How to get Magic Shots at Disneyland Paris

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

In the moment, you just pose as usual, often with a specific gesture (an outstretched hand, eyes looking up). The character or effect isn’t actually in front of you: it gets added later. You see how it turned out once the photo shows up in your PhotoPass account.

That’s what sets a Magic Shot apart from a regular photo. Tinker Bell resting in your palm, a pumpkin, a witch’s cauldron, balloons floating away: the effect depends on the location and the time of year. Your phone can’t recreate it, since Disney’s teams add it in post-production.

It all comes down to one thing: 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 make a habit of asking every photographer you pass.

You’ll find PhotoPass photographers all over both parks: facing the castle, on Central Plaza (the big square at the entrance to Disneyland Park), close to the headline rides, and at some character meet and greets. Which of them do Magic Shots, however, changes with the weekday and the season.

For the most reliable info, open the official Disneyland Paris app on the day you go. Its interactive map flags the photo spots currently running with a little camera icon. The app doesn’t always list every single Magic Shot, so stay alert while you walk around and ask the photographers.

First thing to know: you don’t get to pick the character. Magic Shots often vary by location, day, and season. You’ll land on whichever character or effect is available, with no guarantee of getting the one you were hoping for. Think of it as a nice surprise rather than a checklist.

Here are some examples that have shown up in the parks, just to give you an idea. They aren’t all offered at once, and some come back mostly during the seasonal events.

If you really want to be pictured with a character you may not actually run into, a Magic Shot is a good option, on top of the character meet and greets. You don’t meet them in person, but you still leave with a photo by their side.

Along with still photos, Disneyland Paris offers Animated Magic Shots: instead of a picture, you get a short video where the effect comes to life. It works the same way as a regular Magic Shot. You pose for the photographer, and the effect is added afterward.

What’s on offer changes here too, exactly as with the still shots, and new seasonal editions turn up over the course of the year. To find out if an animated spot is up and running when you visit, ask a photographer or look in the app.

Good news: there’s no extra charge for a Magic Shot. It’s included in your PhotoPass or PhotoPass+ plan, so you don’t pay more for each effect. That said, you still need that plan to download the photo in high quality and use it however you like.

There are two ways to go. You can buy the plan ahead of your photo. Or the photographer gives you a temporary card to attach to your account, and you make up your mind about buying later on. Whichever you choose, the Magic Shots sit right alongside all your other PhotoPass pictures.

For the details on the plans, their prices, and how they work, everything is covered in the dedicated article: PhotoPass and PhotoPass+. Magic Shots are one of the services available in the parks.