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Home / Blog / Theme Park Rides, Shows & More / Complete Guide to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Height Requirements

Complete Guide to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Height Requirements

by Mommy Frog on September 1, 2024
513 Los Angeles

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If you're planning a visit to "The Happiest Place on Earth" with tadpoles, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the height requirements of Disneyland Resort first. Understanding what your children can and cannot ride goes a long way toward having a stress-free visit. When we start planning our visit to a new park, one of the first things we do is familiarize ourselves with the rides. We check out any that have height requirements or rides that may be too scary for Lily, and we also review park maps and videos from the comfort of our own lily pad. That way, we can avoid disappointment, meltdowns and surprises on the day of our visit.

Disneyland Height Requirements - Luigi's

When we first started visiting theme parks as a family, back when Tad was a small frog and Lily wasn't even an egg waiting to hatch yet, we were always unsure of just how much we'd get to do at the parks. Nowadays, we don't worry about this at all — and not because everyone's all grown up! Tad's tall enough now for even the biggest coasters, but Lily still doesn't meet every height requirement. It's simply much easier now that we know to do our research on height requirements before our visit.

The Disneyland Resort goes out of its way to make sure all guests have fun, even if they can't experience all of the rides. Let's start with the Disneyland height requirements and then we'll hop to Disneyland Rider Switch. There are some updates to Rider Switch we will go over. If you want to see any of the Disneyland rides in action, check them out on our YouTube channel! For a downloadable version of all the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park height requirements, save our infographics by clicking the link!

Here's an example of those infographics:

Disneyland Height Requirements - Infographic

Complete List of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Height Requirements

32 inches (81 cm) or taller

  • Autopia - Disneyland Park (when accompanied by another rider 54 inches or taller)
  • Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters - Disney California Adventure Park
  • Mater's Junkyard Jamboree - Disney California Adventure Park
  • Redwood Creek Challenge Trail Hoot n' Holler Log Slides - Disney California Adventure Park

35 inches (89 cm) or taller

38 inches (97 cm) or taller

40 inches (102 cm) or taller

Guide to Disneyland Resort Ride Height Requirements - Autopia 42 inches (107 cm) or taller

  • Goofy's Sky School - Disney California Adventure Park
  • Grizzly River Run - Disney California Adventure Park
  • Matterhorn Bobsleds - Disneyland Park
  • Redwood Creek Challenge Trail Cliff Hanger Traverse Rock Climb - Disney California Adventure Park
  • Redwood Creek Challenge Trail Sequoia Smokejumpers Training Tower zip line (must be between 42 and 63 inches, as well as under 13 years old) - Disney California Adventure Park

46 inches (117 cm) or taller

48 inches (122 cm) or taller

54 inches (137 cm) or taller

  • Autopia (to ride alone) - Disneyland Park

Disneyland Age Requirements

Disneyland Height Requirements - Incredicoaster

Whether rides have height requirements or not, they all have age requirements for riding alone. While people of any height may enjoy many of the rides at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, the rides require children under 7 to ride seated next to someone who meets a certain height requirement (see Autopia) or is at least 14 years old.

This can present problems when you are traveling with several children under 7. If you have three children under 7, you’ll want at least two adults who can ride with them (or help supervise) because children under 7 cannot sit alone. Many Fantasyland rides (and rides for all ages) allow for one adult and two children in a seat, which is so hopful. So just make sure if you have several small children (or are bringing all your tadpoles and nieces and nephews or friends) that you have enough adults to supervise and ride with the children.

At the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, you have to be under 13, and between 42 and 63 inches in height, to slide on the Sequoia Smokejumpers Training Tower tire zip line. This smaller attraction is a ton of fun for tadpoles who meet the height and age restrictions.

