Best Rides for Babies at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
My tips and tricks for riding with two under 3
My daughter had never had nightmares before.
Two years ago my husband, who’s a big fan of the ride, convinced me it was a good idea to let my daughter get on. Unfortunately, I didn’t listen to my gut instinct and we got on the ride. My daughter spent the entire time covering her ears with her face nuzzled in my torso on the verge of tears. Every cannon fired caused her to jump in her seat and wail. After what seemed like hours, but was probably more like 10-15 minutes, the ride was over and we thought we were safe from the torment of the ride. Except it didn’t end there. She proceeded to wake up in the middle of the night and have nightmares for months. I haven’t been on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride since.
Just because a ride says it's for "all ages" and a "slow ride," doesn't mean it's the best choice for babies or young toddlers. Lesson learned. But, don't worry, we've since learned to choose rides wisely. You can use my list of Top 10 Rides for Babies below to avoid making the same mistakes we did. We also picked up on some tricks to make the whole experience less stressful for the little ones.
Having kids visualize the experience really helps prep them for rides for future trips. There are lots of ways you can get them excited about the parks and rides before you even set foot in Disney World.
Your child will enjoy the ride and their experience at the park so much more if they’re already invested in the theming. Before our first trip to Disney World, we played “it’s a small world” at home pretty much on repeat (I know, you must think we’re crazy for willingly enduring this torture, but bear with me here). My daughter loved the song so much that by the time we went on the ride, she was extremely excited to hear it and danced the entire time.
Try showing them a video of the ride before your trip so they know what to expect. If there’s a ride you’re worried your toddler might be scared of, or a ride you’re not sure they’ll like, this usually helps weed out the ones you need to avoid.
There’s so much more to enjoy besides the rides. We love taking our kids on all the transportation vehicles: boats, railroads, and main street vehicles. They have so much fun and don’t even realize they’re not “rides.” As an added benefit, there are little to no lines and give you longer breaks.
Sometimes getting on a ride is unavoidable, whether it’s because your husband loves it or it’s raining so hard you need to take refuge in the Tiki Room. So, here are my top picks for Magic Kingdom rides, perfect for little ones. Some of these rides can be pretty loud, so depending on your baby’s age you might want to pack some noise-canceling headphones, just in case!
Top 10 Rides for Babies
It’s a Small World (Fantasyland)
This slow-moving boat ride is the quintessential Disney ride and is perfect for babies and kids of all ages. My favorite part? It’s long and has air conditioning which gives you a nice break from the Florida heat and your legs a rest. It’s equally as good for grandparents, my father-in-law has taken a nap on this ride every single time he’s been on it.
Jungle Cruise (Adventureland)
This has become by far my daughter’s favorite ride. It’s a boat ride that takes you on an adventure to see all sorts of animals (spoiler: they’re not real animals). It’s great for kids and can be hilarious for adults too, especially if you get a good skipper. We bought my daughter the “Jungle Cruise ANIMALS!” book online and she loved knowing what to expect on the ride. She actually ended up memorizing which animals came next.
Pro tip: When you’re approaching the hippos, watch out for the gunshot noise. It startled my toddler the first time she was on it and she cried the rest of the ride. I’m not entirely sure if they're phasing it out though because the skippers haven’t shot their gun the past couple of times we’ve been on it.
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (Fantasyland)
Who doesn’t love a good old carousel ride? If you’re riding with a smaller baby there’s a seated portion that doesn’t move up and down.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Fantasyland)
Another classic. You can control the amount of vertical movement on the ride with a lever.
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (Adventureland)
This ride is essentially the same as the Dumbo ride, however, I’ve found the line is typically much shorter. It’s also right next to the Jungle Cruise which is convenient if you want to do both (or have someone stand in line at one while you ride the other).
Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid (Fantasyland)
This ride is a slow-moving vehicle that takes you through different scenes of The Little Mermaid. The Ursula scenes can be scary which is why my toddler doesn’t like this ride, but for a baby who doesn’t really know what’s going on it’s totally fine (or for a toddler who isn’t afraid of Ursula).
Peter Pan’s Flight (Fantasyland)
This ride is mostly dark and it feels like you’re flying over London and Neverland (not in a scary way at all). The ride is very short and usually has a very long line. I would avoid it if you have a child who’s scared of the dark.
Here we start getting into the more “vehicle” category than the “ride” category but they also have their merit:
Liberty Square Riverboat (Liberty Square)
This is a nice change of pace from standing in line for rides. There’s usually no line and the boat takes you from Liberty Square around the river. I should note that although it’s a large boat, strollers aren’t allowed. Sometimes Tiana will make an appearance here.
Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street, Frontierland, Fantasyland)
Who doesn’t like a train? You can use it to move from one land to another, or as a roundtrip scenic ride around Magic Kingdom.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover (Tomorrowland)
The only reason this is listed as last is because some people might not consider it a “ride.” It’s a vehicle that takes you around Tomorrowland. This can also be a nice change of pace and can give you a break from all the standing.
If you’re liking this post, share it with your friends who are planning a Disney World trip with babies/young toddlers!
The ones that didn’t make the cut (and why)
Here are the other rides listed in the my Disney experience app as being for all ages and why they didn’t make my list so you can decide if it works for you and your family.
The Hall of Presidents (Liberty Square) - Not great for a baby who might cry, it’s dark, and not particularly entertaining for a toddler.
Mad Tea Party (Fantasyland) - I debated whether this one should be on the list. In the end, I decided it was too fast for the “baby” category, but it’s okay for toddlers. I will note, you can control the speed of the spin for the most part, but the teacups still move fairly fast for a baby.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Fantasyland) - I find this ride to be very loud, even for an adult. I usually cover my toddler’s ears during certain portions and definitely wouldn’t take my baby without headphones.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress (Tomorrowland) - Similar to the Hall of Presidents; it’s dark and not a great setting for a baby.
Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland) - This ride has a drop, it’s dark and loud. Read my scarring experience above.
Haunted Mansion (Liberty Square) - This ride would be fine for a very small baby who has no idea what’s going on. The ride vehicles are slow and smooth. But I wouldn’t dare take my toddler on it.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger’s Spin (Tomorrowland) - This is stimulation central. My daughter had loved it at one point, but then also started getting nightmares from it. There’s just too much going on for a baby/toddler: bright lights and noises.
Astro Orbiter (Tomorrowland) - Similar to the Dumbo and Aladdin rides, but it seems to move faster.
And there you have it, folks! My top picks for the Magic Kingdom, where the only nightmare you'll have is getting the "It's a Small World" song out of your head! Which is your kid’s favorite Disney ride? Are there any on my list you disagree with? Let me know in the comments!
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This is super helpful, thanks for sharing!