Best Walt Disney World Rides for Kids

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The initial idea for Disneyland came to Walt Disney when he was spending the day out with his daughters. While they rode a carrousel, he was sitting on a bench. It was then that he realized there should be a way that he and his daughters could all enjoy the park together. This became Walt’s guiding principle behind the creation of Disneyland —the first place of its kind where children and parents could go to all enjoy themselves.

The grade school age might be the best age group to enjoy all that Walt Disney World has to offer. Kids in the five- to 10-year-old range will enjoy the gentler rides, but they’re also going to start dipping their toe in the water, so to speak, at more thrilling attractions.

Generally, the timeless favorites in each park are going to fall in this list. We’ll get into each park in more detail, but here are rides that you’re going to want to make sure you hit when you’re going to Walt Disney World with kids:

Magic Kingdom
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Haunted Mansion
- Tomorrowland Speedway
Epcot
- Spaceship Earth
- Frozen Ever After
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Test Track
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Hollywood Studios
- Toy Story Mania
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Rise of the Resistance
- Muppet Vision 3D
Animal Kingdom
- Kilimanjaro Safari
- Na’vi River Journey
- The Boneyard
- Festival of the Lion King

What do these rides have in common? They’re not what you would consider “kiddie rides,” (what parent isn’t heartbroken when they hear their child say for the first time, “That ride’s for babies!”) and they don’t offer thrills that would be overwhelming to little ones. Because they appeal to all, many of the most popular and signature Walt Disney World attractions will be on this list.

Best Magic Kingdom Attractions for Kids

The Magic Kingdom was designed with younger kids in mind, and nearly every attraction in the park will cater to kids in the grade-school range. The good news for parents is that many of these rides may also be among your favorites, perhaps dating back to when you were your child’s age! Getting to relive that wonder through the eyes of your kids is one of the lasting memories of a Disney vacation.

Starting in Adventureland, this is the age where your kids will start to get the jokes made by your skipper on the Jungle Cruise—even if they corny and punny.

No trip to Adventureland would be complete without a ride on Pirates of the Caribbean. On this ride are 2 things that get to test your child’s readiness for more adventurous rides: the waterfall towards the beginning of the attraction, and the overall dark atmosphere of the ride itself. This is a nice introduction to thrills and may open the door for other attractions.

Speaking of thrills, Frontierland offers plenty in the forms of Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. Splash offers plenty of gentle moments and several smaller drops, plus one big drop at the end. The good news about the drop is that kids can see it for themselves before deciding whether they want to ride.

If your kiddo is a bit bored by what The Barnstormer roller coaster offers in Fantasyland, give Big Thunder Mountain Railroad a look. It’s a bumpy ride, but there are no big drops or real high speeds that you would get with a traditional roller coaster, so it’s great for kids in this age range.

If your child is feeling brave, venture to the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square. While there are some moments that can provide a fright (the stretching room and the hallway with all of the doors can be a bit overwhelming), assure your kids that nothing on a Disney World ride is going to hurt them and that it’s all in good fun. Most kids who go in a bit timid end up loving this attraction by the end!

Depending on the age of your child, you might start bypassing more of Fantasyland, except for the classic Peter Pan’s Flight, the Mickey’s Philharmagic 3-D movie, and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. They are all solid options. The mine train offers thrills that are almost equal to that of Thunder Mountain, but maybe a bit tamer. If your child is unsure, it might be a good idea to try Seven Dwarfs Mine train before Big Thunder.

In Tomorrowland, due to the faster speed of the rockets and the ride taking place in the dark, Space Mountain isn’t for everyone in this age range, but plenty of kids under 10 do enjoy it. A good rule of thumb is if your kids enjoy the other “Mountains” at the Magic Kingdom and are looking for more thrills, give Space Mountain a try.

You can also check-out Space Mountain on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. The slow-moving elevated train ride passes through the Space Mountain as part of its tour of Tomorrowland. This way your child can get a glimpse of what to expect. That a much better way to know if they are willing to try it out before waiting on a very long line.

While in Tomorrowland, take a spin around the Tomorrowland Speedway. Kids will be thrilled to drive their own racecars. Even though they are on a track, kids still enjoy being behind the wheel. For something a bit more exciting, take the elevator up to Astor Orbiter. It’s a spinning ride along the lines of Dumbo, but being up above all the action makes it more exciting. Then they can battle it out against the evil Emperor Zurg on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin by hitting targets with laser blasters. They can even compete to see who scores the most points.

With so many rides and attractions for kids, be sure not to miss the afternoon parades. It’s a great way to see all the characters at once. Besides, everyone loves a parade.