If you want to take advantage of Single Rider lines with kids who meet the height requirements, they need to be at least 7 years old. Monster’s Inc. sometimes has a more family-friendly version of a Single Rider line for small groups. Groups of one or two can get a Buddy Pass to wait in a separate line to fill in empty rows. An adult needs to ride with any child under 7 years of age though. There’s no preferential seating, but a Buddy Pass can be a way to shorten the wait, with a child under 7, for those rides. Buddy Passes are not always being used, but when they are, it makes a nice option for smaller parties to potentially skip a line.

Complete Guide to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Height Requirements - Buddy Pass

Some rides require one-on-one supervision. That’s something to be aware of so you don’t encounter any surprises. We've learned this the hard way!

On one multi-generational trip last year, Leap and Grandma Frog tried to take a group of four froglets under 7 years old on the Matterhorn Bobsleds (while Lily and I took a spin on the teacups). They were taking forever to return. We hopped over to see what the holdup was. Poor Leap was taking turns riding with each child, one at a time. We learned that one adult can supervise only one child under 7 at a time on that ride (same with Space Mountain). Grandma Frog was hoppy to stand on the loading area sidelines to supervise the other 4, 5 and 6-year-olds as they waited for their turns. Leap stayed on the ride. They swapped out the tadpoles each time the ride circled back because they did not have enough adults to ride one-on-one with the tadpoles. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has a bench seat that allows up to three people. It's a better choice if you are supervising several small riders.

Disneyland Rider Switch

Disneyland Height Requirements - IncrediCoaster

While the list above of Disneyland height requirements may seem long, we should tell you that most of the attractions at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure don't have height requirements. Indeed, Disney parks are among the most kid and baby-friendly parks on the planet. It's possible that you could skip every ride with a height requirement at Disneyland and still have a full day — and a great time! Still, we know that the rides with height requirements are also some of the most amazing and popular at the parks. There's no way Tad would let us head to the Disneyland parks and not ride Radiator Springs Racers or Indiana Jones Adventure!

Thankfully, Disneyland offers Rider Switch for this very reason! With Disneyland Rider Switch, families with kids too young to ride can take turns so they don't miss out. An adult (or supervising companion 14 years or older) can wait with non-riders while the rest of the party rides. And then, after that, the waiting adult can take their turn. BONUS — They don't have to ride alone. The waiting adult can bring someone with them for a maximum party size of two. Here is the official process. Please note that experiences may vary per attraction.

Here is what happens with Disneyland Rider Switch:

  • When the rest of the family wants to ride an attraction that Lily can't or doesn't want to ride, we approach the cast member in the queue. Then, we let them know we want to do Rider Switch.
  • Our group is divided into two parties. “Party One” includes those riding the attraction first, while “Party Two” consists of non-riders and their supervising guest (and perhaps one of the riders from Party One who might want to go again). Party One would be Leap and Tad. Party Two is Lily and me, but also Tad since he is going to ride with me once he and Leap return.

Scan the maximum number of tickets for Party Two. If you scan only one ticket, you cannot add another person later. So if someone changes their mind and wants to join the party, they will be out of luck if they did not scan in initially. Anyone in Party One who thinks they might like a second turn should speak up before they ride. You don’t have to use it, but it’s nice to have the option.

  • The guests in Party Two who will want to take a turn to ride later can include a maximum of two people. They will each have their admission tickets scanned. We'll have my and Tad's tickets scanned as part of Party Two. The cast member will put an extra return time on our park tickets based on the current wait time. If there is a 30-minute wait, our return time will begin in 30 minutes. Lily and I will wait outside the attraction or enjoy a nearby attraction while Leap and Tad wait in line to experience the attraction.
  • After Leap and Tad experience the attraction, we switch. Leap watches Lily.
  • Tad and I will return to the attraction entrance (e.g., Lightning Lane entrance) or the attraction exit and have our admission pass/ticket re-scanned by a cast member for the Rider Switch entitlement. At this point, we'll enter the appropriate attraction return line and board without waiting in the regular queue.
  • When you link your tickets to the Disneyland app, you can view the Rider Switch return time in the app under "My Day." (Having it in the app is great for those who froget return times easily).
  • You can have more than one Rider Switch return time at a time.

