Disneyland Paris offers five big-thrill rides and six milder rides to ease into it, spread across the two parks, Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios Park).
The five most intense are Avengers Assemble Flight Force, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Hyperspace Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, and RC Racer. The six gentler ones are Big Thunder Mountain, Crush’s Coaster, Cars Quatre Roues Rallye, Star Tours, Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin, and Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop.
Four feelings drive these rides: a rush of adrenaline when you suddenly accelerate, vertigo high above the ground, the drop that makes your stomach sink, and the speed that pushes you back into your seat. Some rides focus on one, others hit you with several together. As you plan your day, what matters most is knowing what’s coming before you climb aboard.
Thrill rides at Disneyland Paris
These are the rides in both parks that deliver the biggest thrills, cranking acceleration, height, speed, or spinning all the way up.
In Disney Adventure World, you’ll find Avengers Assemble Flight Force, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and RC Racer. Disneyland Park is home to Hyperspace Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. They all have a minimum height, and several aren’t right for people prone to vertigo or uncomfortable in the dark.
| Ride | Land |
|---|---|
| Avengers Assemble: Flight Force | Avengers Campus |
| Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain | Discoveryland |
| RC Racer | Worlds of Pixar |
| Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril | Adventureland |
| The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | World Premiere Plaza |
Big-thrill rides, updated automatically.
What types of roller coasters and thrill rides are there?
Thrill rides come in different flavors. The word "thrill" actually covers six families of rides, and every one of them makes you feel something different.
Knowing how to spot a ride’s type helps you pick the one that suits you, especially if certain things make you uneasy (heights, darkness, speed, spinning). For each type, I also note whether the intensity is brief (one sharp jolt) or sustained (for the whole ride).
Roller coaster (classic coaster)
First a slow climb, then plunges and sharp curves that press you into your seat and make your stomach float, with the occasional loop that flips you fully upside down. It’s all about anticipation and speed, and the intensity lasts most of the ride. Examples: for big thrills, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril and its 360° loop, and for a family-friendly version without inversions, Big Thunder Mountain.
Launched coaster (catapult)
No slow climb: you’re shot forward all at once, as if catapulted. The acceleration presses you into your seat in a split second and takes your breath away. It’s the rawest sensation, short but intense, a lot like a takeoff. Examples: Avengers Assemble Flight Force (the fastest ride in both parks, in Disney Adventure World) and Hyperspace Mountain, also launched, in Discoveryland.
Drop tower (free-fall ride)
You’re hoisted to the top of a tower, held there for a moment, then dropped in free fall. You get that hollow feeling in your stomach as your body lifts off the seat, in a series of jolts. The vertigo comes from the height and from never knowing when the drops will hit. Example: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, in Disney Adventure World.
Simulator
Your body is shaken and tilted inside a closed cabin, synced to a screen: you feel like you’re flying or diving without actually moving through space. Strong sensations but no real speed or drop, ideal if you’re afraid of heights. Example: Star Tours, in Disneyland Park.
Half-pipe roller coaster
The vehicle rocks back and forth on a U-shaped ramp, climbing almost straight up at each end and hanging for a moment at the top before rolling back down in reverse. A mix of vertigo, swinging, and weightlessness, with no loop, in a short format. Example: RC Racer, in Disney Adventure World.
Spinning coaster
A roller coaster where the car spins around during the ride. On top of the turns and drops comes unpredictable spinning, which throws off your sense of direction and amplifies the sensations, especially in the dark. It’s also the type that’s hardest on your stomach. Example: Crush’s Coaster, in Disney Adventure World, a perfect step between beginner rides and big thrills.
Which thrill rides for teens and beginners?
If you’re not used to roller coasters, or you’re coming with teens who are just starting out, begin with the milder rides. They give you thrills without the raw intensity of the big coasters. They help you build confidence before trying something stronger, and they work well for families.
What I’d suggest: start with Star Tours or Big Thunder Mountain, and if you’re ready for more, move up to Crush’s Coaster, which throws in spinning and darkness.
| Ride | Land |
|---|---|
| Cars Quatre Roues Rallye | Worlds of Pixar |
| Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin | Worlds of Pixar |
| Star Tours: The Adventures Continue | Discoveryland |
| Big Thunder Mountain | Frontierland |
| Crush’s Coaster | Worlds of Pixar |
| Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop | Worlds of Pixar |
Milder thrills (to ease into it), updated automatically.
Where to start, depending on who you are
Kid trying it for the first time
Big Thunder Mountain (a coaster for the whole family) or Cars Quatre Roues Rallye (a ride that spins) make a good first step: no loops, no big drops, just an easy introduction to speed. Look up the minimum height before you go.
Teen beginner
Star Tours to try the sensation in a closed cabin, then Crush’s Coaster to add spinning and darkness. A good stepping stone before the big thrills.