Best Epcot Attractions for Kids

At Epcot, kids will enjoy attractions both in Future World and World Showcase. Starting at the center, Spaceship Earth is fun for the entire family, and the kids will definitely enjoy getting a glimpse into their future in the interactive portion of the ride. As you exit the ride, there are some interactive games they can try and may even learn something. Similar to Pirates of the Caribbean, most of this ride takes place in the dark but it does not have a drop.

Plan to spend some time at The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Enter the pavilion via a ride that features Nemo, Dory, and the other stars from Finding Nemo that generally has a short wait time (usually 15 minutes or less). Once you disembark, explore the two-story aquarium filled with sharks, dolphins, manatees, and plenty of other sea life.

Your grade school child is the perfect age to be awestruck by Soarin’ Around the World (40-inch height requirement) in The Land pavilion. This ride makes you feel like you are flying over many familiar and breathtaking world landscapes and landmarks. It can seem daunting by looking at it, but it’s a gentle ride.

On the other end of Future World, your child will probably enjoy Test Track (40-inch height requirement). After all, the prospect of riding in a fast car appeals to nearly everyone, right?

If your child has dreams of being an astronaut and going to outer space, venture over to Mission: SPACE (40-inch height requirement). There are two versions of this ride, Green and Orange. Beware: Orange, the intense version, is just that—very intense. This version of the ride incorporates rapid spinning to generate g-force (even though you might not feel it while watching the screen in your capsule), and plenty have taken advantage of the “space sickness” bags on board. So unless your child is really into thrill rides, you might want to wait a couple more years before going on this one. Green is the less intense version and does not incorporate the spinning. Be sure to try that version first.

In World Showcase, the Frozen Ever After boat ride is the signature attraction here, but don’t be surprised if older boys will want to pass on this one. But there is a drop in the ride so you may convince them to give it a try.

Opening soon in the France pavilion is the new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This is a trackless ride where you’re shrunken down to the size of a rat, right into the middle of an adventure from the Pixar hit Ratatouille. Although it’s not opened yet, it’s expected to be a new favorite attraction in Epcot.

For younger kids, World Showcase is not usually the most exciting part of Epcot, however, they might get excited about creating a keepsake from every country they visit. At each pavilion, you and your kids can draw, color, and collect activity cards at every country throughout World Showcase. These Kidcot Fun Stops are located in each Pavilion:

Mexico Pavilion (near Mexico Folk Art Gallery)
Norway Pavilion (at The Puffin’s Roost)
China Pavilion (near the exit of Reflections of China)
Germany Pavilion (at Volkunst)
Italy Pavilion (outside, near La Bottega Italiana)
American Adventure Pavilion (outside, near Art of Disney)
Japan Pavilion (in the Bijutsu-kan Gallery)
Morocco Pavilion (at the Marketplace in the Medina)
France Pavilion (at Souvenirs de France)
United Kingdom Pavilion (at The Toy Soldier)
Canada Pavilion (at the exit of Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360)

Best Hollywood Studios Attractions for Kids

At first glance, you might think that the new rides as part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge would be too intense for smaller kids, but that’s not the case. Both Rise of the Resistance (40-inch height requirement) and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (38-inch height requirement) were designed with the entire family in mind. Knowing the movies certainly helps, but kids will just love the action-packed rides even if they are not familiar with the stories or characters. But if they do, they will love them even more.

If they are Star Wars fans, be sure to sign them up for Jedi Training Academy. There is limited space so be sure to sign up early as space often fills up shortly after park opening.

The neighboring Toy Story Land is also popular among kids, for obvious reasons. Slinky Dog Dash (38-inch height requirement) is a fun roller coaster that has two separate launches. It’s fast, but it’s not as daunting as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster or Expedition Everest. It’s more along the lines of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, so there’s a good chance your child will enjoy it.

If your kid likes Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at the Magic Kingdom, they’ll surely love Toy Story Mania. This interactive arcade game-type ride is full of action and excitement, and you can compete for high scores. Alien Swirling Saucers (32-inch height requirement) is a fun, spinning carnival ride. It’s less intense than the roller coasters and a fun option for all kids.

The newest ride in the park is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, replacing the Great Movie Ride in the center of the park. This is the first Disney theme park attraction to feature Mickey and Minnie (believe it or not!). It’s a wacky attraction that employs some advanced technology. Although it seems to be geared to kids, it’s a ride that everyone from toddlers to adults will enjoy.

Finally, if you’re looking for a classic, take in a showing of MuppetVision 3D. Like the Jungle Cruise, your child will start to get the jokes while still enjoying the 3D gags by Fozzie Bear and friends.

