The Finest Disney World Rides for 3 Yr Olds, In keeping with a Toddler

As somebody who “grew up Disney,” visiting the parks a number of occasions all through my life from toddlerhood to maturity, I knew it wasn’t a query of if I’d take my children to Disney World however when. I additionally knew my 7-year-old son was prepared — he’s tall sufficient to go on most rides and sufficiently old to recollect the journey — however what about my 3-year-old daughter?

On the subject of peak, she’s on the shorter finish for her age at 35 inches. Would she be capable of go on any rides? Are there even rides for 3 yr olds at Disney World — or sufficient of them to make it price our whereas?

Because it seems, the reply is sure, sure and heaps of them. So many in reality, that you simply’ll have a tough time narrowing down a listing of the greatest Disney World rides for 3 yr olds — an extremely subjective factor in fact, as each youngster is totally different, however one thing I tried to do right here based mostly on my daughter’s suggestions in addition to my very own after a current three-day journey to all 4 parks.

Finest Disney World Rides for 3 Yr Olds at a Look

Since our time was restricted, we didn’t have the possibility to go on completely each journey a 3 yr previous is ready to, however we did pack in so much due to Lightning Lane passes that aid you skip to the entrance of the road. For every park, I ranked the sights we skilled there from greatest to worst for a 3 yr previous, so you’ll be able to prioritize the must-dos and know which of them to skip when you’ve got a toddler.

Is It Value Going to Disney World with a 3 Yr Previous?

Now that I’ve skilled this precise situation firsthand, I’d argue that 3 isn’t only a good age for Disney World, it’s a nice age (and possibly the earliest I’d suggest going). They’re nonetheless in that valuable part the place they’re all concerning the characters and sufficiently small to wheel round in a stroller but large enough to grasp what’s happening and luxuriate in rides. In the event that they haven’t already dropped their afternoon nap, they will actually roll with out one, and because of the plethora of “All Ages” rides with no peak necessities throughout the Disney parks, there’s loads for them to do.

Since a median 3 yr previous’s peak falls someplace between 35 to 40 inches, that is the age after they begin rising tall sufficient to satisfy peak objectives for some milestone rides reminiscent of The Barnstormer (35 inches), Slinky Canine Sprint (38 inches) and Tiana’s Bayou Journey (40 inches). Experiencing these benchmarks in realtime is particular — the anticipation of whether or not or not they’ll make the lower adopted by pure pleasure and pleasure after they do is memorable.

What’s the Finest Disney World Park for a 3 Yr Previous?

It’s undoubtedly the Magic Kingdom, which has the widest array of All Ages rides that 3 yr olds will love. We packed in a whopping 11 sights with our daughter at this park versus a median of 5 on the different parks. It’s additionally dwelling to Cinderella’s fort, which is a must-see for any princess-obsessed preschooler.

With that stated, every park has one thing uniquely nice to supply a 3 yr previous, so preserve studying for a listing of one of the best rides inside every of the 4 parks.

Finest Disney Hollywood Studios Rides for 3 Yr Olds

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

This was my daughter’s very first Disney World journey, which is it’s personal particular milestone in and of itself, however even when it wasn’t I’m sure she’d nonetheless contemplate it her absolute favourite journey. Whereas it’s a really clean, simple tour in a practice automotive, it simulates the thrills of a high-adrenaline journey by environmental cues and immersive screens that make you’re feeling such as you’re falling down a waterfall once you’re merely sitting nonetheless. The A-team forged of characters (Mickey! Minnie! Goofy! Daisy Duck!) can be positive to win over preschoolers, making this one a must-do.

For the First Time in Ceaselessly: A Frozen Sing-Alongside Celebration

This seated theater-style efficiency recaps the unique Frozen storyline by film clips and its best musical hits, as sung by a pair of Arendelle villager narrators with particular appearances by Anna and Elsa. You undoubtedly must be a fan of the franchise to completely take pleasure in this attraction — which my daughter is, as are most preschool ladies — however the foam-bubble “snow” that falls throughout the finale is magical even for individuals who aren’t.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Situated within the past lovely Toy Story Land part of the park, this rocket ship journey takes you on a figure-eight course that instantly whips you round each flip. The fast twists punctuating the in any other case clean rotations had my daughter squealing with laughter (as seen above). Older children might discover this slow-moving journey boring but it surely’s the proper tempo for toddlers. Observe that this journey has a 32-inch peak requirement — one which three yr olds ought to simply move.

