For many parents planning a trip to Disney, it’s mostly for the children. Picking the right park for an age group makes sense, especially if the plan is to only visit one or two of the parks in total. With numerous parks at Disney world, what are the best Disney World Parks for toddlers?
The best all-around park for toddlers is the Magic Kingdom. All of the Disney parks have plenty to do for toddlers, but the Magic Kingdom is filled with numerous toddler-friendly options. There are also very few limitations that might frustrate older children or adults wanting to go on other rides.
Why the Magic Kingdom is the best park for toddlers
The Magic Kingdom has always had a reputation for being very family-friendly. It is the most visited park at Disney World, and while adults might secretly wish that there are more options strictly for them, it certainly helps families enjoy every attraction together.
Our Favorite Toddler-Friendly Ride
This probably doesn’t come as a surprise but every one of our kids loved it’s a small world when they were toddlers and wanted to go on it over and over. So much so that our youngest requests that song at bedtime lol.
Few height requirements
There are only six attractions at the Magic Kingdom that have a height requirement. Space Mountain has the tallest height requirement at 44 inches, with Tomorrowland Speedway only 32 inches. Some toddlers are going to meet Tomorrowland Speedway’s height requirement, and there are occasionally ones who might be able to ride on the Barnstormer as well since its height requirement is 35 inches. However, if it is very close, it might not be worth pushing for it in the end. Below is a full list of the requirements.
- Tomorrowland Speedway – 32 inches
- The Barnstormer – 35 inches
- Seven Dwarves Mine Train – 38 inches
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – 40 inches
- Splash Mountain – 40 inches
- Space Mountain – 44 inches
- Attractions geared towards toddlers
Technically speaking, the six rides with height requirements puts the Magic Kingdom as the park with the second most at Disney, trailing only Hollywood Studios with seven. However, Magic Kingdom has a lot of attractions geared towards toddlers, giving most families multiple days of action if they want to do everything.
A few of the top attractions for toddlers at the Magic Kingdom include:
- Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
- Dumbo The Flying Elephant
- It’s a Small World
- Mad Tea Party
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Prince Charming Regal Carousel
- Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid
Scarier options that are still toddler-friendly
Certain toddlers who do not seem to mind a little bit of scaring actually have a couple of options that might be good for them. Pirates of the Caribbean has a very dark setting in general, and there are parts of the story that might spook younger kids. The Haunted Mansion is a bit more self-explanatory, as certain sections frighten kids a little more than others.
One particularly scary part of the Haunted Mansion is in the stretching chamber, as it is very dark and comes with a spooky voice. There are hidden doors in areas like this, allowing families to bail on the attraction if anyone in the party is finding it a bit too scary.
Ultimately, it comes down to have an idea of what a toddler can handle. If they find any part of the outside scary, it is only going to get worse inside. If the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction is too much, that is also a warning sign that they could have trouble with the Haunted Mansion.
Making the other parks toddler-friendly
The easy choice for toddlers is the Magic Kingdom, but that does not mean that there are issues with the other three parks at Disneyland. Here is a brief look at the toddler experience at the other three parks, ordered from second best to worst.
Animal Kingdom
The Animal Kingdom gets the second spot for toddlers, but keep in mind that it is for a very specific type of toddler. If they are into animals and have some familiarity with them going in, this is a no-brainer. Any child that has already visited a local zoo will find plenty of entertainment at this park, since it offers so much more.
Some of the most popular attractions for toddlers at the Animal kingdom include:
- Navi River Journey
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo the Musical
The Animal Kingdom is a bit spread out, and certain animals could spook toddlers if they do not have as much of an interest. The good news is that the Animal Kingdom stays away from a lot of super close and counters with animals, so it is not too big of a deal.
Hollywood Studios
There has been a lot of additions at Hollywood Studios that are not exactly geared towards toddlers, but that does not mean there are a lack of things to do. Maybe the biggest draw for toddlers is the Toy Story Land area, even though there are limitations there as well. They will not be able to ride Slinky Dog Dash, and there is a chance a toddler will not be able to ride on the Alien Swirling Saucers. With a height requirement of 32 inches, some toddlers will have that opportunity, but it is certainly not a given.
It ranks third on the list because there are places around the park that limits the toddler experience. However, attractions like the ones below are all perfect for toddlers.
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Voyage of a Little Mermaid
- For the First Time in Forever: a Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Toy Story Mania!
Fans of Frozen and Toy Story will see a few opportunities for meet and greets as well. Olaf from Frozen is located in the park, and Buzz, Jesse, and Woody are all there from Toy Story.
Epcot
There are a lot of parents who put off going to Epcot until their children are a little older. It is the most grown up park at Disney, and it is even been labeled as a bit boring for the younger crowd. There are still things there to discover, but the number of height requirements does put a damper on things.
Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, The coral Reef Aquarium, and Frozen Ever After are all going to be pretty interesting attractions for toddlers. The problem is, they are a bit spread out around the park, and there is limited shade in Epcot in general. It can be an educational visit by checking out the World Showcase, but they might get more out of that when they get older and can appreciate some of the shows.
How to make the most out of any park with toddlers
After picking out the park to go to with a toddler, the next step is eliminating the chances of any complications. This will make for a much more enjoyable day at the park that everyone will get behind.
Rest
It might be tempting to get into Disney World and then try to do everything at once, but it is impossible not to take some rest with a toddler in the mix. Rest can be used to not only get off the feet, but when hydration is key.
Disney World is almost always hot, and it can get particularly warm in the summer. Plan for multiple stops to rest, and even look into going back to the hotel for a bit if possible. It will be better to break up the day a bit instead of trying to cram everything in.
Have a stroller ready
Going into Disney World with a toddler and no stroller is asking for complications. Even the most independent toddler is going to want a stroller at some point. Combine the heat with 5 to 10 miles of walking, and it is going to be too much for a toddler to handle. In fact, some parents will use a stroller until their kid is seven or eight years old.
Not only does the stroller help with a kid, but it also allows for some items storage along the way. Guests are free to bring their own stroller, and there are also opportunities to rent one at the park.
Take advantage of young child perks
With height limitations and some attractions geared towards older audiences, why do so many people bring their toddlers to Disney in the first place? Not only is there still plenty to do, but there are several perks for children under the age of three. For starters, it is free for them to get into any of the Disney parks. That is a pretty considerable amount of savings right from the beginning, but it gets better.
When eating, children do not fall under the same guidelines with Disney Dining Plans. If a child is hungry, they can share a meal by eating off someone else’s plate. This is another way for people to save some money.
Is it worth bringing a toddler to Disney World?
Families have been bringing toddlers to Disney World for years, and although not everything can be explored at that age, there is still much to do. Out of all the parks, Magic Kingdom does the best job of making toddlers feel entertained. The other parks are all friendly enough for families that they will get enjoyment out of them as well.