{2026} The 16+ Best Toddler Rides in Disney World (from a mom)

12/27/2025

Planning a trip to Disney World with a two year old? Check out this toddler mom's list of the best rides in Disney World for two year olds!

Best Disney World Rides for Two Year Olds

(JSB 2025)

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Wondering how many rides you can ride in Disney World with a 2 year old?

We had the most phenomenal trip to Disney last February with our 2 year-old daughter. Admittedly, I was *very* worried that she was too young (especially after repeatedly Googling "is 2 too young for Disney World" and getting told yes), but my husband and I are big Disney people, we knew we'd go back again later, so we figured why not take a risk. Also we needed to get out of the house.

The happiest toddler leaving Epcot after a very full day (JSB)

I can confidently say that we had an incredible, magical time in Disney World with our toddler. I've been to Disney World many times, but this was actually my first time with a kiddo. Thankfully, I was familiar enough to know which rides she could do (more on that later), and now I'll share it with you! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how many rides toddlers actually can do. Disney World is a theme park geared toward children, even small children, instead of a roller coaster hub that allows children. Now that I'm planning our trip with our three year old, I've been reflecting on the rides I enjoyed most last year and what I'm looking forward to with a slightly older child. So, let's dive right in - the best Disney rides for a two year old! I'll cover a few FAQs about Disney toddler travel, then get into my list of rides by theme park. These are just the rides I thought were the best for my daughter. Character meals, character meeting experiences, and shows were also all huge hits for her.

Frequently Asked Questions about taking a two year old to Disney World

Is Disney World worth it for a two year old?
Yes!!! Emphatically, you can have a magical trip to Disney World with a two year old. They can walk, eat food at restaurants (well, mac and cheese and chicken nuggets on repeat), and, most importantly, they are old enough (and young enough) to believe in the magic. My daughter was 2.5 when we went. If you have the ability to wait til a little later in the second year (2.5 was perfect), I might.

Is there enough to do in Disney World for a two year old?
Absolutely. From live shows, to gentle boat rides, character meals, princess meet-and-greets, hotels pools, to the Kilimanjaro safari, I promise, there is more than enough in Disney World to keep young children entertained.

Do rides in Disney World have height requirements?
Some rides in Disney World have height requirements. Many don't. You can sort rides by height requirement on the Disney website.

Can I ride a ride in Disney World if my child doesn't?
Yes, if you are traveling with two adults. If you want to ride a ride your toddler doesn't want to or can't ride, you can take advantage of the Rider Switch. Before entering the queue, tell the Cast Member that you'd like to Rider Switch. One adult will wait with the kid outside of the line while the other adult rides alone, then you'll switch places. The person who waited does not have to wait in the queue again. Key: this does NOT happen right as you're about to board the ride. There's no standing area immediately next to the place people are boarding boats, etc. Not all rides offer Rider Switch, so be sure to confirm that your ride does before planning this into your day. Rider Switch is a great option if you're bringing older kids and little kids who don't all have the same interests.

Do I need a ticket for a two year old in Disney World?
Nope! You do not need a park ticket for a two year old to come to Disney World.

Does a two year old need a Disney Dining plan?
Nope! You can just feed your two year old off of your plate, or order a kids meal for them and pay with cash. For more on that, check out The Ultimate Guide to Disney Dining with a Toddler.

What's the best Disney resort hotel to stay at with a toddler?
If you can swing it, I'd highly recommend staying on property. As far as which Disney on-property resort, again, if you can swing it, the hotels on the Monorail are really worth their weight in gold (and it'll cost a fair amount of your gold, don't worry). We stayed at The Polynesian on this last trip and will do so again in 35 days (not that I'm counting the minutes until my first Mai Tai). You can Monorail from The Poly (or The Grand Floridian or Contemporary Resort) to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. If you are an Epcot family (we tend to focus on Magic Kingdom), The Beach Club is walkable to Epcot and very family-focused, while still tasteful and high-end. The Monorail does not go to Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, so no matter where you stay, you will be taking a different form of Disney transportation (or driving your car). The best part of access to easy Disney transportation (especially the Monorail) is being able to zip back to the hotel for nap time, and then right back to the parks in the afternoon. We just aren't stroller nappers, and frankly mom needed the break anyway.