We love Disneyland Rider Switch because it means that everyone who wants to ride gets to ride. However, it still takes a little prep work on the part of the parent. Back in her younger days, Lily didn't even want to enter the queue for a ride she thought was going to be scary — no thank you, Space Mountain! We'd have to reassure her over and over that she wasn't going to ride. Yes, there were froggy tears. Now, she knows the drill and is often more upset that she still doesn't meet the height requirement! If you're heading to an unfamiliar park with a little one, prepare them in advance for what is going to happen when they're too little or don't want to ride.

Note that just because your little one can ride doesn't mean they're necessarily ready to ride. Even some of the rides without height requirements can be intimidating to young riders (here's looking at you, Haunted Mansion). Rides, such as Toy Story Midway Mania, are much easier to navigate when you are not holding a child on your lap. Thankfully, you can ask to do Rider Switch for these attractions too. This is another reason we like to watch YouTube videos of rides. We also do this to check out the ride configuration. That way we'll know whether all four of us can ride together, or whether we may have to split into two pairs.

We hope you find this post outlining Disneyland's height requirements and Disneyland Rider Switch service helpful. Do you have any tips or tricks you've learned for handling height requirements, scary rides and child swap at Disneyland? Let us know in the comments below!

Related: Disneyland Park 1-Day Park Plan

Related: Disney California Adventure 1-Day Park Plan

Hoppy planning!

Keep hopping, Mommy Frog!
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Comments

1–50 of 473 comments
May 18, 2018 at 3:10 p.m.
David Says...

Rider switch is an awesome feature!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 3:10 p.m.
TONETTE Says...

Can't wait to go back with additional park knowledge, very useful.

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May 18, 2018 at 3:07 p.m.
Breanna Says...

I hadn’t heard about Rider Switch. That is fantastic for us, since my daughter is usually more nervous about rides than my son. Thank you!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 3:07 p.m.
Candy Miller Says...

This is such fantastic information to really help out in planning and avoiding disappointment

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 2:35 p.m.
Adriana Says...

Wow! I had no idea about the Rider Switch! in Disney World they have the parent swap rooms I think, thats what we did in Universal Orlando

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 2:06 p.m.
Dawn Drew Says...

Great info as always. Although we never had to use it, I love that they have the Rider Switch option.

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May 18, 2018 at 2:06 p.m.
Marsha Says...

Teriffic DL/CDA info

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 2:06 p.m.
rosesjohn Says...

What a great resource! My family and I have had a very hard several years and we are in need of some family play time. Hoping to get Disneyland resort to do that!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:50 p.m.
gnsnblue Says...

This is great information for our upcoming vacation booked through Undercover Tourist to Disney and Orlando.....so excited. First time to Universal

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:45 p.m.
Jessica Oliver Says...

This is so thorough and helpful, thank you!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:20 p.m.
mark flickinger Says...

very good info

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:08 p.m.
Tara Says...

Rider switch is great for 2 parents but us single parents are still in a bind.

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:06 p.m.
Amy Towles Hunter Says...

I LOVE these height requirements! I’ve never been to DisneyLAND but I planned our one trip to DisneyWorld around your list!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:04 p.m.
Mel Says...

Hoping my little tadpoles will be 46” in a few weeks! I want to take them on Indy!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:01 p.m.
Meg W Says...

Thanks for all the great info — has been helpful as I’ve been planning our Disney World trip. Definitely hope to get to Disneyland someday!!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 11:58 a.m.
Krystie R Faulkner Says...

Love ya'll!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 11:55 a.m.
Cojo2112 Says...

Thank you for this helpful information! I certainly plan to use it as I prepare for my first trip to WDW with little ones!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 11:33 a.m.
Lindsay Says...

UnderCover Tourist was great in planning our Disney World trip, and this information is super helpful for planning Disneyland!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 10:54 a.m.
Margie Visnick Says...

