Unfortunately, not all kids are able to ride all the attractions at Walt Disney World due to height restrictions or rides being too scary. That’s why we made this list of the Best Disney World rides for toddlers, babies and small children.
In this post, we rank all the best rides for toddlers at Disney World so that parents know exactly which attractions are best-suited for their children. After all, parents are often eager to share the magic with their kids that their parents shared with them, and they can’t wait to experience Disney World through their young eyes.
There’s no denying Walt Disney World is a paradise for kids, with dozens of cool rides to enjoy. However, some parents debate whether it’s too soon to bring their kids or if they should wait until they are older.
In our opinion, it’s never too soon to start making those magical memories with your family, no matter how young your kids are. It doesn’t matter if you have babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers, or young kids, you will definitely find rides they will enjoy.
You’ll find our list of the best rides for toddlers is much different than our list of the overall best rides at Disney World. That list of course is slanted towards rides that older children and parents will appreciate more and can actually ride.
However, just because the rides in this post are for small children, it doesn’t mean adults can’t enjoy them too, especially when you see the joy on your child’s face as they experience them for the first time!
Lastly, we’ll share the list of rides that are not good for toddlers and how you can use the Rider Switch service to avoid waiting in long lines if you and your significant other still want to go on them.
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Table of Contents
Walt Disney World Attractions for Toddlers Overview
Before we get into the specific rankings, let’s go over some general info about attractions for toddlers at Walt Disney World.
Is Disney World Good for a 1-Year-Old? 2-Year-Old? 3-Year-Old?
Most parents wonder if their children are too young to go to Disney World. Is it even feasible to bring a baby such as a 1-year-old or a 2-year-old on a Disney Vacation?
Thankfully, it’s totally possible and can be quite enjoyable for both parents and toddlers. No matter how old your children are, there is something for them to do. In fact, you will start getting them used to theme parks and rides in general, which will make future trips even more fun.
My parents started bringing me to Walt Disney World when I was 18 months old and brought me every year after. The first trip took some getting used to, but we’ve since enjoyed so many incredible memories together and continue going together to this day.
Of course, you won’t be bringing toddlers on rides that have a lot of thrills or are scary for small children, but the majority of rides at Walt Disney World are perfectly adapted for babies and toddlers. Most have no height restrictions which means both parents and all children, big or small can go on together.
Which Disney Park has the Best Rides for Toddlers?
By far the best park at Walt Disney World for toddlers is the Magic Kingdom. It has a total of 28 rides and attractions that are suitable for toddlers giving you a wide variety of choices that you most likely will not be able to do in one day.
EPCOT and the Animal Kingdom both have a decent amount of rides for babies and small kids. The worst park for toddlers is Hollywood Studios as most of its best rides are specifically made for teens or adults and have a lot of thrills.
Height Requirements
How do you know which rides your kids can go on? Some attractions have height requirements so if a guest is under the specified height for that attraction, they will not be allowed entrance. This is for the safety of your children as rides are made with certain specifications, and kids that are too small would not be safe if they don’t meet those standards.
To make things easy, read the full list of Disney World Ride Height Requirements so you know ahead of time which attractions your kids can go on and which ones they have to skip.
Best Rides at Disney World for Toddlers Ranked
There are so many rides at Disney World for toddlers that we made a list of all the best ones so you know which ones to bring them on and which ones to skip. We broke down these rides by park and put them in order from best to worst.
It doesn’t matter if you are going to the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or the Animal Kingdom, we’ve got you covered here!
While most of these attractions would be much lower if aimed at adults, we ranked them through the eyes of a child, taking into consideration which ones would be the most fun for them. We also weighed ride length, theming, and overall popularity.
Most of the rides we ranked have no height restrictions, and only a couple of them have very low height requirements of 32-35 inches, which the average 3 or 4-year-old should be able to do.
Magic Kingdom Rides for Toddlers
If you have small kids or toddlers, Magic Kingdom park is the best place to go in Disney World. Of all the theme parks, this one is the most kid-friendly and has dozens of rides that both toddlers and parents or grandparents can ride together.
Here is a list of the Top 10 attractions for toddlers at Magic Kingdom Park:
- “it’s a small world”
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Jungle Cruise
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Mad Tea Party
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Below we break down all 28 attractions at the Magic Kingdom that children from 1-4 years old are able to ride. A couple have low height restrictions and others might be slightly boring or scary depending on your kids. We’ll explain them all to you in order so you know which ones are best for your children.
1. “it’s a small world”
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – Any Height
“it’s a small world” definitely won’t find its way on many lists of the best rides for adults, but kids absolutely love it. It’s a slow-moving boat ride which is easy for babies, and the long ride time gives everyone a nice break from the Floridan heat.