Should I purchase Lightning Lane if I'm visiting with a toddler?
Yes. Lightning Lane can help make your day easier, when visiting Disney World with a toddler. We purchased the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for each day we were in the parks and really appreciated them. I would NOT recommend splurging for the Lightning Lane Premier Pass. The much more expensive Premier allows you a LL for each ride in a park, but JUST ONCE PER DAY. As toddlers like repetitive activities and cannot go on many rides, you likely will not get the full value for money out of the Premier Pass.

Are there any Disney Parks I should skip with a two year old?
We visited all 4 parks at Disney World with our toddler, who loved them all. I'd rank them: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios.

Is Hollywood Studios worth visiting with a toddler?
Yes. The live shows were a huge hit and there are a couple rides they can do, not to mention character meetings and character dining. Though the Star Wars portion of Hollywood Studios is a main draw and generally not interesting to very young kids, it's absolutely worth seeing for adults (we largely just walked through and grabbed a drink).

{2026} The 16+ Best Toddler Rides in Disney World (from a mom)

Magic Kingdom

Cinderella's Castle, Magic Kingdom (JSB)

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
The classic up-and-down and in-a-circle ride that entertained me circa 1993 continues to delight toddlers to this day. Dumbo the Flying Elephant offers a fun queue experience in 'the big tent,' a fast-moving line thanks to the addition of a second Dumbo ride next to the first, easy boarding, and the joy of being able to make your mom nauseous as your little toddler hands attack the joy stick.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Combine a ride on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh with lunch at Crystal Palace to meet that honey-loving bear! As it's on the track of the long-gone Mr Toad's Wild Ride, "the Pooh ride" is a little bumpier, faster, and darker than you might expect. But there's no height requirement and you'll see all of your favorite friends from the Hundred Acre Wood! Yeah. We rope drop-ed Pooh Bear. That's life with a toddler.

Journey of the Little Mermaid
Another absolute hit for my two year old in Magic Kingdom was Journey of the Little Mermaid, a newer, colorful, immersive dive under the sea with Ariel. Ride under the sea in a clam shell as you go through the story of the Little Mermaid, with animatronic actors.

FAQ: Will my two year old enjoy Enchanted Tales with Belle?
My three year old is beyond thrilled to visit Enchanted Tales with Belle, which is an 'experience,' not a ride, where actors and cast members tell the story of Belle. My two year old did not have the patience or attention span for it, though she LOVED meeting princesses at meet and greets and character dining.

Peter Pan's Flight
Fly out of the Darling family's nursery, over gleaming London, and off to Never Land in Peter Pan's Flight. Though 'toddlers these days' are less likely to be familiar with Peter Pan (my daughter hadn't seen it), it's a fun, classic, gentle ride that toddlers will enjoy.

"it's a small world"
Since 1964, this height requirement-free gentle boat ride delight has entertained millions of kids from around the world. There's no better, more popular, more classic, or more toddler-friendly ride than "it's a small world." We rode "small world" 3 times on our 4-day trip and my daughter enjoyed every minute of it. You can use a Lightning Lane if you want, lines aren't generally that bad if you don't, boarding the boats is easy, no belts or restraints required, and the scenery changes quickly to entertain busy kiddos.

FAQ: Is Haunted Mansion too scary for a toddler?
Yes. Though Haunted Mansion's track/physical movements would be OK for a toddler (and there's no height requirement), I would avoid Haunted Mansion on a Disney trip with a toddler. You could use Rider Switch, or just allow older kids or mom/dad to go ride it while you do something near by, like Small World or Peter Pan. Haunted Mansion is a dark ride, both in low lighting and in content, and my daughter was scared anytime the lights went down, even in Journey into Imagination with Figment.

