At a glance
The Paris version of Dumbo the Flying Elephant was designed especially for the park, with a higher level of detail and the number of elephants raised to sixteen, compared with ten in the original Californian version. This improved version was later copied in almost every other Disney park in the world. Only Tokyo Disneyland still has the old ten-elephant version.
The ride is inspired by the 1941 animated film Dumbo and is technically based on the classic aeroplane ride. The sixteen Dumbo-shaped vehicles sit on articulated arms that turn around a central axis, topped by Timothy Q. Mouse balancing on a small hot-air balloon and holding up the famous feather. Each elephant seats two passengers and can go up or down with the joystick in front of the seats, which works a hydraulic ram. A ride lasts about a minute and a half.
Fun fact: the original concept was to base the ride on the Pink Elephants on Parade sequence, but Walt Disney turned down the idea of a ride inspired by a drunken hallucination. Later, in 1957, former US president Harry Truman refused to ride Dumbo during his visit to Disneyland, as the elephant is the symbol of the Republican Party! Today, riding it after dark gives you one of the best views of Fantasyland and the illuminated castle.
The most popular flying ride in Fantasyland. Elephants on jointed arms that each rider raises and lowers above a setting of feathers and fountains. Very gentle thrills, loved by young children. The queue builds quickly because capacity is low, so it’s best to get there early.
History
Opened on 12 April 1992 with the park, Dumbo the Flying Elephant is the Disneyland Paris version of a ride that has been at Disneyland Anaheim since it opened in 1955, then at Orlando’s Magic Kingdom (1971), Tokyo Disneyland (1983), Hong Kong Disneyland (2005) and Shanghai Disneyland (2016). It’s inspired by the film Dumbo (1941).
Technical data
- Duration
- 1 min 30
- Opened
- 1992
- Type Classic fairground ride
- Opening date 12 April 1992
- Duration 1 min 30
- Number of elephants 16
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Manufacturer Zamperla
- Inspiration Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Disneyland California 1955)
Theme & story
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact moderate
- Perceived wait moderate
- Minimum height None (open to all)
- Recommended age all ages
- Wheelchair access must transfer from wheelchair
- Pregnant visitors suitable
Premier Access, Single Rider, PhotoPass
Not offered on this ride.
No Single Rider here. To save time, count on Premier Access or park opening.
No PhotoPass on this ride.
Usually open during this slot before the park opens to the public, reserved for Disney hotel guests and Disneyland Pass Gold holders, among others. The right time to ride it with a shorter queue.
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- One of the park’s iconic rides
- You control Dumbo’s height
- View over Fantasyland
Weak points
- Often a long queue
- A short ride
- Not much for teens
My verdict
Dumbo the Flying Elephant has 16 Dumbo elephants that each rider raises and lowers with a joystick, around a golden mast. It lasts 1 min 30 sec, has no minimum height and has been an absolute classic of the Disney parks since 1955. The Fantasyland icon that features in everyone’s childhood memories.
I find it prettier after dark, when the whole ride lights up against the illuminated castle. A detail that makes it even sweeter: once you’re in the air, look out for Timothy Q. Mouse with his famous feather, perched on the little hot-air balloon in the centre of the ride. The queue is often out of proportion to the length of the ride, so go at park opening or during the parade to avoid the wait.
Best time to visit
Calculated from the ride’s queue time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
Dumbo the Flying Elephant is in the middle of Fantasyland, near Meet Mickey Mouse and Alice’s Curious Labyrinth.
Your questions about this ride
01 How can you avoid long queues for the most popular rides?
To avoid long queues at Disneyland Paris, I combine several tactics. First, Single Rider is free and really speeds things up on the rides that offer it, including Crush’s Coaster, Flight Force, Ratatouille and Spider-Man, as long as you’re happy not to ride with your group. Next, Disney Premier Access is a paid service that gives you priority access to the headline rides. If you’re staying in a Disney hotel, Extra Magic Time lets you into the park before official opening, and it’s the best time to ride the popular attractions back to back without queuing. Finally, heading to the most popular rides during a parade or a big show empties the queues considerably.
02 Are the queue times shown in the park reliable?
Yes, the queue times shown in the app or on the screens around the park are generally reliable. They’re often the same as, or slightly longer than, the real wait, which helps you plan your day better.
03 How can I find out if a ride will be closed for refurbishment during my trip?
Disneyland Paris publishes the list of rides closed for refurbishment on its official website, several weeks in advance. Because the parks are open all year round, the maintenance teams sometimes work on days when the parks are open, which leads to temporary closures. My advice: check this calendar (or the one on my blog) before booking, especially if there’s one particular ride you really care about.
04 Which rides might scare young children?
Several rides at Disneyland Paris can frighten young children even without a height restriction. Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains, in Fantasyland, has dark scenes with the witch that can catch them off guard. Les Voyages de Pinocchio also has some unsettling scenes. La Tanière du Dragon, under Sleeping Beauty Castle, is home to a very impressive animatronic dragon. Phantom Manor, in Frontierland, plays on a ghostly atmosphere and is really intense for toddlers. Pirates of the Caribbean switches between cheerful moments and darker scenes. I’d suggest watching how your child reacts before you get on.
05 How far in advance does Disneyland Paris announce ride closures?
Disneyland Paris publishes the list of ride closures around 2 to 3 months in advance. For major rides, the park tells visitors about planned construction work at least two months before it starts. I recommend checking the official calendar (or my dedicated page) a few weeks before your visit, as dates can change. That way you avoid the nasty surprise of finding out on the day that your favourite ride is being refurbished.