All the hundreds of animated dolls and colors throughout the ride will mesmerize toddlers, and they will be singing the ride’s theme song the whole time. That’s why it’s one of the best rides for toddlers in any theme park.
2. Peter Pan’s Flight
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the most popular rides at Disney World for guests of all age groups, but toddlers absolutely love it. Even if they’ve been on other rides before, they will love the sensation of flying over London and Neverland as they join Peter Pan, Wendy, John, Michael, Captain Hook, and more.
Parents are welcome to hold children on their lap on this ride, just watch out if you have an extra squirmy baby. We recommend a Genie+ for Peter Pan’s Flight as wait times are some of the longest at the Magic Kingdom.
3. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Spinner rides are great for babies and toddlers, and Dumbo is the best of the group at Disney World. In fact, the might be THE quintessential ride for small children. There is something about flying high and going around and around that just calms them and gets them relaxed.
Depending on how scared of heights your child is, you can either go up and down or keep the vehicle at a low height. The indoor play area that is part of the interactive queue will also keep your kids highly entertained and it will keep you sane while you are waiting to ride.
Depending on what other rides you have planned you may want to use a Genie+ here, especially if you want to ride twice.
4. Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Most likely your kids are big fans of The Little Mermaid, and this is a slow-moving re-telling of the classic Disney animated film. The clamshell vehicles hold 3 people each. The music is present throughout the ride which is upbeat and great to sing along to.
There are also a lot of bright characters and sets which will keep your toddler’s attention the whole time. This is one of our favorite Fantasyland attractions to begin with, and your kids will love it too.
5. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – Any Height
I don’t know if I’ve ever met a toddler that doesn’t love Winnie the Pooh and his furry friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. The honey pot vehicles are great since they hold up to 6 guests each, enough for a few kids.
The interactive queue outside is very hands-on and will keep your child’s attention for the 30 minutes or so it usually takes to get through the line. Once you board the ride, your toddler will like the gentile bouncing up and down and colorful sets. It will quickly become one of your kid’s favorites.
6. Jungle Cruise
Location – Adventureland
Height Requirement – Any Height
The Jungle Cruise is a fantastic attraction for both toddlers and adults alike. This classic Disney ride goes all the way back to opening day at Disneyland and still is a guest favorite. Guests are loaded onto a slow-moving boat ride, deep into the jungle.
There are plenty of animatronic animals like elephants, lions, zebras, hippos, and tigers. Your toddler will find it very stimulating and will have a blast pointing them all out to you. They won’t understand the one-liners and jokes, but that’s why the parents and grandparents will enjoy it.
7. Pirates of the Caribbean
Location – Adventureland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Pirates of the Caribbean is a part of any “best Disney rides” list, including one for babies and small children. If you have a 3 or 4-year-old, they may already be into pirates, in which case this will be their favorite ride at Disney World.
It’s a slow-moving boat ride that is pretty tame and only has one small drop, but nothing they can’t handle. Some of the scenes at the beginning of the ride are dark and might be a little scary, but most toddlers love it. The music is perhaps the best of any ride and will have your child singing along. Don’t forget the shop at the attraction exit, they will love all the pirate gear!
8. Mad Tea Party
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Every toddler loves the teacups or the Mad Tea Party as it is officially known. Depending on how much your child likes to spin, you can whip these things around and around, and even let them spin. Honestly, who doesn’t have memories of riding the teacups as a child? Now you can pass those on to your children too!
9. Tomorrowland Speedway
Location – Tomorrowland
Height Requirement – 32 inches (81cm)
Driving a car around a racetrack is any small child’s dream come true, which is why they will love the Tomorrowland Speedway. They may look fast, but don’t worry, they top out at only 7 mph. This ride does have a 32-inch height requirement, but toddlers from 2 to 3 years old will likely make the cutoff.
Adults will find the cars to be slow with terrible handling, but children can’t get enough of these things and some of their strongest memories once grown will be taking a lap around the track with mommy or daddy.
10. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Location – Tomorrowland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Blast off into outer space? Check. A video game with laser blasters? Double-check. Even from a young age, kids today can’t resist a good game and will want to help Buzz Lightyear defeat Emperor Zerg and his minions in this Tomorrowland dark ride.
Even if they are too young to understand the concept of the game, they will love the Toy Story theming, lights, and lasers. This ride can sometimes get crowded so look for a Genie+ reservation if available later in the day.
11. Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover
Location – Tomorrowland
Height Requirement – Any Height
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is already one of our top rides at Disney World and it just so happens your toddlers will enjoy it too. Think of it as a small shuttle moving high above Tomorrowland and offering some of the best views at the Magic Kingdom.
If your children are tired, it’s a perfect opportunity to take a break and even a nap as it lasts a good 10 minutes. Sometimes it even gets held up so you may get a few extra minutes for that snooze. The best part is it’s usually a walk-on, so no long wait times here.
12. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Location – Adventureland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Here is the next spinner ride, and it’s very similar to all the rest. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is located in Adventureland, but there is no big difference between this and Dumbo, and it goes up and down and around the same. If your toddler likes one, they will like them all.
The nice thing about the Magic Carpets is they hold 4 people, so it makes a nice photo-op for the whole family together. Be careful about the water-spitting camel as your child may get slightly wet!
13. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – Any Height
The Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is the oldest attraction in the park and a great ride to bring babies or toddlers on. Small children love the gentle spinning of this ride and the up-and-down bouncing of the horses.
Parents might not love it or get dizzy going around and around, but toddlers will love the upbeat Disney songs and all the colorful horses.
14. Tom Sawyer Island
Location – Frontierland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Looking for a place to let your toddler blow off steam in the Magic Kingdom? Look no further than Tom Sawyer Island. This is a secluded escape away from the crowds and will allow your little ones to run around a bit and unwind.
There are plenty of adventures to uncover and cool spaces to explore like caves, a bridge, and an old fort. Toddlers will also enjoy the raft ride it takes to get to Tom Sawyer Island.
15. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Location – Tomorrowland
Height Requirement – Any Height
This interactive show is hilarious and enjoyed by guests of all ages, including toddlers. Characters from the Monsters Inc. films interact with guests in the audience, trying to make them laugh enough to fill the “Laugh-o-meter.”
It’s a long show so it gives your kids a chance to rest their feet and they will love becoming part of the show!
16. Walt Disney World Railroad
Location – Main Street U.S.A.
Height Requirement – Any Height
Practically all children love trains and they will be thrilled to get on The Walt Disney World Railroad for a spin around the Magic Kingdom. This is a slow-moving ride and a chance for little ones and parents to take a rest before heading off to another part of the park.
Your toddlers will feel like they’ve been transported back to the turn of the century in a real, working, steam-engine train. You can jump on the railroad at one of three locations including Main Street U.S.A., Frontierland, and Fantasyland.
17. Country Bear Jamboree
Location – Frontierland
Height Requirement – Any Height
The Country Bear Jamboree is a classic Disney attraction, and the singing bears are sure to keep your toddler’s attention. The humor is aimed at adults and the jokes will go right over their heads, but it’s all about the music and cute (or ugly) bears here. Easily one of the best Disney attractions for toddlers.
18. Enchanted Tales with Belle
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Enchanted Tales with Belle is a sort of attraction/character meet hybrid which re-enacts some of the moments from The Beauty and the Beast story with The Wardrobe, Lumiere, and Belle all making appearances.
Some guests are asked to participate in the interactive experience, so your young ones may actually get a role in the attraction. If they are fans of Beauty and the Beast, they are going to love this.
19. Astro Orbiter
Location – Tomorrowland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Astro Orbiter is another spinner ride at the Magic Kingdom, only this time in Tomorrowland. This is the highest of them all, so if your child is afraid of heights you might want to skip this one. Toddlers tend to love the spaceship design of the ride vehicles and will be delighted to “blast off in them.”
You can control your vehicle, choosing to go up or down. For a really cool experience, try riding at night when the whole park is lit up.
20. Swiss Family Treehouse
Location – Adventureland
Height Requirement – Any Height
Are there any small children who don’t want to live in a treehouse? Your little ones will love to explore this attraction and dream about what it’s like to live there. There are a lot of stairs, so make sure to keep them in plain sight and even hold their hand.
21. The Barnstormer
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – 35 inches (89cm)
The Barnstormer is a kid’s roller coaster in Fantasyland. This is the smallest coaster in Walt Disney World and is a good “first coaster” for your young one before moving on to the bigger ones on your next trip.
It does have a 35-inch height requirement, but most children ages 3 or 4 should meet those requirements. It’s also really short and only one minute long, so if they hate it, you won’t have to endure much screaming.
22. Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Location – Fantasyland
Height Requirement – Any Height
When the afternoon rolls around and you are tired out from all the running, Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a great choice to sit and rest up out of the heat. Toddlers will love this 3D show which features characters from some of the most popular Disney animated films like “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Aladdin.”
They will also enjoy the lights and special effects in the animated musical sequences. For sure a top attraction for toddlers.