FAQ: Is Pirates of the Caribbean too scary for a toddler?
I wouldn't say it was my daughter's favorite ride, but she liked being on the boat and I sort of distracted her from the spicier bits. If mom and dad want to ride Pirates, I'd say go for it. It's a slow boat ride with a small drop, but it's definitely not going to be on your kiddo is clamoring to hit again.

FAQ: Can my toddler ride Tiana's Bayou Adventure?
Sadly, no. Tiana's Bayou Adventure (the reimagined Splash Mountain) a 40 inch height minimum, with a fifty-foot drop. My daughter was sad about this, but we made up for it by meeting Tiana at Akershus.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
As we are Disney nerds and were staying at The Polynesian, we took a break from the Florida sun to see the show at the Tiki Room! Much like another favorite of mine, Carousel of Progress, Tiki Room is a Disney staple that feels a bit dated. My daughter started getting pretty wiggly by the end of the 15 minute show, but added a new word to her vocabulary: tiki. It's fun and a good excuse to sit down for a bit on that side of Magic Kingdom which has slightly fewer kid rides.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
If your toddler enjoyed Dumbo, they'll also enjoy The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, which is the same ride, but with the bright colors of magic carpets!

Tiki Room, Magic Kingdom. Best Disney Rides for Toddlers

Tiki Room, Magic Kingdom (JSB)

Epcot

Epcot (JSB)

Living with the Land
A wonderful slow boat ride, Living with the Land teaches kids (and adults) about farming techniques and our earth. It's not terribly exciting, but it's a peaceful moment in a busy day. Make a reservation at Garden Grill Restaurant to eat the food you've seen grown! Oh and meet Chip 'n' Dale, obviously.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends
The Seas with Nemo and Friends tells the story of Nemo's adventure from Finding Nemo - and you can see real fish in the nearby aquarium!

Journey of Water, inspired by Moana
Journey of Water isn't a 'ride,' more of a walking 'experience,' not far from the aforementioned rides (before you get into the countries). But if you have a little Moana fan with you, they'll enjoy it!

Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
Disney very recently made the excellent decision to remove the 3D element of Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, which had been a deterrent for many toddler parents to take their kids too young to keep their glasses on on the ride! We will absolutely be riding on this upcoming trip! There's plenty to see to keep them entertained on the ride, even if your toddler hasn't seen the movie.

Frozen Ever After
The highlight of any trip to Epcot for a little one, Frozen Ever After is a must-see for any and everyone. I can't wait to see the new animatronics, if it's reopened in time for our trip after its refurbishment.

Gran Fiesta Tour
Did you know there's a slow boat ride in the Mexico Pavilion? Gran Fiesta Tour tells the story of three bird friends.

Animal Kingdom

Kilimanjaro Safaris
A highlight of our time in Disney was Kilimanjaro Safaris. Ride in an incredible, large, safari vehicle to get up-close-and-personal with Disney's incredible safari animals. You'll see lions, tigers, elephants and zebras, all while learning interesting facts. Hold onto those kiddos on the bumpy roads, but it's absolutely toddler appropriate. That said, if you've got a real wild child on your hands, I'd wait 'til they're 3. The "expedition" takes about 18 minutes once you're out there.

Na'vi River Journey
There are two Avatar-based rides in Animal Kingdom. Na'vi River Journey features impressive animatronics and beautiful scenery. My daughter didn't know any of the characters, but we enjoyed it and she was amused by the boat element and the colorful lights.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios experiences for toddlers are more about the live shows (and you can use Lightning Lanes for them), including Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, The Little Mermaid- A Musical Adventure, and Beauty and the Beast, Live on Stage - all toddler favorites.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
Visit Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, one of the few non-height-restricted rides in Hollywood Studios, for a gentle train ride feature classic animated Mickey and Minnie.

Thanks for Stopping By!

I hope I've given you some food for thought as you plan your magical Disney World trip. There are so many wonderful rides at Disney for two year olds to not just be 'able' to go on, but to truly enjoy. Let me know your favorite rides for toddlers in the comments! Happy travels!