At a glance
Le Pays des Contes de Fées is a quiet scenic cruise that takes you through a maze of canals. On board little boats named after Disney heroines, you discover a series of 1/12 scale miniature landscapes and buildings depicting classic stories.
Giant books along the way introduce each scene. Among them are the Seven Dwarfs’ cottage, Rapunzel’s tower, Prince Eric’s castle, Aladdin’s Cave of Wonders and Belle’s village.
Animated figures and carefully trimmed plants make it all the more immersive. Unlike the Californian version, the boats here run without a narrator on board, guided by underwater rails.
The ride is interwoven with the route of Casey Jr. - le Petit Train du Cirque, giving you a second perspective on the miniature sets in this tucked-away corner of Fantasyland.
The canal ride past the miniatures. A small guided boat glides past scaled-down sets of the castles and villages from Disney stories, from Pinocchio’s mill to the Little Mermaid’s grotto. Slow and soothing, it’s a favourite way to catch your breath between two rides. The model details are worth a close look.
History
Opened on 26 March 1994, two years after the park, Le Pays des Contes de Fées is the Disneyland Paris version of the Storybook Land Canal Boats created for Disneyland Anaheim in 1955. In August 2024, new scenes inspired by Frozen and Up were added to the route.
Technical data
- Duration
- 5 min
- Opened
- 1994
- Type Boat ride
- Opening date 26 March 1994
- Duration 5 min
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Inspiration Storybook Land Canal Boats (Disneyland California 1956)
Theme & story
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact low
- 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.
Not open during Extra Magic Time: it opens at the same time as the park.
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- A calm, relaxing ride
- The fine detail of the miniature models
- The new scenes added recently
Weak points
- Outdoors with no shelter
- Ride sometimes considered too short
- At the back of the park, so quite a walk to get there
My verdict
Le Pays des Contes de Fées is a gentle cruise aboard little boats named after Disney heroines, past miniature sets recreating the classics. It lasts 5 minutes, with no Premier Access, and the detail on the models is really well crafted. It’s the Disneyland Paris version of Anaheim’s Storybook Land Canal Boats.
I particularly love this attraction for its relaxed pace: it’s the perfect break in the middle of a busy day. The new scenes added recently (including Frozen and Up) are well worth a look. My tip: the entrance passes under the Disneyland Railroad tracks, so if the train goes by at that moment, look up. It’s a detail that children always love. Best avoided in bad weather though, as it’s entirely outdoors.
Best time to visit
Calculated from the ride’s queue time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
Le Pays des Contes de Fées is in Fantasyland, near Casey Jr. - le Petit Train du Cirque.
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.