Great information here! I would love to go to Disneyland!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 10:50 a.m.
DONNA LEMBACH Says...

Love the great tips and information.

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 10:20 a.m.
Kim Says...

Having Frog tickets now might get me back to DL.

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 6:58 a.m.
Christina Gould Says...

Wow, this is such great and specific information. I wasn't aware they had different heights for different rides. Thanks for posting!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 5:42 a.m.
LATRISHA COLEMAN Says...

I love it because there's something for everybody including every age can't wait to take my kids there

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 5:32 a.m.
dalleyamy Says...

Wow! Loved all these tips. Such great info!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 4:58 a.m.
Karla Says...

This is super helpful info all in one place! Thanks!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 4:33 a.m.
Zelene Says...

We live switch rider, our youngest kud is not super young but she gets scared pretty easily so we really use this advantage and not just my husband and me were able to ride but my oldest kid was abke to rude twice without the double line ????

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 3:56 a.m.
Cindy W Says...

Great to know!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 3:42 a.m.
emama Says...

thanks for the info.

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 3:37 a.m.
Angie Doyle Says...

Great source of information! It would have been handy to gave this the first time we went.

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 2:38 a.m.
melissa Says...

very useful info thanks!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 2:25 a.m.
PTC Says...

If we make it to a park with rides, we'll figure out the height requirements. Sounds like fun!

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May 18, 2018 at 2:23 a.m.
Kim M Says...

Back when I'd take my daughter we'd have to take turns sitting out certain rides. Love that you've made a comprehensive list for others. Makes the planning stages easier to maximize fun to be had.

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May 18, 2018 at 2:13 a.m.
Titus Says...

my youngest desperately wanted to ride Tower of Terror with me no matter how much I explained it to her. she didn't enjoy the drop, but I have an amazing picture to remember the moment.

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May 18, 2018 at 1:36 a.m.
Tracie Jackson Says...

Just came back from Orlando. I wish I would have read this new before I went!

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May 18, 2018 at 1:21 a.m.
L. Palmer Says...

Very helpful information and well organized! Especially good to know about the rider switch.

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 1:06 a.m.
Amanda Foss Says...

As tempting as it is, be aware of height requirements and have realistic expectations for what your child can and can not ride. Remember, the rules are there for safety reasons and rides will be around for the next trip---plus it gives you something to look forward to!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 1:03 a.m.
Feliz Warwick Says...

Love Rider Switch! It was so easy to use when my boys were little.

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:37 a.m.
Michelle Says...

I love Disney

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:36 a.m.
Marsha Ferguson Says...

This is so helpful thanks!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:33 a.m.
Madelyn Says...

Thanks for providing all these details!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:33 a.m.
Christy Says...

Thanks for sharing all the tips! We’ve appreciated your great customer service for our ticket orders.

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:21 a.m.
Cara Green Says...

We never really took advantage of rider swap in Disney World. We may have to if we go to Disneyland!

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:21 a.m.
Gord Says...

Good guide for parents to have! Waiting in line only to find out a kid is too short is the absolute worst.

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:20 a.m.
Desiree C. Says...

I can’t wait to visit Disneyland! °o°

Reply
May 18, 2018 at 12:17 a.m.
kimberly vo Says...

we loveeee rider switch before they made it digital. Now it's harder to take full advantage of it :)

Reply
May 17, 2018 at 11:27 p.m.
Pamela Says...

Thanks for the good information!

Reply
May 17, 2018 at 11:04 p.m.
Joy Shaw Says...

Thank you so much for all of your very useful information!

Reply
May 17, 2018 at 11 p.m.
Faith Nunez Says...

I remember on our first trip, we didn't know about the rider switch. It would've come in handy, but it's good to know for future visits!

Reply
May 17, 2018 at 10:45 p.m.
Mike e Says...

I agree with Kayla. They are accurate.

Reply
May 17, 2018 at 10:44 p.m.
Danny Says...

Great post

Reply

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