The Tim Burton labyrinth stopped in Paris in May 2023, covering an area of 5,000 square meters.
It was a very different experience from traditional exhibitions.
You had to choose your own path through numbered doors.
“Intolerable I say!”
But beware! It was forbidden to turn back, so you had to choose your route very carefully. Trust your gut (or peek through if someone was in front of you).
The staff, dressed as giant Oompa-Loompas, were very strict about this during the first week (though they seemed to get more flexible towards the end).
The skip-the-line tickets allowed you to relive the experience a second time to discover any rooms you might have missed. And that was worth its weight in gold !
Personally, I would have had to leave the labyrinth without ever seeing the Sweeney Todd room, and that would have been intolerable ! Intolerable I say !
The VIP “accident”
To be honest, the “choose your own adventure” aspect is fun, but also extremely frustrating because it’s based on capitalism. You didn’t see your favorite movie? Do it again for €20.
It was advertised as a good time, but turned out quite stressful for regular ticket holders.
We did have regular tickets, but they accidentally let us into the VIP line (thanks to a mix-up with a disability card).
That “happy accident” turned the visit into a great memory.
Without it, for the price, I would have been very disappointed.
Beetlejuice & statues
The universe is very immersive, with projections on the walls and floors, realistic decor and original works.
I’ll be honest here : I didn’t spend much time looking at the drawings…
I liked the statues the best.
Since I don’t exactly run into Michael Keaton in full costume on the street, I made sure to grab a souvenir photo with Beetlejuice.
The whole visit took about 45 minutes, including the gift shop.
The VIP pass ? It’s overpriced, but arguably the only way to see the full exhibition without feeling cheated.
I completely understand the disappointment of hundreds of visitors : it’s legitimate.
Is it worth it ? Only if you are a die-hard fan in my opinion.
It’s a place that navigates a fine line between artistic wonder and a calculated business model.
If it ever comes to your city, will you go?
