At a glance
Peter Pan’s Flight is a suspended dark ride that takes you into the world of the 1953 animated classic. It begins in the Darling children’s nursery, where Peter Pan’s shadow leads Wendy, John and Michael to the open window. Passengers board six-seat miniature galleons hanging from a rail in the ceiling, which gives a real feeling of flying.
The journey continues over sleeping London, where forced perspective and scaled-down models create the illusion of climbing high above landmarks such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the Thames. The vehicles then cross a starry sky, following the second star to the right to reach Neverland.
On the island, you fly over iconic spots such as Mermaid Lagoon, the Indian Camp and the glowing volcano. The adventure peaks with the sword fight between Peter Pan and Captain Hook on the Jolly Roger, while Wendy is made to walk the plank. The ride uses black light and fluorescent paint to make the colours of the sets stand out. The film’s original soundtrack, including You Can Fly!, plays throughout the ride.
A one-of-a-kind suspended dark ride. You fly over London, then Neverland, aboard a mini pirate ship, through starlit night scenes. One of the park’s original rides, still loved by kids and nostalgic grown-ups alike.
History
Opened on 12 April 1992 along with the park, Peter Pan’s Flight is the Disneyland Paris version of a ride found at Disneyland in Anaheim since its opening in 1955, then at Magic Kingdom in Orlando (1971), Tokyo Disneyland (1983) and Shanghai Disneyland (2016). This suspended dark ride follows the story of the film Peter Pan (1953).
Technical data
- Top speed
- 6 km/h
- Duration
- 3 min 10
- Opened
- 1992
- Type Dark ride
- Opening date 12 April 1992
- Duration 3 min 10
- Speed 6 km/h (4 mph)
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Inspired by Peter Pan’s Flight (Disneyland, California, 1955)
Theme & story
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact high
- Perceived wait high
- Minimum height None (open to all)
- Recommended age all ages
- Wheelchair accessible
- Pregnant visitors not recommended
Premier Access, Single Rider, PhotoPass
Skip the regular queue whenever you like. Handy in peak season, when the wait often goes over 60 minutes.
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
- A feeling of flight like no other, thanks to the suspended galleons
- A beautiful flight over a miniature London
Weak points
- Queue times often very long
- The ride feels very short compared with the wait
- Mechanical noise that can spoil the immersion
My verdict
Peter Pan’s Flight is a one-of-a-kind suspended dark ride: you fly over the rooftops of London, then Neverland, aboard a suspended galleon, from Captain Hook’s hideout to Mermaid Lagoon. It lasts 3 min 10, there’s no minimum height and Premier Access is available. It’s one of the original 1992 rides that are still running today.
Flying over miniature London is still, for me, one of the most beautiful moments in Fantasyland. The only real problem: the queue is very long from morning to night. My real tip is to ride it as soon as the park opens, or use Premier Access if you have it. The ride can feel short compared with the wait, which is the price of its constant popularity.
Best time to visit
Calculated from the ride’s queue time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
Peter Pan’s Flight is in Fantasyland, close to Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
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.
