Visiting Disney World with a baby or toddler is very doable and a fun experience. Although people may argue that kids that age won’t remember it, you will remember the joy of seeing their faces light up at all the many different experiences. Everything about Disney World is so well thought out for parents, that it is one of the easiest places to take a baby or toddler; with baby care facilities, stroller accessible walkways and of course plenty of Disney World baby rides and attractions. This guides takes at a look at the best Disney World rides for a baby, with plenty of extra tips too!
DISNEY WORLD WITH A BABY
Disney was built for families, so expect plenty of Disney World rides for infants! Magic Kingdom is perfect for littles ones, followed by Animal Kingdom. Hollywood Studios has the least amount of rides for babies and toddlers, but there is still plenty to see and do at every park. Baby Care Centers are available at all parks, as is stroller hire and shady spots to cool down!
Best Rides at Magic Kingdom For a Baby
Whilst there are baby rides at Disney World at all the parks, Magic Kingdom has the most. Magic Kingdom comprises of several lands and areas; Main Street with the walk up to the iconic Cinderella castle, then Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, Frontierland, and Adventureland.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Main Street
Walt Disney World Railroad is a fun steam train journey on a classic train circling the Magic Kingdom park. The journey lasts 20 minutes and you can either board near the front entrance on Main Street, The Frontierland station or The Fantasyland station.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Tomorrowland
Astro Orbiter is a slow, spinning ride in a spaceship where you can move the lever up and down depending on how high you wish to go. It’s essentially the same as the Dumbo ride, but with different theming.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is a dark, slow moving ride where guests can fire a laser to stop Zurg on his mission. It can get a little loud with exuberant kids naturally wanting to help Buzz defeat Zurg but there is no height restriction and even little ones might like to try moving the joystick.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is a slow 10-minute tour of Tomorrowland on this mass transit system of the future. A quick opportunity for a rest or feed for baby.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is a large circular theatre which slowly revolves around 4 sets depicting scenes of progress and technology through the generations. An easy slow ride to rest your feet!
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Fantasyland
Dumbo the Flying Elephant is an outside ride where flying Dumbos spin slowly around, and with a lever you can move up and down. Conveniently, before your flight, there is step a big-top style tent where kids can play in the air conditioned playground until you are told it’s time to climb aboard.
Enchanted Tales with Belle is a lovely indoor role play experience where children can volunteer to retell the story of how Belle and the Beast met. Parents can sit down and watch their child perform – or feed baby!
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is a water play area with a Dumbo circus train theme.
“it’s a small world” is the perfect ride for little ones, although you’ll have the tune ringing in your head years later! Step aboard a little boat which takes you through different scenes around the world, with dolls dressed in traditional costumes.
Mad Tea Party. A spinning ride, BUT if you don’t spin the wheel or turn it slowly, then your teacup just gently moves across the table.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is an adorable ride when you travel in a giant honey pot through a life size book of the tales of Winnie the Pooh through Hundred-Acre Wood. Expect scenes with songs and all the famous characters. Tigger can be very loud with some flashing lights, which may upset some children. Before the ride, Explore Rabbit’s Garden, paint with honey and visit Eeyore’s home.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a magical 3D show starring Donald Duck where you will need to use the 3D glasses provided. Whilst the baby may not be able to see all the effects, it’s a cheerful musical sequence with the odd splash of water!
Peter Pan’s Flight is a historical ride where you board a galleon and climb up to the skies above and peer at rooftops scenes below from London til you reach Neverland! There is plenty to look at from volcanoes to waterfalls and a ticking crocodile.
Prince Charming Regal Carousel is the classic merry-go-round with vintage wooden horses built in 1917. One for all ages!
Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid is a slow ride on a clam shell which takes you through scenes from the fairytale but you don’t get wet!
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Liberty Square
The Hall of Presidents is a great opportunity for a rest sit and to feed baby. Sit in the theater to watch a film and see audio animatronics of every President of the United States.
Haunted Mansion has mildly frightening scenes but no gore. The ride is mostly in the dark and slow, so another opportunity to feed baby.
The authentic steam powered paddle wheeler, Liberty Square Riverboat cruises the scenic ‘Rivers of America’ for 17 minutes through the American Frontier. There is limited seating onboard – but a great opportunity to feed baby!
