Disneyland Paris Rides Review 2026: Day 2 — My Park Report
You might remember Jodie’s food diary — and if you didn’t read it, go back and do that first (no really, it’s brilliant). She’s back now with a full Disneyland Paris rides review 2026 — Day 2 to be precise — and let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a quiet one…
Auchan Shopping Mall — Val d’Europe
Honestly, Auchan deserves its own mention every single time. It is massive and it genuinely has everything. Short on packing space or forgotten something? Get yourself over there.
Primark had a whole Disney section stocked with all the classics, the pharmacy was well stocked (we grabbed some anti-sickness tablets we needed), and the cashier not only spoke English but wrote the dosage on the box for us. Little things like that go a long way.
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast — Discoveryland
First ride of the day in our Disneyland Paris rides review 2026, and already eventful. The animatronic had his hand fixed but his face had stopped working, which honestly was its own kind of unsettling.
The ride kept stopping every few seconds, loads of carts were blocked off, and it paused on us multiple times while we were on it. Stressful start. On the plus side, the stops briefly helped my scoreboard — until my sister found the big target and I never caught up. 😤
Reminder to everyone: use the pivot stick. It exists for a reason. 🕹️
Autopia — Discoveryland
Good news — Autopia is now consistently doing the longer route and it’s absolutely worth a go. Someone ahead of us kept taking her foot off the pedal and grinding to a halt in my path, which was testing. Apparently you’re not allowed to ram. I had to put my full license to use and I’ve now perfected the emergency stop. You’re welcome. 🚫
Spotted: Mary Poppins, Bert and a penguin 🎩
‘it’s a small world — Fantasyland
An absolute must-do. There’s something about being on the water in nice weather that makes me want to just… climb in. The boats stopped mid-ride and we sat there, the tune on repeat, for considerably longer than anyone would like. You know the one. It gets into your head and stays there. Worth it though. Always.
Spotted: Tigger and Eeyore meet and greet 🐯
Casey Jr. — Fantasyland
Something felt off — it was noticeably slower than usual. Normally I get at least a little squeal out of it, but this time not even a ‘weeeee’ escaped. Also, they keep putting me in the caged cart and I am not here for it. Going forward I will be requesting the open top carriage and I will not be taking no for an answer.
Spotted: Piglet doing a little meet in the corner 🐷
Pirates of the Caribbean — Adventureland
A firm favourite and a highlight of any Disneyland Paris rides review. I really do wish they’d tweak the lighting just a little — there are whole sections I genuinely cannot see and it’s frustrating when you know how good it is. The drop feels smaller after Frozen but the water smells considerably better — you know, you know. 😉 We got the front of the boat, took pity on the three little boys behind us and swapped. A rare moment of not shoving children out of the way. 😬
Mad Hatter’s Teacups — Fantasyland
These will always have a place in my heart. The lanterns are gorgeous, the music is fun, and it’s just a pure joy every single time. Use the wheel in the middle though — that’s where the real fun is.
Lion King Show — Studio Theatre
A must-watch every single time we visit. I was fully prepared to sob through He Lives In You and Nala’s solo… the music started, Circle of Life began, and then the curtains just started closing. The performers looked as confused as we did. Tannoy announcement, evacuation, show cancelled. Last show of the day as well, so we missed it completely. Gutted, but these things happen. 🤷🏻
Big Thunder Mountain — Frontierland
The most thrilling ride I’ll currently get on, and every time I step off I feel like an absolute champion. If you’re building your ride list for a first visit, it’s a non-negotiable — you can find it in the First-Timers Guide along with everything else worth knowing before you go. That’s all. 🏆
Pirates of the Caribbean — Round Two
Back for seconds. Got the front of the boat again, this time without swapping. Took a corner and got absolutely drenched — a full river of water straight to the backside. 🌊 No regrets.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant — Fantasyland
Brilliant views of the park from up there, and the breeze on a hot day is genuinely a gift.
A sweet little ride that earns its place on the list every time.
Pinocchio’s Fantastic Journey — Fantasyland
What on earth was that. The creepy donkey, the clown, the shadowy figures with menacing laughs — it is a full fever dream and I would not recommend it to small children. Or sensitive adults. Consider yourself warned. 🙈 More rides your kids won’t like (and the ones they absolutely will) are here in this Best Fantasyland Guide for Families – checklist included!
Phantom Manor — Frontierland
My absolute favourite in the whole park. The holding room still gets me every time, but it passes quickly enough. The music, the ballroom, the whole atmosphere — it’s just perfection. One note: be careful stepping off the ride. Someone in our group lost their footing and went for a little involuntary sprint. 😂
The Storm
Coming out of Phantom Manor, the heavens opened and brought hail with it. We took shelter, it passed quickly, and we did a bit of shopping before heading back. SkipTax receipts sorted for the airport (hello free money!), provisional packing done, 19k steps on the clock. We slept well. 😴
✅ The Good Bits
The park is stunning as always:
- Clean, beautiful, full of little details and brilliant backing music that pulls you right into the magic.
- Crowds were high but it never felt unbearable to move around.
- Staff were consistently polite and helpful.
- And the toilets were a massive improvement on Day 1, which absolutely deserves a mention.
❌ The Not So Good
Only one:
Ride breakdowns were a recurring theme throughout the day — a few too many stops and interruptions.
Putting it down to the heat and the busy period and moving on. 🤷🏻
The Journey Home
Airport was smooth. Get your SkipTax done first (they may ask to see your items), then drop your bag — the whole thing took about 20 minutes. Check what time it opens though; mine consistently opens 3 hours before the flight. Don’t leave it at 2. Bag came in at half a kilo under the limit. 😬 Security took 20 minutes, mostly due to an absolutely unnecessary 12-lap circuit of the room that felt like a PE beep test. Got pulled aside, hoping for a proper frisk, got my hands swabbed instead. Walked straight through passport control. Flight home was quick. Devastated to be back. 😩
Final Verdict?
Hopefully this Disneyland Paris rides review 2026 gives you a real feel for what to expect on a park day. Phantom Manor remains the undisputed favourite, Big Thunder Mountain continues to make us feel like heroes, and Pinocchio remains deeply unsettling. Come prepared for the odd breakdown, grab the front of the Pirates boat, and whatever you do — request the open top cart on Casey Jr. See you in the parks! 🏰
👉 Check out more Disneyland Paris posts by Jodie Sawyer
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