The glossary of Disneyland Paris

One o One (or "101") is Disneyland Paris staff jargon for a ride or show that has temporarily stopped, usually because of a technical fault. You’ll mostly come across it on visitor forums, blogs and social media.

One o Two (or "102") is Disneyland Paris staff jargon for a ride or show that’s back up and running after a stop. It’s the exact opposite of "101".

The robot characters of the rides: Disney’s animated figures (pirates, animals, heroes) whose movements, expressions and voices are synchronised. "Audio-Animatronics" is a Disney trademark. You’ll find them in Pirates of the Caribbean or Phantom Manor, for example.

Big Thunder Mountain is a Wild West-themed rollercoaster in Frontierland at Disneyland Park, opened in 1992. What makes it special: the mine is built on an island in the middle of a lake, reached through an underwater tunnel. It’s very popular, so queue times are often long.

The official term for Disneyland Paris employees, whatever their job (welcome desks, rides, restaurants, shops, shows, hotels, maintenance). The name comes from theatre and film vocabulary, where the "cast" means the performers. They’re the people to ask on site for any information or help during your stay.

A meal in a Disneyland Paris restaurant during which several Disney characters come to your table to say hello, pose for a photo and sign an autograph. It’s usually a buffet or table-service meal, booked in advance, and it’s a way to meet several characters sitting down, without queuing at a meet and greet spot.

The original theme of Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris, inspired by Jules Verne’s novel and its retro-futuristic look. The ride had this theme from its opening in 1995. At D23 2026, Disney announced its return, replacing the Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain version.

Disney Adventure World is the second park at Disneyland Paris, renamed on 29 March 2026 (formerly Walt Disney Studios Park, opened in 2002). It has rides based on the worlds of Frozen, Pixar and Marvel, with The Lion King and Up coming soon, plenty of indoor shows and a night-time show. You need a ticket that includes this park to get in.

Hotels run directly by Disneyland Paris, located on the resort close to the parks. Staying there comes with several exclusive perks: early park access with Extra Magic Time, park tickets included in most packages, meal plans, dedicated services (shopping delivery to your hotel, concierge) and free shuttle buses or walking access depending on the hotel.

Disneyland Paris’s official photo service. Photographers take your pictures at character meet and greets and around the Disney parks and Disney hotels. Some rides also have an automatic photo system. Your photos are collected on your PhotoPass card, then you can view and download them online after purchase.

A paid service that lets you book a slot in a dedicated queue, faster than the regular queue, on a selection of rides at Disneyland Paris. You buy it ride by ride (Premier Access One) or as a bundle for the whole day (Premier Access Ultimate), through the official Disneyland Paris app. The price varies by ride, date and crowd levels.

An area of restaurants, shops and entertainment between Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy RER station and the two Disney parks. Entry is free, no ticket needed. You’ll find themed restaurants, Disney fashion stores, a cinema, bars and a tethered balloon (PanoraMagique), open before the parks open, during the day and after they close.

Disneyland Hotel is the resort’s 5-star hotel, right above the entrance to Disneyland Park. Reopened in 2024 after a full renovation, it now has a royal theme (Disney princesses) and gives its guests direct access to the park before it opens to the public.

A resort run by The Walt Disney Company in Marne-la-Vallée (Seine-et-Marne), about 32 km (20 miles) east of Paris. It’s home to two theme parks (Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World), the Disney Village dining and entertainment area, several Disney hotels and a golf course, all served by Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy RER and TGV station.

Disneyland Park is the original park at Disneyland Paris, opened in 1992. It’s laid out around Sleeping Beauty Castle and has five themed lands. It’s home to most of the classic rides, the parades and a night-time show.

Disneyland Paris’s range of annual passes. Depending on the pass you choose, it gives access to one or two Disney parks for one year, with a varying number of reservation-only or blocked-out days, and includes perks such as discounts on dining, shops and parking, plus access to special events.

A free card issued by Disneyland Paris to visitors with an ALD (a long-term condition recognised by the French health system) that makes long waits in a regular queue difficult. It gives access to rides and shows at a set time, through a dedicated entrance. You can apply on site or in advance (30 days) with an up-to-date medical certificate.

This isn’t an official Disney term but my own scale, shown on my ride pages under the label "emotional impact".

The emotion level measures attachment and wonder: the strength of the story, the poetry and the memories a ride leaves you with, nothing to do with fear or speed. It goes from low to high.

It’s what brings very different worlds together: Ratatouille, Peter Pan’s Flight and Frozen Ever After are all rated high.

Euro Disneyland Railroad is the original name (1992-1994) of the steam train that goes around Disneyland Park. Renamed Disneyland Railroad after the resort changed its name in 1994, the ride is still running. The initials EDRR can still be seen on Main Street Station.