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Frontierland
Country Bear Jamboree is a country-and-western musical with a cast of singing bears. As it’s seated and cool, it’s also a great place to get some rest or feed your baby if you can fit that in to the animatronic bears 16 minute performance.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Adventureland
The Jungle Cruise lasts 10 minutes and glides through exotic rivers across Asia, Africa and South America – where hippos, gorilla’s elephants, crocodiles and more will be pointed out to you.
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is a magical carpet ride, similar to Dumbo and the Astro Orbiter. Your carpet slowly spins around the genies lamp. If you’re seated in the front row, you can control how high or low you fly by moving an onboard lever up or down. If you’re sitting in the back row, pressing a magic scarab will tip your flying carpet forward or backward.
Pirates of the Caribbean is a slow moving ride which passes through ports with singing pirates and some who are plundering a coastal town with a cannon. Most of it is fairly dark and a smooth ride, so a good opportunity to feed a baby although there are a couple of mild drops.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room is an exotic Audio-Animatronics show full of brightly colored birds set in the South Pacific. This musical extravaganza is a real family friendly show, sure to engage babies and toddlers.
Best Rides at Epcot For a Baby
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Future World EAST
The Advanced Training Lab, near Mission Space, has some digital games for older kids, but for babies and toddlers there is a fun interactive playground to crawl around in.
Spaceship Earth is a slow dark ride which gives you the opportunity to take a break with baby as you travel back through time.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Future World WEST
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival is 3 short films which run for a total of 18 mins with some 4D special effects. While baby may not engage with the films, it’s an opportunity to sit down and cool off or feed.
Journey Into Imagination With Figment. Figment the playful dragon is your guide on this d ride through the sensory labs of Imagination Institute. Your senses are turned upside down which may confuse tiny tots!
The Seas with Nemo & Friends first explore the aquarium and then jump in your clam shell for a slow moving ride under the sea (but you won’t get wet). You can also enjoy a complimentary scavenger hunt with clues and stickers. Pick up complimentary scavenger hunt booklet near the exit to The Seas with Nemo & Friends attraction.
Turtle Talk With Crush is a 15 minute theater show where yuo can interact with Crush, the turtle from Finding Nemo.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in World Showcase
The American Adventure may not be particularly interesting to a baby or toddler, but if you need a rest or to feed, it enables you to sit down in the air conditioning and watch an animatronic show of how America began.
Frozen Ever After by Norway, is a boat journey to Arendelle full of magic and awe with a slight surprise just after you escape Marshmallow the enormous icy snowman (a little splash of water as you go down a small waterfall). Sing-a-long and look out for favorite characters.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros,by Mexico, is a slow moving dark boat ride where a musical trio of birds are on a mission to find Donald Duck.
Best Rides at Animal Kingdom For a Baby
The Disney World baby rides in Animal Kingdom are fewer than on Magic Kingdom, but there are still plenty of attractions for little ones to enjoy.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Oasis
The Oasis Exhibits is a stroller friendly shady walk where you can spot giant anteaters, boars, barking deers, wallabies and spoonbills.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Dinoland
The Boneyard is an open air dig site with shaded areas. At the dig site, kids can excavate fossils from a Triceratops and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. There is a shaded seated area with large fans to help keep you cool.
TriceraTop Spin is similar to the Dumbo and Aladdin rides, where you slowly spin around and can push a button/lever to go higher or lower.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Discovery Island
Discovery Island Trails are stroller friendly pathways to relax and walk around the Tree of Life and discover a lush landscape brimming with wildlife. The Tree of Life is huge and has over 300 animals carved into the tree. Inside the tree is a theater where you catch the show It’s Tough to be a Bug! This 8-minute, 3D movie and multimedia show stars Flik and Hopper from the Disney and Pixar film A Bug’s Life—along with a supporting cast of insects who provide a surprising glimpse inside their bug-eat-bug world.
It’s Tough to be a Bug is located within the Tree of Life. This 8-minute, 3D movie and multimedia show stars Flik and Hopper from the Disney and Pixar film A Bug’s Life—along with a supporting cast of insects who provide a surprising glimpse inside their bug-eat-bug world. Expect some 4D surprises and 3D glasses for the special effects. A baby may enjoy some of these sensory effects but slightly older ones may not like scenes with the spiders!