Thrill seeker
Head straight for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Avengers Assemble Flight Force, and Hyperspace Mountain: a drop, a launch, and inversions in the dark, the most intense trio.
Adult afraid of heights
Simulators such as Star Tours are your best bet, since they’re enclosed and never drop you. Skip Tower of Terror and other drop towers, which are designed around that feeling of falling into nothing.
Which rides feel scariest, and which skip the heights and darkness?
What’s scary, what isn’t. If heights make you anxious, skip Tower of Terror and go for a simulator like Star Tours, enclosed and with no drop. If darkness bothers you, keep in mind that Hyperspace Mountain, Avengers Assemble Flight Force, and Crush’s Coaster run in the dark, unlike Big Thunder Mountain, which is mostly outdoors. If spinning throws you off, Crush’s Coaster spins around, while the other coasters stay on a fixed path. And if you’re prone to motion sickness, be especially wary of Crush’s Coaster: spinning combined with darkness is what most easily brings on nausea.
Manage the wait. Thrill rides are the most popular, so lines build quickly. Do them first thing in the morning, right at park opening, while crowds are still light. On rides with Single Rider (a line for solo riders), like Crush’s Coaster and RC Racer, you save a lot of time if you’re OK being split from your group for the ride. Premier Access (paid skip-the-line access) is still an option if you want to lock in a specific ride without spending the morning on it.
For families. When a child is too short for a ride, Rider Switch lets both parents ride one after the other without lining up again, while the other one stays with the child. Handy so neither of you misses out.
The thrill I love most. Tower of Terror, without a second thought. Its drops come in a different sequence each time you ride, and that keeps the rush fresh on every visit: you can’t guess when the floor will fall away.
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Dig deeper
Want to go further? Here are some other guides I wrote on the subject:
- My top rides
- my personal ranking, ride by ride.
- Rides by the numbers
- speeds, drop heights, loops, and detailed technical data.
- Height requirements
- the full table of restrictions, so you know who can ride.
- Lines and wait times
- Single Rider, Premier Access, and my tips for waiting less.
- All the rides
- every ride in both parks.
Frequently asked questions
01 What is the most intense thrill ride at Disneyland Paris?
Many guests point to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, at Disney Adventure World, as the most intense: a lift carries you up to the top of a tower before dropping you in a string of free falls that change every ride. Between that stomach-in-your-throat sensation and never knowing when the next drop comes, it’s the ride that leaves the strongest impression on lots of visitors.
02 Are there roller coasters with a loop at Disneyland Paris?
Yes. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril features an open-air loop that flips you fully upside down. Hyperspace Mountain and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force also turn you over, but in darkness. Across the two parks, these three are the main rides with inversions.
03 New to thrill rides? Which one should you start with?
Start with something moderate: Star Tours (an enclosed simulator, with no drops and no real speed) or Big Thunder Mountain (an outdoor family roller coaster). You get a taste of the thrills without the raw intensity of the big coasters, then work your way up if you feel like it.
04 How old do you need to be for the thrill rides?
There’s no official age limit: what counts is the minimum height (from 1.02 m to 1.40 m depending on the ride), checked at the entrance. So a tall enough child can ride, and so can a shorter adult. To know exactly who can do what, go by the height chart rather than by age. You’ll find the details in the height requirements guide.
05 Which thrill rides are in the dark?
Hyperspace Mountain, Avengers Assemble Flight Force, and Crush’s Coaster all run in darkness. On Crush’s Coaster, the dark comes on top of the spinning car, which is even more disorienting because you can’t see the moves coming. Big Thunder Mountain, by contrast, is mostly out in the open air.
06 Are rides at Disneyland Paris OK during pregnancy?
Thrill rides (roller coasters, drops, simulators) are not recommended for pregnant visitors, and you may be turned away at boarding. You can enjoy the gentle rides with no worries (it’s a small world, boat rides, carousels, Disneyland Railroad). For shows and parades, a pregnancy wristband (Thumper wristband) gives you access to the dedicated viewing areas on request.
07 Which thrill rides can my child do based on height (1 m, 1.02 m, 1.20 m)?
From 81 cm (with an adult): Autopia riding as a passenger, plus Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop. From 1.02 m: Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours, and Tower of Terror. 1.07 m unlocks Crush’s Coaster. 1.20 m opens up Hyperspace Mountain, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, and RC Racer. 1.40 m is needed for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. Cast Members measure kids right at the ride entrance, with their shoes on.
08 Could I be too tall or too large to ride at Disneyland Paris?
On the vast majority of rides, you’ll be able to ride with no trouble: seats and lap bars are designed for a wide range of body types. Restraints are snugger on a few roller coasters, especially Crush’s Coaster. There’s no test seat at the ride entrances. If in doubt, ask a Cast Member at the boarding area, who will discreetly check with you.