A perk for guests staying at Disney hotels at Disneyland Paris. It lets you enter Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World before the official opening time, to get early access to a selection of rides and themed areas with smaller crowds.

Disneyland Paris’s former free fast track system. It let you pick up a ticket with a return time slot to use a faster queue on some rides, at no extra cost. It was scrapped in 2021 and replaced by the paid Disney Premier Access options (One and Ultimate).

This isn’t an official Disney term but my own scale, which I show on each of my ride pages to help you get your bearings at a glance.

The fear level measures apprehension: the atmosphere, the darkness and the surprise effects, regardless of speed. It goes from none to intense.

A ride can be scary without throwing you around: Tower of Terror is rated intense for its tension, La Tanière du Dragon moderate for its dark atmosphere, while Big Thunder Mountain, more physical, stays low.

A discounted entry ticket that a Disneyland Paris annual passholder can buy for friends and family, in limited numbers. The Friends Ticket replaced the former "Privilege Ticket".

Hollywood Tower Hotel is the name of the fictional building that houses The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror drop ride, in Disney Adventure World. It simulates a lift falling 13 floors in an abandoned 1930s Hollywood hotel.

A paid shuttle bus service linking the Paris airports (Charles de Gaulle and Orly) to the parks, the Disney hotels and some partner hotels at Disneyland Paris. Run by an official partner of the resort, it’s booked in advance online and is one way to reach the resort without hiring a car or taking the RER A (Paris suburban train).

A dining package paid on top when you book a Disneyland Paris holiday. It entitles you to a set number of meals (breakfast, lunch or dinner) in a selection of restaurants in the Disney parks and Disney hotels, depending on the category chosen. The plan usually comes as vouchers on a card (Magic Pass) handed to you on arrival.

An organised meeting with a Disney, Pixar, Star Wars or Marvel character, at a dedicated spot in the Disney parks or Disney hotels. You queue, then get a few moments to chat, take a photo and get an autograph. Some meet and greets are booked in advance through a virtual queue, others happen on the spot at the times shown.

Hotels near Disneyland Paris, run by independent brands (not managed by Disney) but listed in the resort’s official offer. Booking through Disneyland Paris usually gets you a package including park tickets, plus a shuttle bus to the resort entrance. The perks reserved for Disney hotels (such as early access) don’t apply.

Phantom Manor is the haunted house ride at Disneyland Park, in Frontierland since 1992. You travel through it in a small carriage, following the story of Melanie Ravenswood, the eternal bride of a haunted Victorian manor. Dark atmosphere: it may scare young children.

Pirates of the Caribbean is a boat ride in Adventureland at Disneyland Park, opened in 1992. You spend about 10 minutes sailing through a pirate battle in the Caribbean. No minimum height, suitable for families.

A free card issued by Disneyland Paris to disabled visitors who hold a CMI (France’s official disability card). It gives access to Disneyland Paris rides and shows with a shorter wait, usually through a dedicated entrance. You can apply in advance online (up to 30 days before your visit) or on site on the day.

A former discounted ticket offer that Disneyland Paris annual passholders could buy for friends and family. It no longer exists: it was replaced by Friends Tickets. You’ll still see the term "Privilege Ticket" on other sites, out of habit, but the current offer is the Friends Ticket.

A free system that lets companions take turns on a ride without queuing again from the start, when one member of the group can’t ride (child too small, parent staying with them, someone who doesn’t want to ride). The first adult rides while the other waits with the child, then they swap using a dedicated ticket and a special queue (often the wheelchair-access entrance or the Premier Access entrance).

A free queue for visitors happy to ride alone, used to fill the single empty seats in the ride vehicles. The wait is often shorter than in the regular queue, but members of the same group can’t be seated together. Only available on a selection of rides.

This isn’t an official Disney term but my own scale, shown on my ride pages so you can see the physical intensity at a glance.

The thrill level measures physical intensity: speed, drops and jolts. It goes from low to big thrills.

From Star Tours at moderate to Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force at big thrills, the difference in how they feel physically is clear.

A wristband given free to pregnant visitors at Disneyland Paris, on request from Guest Services (City Hall, at the entrance to Disneyland Park). It gives access to an alternative entrance on many rides, so you don’t have to stand in the regular queue. It doesn’t override the safety rules: thrill rides are still not recommended during pregnancy.

A free system used at Disneyland Paris for meeting some of the most popular characters. Using the official Disneyland Paris app, and only once you’re inside the park, you book a time slot within set hours during the day, without queuing in person. It isn’t used for rides or shows.

Walt Disney Studios Park is the former name of the second park at Disneyland Paris, opened in 2002 and renamed Disney Adventure World on 29 March 2026. You may still come across this name in older guides, videos or articles from before the change.