Disney World Height Restrictions: What Your Kids Can Ride + Planning Tips
Planning a trip for your whole family comes with many moving pieces. You’ll spend time poring over hotel options, dining reservations, theme park tickets, transportation, daily ride plans, and everything in between. One major detail parents often overlook is that many rides require children to be a certain height to ride.
Some people assume most Disney rides allow young children on board since the parks are designed with families in mind. However, there are quite a few attractions with height requirements. (Some of them may surprise you!)
This guide outlines all rides with height requirements, highlights attractions with no restrictions, and shares helpful tips for planning your trip if you’re traveling with toddlers or small children.
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Pro-Tips for Traveling with Small Children
Always Check Height Restrictions Ahead of Time
It’s very important to be aware of rides with height restrictions in advance. Doing so helps you plan your day and avoid disappointment if your child is told they aren’t tall enough to ride. It can feel crushing to wait in a long line only to find out at the entrance that they cannot get on the attraction.
Keep a copy of Height Requirements in your Notes app so you can quickly reference it as you navigate your day.
Remember Height Requirements Are for Safety
It may feel frustrating when your child can’t ride with you, but height requirements exist for important safety reasons. Keep in mind that Cast Members are responsible for enforcing these rules and cannot make exceptions. Their goal is to ensure every guest, especially children, stays safe while having a great day!
Do Not Use Shoe Lifts or Artificial Height Boosts
Cast Members are trained to watch for shoe lifts or attempts to artificially increase a child’s height. If spotted, you’ll be asked to remove them. Height requirements are in place for your child’s safety, and using lifts or similar items can put them at risk on the attraction.
Best Theme Parks to Visit with Small Children
Magic Kingdom offers the most rides without height restrictions, along with plenty of character meet and greets and a daytime parade. It’s easy to fill an entire day with family-friendly fun.
Another great option is Animal Kingdom. Kids can enjoy shows like Finding Nemo and Festival of the Lion King; attractions such as Kilimanjaro Safaris and Na’vi River Journey; and numerous animal exhibits that help round out a full day of exploration.
Take Advantage of Rider Switch
Many attractions with height requirements offer Rider Switch, also called Child Swap. This allows adults to take turns riding while someone stays with a child who cannot or does not want to ride.
Here’s how it works. Let a Cast Member know you want to use Rider Switch when you arrive at the attraction with your entire group. Your party will split into two groups. Party A enters the line and rides first, while Party B waits outside the queue. (Use this time to grab a cold drink or have a rest!) When Party A finishes, Party B can enter through the designated return entrance and ride without waiting in the full line again. Typically, up to two guests from Party B can ride at that time.
Rider Switch is especially helpful if a child does not meet the height requirement, prefers not to ride, or cannot wait alone. It is available at most attractions throughout Walt Disney World and helps your group avoid standing in line twice. You can see a list of attractions that offer Rider Switch here.
Disney World Rides – Height Requirement Guide
Magic Kingdom – Height Restrictions
| Ride | Height Requirement |
|---|---|
| The Barnstormer | 35 in (89 cm) |
| Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | 40 in (102 cm) |
| Seven Dwarfs Mine Train | 38 in (97 cm) |
| Space Mountain | 44 in (113 cm) |
| Tiana’s Bayou Adventure | 40 in (102 cm) |
| Tomorrowland Speedway | 32 in (82 cm) |
| TRON Lightcycle / Run | 48 in (122 cm) |
Magic Kingdom – No Height Requirements
| Ride | Ride |
|---|---|
| Astro Orbiter | Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin |
| Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station | Country Bear Musical Jamboree |
| Dumbo the Flying Elephant | Enchanted Tales with Belle |
| Hall of Presidents | Haunted Mansion |
| It’s a Small World | Jungle Cruise |
| Mad Tea Party | The Magic Carpets of Aladdin |
| The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Mickey’s PhilharMagic |
| Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor | Peter Pan’s Flight |
| A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas | Pirates of the Caribbean |
| Prince Charming Regal Carrousel | Swiss Family Treehouse |
| Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover | Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid |
| Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress | Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room |
| Walt Disney World Railroad |
EPCOT – Height Restrictions
| Ride | Height Requirement |
|---|---|
| Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind | 42 in (107 cm) |
| Mission: SPACE | 40 in (102 cm) |
| Soarin’ Around the World | 40 in (102 cm) |
| Test Track | 40 in (102 cm) |
EPCOT – No Height Requirements
| Ride | Ride |
|---|---|
| Advanced Training Lab | Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along |
| Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival | Frozen Ever After |
| Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros | Impressions de France |
| Journey Into Imagination With Figment | Living with the Land |
| O Canada! | Reflections of China |
| Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure | The Seas with Nemo & Friends |
| Spaceship Earth | Turtle Talk With Crush |
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Height Restrictions
| Ride | Height Requirement |
|---|---|
| Alien Swirling Saucers | 32 in (81 cm) |
| Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run | 38 in (97 cm) |
| Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Slinky Dog Dash | 38 in (97 cm) |
| Star Tours: The Adventures Continue | 40 in (102 cm) |
| Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance | 40 in (102 cm) |
| The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | 40 in (102 cm) |
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – No Height Requirements
| Ride | Ride |
|---|---|
| Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway | Toy Story Mania! |
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Height Restrictions
| Ride | Height Requirement |
|---|---|
| Avatar Flight of Passage | 44 in (112 cm) |
| Expedition Everest | 44 in (113 cm) |
| Kali River Rapids | 38 in (97 cm) |
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – No Height Requirements
| Ride | Ride |
|---|---|
| Discovery Island Trails | Maharajah Jungle Trek |
| Kilimanjaro Safaris | Tree of Life |
| Na’vi River Journey | Zootopia: Better Zoogether! |
| Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail |
Planning ahead with height requirements can make a big difference in your Disney World experience, especially when traveling with kids. Knowing what your child can and cannot ride helps you build a smoother, more enjoyable park day and avoid unexpected disappointment.
Even with the best planning, things do not always go exactly as expected, and that is part of the magic of a Disney vacation. For more helpful advice on staying flexible and making the most of your trip when plans change, head to this planning guide!
Planning a Disney trip with small children? Unlocked Magic can help you save on Walt Disney World tickets so your family can focus on making magical memories together.
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