Frog's Note: Many of you are parents to brave tadpoles like mine, who love nothing more than riding the "kiddie" versions of some very grownup thrill rides. Today's post comes from Lily, who wants to be just like her big brother, Tad, and take on all of the big coasters. Every other day she asks me to measure her to see how much she has grown — she is certain she'll be tall enough for Space Mountain by our next trip ;) Some of you who may have older tadpoles who aren't quite so brave. Many of these coasters and other thrill rides are good introductions to the bigger rides. We recommend letting your little ones watch our ride videos at home to get them ready to ride. Once children feel like they've "mastered" the kiddie rides, they are more likely to try new ones. All of the rides with height requirements are listed at the bottom of this post.
I may be small, but I still enjoy attractions that are a little more “daring” than Dumbo the Flying Elephant®. Though they’re not as intense as Rock ’n Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® or Manta at SeaWorld, here are my seven favorite Orlando kiddie rides with height requirements under 40 inches.
Top Orlando Kiddie Thrill Rides
1. Flight of the Hippogriff (Universal's Islands of Adventure)
With all its spiraling and swooping, Flight of the Hippogriff is a great practice coaster until I’m tall enough to ride the other big ones at Universal's Islands of Adventure. (Minimum Height Requirement: 36”/91cm)
2. Astro Orbiter (Magic Kingdom® Park)
OK, so it’s not a coaster and it doesn’t even have a minimum height requirement, but Astro Orbiter goes pretty fast and very high up. It’s even more thrilling at night. Watch the video and see for yourself! (Minimum Height Requirement: None)
3. Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster (Universal Studios)
This is a great coaster for little ones like me. There aren’t any major drops, just gentle swoops and turns. And who doesn’t love Woody in all his nuttiness? (Minimum Height Requirement: 36”/91cm)
4. Shamu Express (SeaWorld)
I’m not tall enough for Manta (and not quite brave enough either), so Shamu Express is a perfect coaster for me. It’s located in Shamu’s Happy Harbor, which (in my opinion) is one the best kids’ areas in all the theme parks. Here’s a walk-through video of Shamu’s Happy Harbor. (Minimum Height Requirement: 38”/97cm)
5. Kali River Rapids® Attraction (Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park)
This action-packed river raft ride is great for several reasons: 1) It’s a guaranteed way to cool off on a hot day. 2) I get to share the adventure with 11 of my closest friends. 3) I’m tall enough to ride it! Check out the video. (Minimum Height Requirement: 38”/97cm)
6. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom® Park)
I love this coaster! It's the perfect amount of thrills — somewhere between The Barnstormer and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — and the mine cars swing back and forth. There aren't any major drops or turns, and it doesn't go too fast. I always get the song "Heigh-Ho" stuck in my head after riding it :) See what it looks like at night for more thrills. (Minimum Height Requirement: 38”/97cm)
7. The Barnstormer Featuring The Great Goofini (Magic Kingdom® Park)
Like Shamu Express, this roller coaster is perfect for tadpoles like me! It's a lot of fun and not scary at all. It's also pretty short, so if you have little ones who aren't ready for the big coasters, The Barnstormer is a great start! (Minimum Height Requirement: 35 inches)
Have fun and stay safe!
Orlando Rides with Height Requirements
Magic Kingdom® Park
Tomorrowland® Area Speedway (32”/81cm)
The Barnstormer (35"/89cm)
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38"/97 cm)
Splash Mountain® Attraction (40”/102cm)
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction (40”/102cm)
Stitch’s Great Escape (40”/102cm)
Space Mountain® Attraction (44”/112cm)
Epcot®
Soarin’™ Attraction (40”/102cm)
Test Track® Presented by Chevrolet (40”/102cm)
Mission: SPACE® Attraction (44”/112cm)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios®
Star Tours® - The Adventures Continue Attraction (40"/102cm)
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (40"/102cm)
Rock ’n Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith (48”/102cm)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Kali River Rapids® Attraction (38”/97cm)
DINOSAUR Attraction (40”/102cm)
Expedition Everest® Attraction (44”/112cm)
Primeval Whirl® Attraction (48”/122cm)
Universal Studios Florida
E.T. Adventure (34”/86cm)
Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster (36”/91cm)
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (40"/102cm)
Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'N' Hurl (40"/102cm)
The Simpsons Ride (40”/102cm)
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D (40"/102cm)
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™ (42"/107cm)
MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack (42”/107cm)
Revenge of the Mummy (48”/122cm)
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (51”/130cm)
Universal's Islands of Adventure
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride (34”/86cm)
Cat in the Hat (36"/91cm)
Flight of the Hippogriff (36”/91cm)
Pteranodon Flyers (36”/91cm)
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (40”/102cm)
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges (42”/107cm)
Jurassic Park River Adventure (42”/107cm)
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (44”/122cm)
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (48”/122cm)
Doctor Doom’s Fearfall (52”/132cm)
Dragon Challenge (54”/138cm)
The Incredible Hulk Coaster (54”/138cm)
SeaWorld
Shamu Express (38”/97cm)
Journey to Atlantis (42”/107cm)
Wild Arctic (42”/107cm)
Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin® (wild version- 42”/107cm)
Manta (54”/138cm)
Kraken (54”/138cm)
Hop over to our Plan Your Days in Orlando page inside the Orlando Planning Timeline for more tips and resources!
