At a glance
This attraction is a family-friendly drop tower for those who want to try vertical thrills without extreme intensity. Riders sit in groups of six in a circular gondola, held in by a simple safety net and a grab bar, before being hoisted to the top of a structure that looks like a military training tower. The look is inspired by the little green plastic army men from the film Toy Story, with sets that make you feel you’re in a miniature army base set up in a garden.
Once at the top, the open view lets you take in the surroundings of the park before the exercise begins. The movement is a series of rises and drops, creating slight butterflies in your stomach with each fall. It isn’t a violent free fall but rather a controlled up-and-down motion that mimics parachutists coming down.
The ride is particularly visual thanks to its bright colours and giant props such as walkie-talkies and plastic ammunition crates. It’s a good halfway house for children who want to try a thrill ride before moving on to more intense attractions. As it’s outdoors, you can clearly see how the ride works before deciding to get on.
The family mini drop tower of Toy Story Playland. Green army men’s parachutes hoist riders to the top of a tower before a gentle, bouncy descent that children can enjoy. A lovely brief view over the land from the top. A good first taste of drop thrills, without the intensity of Tower of Terror.
History
Opened on 17 August 2010 in the Toy Story Playland area, Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop is a children’s drop tower inspired by the little green army men from Toy Story. It was later copied at Hong Kong Disneyland (2011) and then Shanghai Disneyland (2016).
Technical data
- Top speed
- 25 km/h
- Duration
- 1 min 10
- Opened
- 2010
- Type Drop tower
- Opening date 17 August 2010
- Duration 1 min 10
- Maximum height 27 m
- Top speed 25 km/h (16 mph)
- Number of seats 36
- Hourly capacity 535 people/hour
- Minimum height 81 cm
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Builder Intamin
Theme & story
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level low
- Thrill level moderate
- Emotional impact moderate
- Perceived wait moderate
- Minimum height 0.81 m
- 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.
"Single rider" queue: you fill the empty single seats, often much faster than the regular queue.
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
- Panoramic view of the surroundings from 27 metres up
- Drop sensations suitable for children
- Very colourful theming true to the world of the Pixar toys
Weak points
- Fully exposed to rain and wind, as the ride stays open despite the parachutes above the seats
- Queue times often long for a fairly short ride
My verdict
Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop is the family mini drop tower of Toy Story Playland: green army men’s parachutes hoist riders up to 27 metres before bringing them back down in a series of gentle little bounces. Minimum height 81 cm, Single Rider available, and it lasts 1 min 10 sec.
I find it a perfect stepping stone towards Tower of Terror for children: accessible vertical thrills, without the spooky atmosphere that can be scary. The panoramic view from 27 metres is a nice bonus. Avoid it in bad weather: despite the parachutes above the seats, the ride is still exposed to rain and wind. And as is often the case in Toy Story Playland, expect a long queue for a fairly short ride.
Best time to visit
Calculated from the ride’s queue time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop is in the Toy Story Playland area, in the Worlds of Pixar land, close to the Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin attraction.
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 What are the minimum heights for each ride at Disneyland Paris?
Here are the minimum heights for the thrill rides at Disneyland Paris. In Disneyland Park: Autopia 0.81 m, Star Tours and Big Thunder Mountain 1.02 m, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain 1.20 m, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril 1.40 m. In Disney Adventure World: Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop 0.81 m, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 1.02 m, Crush’s Coaster 1.07 m, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and RC Racer 1.20 m. The other rides have no height restrictions, which makes them ideal for families with young children.
05 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.
