Disneyland Park is a great theme park for any age, especially toddlers. From ages 1 to 3, toddlers are excited to explore the world. They want to walk, run, climb and manipulate things. They are also often excited to try new rides. Here are the best rides for toddlers at Disneyland, as well as a few other attractions your tadpoles will love.
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Height Requirements
One thing that's great about Disneyland is that there are a lot of rides with no height requirement. There are also a number of rides that allow three or four people to a bench. That means two adults can ride with a toddler, or a single adult can ride with two small children. That makes this park so much easier than other theme parks with more seating limitations.
But even if a ride has no height requirement, it might be too scary for your toddler. Hop over to our post on the scariest Disneyland rides, so you can decide which rides are best for your child and which ones to postpone until a future trip. And if a toddler wants to sit one out? No problem! You can utilize Rider Switch for others in your group.
The Best Rides for Toddlers at Disneyland Park
Here are the best rides for toddlers at Disneyland Park:
- "it’s a small world" (a gentle boat ride with repetitive song and visual stimulation for the toddler; AC for you)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway (it does jostle and shake a lot, and our toddler pointed out, "That is NOT how trains work!")
- Jungle Cruise
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- Disneyland Railroad (make sure to ride between Tomorrowland and Main Street U.S.A. so you can see the dinosaurs!)
- Sailing Ship Columbia
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Main Street Vehicles
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Alice in Wonderland
- Mad Tea Party (just don't spin too fast!)
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (a gentle ride, but this does have a shooting component)
- Snow White's Enchanted Wish
All of these rides have no height requirements.
Rides for Braver and Taller Toddlers at Disneyland
Some Disneyland rides can be a little scary for some toddlers but not for others. How sensitive is your toddler? Just because your tadpole can go on it doesn't mean they should. If you think your toddler will be too scared to ride, then skip it for now, or it might make them less willing to try the next ride. Some of these have a minimum height requirement and some do not:
- Pirates of the Caribbean (cool, long, dark and relaxing, although it can be scary for older children and there are two mild drops and darkness)
- Chip 'n' Dale's GADGETcoaster — 35" (89 cm) height requirement (a great and short first coaster)
- Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
- Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (Spoiler alert: A simulated train crash ends in Hell. But it's a not-too-wild dark ride and some of the subject matter might go right over your toddler's head.)
- Haunted Mansion (a slow-moving ride, but it is dark and can be scary to toddlers, especially in the stretching room)
- Autopia — 32" (81 cm) height requirement
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (there are dark parts and loud noises that can be scary to some toddlers)
Other Great Attractions for Toddlers
There are some great attractions for toddlers that are not necessarily rides, but toadally worth mentioning.
Toontown
Your toddlers are going to love Toontown. They can climb, slide, spin, run and play and do all the gross-motor movements they love so much. But there are also buttons to push, levers to turn and things to touch that will fill their tactile needs. When they have a lot of energy, blow off some steam in Toontown. You can have a picnic on the green lawns. But if they need a sensory break, also try Toontown. There is a parklike lawn with a cave to the left of Mickey's House. The colors and sounds are a little more muted there if you need to decompress.
The smaller toddlers — under 24 months — have a special gated area with soft climbing toys behind Donald's Boat.
Enchanted Tiki Room
The Enchanted Tiki Room is a great place to sit in the AC and be entertained by music and songs by animatronic birds.
Storytelling at the Royal Theatre
Sit your kids on the carpet at Storytelling at the Royal Theatre for an entertaining and giggle-worthy retelling of some Disney stories with song, dance and characters.
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island is a great place to run free and explore.
Tips for Entertaining Toddlers in Between Rides
Here are some ways to occupy your toddler between rides.
- Get a hug from Winnie the Pooh (and maybe Tigger, too) in Bayou Country!
- Play with bubbles — your toddler can have fun waiting for a parade, rolling in the stroller or standing in the street with a bubble wand.
- If you need to wait for taller family members to ride a ride, take your toddler to the huge granite ball in Tomorrowland.
- Snacks! Bring some favorites from home to save time and money.
- Take potty-training toddlers to the Baby Care Center to use the tiny potties.
- Get more ideas in our Disneyland park plan for toddlers and preschoolers.
Toddlers 2 and under are free at Disneyland, but the rest of the family will need tickets. You can save on Disneyland tickets and hotel stays when you book with Undercover Tourist.
Related: Disneyland Height Requirements and Rider Switch
Related: Tips for Using a Stroller at Disneyland
Hoppy planning!
