At a glance
La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant is a walkthrough attraction tucked away on the first floor of Sleeping Beauty Castle. It tells the whole story of Aurora through a series of tapestries, stained-glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures and figurines. The soundtrack uses Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet, which itself inspired the music of the Disney feature film released in 1959.
You reach it by a grand staircase in the middle of the castle. Right at the entrance, you’ll find eight large tapestries woven specially for Disneyland Paris using the traditional methods of master weavers. The stained-glass windows were overseen by Peter Chapman, who used to restore the windows of Notre-Dame de Paris and came out of retirement for this project. When daylight shines through the windows, some patterns create optical illusions layering a rose and doves, a nod to the scene in the film where the fairies give Aurora their gifts.
As the castle also hides La Tanière du Dragon in its basement, it’s the perfect chance to do both hidden attractions in the most photographed building in the park.
The castle’s upper gallery, not to be missed. The upper floor of Sleeping Beauty Castle, decorated with stained glass, tapestries and statues telling the story. A clear view over Fantasyland from the balcony. Free to walk in and often overlooked, even though it offers one of the best viewpoints in the park.
History
Opened on 20 March 1993, a year after the park, La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant completed the castle visit by opening its upper floor to the public. Exclusive to Disneyland Paris, it retells the film Sleeping Beauty (1959), and the stylised architecture of the Paris castle is itself specific to this version.
The gallery was fully restored in 2021-2022, during the castle’s twelve-month major renovation for the 30th anniversary, the first large-scale restoration of the castle since 1992.
Technical data
- Opened
- 1993
- Ride type Walkthrough attraction
- Opening date 20 March 1993
- Duration 10 to 30 min depending on how long you explore
Theme & story
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact low
- Perceived wait none
- Minimum height None (open to all)
- Recommended age all ages
- Wheelchair access fully accessible
- 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
- Superb tapestries and stained glass
- No queue
Weak points
- Not much for young children
- Signs are hard to spot from inside the castle
My verdict
La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant is the upper floor of the castle open to the public. It tells Aurora’s story through Aubusson tapestries and stained-glass windows overseen by a Notre-Dame restorer. There’s no queue, you explore at your own pace and there’s a balcony overlooking the land. Lots of visitors miss it completely, which is a shame.
I find it an unexpected cultural break in the park, and a viewpoint that’s too often forgotten. An amazing detail to look for: the stained-glass window above the tapestry of the sleeping Aurora changes pattern with the light, so you’ll see a rose one moment and two doves the next. Watch out: the signs inside the castle are easy to miss, so take the staircase inside the Merlin l’Enchanteur shop.
Map & getting there
La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant is on the first floor of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
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.
