Queues At Disneyland Paris And How To Avoid Long Waits
10 Tips On How To Spend Less Time In The Queues At Disneyland Paris
Have you ever been to a theme park (anywhere) and stood in a line for a ride for a ridiculous amount of time only to realise at the end of the day you only managed to get on 5 rides the whole day and that’s if you were really lucky?
Me too and it’s not much fun and even worse is knowing how much you’ve spent on tickets, food, and souvenirs, only to spend most of the day shuffling forward in queues instead of actually enjoying the park.
The queues at Disneyland Paris can reach over 60 minutes for some rides at peak times and that’s a long time to stand around when there’s magic waiting!
TRY THIS TIP – If there is more than one queue go to the left. According to psychologists most people are right handed so naturally drift to the right hand lane.
While you can not avoid the long lines completely, even on the coldest day in January you will not have the parks to yourself. However there are ways to reduce your wait times and maximize your Disney trip.
I have been to Disneyland Paris many times and mostly in the busy school holidays and over time have picked up some tricks to avoid the crowds. So if you are looking to spend less time in the queues at Disneyland Paris and more time having fun then keep reading for my best tips. 👇
How To Avoid Long Waits In The Queues At Disneyland Paris
1) Visit in Low Season
Visiting Disneyland Paris when it’s quieter in the parks is the best way to dodge long queues. If you can plan your trip for the low season which is January through to March and also November then you will experience much shorter wait times throughout the parks.
These months also tend to be the cheapest time to visit. So, which dates should you steer clear of if you want to avoid the longest queues at Disneyland Paris?
Peak Dates are:
Easter (March/April – each year varies)
July and August
October (close to Halloween)
December (the closer to Christmas the busier it will be)
New Year
Avoid School Holidays
Another handy tip is to avoid French and UK school holidays if you can. Why? It is because most visitors come from these two areas, so the parks are usually much busier and prices tend to jump during those times.
Go outside the holiday rush and you’ll enjoy smaller crowds and better value for your trip. Luckily the school breaks in both countries are similar and generally line up with peak periods such as Easter, the summer holidays, Halloween, and Christmas which are all times when the parks are at their busiest.
Travel Midweek
For shorter queues, aim to visit midweek, ideally between Tuesday and Thursday. Weekends are usually the most crowded, as many people book short Friday–Sunday or Friday–Monday breaks, and local visitors also flock to the parks at this time too.
It’s also worth checking French public holidays before you go. The parks often hit full capacity on these dates, and ride queues can be at their longest.
To see a list of French Public Holidays click here.
2) Get To The Parks Early
Did you know one of the perks of staying in one of the following Disneyland Paris Hotels is Extra Magic Time?
- Disneyland Hotel
- Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel
- Disney Newport Bay Club
- Disney Sequoia Lodge
- Disney Hotel Cheyenne
- Disney Hotel Santa Fe
- Disney Davy Crockett Ranch
This perk allows you entry to both the Disneyland Park & Walt Disney Studios Park a whole hour before they open to the general public. During this extra hour you can enjoy select rides with shorter lines plus this is also the best time to take your selfies in front of the castle before the crowds arrive.
Top Tip – Head for the rides that are open towards the back of the park first as these are often much quieter earlier in the day.
Extra Magic Time is usually open from 8.30am – 9.30am but check the Disneyland Paris website or app for your travel dates.
3) Consider Purchasing The Premier Access Pass
The Premier Access Pass is a paid skip the queue pass allowing you to bypass the regular queue for a ride and hop on with little or no wait time saving you heaps of time.
While this pass sounds ideal and can save you from standing around in queues for a lengthy time it is expensive and if you’re travelling as a family this can really blow your budget.
With prices for the Ultimate Pass (which gives you access to all the participating rides), costing around an extra €190 each in peak season on top of your regular tickets the cost can quickly add up, especially for larger families.
The other alternative is to purchase a pass per ride which is a good alternative if you are unlikely to use all the Ultimate Pass rides and are just looking at selected rides to skip the queues. Depending on the time of year and how busy the parks are, costs can vary from €5 to €23 per ride (per person).
For the top rides to do, check out my post on A Fun Guide To The Best Rides At Disneyland Paris.
Will the Premier Access Pass Actually Save You Time?
