At a glance
Les Voyages de Pinocchio is a dark ride that takes you into the story of the 1940 animated film. The adventure begins in Stromboli’s puppet theatre and continues through the film’s key moments, including the meeting with the Coachman and the journey to Pleasure Island, where children turn into donkeys.
You board themed vehicles that look like carved wooden carts. The ride passes through dark scenes lit with black light to make the colours and sets stand out. Along the way you meet iconic characters such as Jiminy Cricket, Honest John and Gideon, as well as the fearsome Monstro the whale.
The mood swings between wonder and menace, especially as you pass through the funfair and Stromboli’s cages. The journey ends on a happy note when the Blue Fairy steps in and Pinocchio returns home to Geppetto, celebrating his final transformation.
The storybook dark ride of Pinocchio. A cart ride through scenes from the film, from Stromboli’s theatre to Pleasure Island and Monstro the whale. More unsettling than cheerful, true to the spirit of the original tale. Short and smooth-flowing, it rarely has a long queue.
History
Opened on 12 April 1992 along with the park, Les Voyages de Pinocchio is the Disneyland Paris version of Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, which appeared at Disneyland Anaheim and Tokyo Disneyland in 1983. This Fantasyland dark ride follows the plot of the film Pinocchio (1940).
Technical data
- Top speed
- 5 km/h
- Duration
- 2 min 50
- Opened
- 1992
- Type Dark ride
- Opening date 12 April 1992
- Duration 2 min 50
- Speed 5 km/h (3 mph)
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Inspired by Pinocchio’s Daring Journey (Disneyland, California, 1983)
Theme & story
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact moderate
- Perceived wait moderate
- Minimum height None (open to all)
- Recommended age kids, tweens, teens, adults
- Wheelchair access must transfer from wheelchair
- 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
- Faithful immersion in the world of the film
- A timeless Fantasyland classic
- Visual effects that still hold up
Weak points
- Some scenes may be scary for younger children
- Ride sometimes considered too short
My verdict
Les Voyages de Pinocchio is a dark ride in little carts that takes you into the world of the 1940 film: you set off from Stromboli’s theatre, pass through Pleasure Island and end up in the belly of Monstro the whale. It lasts 2 min 50 s, has no minimum height and its visual effects still hold up despite the ride’s age.
I find it a faithful classic, but worth knowing about if you’re taking little ones: Pleasure Island and Monstro the whale can really frighten under-5s. The immersion works very well if you know the film, but the story may seem hard to follow otherwise. Bonus: it follows on perfectly from the Snow White ride next door for a run of classic dark rides.
Best time to visit
Calculated from the ride’s queue time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
Les Voyages de Pinocchio is in Fantasyland, near Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains.
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.
