Crush’s Coaster is one of the most popular rides at Disneyland Paris, and also one with the longest queue times. Relax, don’t let that scare you… too much. That’s what Bruce the Shark would want, anyway.
Crush’s Coaster is a spinning coaster, similar to the new Curse of the Werewolf coaster at Universal’s Epic Universe. If you want to get more technical, it’s an SC2000 coaster made by manufacturer Maurer that exists all over the globe with the same track layout everywhere. The differences? Crush’s Coaster is set in the dark, features a brief dark ride section, and has that special Disney touch. Now let’s see if you want to follow Crush through the East Australian Current or if it’s better to stay home.
What we like about Crush’s Coaster
Crush’s Coaster is very, very fun. If this ride had a 5- or 10-minute wait time, it would be an easy recommendation every single time. There’s a reason these spinning coasters are such a huge success in small to medium theme parks: they’re great for both adults and children, they’re compact, and they have that special feature where your car spins around. Guests can sit either facing forward or backward, and the experience feels different every time.
The basic track layout of Crush’s Coaster is the same as other Maurer spinning coasters, like Undertow at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Whirlwind at SeaBreeze Amusement Park. The main difference here is that this ride is based on Finding Nemo, which adds plenty of fun twists to the classic spinning coaster formula. For one, there’s a brief dark ride section at the start, very similar to Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends. You’ll see projections of Nemo and friends, a few props, and even an animatronic of Bruce the Shark talking to you as you head up the first lift. It’s a nice touch that children will especially appreciate.
It’s at this point that the ride really begins, and the track follows the same layout as other SC2000 coasters. This is a spinning ride for four guests, with two seated facing forward and two facing backward, so you always get a different experience depending on where you sit. If you’re in the back, for example, the sense of speed feels much higher during the drops.
Another thing that amplifies the feeling of speed? The ride is almost entirely set in the dark, so you never know when you’re about to hit a drop, a slalom, or a helix. Keep in mind, this is a very chill coaster - there are no loops, inversions, or anything like that - but the darkness makes it feel more thrilling than the other clones.
Children should especially love this one. It’s gentle, and the spinning element is really fun. I bet they’ll be laughing nonstop once the car starts spinning and they have no idea whether they’re about to turn, drop, or dive into a slalom for some airtime. I always loved riding these coasters while playfully “squeezing” my young cousins against the bench, and they had the time of their lives.
What we don’t like about Crush’s Coaster
The main problem with this ride? Wait times, plain and simple. Spinning coasters are notoriously known for their low capacity, and it really shows on Crush’s Coaster. For one, the vehicles only seat four guests, and they’re small and a bit tight, so just getting in takes extra time. On top of that, there aren’t many vehicles running on the track at once. All of this adds up to longer and longer queues.
Crush’s Coaster usually has wait times of 30 to 60 minutes on a regular day, and up to 2 hours during the holiday seasons, making it the worst line at Walt Disney Studios Park. To make matters worse, the queue itself is pretty boring, with not much going on, so make sure to install some games on your phone to keep yourself entertained while you wait.
Conclusion
Crush’s Coaster is a fun roller coaster, and being exclusive to Disneyland Paris basically makes it a must see when visiting Walt Disney Studios Park. Queue times are long, so make sure to make this a top priority if you have Early Entry, or come here just before the theme park closes.
