At a glance
This is a classic spinning ride in the style of the flying aeroplane rides, which turns vehicles through the air. You sit on board flying carpets that rotate around a giant Genie’s lamp. The action takes place on a film set in the world of Aladdin, under the watchful eye of the Genie, who is directing the scene.
It’s simple and interactive. Each carpet has on-board controls: riders sitting at the front can make the carpet go up or down, while those at the back can tilt it forwards and backwards. So you choose your own flight path while the ride turns.
The atmosphere is colourful, with music from the animated film. It’s a calm, visual ride with a clear view over the surrounding area.
The Aladdin flying carpets ride. Carpets on jointed arms that you raise, lower and tilt around a central Genie spitting water. Gentle sensations in a colourful Agrabah setting. A safe bet for young children, and the queue stays reasonable most of the time.
History
Opened on 16 March 2002 with the Walt Disney Studios Park, Les Tapis Volants - Flying Carpets Over Agrabah is the Disneyland Paris version of the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, which appeared at Magic Kingdom in Orlando in 2001. This spinning ride is inspired by the film Aladdin (1992) and was one of the second park’s opening-day rides.
Technical data
- Duration
- 1 min 30
- Opened
- 2002
- Type Classic ride
- Opening date 16 March 2002
- Duration 1 min 30
- Number of carpets 16
- People per carpet 4
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Builder Zamperla
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 fully accessible
- Pregnant visitors not recommended
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.
Not open during Extra Magic Time: it opens at the same time as the park.
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- Controls to steer your own carpet
- Queue times usually reasonable
- Ideal as a first taste of heights for toddlers
Weak points
- Fully exposed to rain and wind
- Very few thrills for teenagers
- The story doesn’t really fit the park’s new theme
My verdict
Les Tapis Volants - Flying Carpets Over Agrabah has 16 carpets with 4 seats each, which passengers raise, lower and tilt around a central Genie who spits water. It lasts 1 min 30, has no minimum height and is the Disneyland Paris version of the Magic Carpets of Aladdin at Magic Kingdom. The sensations are very gentle, ideal as a first taste of heights for little ones.
One of my favourites for young children, because it’s a ride they really control. My real family tip: try to have at least one passenger at the front and one at the back, because each side controls a different part of the carpet. And before or after your ride, head to the left of the queue entrance: there’s a great photo spot to capture your flight. One downside: it’s completely exposed to rain and wind, so avoid it in bad weather.
Julie’s tip
Best time to visit
Calculated from the ride’s queue time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
Les Tapis Volants - Flying Carpets Over Agrabah is in World Premiere Plaza, close to Crush’s Coaster.
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.
