Best rides at Magic Kingdom with Toddlers
Think your child is too young for Disney? Think again! Toddlers are one of the best age groups to take to Disney World.
There are plenty of attractions and rides to make this the best vacation ever.
While there are character meet and greets along with shows to see, there are plenty of rides a toddler can enjoy as well.
Here’s a list of rides you must do while exploring the Magic Kingdom with toddlers.
Also, check out this Magic Kingdom 2-day itinerary for help planning your stay.
Magic Kingdom with Toddlers – Best rides
1. Dumbo
Hands down, this iconic ride is a kid favorite. You sit in an elephant and then have the ability to raise or lower it while it is circling around. It is just the right amount of stimulation for a toddler. Plus, giving them control of the lever makes them feel they are in charge.
There are actually 2 Dumbo rides. One is for those holding a FastPass, the other is the standby line.
In between the two rides is a stationary Dumbo exclusively meant for picture taking! Kids love posing here, so make sure you get their photo.
Dumbo is located in Storybook Circus which is all the way in the back of the park behind Fantasyland. Here is a Magic Kingdom map so you can see the different lands.
2. Magic Tea Cups
Light and lively is how I describe this ride. Pastel-colored teacups spin around for a few minutes to music. However, your little one will be enthralled trying to make your teacup spin faster by turning the wheel you are sitting around.
Full disclosure – While I, myself, don’t care for spinning around in circles, Little K loves it. When she was younger, she could only turn the wheel a little so the teacup didn’t spin as much. Now that she is older, she likes to see how fast she can spin it to make mommy throw up!
3. Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Who doesn’t love a jar full of honey? Right next to the Tea Cups in Fantasyland, you find Pooh and his friends. Board a honey pot and ride through Pooh’s world.
Meet Tigger and the honey pot bounces up and down just like Tigger does. Yes, that’s my favorite part of the ride!
Each honey pot follows a track indoors that takes you to different scenes from Winnie the Pooh. It is very light-hearted and bright, enabling toddlers to have fun with some of their favorite Disney characters.
4. It’s a Small World
Everyone will know the theme song by the time the ride is finished. Don’t be surprised if your toddler continues to sing it even after you are home.
This fourteen-minute ride is a great escape from the Disney heat. Indoor boats take you around the world seeing kids from other countries dressed in their native attire singing and dancing.
Lines move quickly through this attraction because quite a few people can fit inside a boat. Approximately 8 rows fill each boat (and 4 people can easily fit in a row) and they load two boats at once.
If you’re wondering how to do Disney with a toddler, remember this ride as it allows you to sit for a minute (well, 14 of them!), rest and cool off.
5. Peter Pan’s Flight
Grab a FastPass for this one – see How to Choose Your Magic Kingdom FastPass Rides.
This popular ride is great for toddlers and adults alike. Glide through London on a pirate galleon as you head for Neverland.
Each family boards their own vessel, therefore the loading process takes a while and there is always a line! Definitely get a FastPass for this one or you will be waiting 45-60 minutes.
This ride is a little darker than the others already mentioned. It is indoors and is meant to resemble nighttime, therefore it is not as bright and cheerful as the other rides.
6. Magic Carpets of Aladdin
This outdoor ride can be found in Adventureland. Join Aladdin as your family boards a magic carpet and get ready to fly with him.
The ride allows the front seat to control the lever for how high you go, much like Dumbo.
A beautiful camel adorns the front of the ride – a great spot for picture taking. In addition, the Liki Tiki’s are near the ride’s entrance. These are one of the few mist spraying attractions in the Magic Kingdom for toddlers to play around in while cooling off.
7. Under the Sea
The newest Fantasyland attraction on this list, The Little Mermaid is a beautiful indoor ride depicting Ariel’s world from mermaid to princess.
Flounder and Sebastian, along with colorful seahorses, sing along to ‘Part of Your World’ as you glide through the sea in a clamshell.
This fast loading attraction is one of my favorites. The first time I rode it, I was amazed at the animation and bright colors weaving their Disney magic into this ride.
In addition, a majority of the waiting line is indoors, making this another great attraction to visit on those hot Florida days. With it being one of the newest rides, Disney did a great job providing plenty of hidden fans that cool you off as you are waiting.
One caveat to mention is Ursala’s electric eels. These creatures can be a little menacing and scary, but it doesn’t last long and Little K was not bothered by it, but I could see how some kids may be.
8. Prince Charming Regal Carousel
Smack dab in the middle of Fantasyland is the Regal Carousel. Climb aboard with Prince Charming, strap your little prince or princess to the horse and enjoy the majesty of riding.
The horses do automatically move up and down. While your toddler is belted, I always stood by the side to make sure my daughter didn’t slide off. Plus, kids need help getting onto and off the horses.
As a plus, there is a large stroller parking lot here. We always left the stroller for a couple of hours here as we made our rounds around all the rides in Fantasyland. Find out what is the best stroller for Disney World!
9. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
If your child has seen any version of Toy Story, they will love seeing a life-size Buzz Lightyear while in line for this ride.
Board your star cruiser where your mission is to defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg. Your cruiser spins 360-degrees allowing you to attack all the glowing Z’s from any angle. This is a highly-interactive ride your child will love. Little K doesn’t like it that my score is better than hers, though.
The Buzz Lightyear ride is found in Tomorrowland.
10. Tomorrowland Speedway
While toddlers at the Magic Kingdom may not be able to reach the gas pedal, it is hilarious to drive with them around the track.
I have never seen my daughter laugh so much on a ride as she does on the Speedway. My foot is on the gas pedal while she steers and gets us knocked around on the course.
This ride is completely outdoors while the sun is beating down on you. It is one ride that I usually get a FastPass for after I have used my first three.
There you have it! The best rides in the Magic Kingdom for toddlers. Notice that I didn’t mention Pirates of the Caribbean or the Haunted Mansion.
While these rides don’t have height requirements, I think they are quite dark for toddlers. Pirates has mostly shooting scenes with fire and cannons while the Haunted Mansion has eery ghosts and music. If you think your child can handle that, by all means, take them.
So, even though you are skipping Disney World’s fastest rides, there are plenty of attractions and shows your toddler will love!
What is your favorite ride in the Magic Kingdom with a toddler? Please let me know in the comments!
Need help planning your Disney World experience? Read the Disney Planning Guide and then download my free Disney organizer and planner here! It outlines the best time to make reservations whether that be for character meals or FastPasses and also includes a printable where you can keep track of all your reservations.
Other Disney advice:
- Best Seats on the Festival of Fantasy Parade Route
- 15 Disney World Mistakes Not to Make
- How to Save Money at Disney
- ‘Ohana Character Breakfast Review
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