Yes due to the high cost of the passes only a small percentage of guests use this system so it does mean you can gain near immediate access to the ride saving you standing in a queue for too long. If you can afford it and are visiting for a short period of time or in peak season then it is worth considering.
4) Try These Free Ways To Skip The Main Queues
Single Rider
Single Rider allows you to skip the main queue for the ride by filling empty seats on the ride vehicle. You do not have to be visiting the park alone to use this service and you are still able to queue up as a group but it just means you will not ride together.
It’s an excellent way to cut down waiting times. My daughter and I used this recently for the Spider Man W.E.B. Adventure ride. The standard queue was 50 minutes and by using the single rider service we were on the ride in 25 minutes on a public holiday day too. Just to be aware not all rides at Disneyland Paris offer this service.
Rider Switch
Rider Switch allows parents to take turns enjoying a ride without needing to wait in line twice. It’s ideal if you have a child who doesn’t meet the height requirement but the adults in your group still want to ride.
One adult rides first while the second adult stays with the child. Once the first adult has finished, they pass the Rider Switch pass to the second adult, who can then ride without queuing again.
As with Single Rider, you won’t be able to ride together, but it’s a convenient and time-saving option for families.
Bambi Pass (Pregnancy Pass)
If you are expecting and congratulations by the way then head to Guest Services at either park or your Disney Hotel where you can collect the Bambi Pass.
This Pass gives priority access (not immediate) to many gentler rides, shows, character meet-and-greets, and even some restaurant and shop queues, helping reduce waiting times and less time on your feet.
Plus up to 4 guests in your party can accompany you on rides and 2 for the dedicated viewing areas for the parades & fireworks. This is definitely a pass worth getting to make the most of your Disney visit while expecting.
Disneyland Paris Priority Card
The Disneyland Paris Priority Pass is designed to help guests with an officially recognised disability. It provides priority access (not instant entry) to a wide range of rides, shows, character meet-and-greets, as well as selected shops and restaurants, helping to significantly reduce waiting times.
The Priority Pass can be arranged via the Disneyland Paris website up to 30 days before your visit or from Guest Services, ensuring your time in the parks is as magical and smooth as possible.
This website is very useful and gives more info on the priority pass:
wheeliegooddlp.com
5) Download the Disneyland Paris App
By downloading the official Disneyland Paris app onto your smartphone will save you time as you can view live ride wait times, real time queue updates and park maps.
We used this app while queuing up for a ride and then planning on where to go next based on wait times and to also see if a ride has closed for technical difficulties without wasting precious minutes in long lines. This way we were able to spend less time queueing and more time enjoying the fun.
6) Skip The Parades
Watching a Disney parade is a truly magical, can’t-miss experience, and no matter your age, it’s something everyone should see at least once. The music, characters, and larger-than-life floats bring the park to life in a way that’s pure Disney magic.
However, if you’re visiting for more than one day and have already enjoyed the parade, you do not need to see it again. Instead use this time to go on the rides when everyone else is watching the parades. This is the perfect opportunity to do your favourite ride when the queues will be noticeably shorter.
Keep an eye on wait times in the app and make a beeline for your favourite attractions, you’ll be amazed at how much you can squeeze in while everyone else is watching the show.
Best rides to do in the Disneyland Park while the parades are on are:
🎢Big Thunder Mountain
🎢Peter Pan’s Flight
🎢Dumbo The Flying Elephant
🎢Lancelot’s Carousel
🎢Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
7) Head For Rides Where Lines Move Quickly
One of the easiest ways to make the most of your time at Disneyland Paris is to head for rides where the queues keep moving. Some attractions load guests quickly or run continuously, which means even if the wait time looks long, it often feels much shorter in reality.
Classic rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, “it’s a small world,” and Phantom Manor are rides that load quickly, as they’re designed to keep everyone flowing through at a steady pace. If you notice a line constantly moving rather than standing still, that’s usually a good sign.
Best strategy is to do these rides during busier parts of the day, and the slower loading rides at quieter times when the queues will be shorter.
8) Head To Outdoor Attractions When It’s Raining
While your first instance is to dive under cover when the heavens open and stay dry (and secretly that’s what I would do too) until the sun comes back out. But let’s be realistic this is Paris, not Florida or California. You could be waiting quite a while.