23. Liberty Square Riverboat
Location – Liberty Square
Height Requirement – Any Height
When you are looking for a slow ride to catch your breath and give your young ones a rest, the Liberty Square Riverboat is a good option. If the boat isn’t crowded, they can even walk around a bit and stretch their legs.
24. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Location – Adventureland
Height Requirement – Any Height
The Enchanted Tiki Room is one of the only remaining classic attractions that Walt Disney himself hand a hand in creating. Toddlers won’t appreciate this fact, but they will like the dozens of animatronic birds singing throughout the show.
They won’t get the jokes, but there are plenty of cool lighting effects to keep them stimulated, including thunder and lightning, and they will love the music.
25. Main Street Vehicles
Location – Main Street U.S.A.
Height Requirement – Any Height
These old-time cars ride up and down Main Street U.S.A taking guests with them. While not the most exciting ride at the Magic Kingdom, your toddlers will like the look and feel of the cars and it makes a nice start to the day.
26. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Location – Tomorrowland
Height Requirement – Any Height
The Carousel of Progress is one of our favorite all-time Disney World rides and it’s no problem to bring toddlers. This ride/show takes a look at an American family at the turn of the century and follows them into our day.
There isn’t much for kids to be interested in and they will probably end up sleeping during it. At least that’s 21 minutes when you get a break. We recommend it as it gives everyone a chance to recharge and cool down from the heat.
27. The Hall of Presidents
Location – Liberty Square
Height Requirement – Any Height
The Hall of Presidents has no height restrictions so you can bring children of any age here, including babies, however, most small kids will find it pretty boring and not very stimulating. As one of the longest attractions in Disney World at approximately 25 minutes, it may be a great opportunity to give your little one a nap. Don’t be surprised if you end up taking one too!
28. Haunted Mansion
Location – Liberty Square
Height Requirement – Any Height
While technically the Haunted Mansion is ok for toddlers since there is not a height requirement, it might not be for YOUR child. Adults will see this ride as mostly whimsical and funny humor, but small children might be scared of the dark rooms, creepy voices, and ghosts.
You also might find that very young children such as 1-year-olds might not be scared since they don’t really understand what’s going on, but children around age 3 might be terrified. You know your children best so if you think they can handle it, there are no other restrictions stopping them from riding.
EPCOT Rides for Toddlers
Even though people don’t always associate kid’s rides with EPCOT, there are a surprising number of rides here your little ones will enjoy. Disney has slowly been working more characters into the park, and more are on the way in the next few years.
The original mission statement for the park was to educate and entertain families and people of all ages, and while not quite as much as in the past, there are still enough rides that do that today, even for small children.
Here is a list of the Top rides for toddlers at EPCOT:
- Frozen Ever After
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- Journey Into Imagination with Figment
- SeaBase
- Journey of Water
- Spaceship Earth
- Living with the Land
- The American Adventure
Let’s look at all the EPCOT rides for small children in more detail:
1. Frozen Ever After
Location – World Showcase (Norway pavilion)
Height Requirement – Any Height
Most toddlers are fans of the Disney animated films in the Frozen franchise and will love riding Frozen Ever After in the Norway pavilion. They will see Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven, and more of their favorite characters from the movies, as well as some really cool animatronic figures and lighting effects.
This ride has no height restrictions and you can fit the entire family in one of the boats. The only part that might scare some toddlers is the backward drop, though it isn’t very steep and doesn’t last long.
2. The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Location – World Nature (The Seas)
Height Requirement – Any Height
The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a very similar attraction to Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid and guests ride in an almost identical clam shell ride vehicle. This is a slow-moving dark ride and if your kids are fans of Finding Nemo, they will be enthralled.
There are some cool effects throughout, especially the bubbles scene with Crush and the other turtles. Toddlers will also like the projections of Nemo in the aquarium. Definitely a top ride for small kids at EPCOT.
3. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Location – World Showcase (France pavilion)
Height Requirement – Any Height
Disney has made a strong push to get more attractions for kids in EPCOT in the last few years, and the prime example of that is when they built Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France pavilion. Sure it’s a direct clone of the same ride that was already in Disneyland Paris, but that won’t matter to most families.
This ride shrinks you down to the size of a rat and puts you in the middle of a crazy adventure with Remy and his friends and is a focal point of the EPCOT Expansion Project. So far it’s been a smash hit with kids as it’s very engaging with its visuals and special effects.
Just make sure to get in line early for this since the wait times here are usually the longest in EPCOT. Either that or you can use Genie+ to skip the line.
4. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
Location – World Showcase (Mexico pavilion)
Height Requirement – Any Height
Even if your children are not familiar with The Three Caballeros characters, they will like the Gran Fiesta Tour. Slow-moving boat rides are perfect for babies, making this one of your best choices in EPCOT.
The upbeat music will keep them entertained, as well as the bright colors, painted dolls, and video screens with Donald Duck. It also usually has a short wait so no need to stand in long lines.
5. Turtle Talk with Crush
Location – World Nature (The Seas)
Height Requirement – Any Height
This interactive screen-based show is very similar to the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor over at the Magic Kingdom, and toddlers will like it just as much. The special effects here are so good, many adults wonder how they can make the characters talk like that, and kids are just blown away when they see it.
This is a very underrated attraction for small kids and a must-do for fans of Finding Nemo and Finding Dory.
6. Journey Into Imagination with Figment
Location – World Nature (Imagination! pavilion)
Height Requirement – Any Height
Even though we aren’t particularly thrilled with this version of the attraction, it is still one of the most popular with toddlers. Figment is the star of the show and is highly entertaining for kids and adults. I mean, how could you NOT love the friendly, purple dragon?
Young ones will be stimulated with all senses including sight, sound, and even a few bad smells along the way. It’s a slow-moving ride and you can fit 3-4 guests per row, especially if some of them are small.
7. SeaBase
Location – World Nature (The Seas)
Height Requirement – Any Height
Another underrated stop for toddlers is the SeaBase aquarium. This is essentially the unload area after The Seas with Nemo & Friends and is perfect to explore after that ride is done. You’ll find yourself in one of the largest salt-water aquariums in the world, with dozens of species of fish, turtles, dolphins, manatees, and even sharks living here.
Take your young ones around to each tank to explore and see what they can find. A great attraction for toddlers and you can easily spend 30 minutes here.
8. Journey of Water
Location – World Nature
Height Requirement – Any Height
The new Journey of Water is an interactive walkthrough experiences which lets guests play with various water features throughout the attraction inspired by Moana. It is full of gardens, water falls, fountains and and musical elements drawn from classic EPCOT attractions that are educational as well.
The whole thing is centered around the water cycle and during each cycle there are interactive sections explaining the process. Even though this isn’t a moving ride it’s a lot of fun and your small children will absolutely love it.
9. Spaceship Earth
Location – World Celebration
Height Requirement – Any Height
Spaceship Earth is one of the best rides in Disney World, and it is also accessible to babies and small children. It’s a slow-moving dark ride that takes you inside the giant spheric dome of Spaceship Earth with a look at the history of human communication.
While there is no height requirement, toddlers will likely find this ride boring as there are not a lot of bright lights or stimulation for them. The ride is also pretty dark, and some little ones might find it a little scary.
10. Living with the Land
Location – World Nature (The Land)
Height Requirement – Any Height
Another slow-moving boat ride which in theory is good for toddlers. Like some of the other rides though, it’s not the most interesting ride for them. If they stay awake until they get to the greenhouse, they may enjoy looking at all the plants with fruits and vegetables growing on them, but they won’t really understand what the narration is explaining.
11. The American Adventure
Location – World Showcase (American Adventure pavilion)
Height Requirement – Any Height
The American Adventure is one of Disney Imagineering’s finest achievements, and small children are welcome in this theater show attraction. There are multiple elaborate scenes featuring audio-animatronics, but nothing too interesting for small kids. They won’t follow the overall, but it does serve as a great napping opportunity for them and a break for parents.
Hollywood Studios Rides for Toddlers
There are many fewer rides for toddlers at Hollywood Studios, in fact, it’s the worst park for children ages 1-4. That being said, there are still some rides they will enjoy and we don’t recommend skipping the park entirely unless you are really strapped for time.
Here is a list of the Top rides for toddlers and small kids at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
- Toy Story Mania!
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Vacation Fun (Mickey Shorts Theater)
Let’s look at each one in more detail…
1. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Location – Chinese Theater
Height Requirement – Any Height
This is Hollywood Studios’ newest ride and now the best for toddlers in the entire park. Mickey and Minnie are classic Disney characters that almost all children absolutely adore and they will love following them on this crazy picnic ride.
The trackless ride vehicles are amazing and provide a lot of movement and fun for everyone. They will have a ball in the dance room with Daisy Duck! This ride is extremely stimulating and interesting for toddlers with tons of bright lights and special effects coming from the projection mapping technology. A must-ride for all kids.
2. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
Location – Hollywood Blvd.
