Disneyland Paris Top Five Attractions.
Disneyland Paris has a great number of fantastic rides and attractions, and the vast selection may seem overwhelming to new visitors. However, we Nerds can help! Here is a short list of only the very best Disneyland Paris attractions that you need to visit on your next trip.
Disneyland Paris Top Five Attractions
Disneyland Paris Top Five Attractions #5: The Mysteries of Nautilus
This ride may not be among the most obvious attractions at Disneyland Paris, but this Nerd finds Nautilus a thoroughly interesting place to visit. Mysteries of Nautilus allow you to board the Nautilus, an underwater ship based on the novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas about Captain Nemo’s crew and their various underwater adventures aboard the Nautilus.
The attraction covers six rooms: the Ballast’s compartment, Captain Nemo’s room, the charts room, the diving chamber, the main salon, and the engine room. Each of these rooms is filled with the treasures and equipment of the Nautilus’ crew, including diving gear, the captain’s organ, various charts of their research, and much more. This attraction is a fascinating experience, complete with a giant squid attack!
Disneyland Paris Top Five Attractions #4: Sleeping Beauty’s Castle
Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is a walk-through attraction in the center of Disneyland Paris that offers a scenic break from fast-paced rollercoasters and long lines. Beautiful stained-glass windows and enchanting tapestries make it a phenomenal punctuation point to the impact of Disney’s magic. There are no height or age requirements for this attraction, which makes it an easy group-friendly activity to break up a long day in the park. Although this may not be the most exciting place to visit in a traditional sense, it’s serenity and awe-striking décor and architecture can’t be beat.
This castle also houses a secret: a dragon’s lair lays just underneath the castle! This addition adds a sense of action and adventure to an otherwise low-key walkthrough. The lair is complete with a life sized (and surprisingly realistic) dragon animatronic. And who doesn’t love a good life-sized dragon?
Disneyland Paris Top Five Attractions #3: Pirates of the Caribbean
The Parisian Pirates of the Caribbean Ride is another fantastic ride that you definitely should stop by on your visit to Disneyland Paris. The aroma of ocean air and the calming, constant flowing of the water as you ride through the dark lagoon mimics the unmistakable feeling of being on the open ocean.
The ride itself is similar to the original Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland in California, but with some minor changes. The setting of the ride is an 18th century fortress, which has become the home for a band of pirates who bring chaos and excitement to the port city. Filled with pirate shenanigans, some small drops, and the classic song, It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me, this ride is certified Disneyland Classic. The order of scenes is unique to Paris making it a great experience, regardless of whether or not you’ve ridden other iterations of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Disneyland Paris Top Five Attractions #2: Big Thunder Mountain
Of course, we had to include one of the mountains! This ride is similar to its counterparts in other Disneyland parks, but it’s special in its own ways. With beautiful views of the park, exhilarating drops and turns, and decorations and details that are always astounding, Big Thunder is a phenomenal ride that you really can’t miss during your visit to Disneyland Paris.
Another thing that Big Thunder Mountain does right in Disneyland Paris is the story-telling. With one continuous story that ties in all the attractions in Frontierland, this ride perfectly ties into the same narrative as the other rides. Big Thunder in Disneyland Paris follows the same general story of the other Big Thunders: an old mineshaft that once brought much prosperity to the town suddenly gets haunted by a possessed minecart, causing many accidents and eventually forcing the mine to go into decay.
Unlike the other Big Thunder Mountains, Paris’ version mostly takes place on an island, with the minecart going underneath the water through beautiful arrays of stalagmites and crystals. The ride is fast-paced and adventurous, with top speeds of up to 41 miles per hour. The speedy rises and falls make the ride on of the most exhilarating rides available at Disneyland Paris, and the view at the peak is incredible.
Disneyland Paris Top Five Attractions #1: Phantom Manor
At the #1 spot is Phantom Manor!
This ride is the most iconic Disneyland Paris attraction, and it’s a must-ride for anyone visiting the park. Phantom Manor is similar to the Haunted Mansion rides found in Disneyland, Disneyland Tokyo, or Magic Kingdom, but with theming to match the overall storyline of Disneyland Paris’ Frontierland, and original soundtrack, and, in this Nerd’s opinion, much scarier decorations, this ride wins as the best Disneyland Paris ride.
The lore of this ride is just as interesting as the ride itself, and makes the ride experience much more eerie and enjoyable. The story of Phantom Manor also ties into the story of all of Disneyland Paris’ Frontierland. Henry Ravenswood, founder of Thunder Mesa, lived in the manor with his beautiful daughter, Melanie. As Melanie grew up, she caught the attention of several suitors—all of which met an untimely and suspicious end. On her wedding day, Melanie’s husband-to-be mysteriously disappeared, leaving Melanie to wait at the altar for all eternity.
During the preshow, the walls around you start stretching as the Phantom welcomes you to Phantom Manor. You ride slowly past a piano playing an ominous wedding march and decorated with wreaths honoring the death of Melanie’s four deceased suitors. You pass by Madame Leota’s séance room and hear her invite the spirits and ghosts to a festive celebration.
Phantom Manor is one of the most popular rides at Disneyland Paris, and for good reason. The thrill of catching quick glimpses of the Phantom, or the unsettling feeling of seeing the bride alone in her beautiful dress can’t be found in any other ride.
Let us know if we missed anything!