So while everyone else is sensibly making for the indoor attractions like Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast in Disneyland Park or Ratatouille in Walt Disney Studios Park to stay warm and dry, I’m going to suggest you do the complete opposite. Grab your poncho, pull on some waterproof footwear, and embrace the rain.
This is the perfect time to tackle outdoor attractions, when queues are often much shorter and the parks are quieter. Think of it as using the unpredictable Paris weather to your advantage to beat the crowds and fit in more fun.
9) Eating At Disneyland Paris
It’s not just the rides that draw big queues, the restaurants can get just as busy. There’s nothing worse than standing in line for food when everyone’s hungry and thirsty, your feet are aching, and the kids are getting restless waiting for meals to arrive. So how can you avoid this?
Make A Reservation
Making a reservation at a table-service restaurant allows you to secure a table and be seated quickly, without waiting around. Although these restaurants are more expensive than quick-service options, booking ahead might just be worth it during busy park days, helping you avoid long food queues.
It’s also a great opportunity to finally try a restaurant you’ve always wanted to visit. Walt’s: An American Restaurant is a popular choice, or why not try some Caribbean-inspired dishes at Captain Jack’s.
Eat Outside Of Usual Dining Hours
Try to eat outside of typical meal times if you can. Having lunch before midday or after 3pm is a great way to avoid the lunchtime crowds. The same goes for dinner—eating a bit earlier than 6:30pm or later after 8:30pm can make a big difference.
Just remember to check restaurant opening times, as some places in the parks (especially in Fantasyland) do close earlier. The best part? While everyone else is busy eating, ride queues are often shorter, so you can squeeze in a few more attractions.
Order Your Food
For some of the Quick Service Restaurants you are able to pre- order and pay for your food using the Disneyland Paris App. This is a great time saver as you arrange to collect your order at a specific time and skip the long queues.
Even better save time and order your food while you are waiting in line for your favourite ride – that way your food will be ready to collect as soon as you get off.
Step Outside Of The Parks
If the parks seem really busy then there is a good chance the restaurants will be too. Step outside of the parks and head into Disney Village (only a few minutes walk) for more dining options.
Popular choices are the Rainforest Cafe and Billy Bob’s Country Western Saloon for dinner or The Earl of Sandwich for lunch where you can grab a delicious sandwich or salad and pizza for the kids.
10) Shopping
I love browsing the shops at Disney and finding unique gifts you cannot find anywhere else. My favourite are the stores along Main Street, U.S.A. but they do get very busy and queues at the tills can be long.
A little tip? Do your shopping while everyone else is watching the parade or lining up for popular rides.
Also the shops in Disney Village usually stay open until after the parks close so while everyone is watching the fireworks then making their way back to their Hotels this is a good time to make your purchases plus your not carrying your gifts around all day with you.
FAQ’S
How Long Are The Queues At Disneyland Paris?
This depends on many factors such as the season, time of day, weather etc but queues can be as little as 5 minutes for some rides and 80 minutes or more on the more popular rides.
Which Rides At Disneyland Paris Have The Longest Wait Times?
The rides with the longest queues are Crush’s Coaster, Peter Pan’s Flight, Big Thunder Mountain and Ratatouille The Adventure.
What Are Virtual Queues?
Virtual queues are a digital reservation made on the Disneyland Paris App to book a time slot to meet a Disney Character. Not every Disney character is on the virtual queue and you will need to be in the parks when the slots are open to book.
Conclusion: How To Spend Less Time In The Queues At Disneyland Paris
Spending less time in queues at Disneyland Paris really comes down to a bit of planning and being flexible.
By using simple tricks like timing your rides right when the parks get busy, you can avoid a lot of the long waits and focus on enjoying the magic instead.
A few small changes can make a big difference leaving you with more time for rides, shows, and making memories.
Which tips will you be trying on your next trip to Disneyland Paris?
👇Read More Tips On Planning Your Disneyland Paris Trip:
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- 31 Tips For Visiting Disneyland Paris On A Budget
- How To Get From Charles De Gaulle Airport To Disneyland Paris
- A First Timers Guide To Disneyland Paris in 2026
- Taking A Bus From London To Disneyland Paris: Full Review
