Welcome to one of Disneyland Paris’ oldest roller coasters, and the first ever Disney coaster to feature an inversion. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril is a mine coaster exclusive to Disneyland Paris, and for that reason alone, guests visiting the park should check it out at least once. It is, however, a pretty shaky ride, with a high ride height requirement and a few extra quirks. Now grab your whip, put on your hat, and let’s see what this ride gets right and what it gets wrong.
What we like about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
A lot of people are surprised to learn that there is an exclusive Indiana Jones roller coaster in Paris. Some even assume it is a carbon copy of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, but that is not the case. This ride actually debuted way back in 1992 when Disneyland Paris opened, and it was the thrill ride Disney had in mind when they paused and thought, “Wait, we need something exciting.” It is a relatively small mine coaster with a single inversion and sharp turns, featuring some cool props and an impressive stone temple in the middle. The temple was strategically placed to block views of the track and hide the surprises waiting for you.
Is this the best coaster in the park? Not really. It is a bit shaky and short, but it can still be fun, especially for fans of Indy. As we said, this one is exclusive to Disneyland Paris, so coaster and Disney fans should definitely check it out to form their own opinions. The wait times are usually pretty short, which is a big bonus. It is not uncommon to arrive near park opening and wait only five or ten minutes to ride. Even during peak times, you usually won’t have to wait more than 30 minutes.
Temple of Peril is… okay, that’s probably the best way to put it. It has a single loop, which is definitely the highlight of the ride since it comes almost as a surprise. The coaster also features plenty of near misses and unexpected moments, especially when it dives inside the temple. There are a few helixes and sharp turns, but no corkscrews or additional inversions. Will this ride blow your mind? Not really, but if you happen to be nearby and the wait is a short ten minutes, go for it.
What we don’t like about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
This isn’t the smoothest ride around, and in fact, it is even shakier than Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain. It uses over-the-shoulder restraints, so you will be thrown around and jostled quite a bit. Many people even advise riders to tilt their heads slightly forward to avoid moving around like a pinball once inside. The ride is definitely bumpy, and some guests report headaches afterward. Remember, this doesn’t happen to everyone, but it’s good advice to ride in “safe mode,” which means holding onto your restraints and keeping your head slightly forward.
I also think that this ride is way too short, clocking in at just 1 minute and 15 seconds. If this ride had huge wait times, let’s just say that I would definitely not be happy at all after exiting the vehicle.
Another thing that is a bit mind-blowing is the huge ride height requirement. This is the ride with the tallest height requirement in any Disney park at 140 cm, or 55.5 inches. To put it in perspective, the highest requirement at Disney World is for Rock n Roller Coaster and Tron Lightcycle Run at 48 inches, which is the same as Stardust Racers, a mega coaster at Epic Universe. Why is the requirement so high for a roller coaster with just a single small loop? I have no idea, but it is definitely a downside since many children won’t be able to ride it.
Conclusion
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril is a bit disappointing, to be honest. It’s a dated ride that could use a replacement, but it’s also an exclusive coaster that you should experience at least once. Expect a short, bumpy ride, but at least it has a cool loop and some near misses that can be fun.
