Disney’s Best Rides for Toddlers in Magic Kingdom

Rides are a big part of a Disney World vacation, so it’s important to know which rides your little ones can get on. The Magic Kingdom is the most iconic of all of the Disney parks, in my opinion, so I’m sure you will make your way there during your trip. All of the Disney theme parks are family-friendly, so there is plenty for your toddlers to do.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom is comprised of 6 lands. Each with its own immersive theming. I have compiled the best list of rides in each section of Magic Kingdom that I think all toddlers (ages 1-5) would enjoy. I did not include rides with a minimum height requirement, or rides that could be a bit scary for little ones, so keep that in mind if you have a taller or more adventurous toddler.

Toddler-Friendly Rides in Magic Kingdom

Main Street, U.S.A.

Main Street, U.S.A. is the first land you walk into upon entering Magic Kingdom. It is themed after Walt Disney’s hometown and has a homey and welcoming feel to it. There are a bunch of shops, food, and character meet and greets, and two classic rides.

1. The Walt Disney World Railroad: Ride on this iconic train and stop throughout the park in Frontierland and Fantasyland. Little ones will love the open air train ride.
2. The Main Street Vehicles: Slowly drive down Main Street towards the castle in one of the old-school vehicles while waving at the people around you. If you have a vehicle obsessed toddler like mine, definitely try this one out. There are no set wait times for these vehicles, just hop on when one is available.

Tomorrowland

Explore futuristic theming in this land. It really comes alive at night with all of its lights.

1. The Transit Authority People Mover: Travel forwards or backwards on this “highway in the sky” above all of tomorrowland. Enjoy going through Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin from a new perspective.
2. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin: Fight the Evil Emperor Zurg and shoot targets to win points. Even if your toddler is too young to aim a blaster, they will still enjoy the Buzz Lightyear theming as well as being able to control the ride vehicle with a joy stick.

Fantasyland

This land offers the most for toddlers in all of Magic Kingdom. It is themed after magical Disney fairytales, such as Dumbo, the Little Mermaid, and Peter Pan.

1. Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Fly high in the sky on this classic ride. Toddlers love this ride, especially since they can control how high their elephant can go. Another bonus is that there is a play ground kids can play on while parents wait in line!
2. Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid: Hop into a clam shell and enjoy this slow moving dark ride through the story of Ariel and her friends. If your child likes the Seas with Nemo and Friends in EPCOT, then this one will be a big hit as well.
3. Mad Tea Party: Spin around in a tea cup to fun Alice in Wonderland music. You can let your toddler control the spinning, but if you prefer to have a smoother ride, then I suggest holding the wheel still to prevent excessive spinning.
4. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Bounce like Tigger in a hunny pot and explore the story of Winnie the Pooh and his friends on this adorable Disney classic. The line of this ride also features fun activities for kids, such as a a honey wall to reveal your favorite characters and a maze you can wind honey bees through. Please note that there are some dark and loud parts of on this ride that may be a little much for sensitive ones.
5. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel: No matter your age, jump on a horse and ride around on a Cinderella themed version of a carrousel ride.
6. Peter Pan’s Flight: Fly high in the sky on a boat (yes, you read that right!) as you watch the story of Peter Pan unfold beneath you. The queue for this line is fun and interactive, but wait times can become quite long for this pretty short attraction.
7. “It’s a Small World”: Everyone needs to ride this ultimate Disney classic at least once, even if the song gets stuck in your head. Ride in a boat to see many different cultures around the world represented through the unifying “It’s a Small World” song.

Liberty Square

Here, you can explore what is was like in Colonial America as well as learn some history. There is not much to ride here in general, but it is a fun little land to wander through between some of the bigger ones.

1. Liberty Square River Boat: Slowly cruise through the Rivers of America on the large Liberty Bell River Boat. This ride is nice for little ones because there are no enforced seats and they can enjoy the scenery around them without being crowded by large groups of people.

Frontierland

This land is themed after the great American Frontier.

1. Tom Sawyer Island: Now Tom Sawyer Island is not a ride in itself, BUT you need to take a raft to get there, so try it out with your toddler! Not only is it a fun adventure to get there, but your little one can enjoy some open space to run around once you arrive.

Adventureland

1. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin: Similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant, fly in the sky on one of Aladdin’s Magic carpets, but be careful, you may just get spat on by a camel!
2. Jungle Cruise: Hop on a boat and explore the jungle. Parents will love the iconic sarcastic jokes from the skippers and kids will enjoy the animals and water features.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Voyage through a story of pirates ruling the sea on this Disney classic that features popular animatronics. Please note that there is a plunge towards the beginning of this ride, but it is mild and most kids like it. It is so mild that there isn’t even a lap bar.

More Rides to Consider

For those toddlers who are bit older, taller, and adventurous, these are some rides I reccommend.

1. The Tomorrowland Speedway: Let your little one help drive a car on a large track through parts of Tomorrowland. Kids must be 32 inches to ride.
2. Haunted Mansion: Ride on this dark omni-mover style ride as you travel through the haunted mansion with 999 happy haunts. There is no height requirement for this one, but with the spooky theming and darkness, it can be a bit much for many toddlers. The elevator pre-show can often spook young kids, but you can always leave through the exit before getting on the ride vehicle if you need to. The Haunted Mansion is located in Liberty Square.
3. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress: Sit in a moving theatre of this opening day attraction as you learn about the advancements of technology through from classic Disney World animatronics. This ride is slow moving, but is about 20 minutes long, so many toddlers may not be able to sit through the entirety of this attraction.

Which Rides should you book Lightning Lane for?

Unless you are rushing to these rides first thing in the morning, riding during fireworks, or utilizing early entry or extended evening hours, I recommend making Lightning Lane reservations for the following rides due to their popularity.

1. Peter Pan’s Flight
2. Jungle Cruise
3. Pirates of the Caribbean
4. It’s a Small World
5. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
6. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
7. Haunted Mansion