There are a also a few shows that younger kids would enjoy, including The First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Shows are a great way to take a break and have a seat during a long day of lines and lots of walking.

Best Animal Kingdom Attractions for Kids

Animal Kingdom is not quite like the other Disney parks. Although there are a number of rides, there are also a lot of shows as well as animal exhibits. Let’s start with the rides.

The Kilimanjaro Safari will probably be the highlight of your child’s day at Animal Kingdom. Seeing lions, giraffes, elephants, and more up-close is a very memorable experience. If you want to get even closer, take the Wildlife Express Train ride to Conservation Station. There is a veterinary treatment room where you might be lucky enough to see a real animal examination. Besides watching, there are other animal-related activities and experiences, and even a petting zoo.

In the Pandora section, there’s plenty for your kids to enjoy even if they haven’t seen the movie Avatar (but it doesn’t hurt). Na’vi River Journey is a scenic boat ride similar to Pirates of the Caribbean, but without the drop. If your kids like Soarin’, and if they are tall enough, be sure to go on Avatar Flight of Passage (44-in height requirement). This ride is best described as “Soarin’ on steroids.” It also notoriously has one of the longest lines in any Disney park, so definitely try to snag a Lightning Lane pass.

If you don’t mind getting wet, take a trip down the Kali River Rapids, a traditional theme park “raging rapids”-style ride that will leave you soaked, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in the Florida sun.

If you are not afraid of bugs, then It’s Tough to be a Bug is fun. It’s a loud 3-D attraction with characters from A Bugs Life movie. There are scenes in here that are dark, loud, and feature strobe lights. And yes, it is about bugs, but there are a lot of kids that are not afraid (compared to grownups).

Besides rides, there are several exciting and entertaining shows at Animal Kingdom park. Finding Nemo: The Musical is a 40-minute stage show that features live puppets and all the songs from the movie that you love. Festival of the Lion King is a theater-in-the-round style of show that features characters, singers, dancers, and acrobats, all leading to a stirring rendition of “Circle of Life” as the show’s finale. If you’re sensing a theme, these two shows are great options when you (and the kids) need a break from the weather.

In Dinoland, there are a number of carnival-style games the kids will enjoy, but head up—like a carnival, they do cost extra to play. But the centerpiece of Dinoland is The Boneyard. Created especially for kids 10 and under, this dig site lets kids dig up and explore fossils and other dino-sized surprises while parent can enjoy a shady area with large fans to cool things off.

And don’t forget to check out the animal exibits and walking trails. Kids will love to get a close up look at many animals from bats to tigers.

Tips for Doing the Best Disney Rides for Kids

Test the rides out first with “Rider Switch”

If you are unsure if your child will like a ride, try it out first. The easiest way to do that is with Rider Switch, also called Child Swap.

You all go on the ride’s line together, but one person rides first without the child while with the other waits with the child. After riding, if you feel it’s appropriate for the child, the person who stayed behind can take them on while you wait. If you decide it’s not for them, the second person can still ride, while you wait with the child.

Here is how it works:

Tell the Cast Member at the entrance you’d like to do Rider Switch.
Your group will be given a Rider Switch Pass. Those riding second will wait in a designated area with the non-rider(s) with the pass, while those riding first go on.
After the ride, the Rider Switch Pass is given to the one waiting, while the person who just rode remains in the designated area with the non-rider(s).
The second rider gives the Rider Switch Pass to a Cast Member and goes on the ride. They don’t have to wait in the queue again.

Two guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass. So, if you have an older child and a baby, each adult can bring the child on the ride while the other waits with the baby.

Note: not all rides offer this option.

To help plan the perfect vacation, Disney Travel Planners are available to make sense of all the options. Many offer free services when you book with them. To learn more, read Disney Travel Planners.

Know Your Child

Please keep in mind that our recommendations are just a guide. You as a parent will know your child best.

This article is meant to highlight those rides and attractions that most parents and young kids like best. Some rides have height restrictions but that does not mean just because your child is tall enough, that they are ready for a bigger ride. Every child is different.

Many children are apprehensive of the unknown. As they get older, they may want to seem brave, especially when they see other kids going on rides. If they are not ready, there are many other attractions that they will enjoy more. Plus, Disney World will be around for a long, long time. If there is a ride they are not ready for now, they probably will be the next time you plan a vacation. That is one reason many guests return year after year.

On the other hand, you may have a mini-adrenaline junkie that is ready for everything. Just be aware of the height restrictions. Disney is very strict about that for guest safety reasons and they are non-negotiable.

For more helpful planning tips, check out these articles:

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