At a glance
La Cabane des Robinson is inspired by the Disney movie Swiss Family Robinson, released in 1960 and itself adapted from Johann David Wyss’s novel The Swiss Family Robinson (1812). The story follows a Swiss family who wash up on a tropical island after a storm and turn a giant tree into a clever home, using materials salvaged from their ship, the Swallow.
The artificial tree holding up the house has a made-up Latin name coined by the Imagineers: Disneyodendron semperflorens grandis, meaning the great ever-blooming Disney tree. It rises 27 meters above the ground and reaches 6.5 meters below it, thanks to the caves known as the Belly of the Earth, which serve as the Robinsons’ pantry. The trunk and branches are metal covered in concrete, and the hundreds of thousands of plastic leaves and flowers were attached one by one by hand.
The visit is on foot, up a tangle of staircases and gangways that take you from room to room: first the parlor, where a barrel organ plays the Swisskapolka that Buddy Baker wrote for the movie, then Mother and Father’s room, the kids’ room, and the library, ending in the lookout perched at the very top, with a striking panorama of Adventureland. Each level has wooden plaques, painted by hand, that borrow lines from Wyss’s book to explain what you’re looking at.
The immersion goes even further: at the entrance, the waterwheel powers a system that carries water all the way up to the upper levels, and the wreck of the Swallow extends the story well beyond the treehouse. The Imagineers set the date of the shipwreck at July 17, 1805, exactly 150 years to the day before the original Disneyland opened.
The tallest treehouse in the park. A giant tree you climb freely, recreating the Swiss Family Robinson’s home with its furnished rooms, walkways, and a panoramic view over Adventureland. The climb takes some effort but pays off with a wide-open view, and it’s often quiet with no line.
History
Opened on April 12, 1992 along with the park, La Cabane des Robinson is the Disneyland Paris version of the Swiss Family Treehouse, found at Disneyland in Anaheim (1962), then at Orlando’s Magic Kingdom (1971) and Tokyo Disneyland (1993). This walk-through in an artificial tree is inspired by the movie Swiss Family Robinson (1960). The Anaheim version has since been reworked into Tarzan’s Treehouse.
Technical specs
- Opened
- 1992
- Type Walk-through
- Opening date April 12, 1992
- Tree height 27 m
- Inspired by Swiss Family Treehouse (Magic Kingdom 1971)
- Average time 10-20 min depending on how much you explore
Theme & world
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact low
- Perceived wait low
- 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
- Usually a short line
- Panoramic view over Adventureland
- An exceptional level of detail
The downsides
- Lots of stairs to climb up and down
- Not much action for kids in a hurry
- Not wheelchair accessible
My verdict
La Cabane des Robinson is an artificial banyan tree 27 meters tall that you climb at your own pace, across walkways and through furnished rooms. Inspired by the movie Swiss Family Robinson, it’s a calm attraction to explore, with no line and no boarding, that you enjoy at your own speed. The level of detail in the furnished rooms (kitchen, bedrooms) is exceptional if you take the time to look.
I always bring first-time visitors here, if only for the panoramic view from the top: on a clear day, you can make out the Eiffel Tower. I find it a perfect breather in the middle of Adventureland. Skip it, though, if stairs bother you (and there are a lot of them) or if you’re traveling with a stroller: you’ll have to leave it at the bottom.
Map & getting there
You’ll find La Cabane des Robinson right in the middle of Adventure Isle, in Adventureland, just steps from Pirates of the Caribbean.
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.
