, Toy Story Playland – For whatever reason, Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin tends to be the most efficient of the Toy Story Playland rides and often has shorter queues than the other two attractions here, particularly in the mornings and evenings.
• Cars Quatre Roues Rally, Worlds of Pixar – This ride often sees a drop in wait time in the evening, especially on chillier evenings, where you can often just walk on without a wait at all.

Of course we don’t know how the new expansions to Disney Adventure World are going to affect traffic patterns in the park. I’d expect the two new rides to be and stay pretty popular throughout the day, especially when they’re still new! I am hoping that the new gardens that are opening on Adventure Way will be somewhere to explore without a wait, but we’ll need to wait and see on that one.

If you’re visiting soon hopefully this helps you see you can still enjoy the Disney magic at Disneyland Paris without standing in yet another long line! If you like this content do please subscribe to our blog below, you’ll get our blogs in your inbox and a free copy of our Magically Different Overview to Disneyland Paris attraction accessibility (typically £3). We also have some great tips over on our YouTube channel so please do visit! And if you’d like to support our work, please do consider leaving us a tip. Thank you!