Disneyland Paris Magic Shots: how to get them

A Magic Shot is a photo taken by one of the park’s PhotoPass photographers, with a Disney character or an effect added by computer after the shot.

At the time, you pose as normal, often with a specific gesture (hand held out, looking up). The character or effect isn’t actually there in front of you: it’s added afterwards. You see the result once the photo reaches your PhotoPass account.

That’s what sets a Magic Shot apart from a standard photo. Tinker Bell sitting in your hand, a pumpkin, a witch’s cauldron, balloons floating away: the effect depends on the spot and the time of year. You can’t recreate it with your phone, as Disney’s teams add it in post-production.

It’s simple: you have to ask the photographer. Not every photo spot offers a Magic Shot, and the ones that do change from day to day. So get into the habit of asking every photographer you come across.

PhotoPass photographers are spread across both parks: in front of the castle, on Central Plaza (the big square by the entrance to Disneyland Park), near the headline rides and at some character meet and greets. The spots that offer a Magic Shot rotate with the day of the week and the season.

The most reliable way is to check the official Disneyland Paris app on the day of your visit. Its interactive map shows the active photo spots, marked with a camera icon. Not every Magic Shot is always listed in the app, so keep your eyes open and ask the photographers.

First thing to know: you don’t choose the character. Magic Shots often change with the spot, the day and the season. You’ll get whichever character or effect is on offer, with no guarantee it’s the one you were hoping for. See it as a nice surprise, not a checklist.

Here are a few examples already spotted in the parks, to give you an idea. They’re not all available at the same time, and some mainly come back for the seasonal events.

If you’re keen to appear with a character you won’t necessarily meet in real life, a Magic Shot is a good option, on top of the character meet and greets. You don’t meet them in the flesh, but you still go home with a photo by their side.

As well as still photos, Disneyland Paris offers Animated Magic Shots: instead of an image, you get a short video where the effect comes to life. It works just like a standard Magic Shot. You pose in front of the photographer, and the effect is added afterwards.

Availability varies, as with still Magic Shots, and seasonal versions pop up throughout the year. Ask the photographer or check the app to find out whether an animated spot is running on the day of your visit.

Good news: a Magic Shot doesn’t cost extra. It’s included in your PhotoPass or PhotoPass+ package, so you don’t pay a supplement for each effect. You do still need that package to download the photo in good quality and use it freely.

There are two options. Either you buy your package before the photo session. Or the photographer gives you a temporary card that you link to your account, so you can decide later whether to buy your photos. Either way, your Magic Shots end up in the same place as your other PhotoPass photos.

For the details of the packages, their prices and how they work, everything is explained in the dedicated article: PhotoPass and PhotoPass+. The Magic Shot is one of the services available in the parks.