As a first-time parent, I wanted to know what rides would be the best attractions for babies at Walt Disney World theme parks and whether taking our 5-month-old son, Parks, on them was realistic, overwhelming, or even fun for him (and us!). Disney Parks allow babies based on their height requirement, not based on whether the ride is suitable for babies.
Parks has a great time people-watching and checking out his environment. He is bored more easily at home, so we take him outside as much as possible to keep things interesting. We know he enjoys it because he rarely fusses when we’re out and about, and he sleeps great after a big day. He’s attracted to bright colors and loves music, so we thought WDW could be a lot of fun for him. We were right!
When P was awake, he was busy scoping out his surroundings. As soon as the yawns and eye rubbing started, we put him in his stroller for a nap. When he wasn’t napping and he was “tall enough” to go on a ride, we brought him with us!
I made a list of all of the rides that allow babies at Disney World (see below) based on height restrictions. Now that we’re back from our trip, I’ve updated each one that Parks rode with details about what it was like for a baby, and whether it was worth it or something you might be able to skip to save some time. After all, there is a lot to do at each park and everyone going on a Disney vacation needs to plan wisely to make the best use of their time.
*Rides listed without notes means that it is on the list of rides allowed for babies at Disney World, but we didn’t take Parks on it, likely because we ran out of time, so I can’t personally attest whether it was worth it or if I recommend it for infants.
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- Rides for babies at Magic Kingdom
- Rides for babies at Animal Kingdom
- Rides for babies at Epcot
- Rides for babies at Hollywood Studios
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Rides For Babies At Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Astro Orbiter *
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin *
Dumbo the Flying Elephant: While I didn’t take Parks on this ride, I rode it with my 5-year-old niece, Nora. She loved it and enjoyed controlling the height of the elephant car. Would I bring Parks on it? Sure, I don’t see why not. He wouldn’t know what was going on, but I think he’d enjoy the wind on his face.
Haunted Mansion: I didn’t take Parks on this dark ride because he was napping in his stroller when it was our turn to go. Even though infants are allowed, I’m glad he didn’t come with us. As visitors shuffled into the stretching room at the beginning of the ride, I think it might be too scary when the lights go out and the evil laughing starts. Plus, the rest of the ride was loud—probably too loud for a baby.
It’s a Small World: Parks was more than happy on this little boat ride, even though the rest of us found it annoying and way too long.
Jungle Cruise: Parks enjoyed this slow-moving boat ride simply because there was a lot for him to look at on the boat. He enjoyed looking at the people around us and listening to them talk. Plus, he got a lot of attention, which he always loves. He did get a little fussy, but I suspect it was because he was ready for a nap.
Liberty Square Riverboat *
Mad Tea Party *
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin *
Peter Pan’s Flight *
Pirates of the Caribbean *
Prince Charming Regal Carousel: I wouldn’t necessarily put Parks on one of the horses even if I was holding him up because he doesn’t have the core strength that would make me feel comfortable. However, if you wanted to do this ride, you could sit on one of the benches and hold your baby in your lap.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover: This ride is absolutely fine for an infant without any hesitation or concern. It moves very slowly, so it’s easy to get on and off.
Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid: This ride would have been fine for Parks if he hadn’t been napping when we jumped on. It was a little loud, so if you have a pair of baby ear protectors, feel free to use them.
Walt Disney World Railroad *
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress *
Rides For Babies At Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Kilimanjaro Safaris: We took Parks on the safari and this was my favorite ride for him. He enjoyed the bumpy ride to the point where he almost fell asleep. Just make sure to either wear your baby in a carrier or hold on tight. I didn’t wear Parks, but I sat on an inside seat and held onto him around his waist, and had him in my lap. I never felt like he was unsafe.
Na’vi River Journey: Parks was intrigued by all of the colors and noises on this ride. I would absolutely take him on this again!
TriceraTop Spin: Similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant, I rode this with my niece, but wouldn’t hesitate to bring Parks on it too.
Wildlife Express Train *
Rides For Babies At Disney’s Epcot
Frozen Ever After: Parks came on Frozen Ever After and didn’t seem to mind it. In hindsight, I’d bring some ear protection simply because the music is loud. However, it didn’t bother him at all and he seemed to enjoy all of the bright colors and water.
Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros *
Living with the Land: We didn’t take Parks on this one, but I wouldn’t hesitate to do so. It would be a great ride for babies. We simply ran out of time, but I’ve done this ride a thousand times. It’s slow-moving and educational. It’s not loud and I can’t think of any parts of the ride that would cause concern for an infant.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: We brought Parks on this ride, but in hindsight, I would not do it again. It was loud and the huge video screens were a little bit too intense for him. There are parts in the ride where you are chased by the cartoon on the screen, and while he didn’t cry, he was uneasy. The part that he hated the most was when a cork popped off a bottle of champagne and the riders were spritzed in the face with water. He started crying a little bit when that happened but quickly recovered. He was uncomfortable and scared though. In all honesty, I felt guilty for taking him on this ride.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends *
Spaceship Earth *
Rides For Babies At Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad *
Toy Story Mania: We didn’t take Parks on this ride, but it’s because I’ve done it before and it simply wouldn’t be fun if you had a baby on your lap. It’s a video game-style ride that’s popular with small children and older kids alike. You compete against one another slinging and it takes both hands to be competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do we ride if we can’t take our baby with us?
Taking advantage of Rider Switch is the best way to do a ride when you don’t want to take young kids or babies aren’t allowed. This means that one of you stands in line while the other rider waits with the baby. When the first rider is done, the rider who waited with the baby can skip the long lines since the rest of the party already waited in it.
Here is how it works: Your entire party needs to find a cast member working the ride. I recommend talking to the cast member at the Lightning Lane entrance. They will scan everyone’s Magicbands and give the second rider a “Lightning Lane.” When the first rider returns and takes over ‘baby watch,’ it’s the second rider’s turn. The cast member will scan their Magicband and allow them in at the Lightning Lane entrance while the rest of the party watches the baby. You’re basically just taking turns and only have to deal with wait times once.
Are strollers allowed inside the rides?
No. Strollers give your baby a place to nap throughout the day, and it’s the perfect way to carry things like diapers, but they are not allowed in the ride lines. Be prepared to carry your baby if you’re taking them on the ride. If the whole family is going on the ride, it makes it easy because you can take turns holding the baby. But if you’re alone or facing long lines, you’ll want to take your baby carrier.
Are babies free at Disney World?
Yes! Babies under 2 years old are free.
What services are offered in Disney World’s baby care centers?
There is one baby care center at each of the Disney parks. Since the parks are all huge, it’s not convenient to walk to the care center every time you need to change a diaper or feed your baby, so I wouldn’t count on them for that. With that said, here is a list of services they offer:
- Private nursing room with rocking chairs
- Changing room with tables
- Restroom facilities
- Feeding area with high chairs
- Kitchen with microwave and sink
- Main room with television, table, and seating
- On-site shop offering formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes*, sunscreen, over-the-counter medications, and clothing for purchase.
I put an asterisk by the wipes because they were completely sold out of wipes by 10 a.m. the day we needed to buy some at Magic Kingdom. Please refer to my “lessons learned” section for details.
Would I plan another trip to Walt Disney World with a newborn baby?
Yes. Absolutely. A thousand times yes. We had an incredible trip, and I absolutely recommend planning a trip to Walt Disney World with a baby. I’ll even go as far as saying you should make plans to take your little one on some of the Disney World rides allowed for a baby. Sure, it requires research, advanced planning, and some strategy, but bringing your baby to Disney can be done. Even better? It can be enjoyable. We created memories that will last a lifetime.