Height Requirement – Any Height
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is an attraction/show hybrid and great for little ones and fans of the Cars film franchise. Kids will find it super interesting as Lightning McQueen teaches the audience how to race. There is a huge screen all around the room to watch all the cars whizzing by, cool sound effects, and an incredible audio-animatronic at the front of the room of McQueen.
By far one of the best rides for toddlers and not to be missed.
3. Toy Story Mania!
Location – Toy Story Land
Height Requirement – Any Height
Kids love Toy Story Mania!, the super-popular ride/video game hybrid. The idea is to shoot the Toy Story-themed targets with your canon blaster as they fly by, all the while accumulating a score.
Depending on how old our children are, they may or may not understand the game, but we’ve seen kids as small as 3 or 4 playing along just fine. Even if they are babies and don’t understand what’s going on, they will find the moving vehicles and all the objects flying by extremely interesting.
4. Alien Swirling Saucers
Location – Toy Story Land
Height Requirement – 32 inches (81cm)
Alien Swirling Saucers is a classic spinning ride and popular with young children. It does have a height requirement of 32 inches, but many kids between 2-4 years old meet this requirement. Up to 3 guests can ride at a time.
It’s one of the only true kid’s rides at Hollywood Studios and will likely be a hit with your little ones.
5. Muppet*Vision 3D
Location – Grand Avenue
Height Requirement – Any Height
The Muppets are funny for kids of all ages, including toddlers. Even though some of the humor is for adults, they will love all the “cheap 3D tricks” included in the show such as water sprays, a pie in the face, and Waldo the all-3D character.
6. Vacation Fun (Mickey Shorts Theater)
Location – Echo Lake
Height Requirement – Any Height
Most young children like animation, and they may already be fans of the new Mickey animated shorts. They will like this theater show which has animated shorts of Mickey and Minnie reminiscing about some of their favorite vacation moments together.
Animal Kingdom Rides for Toddlers
As you might expect, a Disney park with animals as its main theme is a good choice for toddlers and there is plenty for little ones to do at the Animal Kingdom. Again, not nearly as much as the Magic Kingdom, but if they like animals they will love this place!
Here is a list of the Top rides for toddlers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Na’vi River Journey
- It’s Tough to be a Bug!
- TriceraTop Spin
- Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
- Maharajah Jungle Trek
- The Boneyard
- Wildlife Express Train/Rafiki’s Planet Watch
- Festival of the Lion King
1. Kilimanjaro Safaris
Location – Africa
Height Requirement – Any Height
Kilimanjaro Safaris is any kid’s dream and one of the all-around best rides in Walt Disney World. This is as close to a real safari as you can get outside Africa and they will be mesmerized by the dozens of animals along the journey.
Some of the animals they will see are giraffes, elephants, lions, rhinos, hippos, and crocodiles. They are guaranteed to have a smile on their face the entire time, especially if some of the animals come over for a close-up. Of all the rides for toddlers at Disney World, this might be the best one of all.
2. Na’vi River Journey
Location – Pandora The World of Avatar
Height Requirement – Any Height
Like most boat rides in Walt Disney World, the Na’vi River Journey in Pandora: The World of Avatar is a great ride for toddlers and little children. The boat ride itself is slow and relaxing, and your kids will be mesmerized by the bioluminescent forest and the thousands of colored lights in every direction.
The ride’s soundtrack is calm and soothing, great for relaxing your little ones. The boat has room for 6 guests, so you can squeeze in the whole family. The incredibly life-like animatronic figure at the end will impress all the adults in the group.
3. TriceraTop Spin
Location – Dinoland U.S.A.
Height Requirement – Any Height
If your baby or toddler like spinning rides, they will like TriceraTop Spin. Ironically, we ranked this as the worst overall ride in Disney World, but there is no denying that little kids really like it.
It’s the same as Dumbo and the other spinning rides as it goes around and up and down, and you can control the height of your vehicle. We hate the surrounding theming in Dinoland U.S.A., but most likely your child won’t care about that and will find this ride really fun.
4. It’s Tough to be a Bug!
Location – Discovery Island
Height Requirement – Any Height
This is the perfect attraction for toddlers since it features dozens of insects from the Disney-Pixar franchise “A Bug’s Life.” The show uses 3D effects which they will love and they will like the humor.
There is one scene toward the end when the spiders come down and the room fills with smoke, and your little ones may find this part frightening, so keep them close.
5. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
Location – Africa
Height Requirement – Any Height
This is one of the two wildlife walking trails at the Animal Kingdom and can be done at your own pace. There are many animals found here such as zebras, hippos, monkeys, and birds, but of course, the real stars of the show are the gorillas.
Your kids will love getting up close to the gorillas who often are found right on the other side of the glass. This is nice to do right after Kilimanjaro Safaris since it’s right next door.
