Disney is built for families of all ages to enjoy, so it is no surprise that there are toddler rides at Disney World at all the parks. However, it is Magic Kingdom which has the most toddler friendly rides, making this park the biggest draw for families with young children. 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. This guide gives details on all the Magic Kingdom rides for toddlers, including attractions and tips.
Best Toddler Rides at Magic Kingdom
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Bear in mind the average 4 year old boy is around 40″ (102 cm) with girls slightly shorter. The rides below all meet this height requirement, with most having no height restrictions at all. Those that do, have all the details so you can decide whether the ride is suitable for your child. Print out our color-coded height requirements here or click on the image below to print. You can mark the rides off that are suitable for your family.
Top Tip: Plan your rides and walk from left to right as you pass Main Street. This way you can beat some of the crowds. Most people naturally veer right – this is the same for queuing up at the entrance gates too.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Toddlers 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 Toddlers in Tomorrowland
Astro Orbiter is a slow, spinning ride in a spaceship where you blast off and 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.
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor sit and participate in an interactive comedy show with the Monsters Inc.
Tomorrowland Speedway is for toddlers 32in (81cm) or taller. Cars have a fun working gas pedal and steering wheel, so you navigate the circuit. Kids over 54″ (137cm)can drive their own car, otherwise they must be accompanied by someone who is at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall.
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 snack for a toddler. Kids can also sit on laps too.
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 or stay in the cool – but that may be the only appeal for toddlers.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Toddlers in Fantasyland
Dumbo the Flying Elephant is an outside classic, nostalgic 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 ‘queue’ until you are told it’s time to climb aboard. This a one of the most popular toddler rides at Magic Kingdom but because there are two of them, wait times are not usually that long.
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 toddler a snack in the cool!
“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. If you have dare devil toddler who wants a wild ride, turn the wheel fast and hold on.
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!
Seven Dwarves Mine Train is a more gentle roller coaster for those over 38″ (97cm) tall and a good first introduction to the roller coaster for those adventurous little ones – although it may cause a few nervous looks at first. After the initial surprises with some sharp twists and small drops and then the realization that they are safe, toddlers may well ask to go on this one again!
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. You’ll hear Sebastian, Ariel and Ursula sing familiar songs on this enchanting ride.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Toddlers in Liberty Square
The Hall of Presidents is a great opportunity for a rest in the cool or sit and feed a toddler a snack, as it is highly unlikely toddlers would engage in the film. Sit in the theater to watch a film lasting about 20 minutes and see audio animatronics of every President of the United States.
Haunted Mansion has mildly frightening scenes with skeletons popping out, but no gore. Still a toddler or young child may be scared or may need some reassurance that it is all pretend.
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, but if you can grab a spot, it’s a great ride for toddler to have a rest and see different views.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Toddlers in Frontierland
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is for those taller toddlers (likely aged 4 +) as they must be at least 40″ (102cm) tall. It’s one for the thrill seekers as it is fast, bumpy and dark in some places but a lot of fun!
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 toddler if you can fit that in to the animatronic bears 16 minute performance.
Tom Sawyer Island is reached by raft, where you then reach a secret hideaway inspired by the stories of Mark Twain. This adventure playground has suspension bridges, secret mined caves and a fort to explore too.
Attractions and Disney Rides for Toddlers 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 with a guide cracking jokes and wisecracks.
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, 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.
Disney World With a Toddler or 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.)
- 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! What do you consider to be the best rides at Disney World for babies and toddlers? and what are your favorite toddler rides at Magic Kingdom?
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