Key Points:
- The Magic Kingdom is one of the best places to take young kids. Great rides there include Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. And don’t miss out on their railroad.
- EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are mostly geared towards adults. But there are some rides for kids at both parks. Frozen Ever After at EPCOT and Mickie and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Hollwood Studios are both great for the little ones.
- The Animal Kingdom is a good place for more relaxed rides, like the Kilimanjaro Safaris and Maharajah Jungle Trek.
Disney World is a wonderful place to bring younger kids – especially since those under 3 years old can get into the parks completely free. Though there are plenty of roller coasters, simulators, and other attractions that come with a height requirement, most parks have plenty for younger kids to see and do.
Experiencing Disney World with young kids makes everything far more special, as long as you do it right. Keep reading to see the best rides for babies and young kids at Disney World, in addition to a few tips to keep everyone happy the entire trip.
If you’re an adrenaline junkie and looking to get your fix while the kids are on the milder rides, check out my post on the fastest rides at Disney.
Magic Kingdom
Photo: Tristen Rider
Disney World’s flagship park is the most iconic, and for good reason. It is great to take younger kids to due to the sheer number of rides and attractions that they can experience. The park itself has 6 themed lands, each with an interesting story and things to look at that will catch the eye of any toddler.
In addition to the theming, there are plenty of characters available to meet that can result in an awesome photo of family memory. Here are a few of the top attractions for kids at Magic Kingdom.
Peter Pan’s Flight
Photo: Tristen Rider
Peter Pan’s Flight has stood the test of time and is still extremely popular despite opening with the park over 50 years ago. It has a ton of charm, amazing scenery, and is simply fun to ride.
I believe it is particularly popular with younger children due to the ride vehicle type. You hop on board a flying ship and soar over scenes below. This sense of flying and excitement are sure to please your kids, and you will surely enjoy this ride as well.
It’s a Small World
Photo: Romulan248. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Small_World_MK.jpg
Originally created all the way back in the 60’s, this classic ride is great for kids for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the ride has a high capacity and limited wait time, making it ideal to experience without fear of kids getting restless while waiting in line.
Second, the ride is chock full of colorful moving figures that any young child will love. There’s just so much to see! You can have them point out their favorite scenes, characters, and more. The catchy song that plays throughout the ride is all part of the fun!
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Photo: Tristen Rider
Though it’s a more typical hub-and-spoke spinner ride, Dumbo the Flying Elephant is a lot of fun for any young kid because you can fly up into the air. It’s simple but is a great spot to grab pictures with your kids as you fly around Storybook Circus.
To add to the fun, the ride features an indoor play area inside the queue, so wait times aren’t too much of a problem since the kids will have something to do while they wait for the ride!
The Walt Disney World Railroad
Zach Casper, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What child doesn’t love a train ride? The railroad that encircles the entire park is always a lot of fun for everyone, but kids will surely enjoy it the most.
It’s a slow and smooth ride aboard a real steam engine that offers views around the park. Again, it’s a simple ride that should be a new experience for kids that they will enjoy.
EPCOT
Photo: Tristen Rider
EPCOT is the most adult-oriented park, but there are still numerous rides that are perfect for kids. While the adults enjoy a stroll around the World Showcase, kids can stop for some stickers and an activity in each country’s “Kidkot Fun Stop” to keep them occupied.
Frozen Ever After
Theme Park Tourist, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In terms of rides at EPCOT, the Frozen Ever After boat ride takes the cake. There are few kids who aren’t fans of the Frozen franchise, and they are always happy to see Olaf, Anna, and Elsa in anything.
The ride is a dark boat ride featuring their favorite characters and is just exciting enough to make them feel exhilarated, but not too scary to turn them away.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Photo: Tristen Rider
This entire pavilion is filled to the brim with things to see and do, all of which has little to no wait times. The entrance to the pavilion starts with a slow ride through a retelling of “Finding Nemo” that features a few scenes from the films.
However, be warned that extra timid kids might be a bit afraid of Bruce the shark and another scene of an Anglerfish chasing Marlin. Most kids, however, will enjoy the ride.
If you want to skip the ride, you can simply enter the pavilion through the gift shop to the left of the ride entrance. You can then head straight into the aquarium exhibits to explore all sorts of underwater animals.
There’s also an interactive show featuring Crush from Finding Nemo! All in all, the aquarium of the Seas is a great spot to take kids to keep them occupied, cool, and relaxed.
Hollywood Studios
Photo: Tristen Rider
Collectively, Hollywood Studios is the park I generally advise parents of younger kids to stay away from. The park has plenty to see and do, it just focuses more on themes and rides that older visitors will enjoy.
There are only a few rides in the park without a height requirement, which means babies and kids will struggle to find things to do. There is one great pick for kids, though.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Photo: Tristen Rider
This relatively new ride takes guests aboard a trackless ride vehicle that moves erratically through an adventure with Mickey and Minnie after guests are pulled through the screen and into a Mickey Mouse cartoon. The ride has huge scenes that immerse riders in the story, leaving lots for kids to look at and be excited about.
Animal Kingdom
Photo: Tristen Rider
Often left of many Disney lists, Animal Kingdom is my favorite park overall. Despite not having the greatest number of rides, it’s a great spot to visit for a more relaxing and slow-paced day away from the crowds and chaos of the other parks.
The main draw for kids are the animals, of course, and there are plenty of different ways to see them.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
You will hop aboard a truck and take off on a realistic safari, passing by all sorts of animals who often stroll right by the truck! You can see zebras, giraffes, lions, elephants, rhinos, hippos, and many more animals during your adventure.
It’s a great experience for every rider, but especially for kids who will be able to see animals in a more natural-looking habitat than they could get at a local zoo.
Gorilla Falls Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek
Photo: Tristen Rider
Both of these attractions are simply walk-through trails which guests can explore at their own pace to check out more animals. Gorilla Falls, located in Africa, features gorillas, hippos, and an aviary. Maharajah Jungle Trek, located in Asia, has a Komodo dragon, bats, tigers, and another aviary.
Collectively, the trails are a great way to have your kids explore as they want to, without the confinement of “stay in the stroller” or “hold my hand” that will be necessary throughout the entirety of other parks.
Tips on Navigating Disney with Babies and Toddlers
The biggest thing you need to bring with you on a vacation with young kids is patience. They are bound to be overstimulated, tired, and hot – so they will end up having a breakdown at some point.
Just be sure to take the necessary steps to reduce the likelihood and intensity of crying or tantrums! Take short breaks in the air conditioning, bring plenty of their favorite snacks to keep them full and distracted, and be patient when explaining what they need to do to walk through the crowds, sit in the stroller, or whatever else you’re doing. They don’t understand how expensive Disney is, they just see what’s in front of them.
In terms of daily planning, it’s good to head to the parks in the morning, relax back at the resort and have a nap if needed in the afternoon, then gauge how tired everyone is to see how long you can head back to the parks for in the evening.
This strategy also helps minimize the crowds, since parks get busier in the afternoons. You’ll want to do everything you can to make sure you avoid waiting in long lines to keep the kids from getting restless.