6. Maharajah Jungle Trek
Location – Asia
Height Requirement – Any Height
The other wildlife walking trail is the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Again there are many different species of animals to be found here like lizards, bats, and of course tigers. Guests of all ages will find these magnificent creatures fascinating. Go during feeding before lunchtime when the animals are most active.
7. The Boneyard
Location – Dinoland U.S.A.
Height Requirement – Any Height
If your kids need a place to blow off some steam at the Animal Kingdom, bring them to The Boneyard in Dinoland U.S.A. This elaborate playground area is themed to a dinosaur dig site and will keep them entertained for a long time.
8. Wildlife Express Train/Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Location – Africa
Height Requirement – Any Height
Another great ride for toddlers is the Wildlife Express Train, which brings you to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. This is essentially a bunch of attractions bundled together and the train brings you out to the animal conservation area.
At Rafiki’s Planet watch kids can see all sorts of creepy-crawly insects and lizards on display. They can then head over to the Affection Section, the mini petting zoo, where they can get close to these adorable animals.
9. Festival of the Lion King
Location – Africa
Height Requirement – Any Height
When you’ve had enough walking around and need a break, bring your kids to the Festival of the Lion King show. This is a creative re-telling of The Lion King with amazing set pieces, costumes, music, and acrobats on display.
Your toddlers will be amazed, and so will you.
Toddler Rides are also Good for Grandparents
The only thing more magical than bringing your children to Walt Disney World is also bringing their grandparents. The smiles on everyone’s faces as multiple generations spend time together in the most magical place on Earth are priceless.
Thankfully, pretty much all of the best rides for toddlers at Disney World are also great for grandparents. Many grandparents no longer enjoy the fast thrill rides and prefer to take it slow on a nice leisurely boat ride or dark ride.
We highly encourage you to organize a trip with the whole family, including the grandparents. They will have a ball with the grandkids, and even if they aren’t traditional “ride people” they can easily handle most of the rides we covered in this guide.
Little children also tend to get into mischief, and grandparents are also great at chasing them down and helping keep them under control, especially if you have multiple kids. Trust us, the more hands on deck, the easier the trip will be.
Tips for Doing Disney with Toddlers
Here are a few more helpful tips that will help you to navigate a Disney Vacation with toddlers and small kids:
Nap Time: While it may be tempting to go “all-out” in the parks, every day of your trip, your children might not be able to handle that fast pace. You know them best, and if they are the kind that need some downtime, we suggest scheduling some nap time in the afternoon.
Be Selective with Rides: You also know how much excitement your children can take and how adventurous they are. Encourage them to try new things, but don’t force them to go on a ride they are scared of, or they may be traumatized and not be keen on coming back to Disney World anytime soon.
Spend More Time at the Magic Kingdom: By far the best park for toddlers is the Magic Kingdom and if you have small children you should allocate a good portion of your trip going there. We suggest spending two full days at the Magic Kingdom in order to do all the rides and not have to rush through which would be very stressful and not realistic with toddlers.
Use Genie+: Depending on the park you are visiting, we think Genie+ can be a valuable time-saving service at Disney World, but even more so if you have small children. Genie+ lets you “skip” the lines for your favorite rides so you don’t have to spend hours waiting in line.
This is even more important with toddlers as they may get cranky very quickly. Use your Genie+ selections on the rides with the longest wait times to save time. If you decide to do some of the bigger attractions for adults, you might want to save your Genie+ selections for those since they tend to have longer wait times than children’s rides.
We go over more tips in our Guide Genie+ at Disney World.
Kids Under 3 Get in for Free: One nice benefit of going to Walt Disney World with babies or toddlers is that children under 3 years old get into the parks for free. That means there is no ticket to buy for them. If you are undecided about when to go, going right before they turn three might be a way to save some serious money.
Count the Cost: Disney World is an expensive place to visit, especially if you have a big family. We wrote a post answering the question “How much does it cost to go to Disney World?” which includes a breakdown of all the costs associated with the trip. We also have a guide to the cheapest times to visit Disney World which will help you save money by choosing the right dates.
List of Rides that are NOT Good for Babies and Toddlers
While there are dozens of rides at Walt Disney World that are perfectly fine for toddlers, there are a lot of them that they can’t go on. These rides are made for bigger kids and adults and have a height restriction that will not permit most toddlers from riding.
