Best Disney World Rides for Kids

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Sure, it's similar to simple spinning rides found at amusement parks and carnivals everywhere (although the Disney ride is decked out like some magnificent Renaissance machine designed by Leonardo da Vinci). But there is something affirming and timeless about boarding the famous flying pachyderm. No visit to Disney World would be complete without a spin on Dumbo. It is, perhaps, the definitive Disney attraction and, in our estimation, the best Disney World ride for kids.

It's so popular, Disney added a second Dumbo ride when it expanded its New Fantasyland area. It also features a big top circus-themed waiting area where kids can have fun before their ride aboard the soaring elephant.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 1.5
  Spinning action; vehicles rise up (but not that high)
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom

Peter Pan's Flight

It's one of the original Disney World (and Disneyland) attractions. The sweet ride sends guests soaring high above London and off to Never Land in flying galleons that are suspended from a track above the vehicles. Disney's other Pirates ride can be a bit foreboding and overwhelming for small children, but Peter Pan strikes the perfect balance of adventure and nostalgia. Who could resist a ride powered by pixie dust? The park updated the ride with interactive murals that guests can experience in the queue before boarding the ride.

"Come on, everybody! Here we gooooooo!"

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 1
  Sensation of flying high in the air. Slightly menacing villains.
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Opened in 2020, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is the first ride-through attraction to feature the beloved mouse and his sweetheart. The premise is that guests are able to join the Fab Five inside a Mickey Mouse cartoon short. Using digital image mapping and other themed entertainment sorcery, the experience is quite compelling and joyful. Although it’s called “Runaway Railway,” the action is actually quite tame. Kids should adore it. Adults too.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 1.5
  Simulated (but not too scary) waterfall plunge and a slightly menacing factory scene. No coaster-like thrills.
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: Disney's Hollywood Studios

The Seas With Nemo & Friends

A stunning breakthrough by Disney Imagineers integrates the characters from Finding Nemo with the actual fish and animals in the tank of the marine life pavilion. The illusion will have adults baffled, but young children will simply accept it—and love it. A sequel of sorts to the film, the simple story has Nemo pretending to be lost (talk about a fish who cried wolf, eh?). The Omnimover system uses cute "clamobile" vehicles.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy! 10=Yikes!): .5
  Some scenes are a bit dark
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: Future World in Epcot

Voyage of The Little Mermaid

A theatrical retelling of the classic animated film (in condensed form), the show includes many of the movie's popular songs. Kids will root for the upbeat, plucky heroine and be delighted by the in-theater effects.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 1
  The giant Ursula puppet could be a bit unnerving for wee ones
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: Disney's Hollywood Studios

"It's a Small World"

Young kids are wide-eyed as they glide through the Disney park original (which was one of the four attractions Disney developed for the 1964 New York World's Fair). The relentlessly upbeat and bright ride might seem a tad cloying to adults—and its never-ending theme song can induce fits of hysteria—but children absolutely adore it.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy! 10=Yikes!): 0
  Perhaps the most gentle park ride ever designed.
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom

Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid

The chirpy ride tells the classic Mermaid fable in ride form and uses cutting-edge animatronics. Little kids should love it.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 2
  Meanie Ursula might upset young kids in her slightly foreboding scene.
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom

Turtle Talk With Crush

Like The Seas with Nemo & Friends ride, which is in the same pavilion, Turtle Talk with Crush is one of those Disney attractions that use industrial strength Imagineering magic to confound adults, but seamlessly enchant children. The surfer dude from Finding Nemo interacts and chats with audience members via real-time, on-the-fly animation. This is perhaps the most underrated attraction in all of Disney World as well as one of the best for young kids. In 2016, Disney updated the attraction to include characters from “Finding Dory.”

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy! 10=Yikes!): 0
  The delightful show has no scary moments.
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: Future World in Epcot

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

A throwback to the Disneyland attraction that was the first to offer Audio-Animatronics, the charming show features talking birds and flowers as well as endearing, if dated (in a good way) songs. For about ten years, Disney tampered with the show and grafted characters from Aladdin and The Lion King onto the classic show. Fortunately, it realized its update was misguided and restored the original, nostalgic version.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): .5
  There is an interlude when the room turns dark, and the noise level gets a bit loud.
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom

Enchanted Tales With Belle

Enter a magic mirror and be transported to the Beast's castle. There, you'll encounter The Wardrobe and Lumiere (two mighty impressive animatronic figures) as well as Belle and other characters from the film. The charming attraction is interactive and incorporates many kids in each performance. This is another one of Disney World’s under-the-radar gems.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 0
  The presentation has no scary moments.
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom

Honorable Mention: Toy Story Land

This is not an attraction, but an entire land. Young kids will be enchanted as they enter Andy’s backyard and discover oversized toys, giant sneaker prints, and other delightful touches from the Toy Story movies. With a height requirement of 38 inches, many younger kids would be able to ride Slinky Dog Dash, the launched roller coaster that is the featured attraction in the land. But the ride may be a bit too harrowing for wee ones. With a height requirement of 32 inches, the spinning ride, Alien Swirling Saucers, is more agreeable for those wary of thrills. There's no height requirement on Toy Story Mania, although the interactive game play could be frustrating for very young children.

• Location: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Honorable Mention: Tom Sawyer Island

The enchanting playground provides a great way for rambunctious kids to blow off steam. There are plenty of nooks to explore and interactive adventures to uncover. The raft ride to and from the island adds to the adventure.

• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 1
  Rickety bridges and other structures may offer mild thrills to younger kids.
• Height Requirement: None
• Location: Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom