Disney World Tips - Rides for Toddlers and Babies
Anna TrosperSeptember 6, 2016A Walt Disney World vacation with a baby or a toddler can be more fun than you think. My fondest memories are of the kids' first time going to Disney and seeing everything for the first time. The smile on that little face when they see Mickey or the laughter when they ride Dumbo ... it is priceless!!! Taking a small child is, well, magical. You see things through their eyes. It’s a whole new adventure for you.Some say “I want to wait till they will remember.” Well, if you wait too long, it’s not magical for them anymore. Taking your children when they are still young enough to believe that Mickey is real and Tinkerbell can fly will be the memories you hold in your heart.With more than 100 different rides and attractions spread across 4 theme parks, you might be a little overwhelmed at what rides are appropriate for your little ones and what rides might be too much. There are rides that the whole family can enjoy, a few that it will depend on your child, and then a few that I would proceed to ride with caution.
First up is Magic Kingdom!
Fun rides for the whole family!
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – Slow Ride, colorful, interactive, inside, any height
- Astro Orbiter – Slow Ride, Spinning, any height, Rocket – like spacecraft you sit in and you control, up and down
- Casey Jr. Splash ‘N” Soak Station – Circus- themed water play area, any height, great place to cool down.
- Country Bear Jamboree – Any Height, in-side, Stage show, 16 minute long musical revue.
- Enchanted Tales with Bell – Any Height, Indoor, Meet and great Belle in the library.
- It’s a Small World – Any Height, indoor, boat ride, slow, 10 minute ride
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor – Any Height, interactive show
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel – Any Height, Slow ride, spinning
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – Any Height, Slow ride, Indoor, Interactive
- Walt Disney World Railroad – Any Height, slow ride, 20 minute train ride all the way around the park, Stops at Main Street, USA, Frontierland and Fantasyland
- Liberty Square Riverboat – Any height, slow boat ride,17 minute, 3 Tiered Liberty belle Riverboat
Fun for some!
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant – Any Height, outside, plan area for waiting in line, goes around, up and down under your control.
- Jungle Cruise – Any Height, Boat ride, at one point the boat captain shoots a fake gun, and there is a dark tunnel.
- Mad Tea Party – Any Height, Spinning cups
- Mickey’s Philharmagic –Any Height, inside, can get loud at times, water sprinkles on you a little at one point
- Peter Pan’s Flight – Any height, inside, dark in spots and there is a spot were the crocodile s about to eat Hook
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin – Any Height, outside, slow ride, spinning, carpets go up and down you control, may get a little wet from camel spitting at you
- PeopleMover – Any height, inside and outside, has some dark spots, great place to relax
- Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid – Any Height, Slow ride, indoor, interactive, large Ursula audio-animatronic
- Walt Disney Carousel of Progress – Any Height, inside, 21 minute show in a rotating theatre
- Enchanted Tiki Room – Any Height, indoor, interactive, has a simulated thunderstorm
- Swiss Family Treehouse – any height, outside, a lot of stairs, over 6 stories high.
All depends on your child!
- Pirates of the Caribbean – Any height, inside, boat ride, dark most of the ride, small drops, can be loud, cannon fire, skeletons
- Haunted Mansion – Any Height, inside, dark, ghost, caskets, graveyard
For both of these rides use your judgement. You know your child. My nephew went through Haunted Mansion at age 3 with no problem, but next year would not go in.
Epcot
Fun rides for the whole family!
- Circle of Life – any height, 20 minute film, inside, mix of animation and live action
- The Coral Reef – Any Height, inside, A very large aquarium
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros – any Height, slow ride, indoor, boat ride
- Sea Base – Any height, indoor, interactive, Animal encounters
- Turtle Talk – Any height, indoors, interactive, real time Q and A with Crush
- Frozen - Any height, inside, musical boat ride, slow
Fun for some!
- Journey Into Imagination with Figment – Any height, indoor, interactive, big blast of air at one spot and a loud noise
- Living the Land – Any height, inside, boat ride, slow, simulated thunderstorm can be loud
- Spaceship Earth – Any Height, slow ride, inside, dark
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends – Any height, slow ride, indoors, dark in some spots and there is a large shark
All depends on your child!
- Ellen’s Energy Adventure – Any height, indoors, slow ride, dark in spots, large dinosaurs, can be loud
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Fun rides for the whole family!
- Toy Story Mania – Any height, inside, spinning, interactive
- Disney Junior – Live on stage,24 minutes, inside
Fun for some!
- Muppet Vison 3D – Any height, inside, a little water sprinkles on you at one point
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid – Any height, inside, 17 min, live show, large Ursula could scare child
All depends on your child!
- Beauty and the Beast – Any height, outside, covered seating, Live stage show. Some may get scared by the Beast
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Fun rides for the whole family!
- Festival of the Lion King – Any height, inside, live show
- Finding Nemo – Any height, inside, live show, Nemo’s mom does die in the beginning just like the move
- Kilimanjaro Safaris – Any height, slow ride, animal encounters, can get bumpy at times
- Affection Section – Any height, outside, petting zoo
- Maharajah Jungle Trek – Any height, outside, walking trails
- The Oasis Exhibits – Any height, outside, Animal encounters, walking trails
All depends on your child!
- Tricera Top Spin – Any height, slow ride, spinning, moves up and sown you control
- It’s Tough to be A Bug- Any height, inside, 4D movie, Dark, lots of bugs, loud, water sprinkles on you, bad smells (I have seen little ones love it and I have seen them very scared)