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Asia
Maharajah Jungle Trek is a stroller friendly walk through a jungle where you will encounter tigers, gibbons, komodo dragon, exotic birds and more.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Africa
Affection Section is the only petting zoo at the Walt Disney World Resort. To visit the Affection Section, you must take the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. The last daily train departs from Harambe Station at 4:30 PM.
A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King is a 30 minutes Broadway-style show filled with songs, pageantry and puppetry celebrating the classic movie, The Lion King.
Conservation Station is a chance to glimpse behind the scenes at the veterinary treatment room , see meals prepared for the animals and see some tarantulas, scorpions, millipedes and snakes. To visit the Conservation Station, you must take the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. The last daily train departs from Harambe Station at 4:30 PM.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail – enjoy a peaceful stroller friendly walk through a tropical forest inhabited by native African wildlife including gorillas, hippos and exotic birds.
Kilimanjaro Safaris is an 18 minute safari tour in an open-air vehicle of an African savanna. Spot live animals roaming free.
Wildlife Express Train departs from Harambe station and lasts for 7minutes to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, an area dedicated to the preservation and conservation of animals.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Pandora
Na’vi River Journey is a slow mystical journey by boat, deep into Pandora’s glowing bioluminescent rainforest.
Best Rides at Hollywood Studios For a Baby
Attractions and Disney Rides for Babies in Toy Story Land
Alien Swirling Saucers is for babies around 1 year and older due to the height requirements of 32in (81cm) or taller. It’s a slow spinning ride suitable for most where you are inside the toy grabbing machine
Toy Story Mania! Toy Story Mania! is a little like the Buzz Lightyear ride with the addition of 3D glasses. You have 5 games to play whilst in ‘Andy’s bedroom’ It’s noisy, arcade like, but fun!
Grand Avenue
Muppet*Vision 3D is a 3D theater show with Kermit, Miss Piggy and friends.
Disney World With a Baby Tips
- Have snacks, cooling towels, a stroller with a canopy, stroller fan and water to keep cool. Pop into shops and shows to keep out of the sun and heat.
- Label your stroller and park it in the designated stroller areas by rides. Use a baby carrier for the queues.
- Do plan your rides first and check the ones suitable for baby and toddler AND those which you want to go on eg. Do they have Rider Switch? (More on Rider Switch below.)
- Download the My Disney Experience App. (More info on useful apps for Orlando here.)
- Currently FastPass+ is unavailable – new updates expected on this soon but as DisneyLand Paris has already introduced separate charges per individual ride to beat queues, this could happen in the USA too.
- Check out the Baby Care Centers for feeding, changing and purchasing forgotten items (more info below)
What is Rider Switch?
Rider Switch at Walt Disney World, is a service for when a child does not want to go on a ride or does not meet the height requirements. They wait in a designated room with one of your party, whilst the others go on the ride. When the first group has completed the ride, they switch with the parent initially looking after the child, so now that parent can have a turn on the ride without queuing up again, and the new non rider waits instead to look after the child(ren) They are allowed to take one other person with them too, so someone in your party may go on the ride twice. More details on Rider Switch here.
Rider Switch is not available on every ride at Disney World. Below are details of where it is currently permitted.
Magic Kingdom Park
The Barnstormer
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Epcot
Frozen Ever After
Mission: SPACE
Soarin’
Test Track
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Alien Swirling Saucers
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Slinky Dog Dash
Star Tours® – The Adventures Continue
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
Avatar Flight of Passage
DINOSAUR
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain®
Kali River Rapids
Na’vi River Journey
Primeval Whirl
What are Baby Care Centers at Disney World?
Disney World Baby Care Centers
Every guest with a baby at Disney World needs to know about Baby Care Centers. Each of the four theme parks have just one, so it’s good to know their locations beforehand by checking your park maps.
Baby centers at Disney World are quiet, air-conditioned hubs offering refuge to parents touring Disney World. They include facilities and features like multiple changing tables, comfortably spaced seating next to electric outlets for pumping and breastfeeding, a darkened seating area with a TV where the family can wait, and kitchen supplies to warm up food and bottles. These include bottle warmers and a microwave. There is a sink to wash up bottles etc in too.The Baby Centers shops are also stocked with supplies like food, formula, sunscreen, over-the-counter medications and diapers to purchase.
Do let us know your experience and tips below in the comments with your favorite Disney World baby rides
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