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Disney Crowds Update: Wait Times Swell to 5 Hours as Parks Fill Up

in Disneyland Paris

Posted on by Chloe James
A lively day at a theme park with visitors milling around, a carousel in the background, and a stone well in the foreground.

Credit: Richard Perry, Flickr

Crowds are heavy at Disney theme parks worldwide right now, with one park seeing wait times of up to five hours.

While Disney’s theme parks tend to be relatively busy all year round, March and April often bring some of the worst crowds of the year as students and families alike take advantage of Spring Break or the Easter holiday.

Crowds on Main Street U.S.A. at Disney World with Cinderella Castle in the background
Credit: Forsaken Fotos, Flickr

Related: Security Called in as Disney Park Line Reaches Eight Hours, Guests Faint

Over the past week, we’ve seen Walt Disney World Resort, in particular, buckle under heavy attendance. Yesterday (April 5), Magic Kingdom reached capacity and Park Hopping was suspended for those without a park-specific reservation. Guests were instead encouraged to visit EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom, as well as being advised that Park Hopping could resume at any time.

But Disney World isn’t the only Disney resort struggling with crowds right now. Further afield, Disneyland Paris has also seen a surge in visitors as European families celebrate Easter (a period that typically includes a school vacation of several weeks). Last week, Disneyland Paris reached capacity on multiple days, and today it’s experiencing some lengthy lines for certain experiences.

A bustling day at Disneyland Paris with visitors enjoying the view of the iconic fairy tale castle.
Credit: Leo Rod, Flickr

According to @DreamDlp, wait times are long for character meet and greets at Disneyland Park. “You will have to be patient to meet Mickey at Meet Mickey with a 140-minute wait,” they wrote. They added that the Princesses at the Princess Pavilion also boast “a 290-minute wait or almost 5 hours.”

The Princess Pavilion is Fantasyland’s designated meeting spot to encounter Disney Princesses. Guests have no idea which character they’ll meet until they reach the front of the line, with princesses swapping out roughly every 30 minutes and cycling between Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Tiana.

Long lines are extremely common; Thrill Data reports an average wait of 153 minutes, and it ranks as the top attraction in the entire park. Even by Princess Pavilion’s standards, however, lines are long today (although wait times have dipped slightly as of this afternoon).

Princess Pavilion at Disneyland Paris
Credit: Disney

Related: Disney Park Hits Full Throttle – All Access Blocked as Capacity Peaks in Prime Season

For those hoping to meet a princess at Disneyland Paris without spending half their day in line – or wanting to meet several princesses at once – the park is also home to its own princess character dining experience. Auberge de Cendrillon (which is located inside Auberge de Cendrillon, AKA Sleeping Beauty Castle) offers French cuisine and involves appearances from the likes of Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, and more. Guests staying at the newly-renovated, $1,000-a-night Disneyland Hotel are also able to book private, 15-minute meet-and-greets with Disney Princesses.

What’s the longest you’ve ever waited for a character or an attraction at a Disney park? Let us know in the comments!

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