Here is a list of all The Walt Disney World attractions that are NOT good for babies and toddlers:
Magic Kingdom
- Splash Mountain
- Space Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Splash Mountain
- TRON Lightcycle Run
EPCOT
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Mission: SPACE
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Test Track
Hollywood Studios
- Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Tower of Terror
Animal Kingdom
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Kali River Rapids
Even though some of your children might not be able to go on these more adult rides, that doesn’t mean you can’t go on them. How can multiple members of your group go on these rides without everyone having to wait in line?
Enter the Rider Switch service…
Using Disney World Rider Switch Service
One of the biggest problems parents with toddlers run into at Disney World is both parents not being able to ride one of the bigger E-Ticket attractions because someone has to stay behind and watch the baby.
This is an even bigger problem if the wait time for said attraction is one hour or more. Imagine if you had to wait for an hour to ride while your spouse stayed with the kids, then they wanted to ride also and had to wait an hour while you watch the kids? That would be insanity.
Thankfully, there is a way for both parents to be able to ride and not have to both wait the full time in line. It’s called the Rider Switch service.
The general idea behind it is one adult or group of people rides the attraction, while the other stays behind with the children. However, a special pass allows that second adult/group of people to use the Genie+ queue and skip the regular line, saving a ton of time.
Here’s how to use Rider Switch at Disney World:
- The entire group shows up at the entrance to the ride and requests a Rider Switch pass. Everyone is given a Ride Switch pass (this is electronic and is loaded into My Disney Experience).
- Group 1 then proceeds to ride the attraction while group 2 stays behind with the child not riding.
- After riding the attraction, an adult from group 1 stays with the small child not riding, and the adults/other children from group 2 proceed to ride the attraction. (The adult from group 2 can bring up to 2 guests with them, including children that already rode as part of group 1.)
- Group 2 finds a Cast Member at the entrance of the ride who then validates the Rider Switch passes. Group 2 proceeds to ride the attraction.
It’s really a great system and will save you some serious time not having to wait in line. If you have members of your party not riding specific attractions and are minors, we highly suggest you use Rider Switch.
New Attractions Coming to Disney World
Honestly, now that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is already open in EPCOT, there aren’t too many new attractions coming in the immediate future that are ideal for toddlers or small children.
All the most popular rides have or will have at least moderate height requirements. The new roller coasters such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle Run are definite no-no’s for small children.
Even a ride like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will probably keep the same height requirement from Splash Mountain (40 inches) and is not going to be possible for toddlers. Maybe 5-year-olds, but not 2 or 3.
The one attraction that already appeals to toddlers is Moana: Journey of Water. No, it’s not a ride, but Disney has designed the space to include interesting water features, lights, and more that small kids are definitely be attracted to.
For a more detailed look at more Disney attractions in the next few years, read our post on the Best New Rides Coming to Disney World.
FAQs
Disney World is a great place for kids of any age, even babies and toddlers 2 and 3 years old. There are plenty of rides, shows, and activities they will thoroughly enjoy.
There are dozens of rides for toddlers at Walt Disney World and many options at each of the 4 parks. Some of our favorites are Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dumbo, “it’s a small world”, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Any children under the age of 3 get free admission to the theme parks. Disney can run a check, so it’s best to have a copy of their birth certificate to be safe.
That wraps up our list of the best rides at Walt Disney World for toddlers. We hope you found some fun attractions you think your kids will like, and we are sure they will have a blast.
Going to Disney World with babies or 2 and 3-year-olds can be a challenge for sure, but if done right, it can create lasting memories you will cherish for a lifetime and prepare them for future visits.
If you are looking for more info on Disney World attractions, read these articles for more info:
- Best Disney World Rides Ranked
- Magic Kingdom Rides & Attractions Guide
- EPCOT Rides & Attractions Guide
- Hollywood Studios Rides & Attractions Guide
- Animal Kingdom Rides & Attractions Guide
- Best Disney World Roller Coasters Ranked
Don’t forget to check out our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide which covers everything you need to know before planning your trip. Our Disney World Crowd Calendar is also useful for finding the least crowded dates to visit.
Your Thoughts
I want to know what you think about our list of the best rides at Disney World for toddlers and babies…
- What is your favorite ride for toddlers?
- What is your Top 10 list?
Let us know in the comments section below!
If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media. I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂
My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.
marion
Monday 30th of October 2023
As a new grandparent this info was really good so we know where to take them for rides and for naps!!! Thanks Ziggy
Alyson Smith
Monday 31st of October 2022
We are taking our 2 year old twins in December. They will be 3 in February. This is so helpful! Thank you!!
Ziggy Oskwarek
Friday 25th of November 2022
Hi Alyson, thanks for the message! I'm happy the info was helpful and I know you're gonna have a great time....enjoy!
Brianna
Sunday 12th of June 2022
Super helpful!