At a glance
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth sits in the "British corner" of Fantasyland, next to Peter Pan’s Flight, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, and Toad Hall Restaurant. It’s based on Disney’s animated movie Alice in Wonderland, released in 1951 and adapted from Lewis Carroll’s novel, published in 1865.
The route is a 366-meter hedge maze you walk through, split into two parts. The first winds through Tulgey Wood and follows Alice’s adventures before she meets the Queen of Hearts: the fall down the White Rabbit’s hole, doors of every size, signs pointing every which way, surprise water jets, and the Blue Caterpillar smoking on his mushroom. The second part, the Queen of Hearts Maze, is far more complicated: you get lost among the hedges, run into card soldiers painting the roses red, and meet the Queen herself shouting her famous "Off with her head!" All in all, the attraction has 10 scenes, 22 characters, 12 fountains, and 24 decorative statues.
Your final goal is to reach the Queen of Hearts castle, where you climb to the top for a panorama over Fantasyland and, on a clear day, all the way to Main Street U.S.A. Seen from above, the whole maze layout forms the shape of the Cheshire Cat, with a flower bed at the entrance standing in for his head.
The Alice in Wonderland hedge maze. A tangle of hedges filled with animated characters, from the Cheshire Cat to the Queen of Hearts, all the way to a castle on a hill that you climb. Kids love hunting for the right path on this free-roaming route, and there’s a nice lookout at the top.
History
Opened on April 12, 1992 along with the park, Alice’s Curious Labyrinth is a hedge maze in Fantasyland based on the movie Alice in Wonderland (1951). For more than twenty years, it was found only in Paris, until Shanghai Disneyland opened its Alice in Wonderland Maze in 2016, which draws on Tim Burton’s 2010 movie instead.
During the 2012 refurbishment, the original Thuja plicata hedges were swapped out for cypress trees.
Technical specs
- Length
- 366 m
- Opened
- 1992
- Type Walk-through attraction
- Opening date April 12, 1992
- Path length 366 m
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering with Adrian Fisher
- Duration 15 to 30 min, depending on how much you explore
Theme & world
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact low
- Perceived wait moderate
- Height requirement None (open to everyone)
- Recommended age all ages
- Wheelchair accessible
- Pregnant visitors OK to ride
Premier Access, Single Rider, PhotoPass
Not offered on this ride.
This ride has no Single Rider line. If you want to cut your wait, rely on Premier Access or get there at park opening.
No PhotoPass on this ride.
This ride stays closed during Extra Magic Time and only opens when the park does.
Who it’s made for
Pros and cons
The highlights
- You can explore at your own pace
- Panoramic view of the land from the castle
The downsides
- Castle stairs not accessible to wheelchair users
- The water jets aren’t always running
My verdict
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth is a 366-meter hedge maze based on the movie Alice in Wonderland, split into two parts: Tulgey Wood and its many water surprises, then the trickier Queen of Hearts Maze. The attraction ends with a climb up the Queen of Hearts castle, where a superb view over Fantasyland opens up. It’s exclusive to Disneyland Paris, and no other Disney park has anything like it except Shanghai.
It’s one of my personal favorite attractions, mostly for the stroll and the photos. My real tip: head to the top of the castle early in the morning or at sunset, because that’s where you’ll get the best photos of the land. Keep in mind that the castle stairs aren’t accessible to wheelchair users. And don’t be disappointed if the water jets aren’t working, since they’re often switched off.
Julie’s tip
Map & getting there
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth is in Fantasyland, between Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups and Peter Pan’s Flight.
Your questions about this ride
01 How can you avoid long lines for the most popular rides?
To skip long lines at Disneyland Paris, I mix several strategies. 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 don’t mind boarding apart from your group. Next, Disney Premier Access is a paid service that guarantees you priority entry on the headline rides. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, Extra Magic Time lets you into the park before official opening, and that’s the best time to ride the popular attractions back to back without waiting. Last, heading to the busiest rides during a parade or a big show empties the lines dramatically.
02 Are the wait times posted in the park accurate?
Yes, the wait times shown in the app or on the park’s screens are generally accurate. They’re often equal to 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 under refurbishment during my vacation?
Disneyland Paris posts the list of rides closed for refurbishment on its official website several weeks ahead of time. Since the parks are open year-round, maintenance crews sometimes work on days the park is open, which leads to temporary closures. My tip: check this calendar (or the one on my blog) before you book, especially if there’s one particular ride you really care about.
04 Which rides might scare young kids?
Several rides at Disneyland Paris can be a bit much for young kids, even with no height requirement. 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 moments. La Tanière du Dragon, beneath Sleeping Beauty Castle, is home to a very impressive animatronic dragon. Phantom Manor, in Frontierland, leans into its ghostly mood and stays pretty intense for little ones. Pirates of the Caribbean switches between cheerful scenes and darker ones. I recommend watching how your child reacts before you board.
05 How far ahead does Disneyland Paris announce ride closures?
Disneyland Paris shares its list of ride closures about 2 to 3 months ahead. For major rides, the park lets guests know about planned construction at least two months before it starts. I recommend checking the official calendar (or my dedicated page) a few weeks before your visit, since dates can change. That way you won’t get the nasty surprise of finding out on the spot that your favorite ride is closed for refurbishment.