Disney Jr. Play and Dance!

This attraction — a 10-minute DJ-led dance social gathering with Disney characters, together with Doc McStuffins and Vampirina — is made particularly for preschoolers who need nothing greater than to satisfy (and boogie with!) their idols. On floor worth, that is a straightforward one to write down off however I promise you it’s price a pitstop when you’ve got a 3 yr previous. Watching my daughter pirouette with Pluto and play freeze dance with Mickey was the stuff of core household recollections and an sudden spotlight of our journey.

Muppet Imaginative and prescient 3D

This ’90s traditional is certainly one of my private favorites so I used to be psyched to have my children expertise good old school Muppet mayhem. Seeing my daughter attain out in entrance of her to attempt to contact the 3D film components was heartwarming and she or he obtained a kick out of the dwell puppets within the theater balconies. The one purpose this attraction loses factors for preschoolers has to do with bodily limitations: my daughter needed to sit on my husband’s lap as a way to see the display, and he needed to maintain the adult-size 3D glasses on her face the entire time to maintain them in place. Muppet Imaginative and prescient 3D is unfortunately closing on June 7, 2025 as a way to make method for brand spanking new Monsters Inc. sights so should you go earlier than then, undoubtedly make this one a precedence because it’s your final probability!

Toy Story Mania!

As the one different all-ages journey in Toy Story Land, we made positive to hit this tram tour by Andy’s room the place your objective is to shoot varied transferring targets with a laser gun. In idea, this feels like a enjoyable factor to do with a 3 yr previous, however in observe it’s extra of a chore. I spent your complete time holding my daughter’s 3D glasses on her face whereas concurrently serving to her goal and shoot her gun — an unwieldy contraption for her creating fine-motor expertise — in addition to mine. She had a good time, I didn’t. I’d personally skip this one.

Finest Magic Kingdom Rides for 3 Yr Olds

The Barnstormer

This delicate family-friendly rollercoaster was my daughter’s height-goal milestone journey: it’s good to be 35 inches or taller and, as you’ll be able to see within the image above, she simply made the lower. The fast-moving, Goofy-themed stunt airplane takes you on a twisting course with some small drops that my thrill-seeker-in-training cherished. The second it got here to a cease, she exclaimed: “I need to try this once more!”

Mad Tea Social gathering

My future adrenaline-junkie cherished this traditional spinning teacup journey impressed by the social gathering scene in Alice in Wonderland. Though her little fingers seemingly didn’t contribute a lot turning to the middle wheel, she favored feeling in management as she swayed and giggled wildly at every dizzying flip. Having the entire household working and fooling around collectively additionally made this a memorable spotlight.

Tomorrowland Speedway

Being on the helm of a automotive’s steering wheel is the stuff of toddlers’ desires, and that turns into a actuality on this nostalgic racetrack journey. Whereas children must be 32 inches to go on with an grownup, that doesn’t cease them from driving — and actually, that’s the one acceptable method to do that. Your entire level is to let children dwell out their driving fantasies in a gas-powered hotrod! My daughter’s little legs have been too brief to succeed in the pedal so she steered whereas I hit the gasoline and succumbed to the swerving (fortunately, a guard rail beneath every automotive retains you safely in your lane). The automotive solely reaches a prime pace of seven.5 MPH so the thrills come from the reckless driving, which was an countless supply of laughter for my daughter.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Our household had the privilege of using Area Mountain on its fiftieth anniversary — nicely, everybody besides my daughter, who has a pair years earlier than she reaches the 44-inch peak requirement. Whereas she nonetheless reminds us of that point she obtained left behind with some very good forged members who “gave me a hug and took me to the reward store,” this slow-moving elevated tram journey round Tomorrowland was the key hack that obtained her on Area Mountain as a toddler. The tour goes by different sights reminiscent of the long-lasting rollercoaster and Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin for a cool behind-the-scenes peek that the entire household loved.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Most everyone seems to be aware of this iconic journey that takes you round in a Dumbo elephant you could make “fly” as you pull on a lever to go up or down. However what it’s possible you’ll not understand is that there’s a circus-themed indoor playground alongside the queue that makes this a two-for-one attraction. My daughter cherished hovering excessive within the sky however I had simply as exhausting a time pulling her off the climbing buildings and the musical staircase main as much as it that performed notes with each step.

Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin

Much like Epcot’s Toy Story Mania, the objective of this slow-moving journey is to make use of a laser gun to shoot as many targets all through as a way to rack up factors. This model is much better fitted to toddlers due to the extra maneuverable fastened cannon that includes an easy-to-push button. It additionally ditches the 3D glasses for a enjoyable glow-in-the-dark expertise. You too can go for a 360-degree spin on the contact of a joystick, which orients your automotive in direction of a complete new set of targets.

Haunted Mansion

You would possibly assume a haunted mansion is just too scary for a 3 yr previous, and relying in your toddler’s persona you may be proper. However that is Disney World, which goals for all-ages household enjoyable, so I’d categorize this as extra creepy than the stuff of precise nightmares. My daughter was intrigued by all of the ghosts milling about (“He has no head!” she declared, pointing to the beheaded knight within the graveyard) and claims she danced with them within the ballroom — frightened she was not.

Peter Pan’s Flight

Situated instantly throughout from It’s a Small World (which we skipped at my husband’s insistence for being “too repetitive and boring”), this journey aboard a pirate ship takes you thru the story of Peter Pan and simulates flight by intelligent staging of assorted units beneath the boat. My daughter was wide-eyed as we sailed by the Darlings’ bed room window and hovered above a miniature twinkling London at evening.

Beneath the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid

One other story retold in journey kind, this light undersea journey in a clamshell glides you thru the story of The Little Mermaid with out the danger of getting moist (there’s no precise water). My daughter obtained a kick out of the animatronic fish dancing in addition to the fairytale ending (“She’s getting married!,” she noticed) however was genuinely scared of the larger-than-life Ursula who loomed 7.5 toes tall. She really cowered in her presence after having not flinched as soon as within the Haunted Mansion.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me — however possibly much less so my 3-year-old. Don’t get me unsuitable, she didn’t not like this slow-moving boat cruise by varied pirate vignettes. She simply didn’t actually appear to grasp what was happening (“Who’s that? Why are they chasing her?” she implored.) She undoubtedly obtained a kick out of the fake cannonball explosions within the water and the canine withholding the jail keys on the finish, however she’d in any other case contemplate this journey forgettable.

Nation Bear Musical Jamboree

I personally have a delicate spot for this musical act carried out by animatronic bears in a theater setting (maybe as a result of it jogs my memory of a childhood spent at Chuck E. Cheese?) and was barely disenchanted it didn’t delight my daughter in the identical method. Whereas she did get a kick out of Teddi Barra descending from the ceiling, I in any other case needed to redirect her consideration in direction of the wall or stage internet hosting the singing animal at that given second and discipline fixed questions of “Is it achieved but?” In comparison with the entire different action-packed sights she skilled within the Magic Kingdom, I assume you’ll be able to’t blame her for not loving this one.

Finest Epcot Rides for 3 Yr Olds

Frozen Ever After

Situated within the Norway Pavilion of the World Showcase, this log flume was once the Viking-themed Maelstrom journey however was refurbished as a Frozen-themed attraction in 2016. It follows the identical path as the unique, reversing backwards halfway by and taking a mildly dramatic drop that splashes riders in direction of the top. My daughter loved each of these thrills, which have been taken up a number of notches by the sheer reality they occurred towards the backdrop of Arendelle with cameos from Elsa, Anna, Olaf and even the trolls from Kristof’s household. She talked about this one for weeks afterwards.

Remy’s Ratatouille Journey

This 4D trackless journey (positioned within the France Pavilion, mais oui) takes you on a journey by Gusteau’s Paris restaurant from the attitude of Remy, making every little thing really feel bigger than life. Paying homage to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the immersive movement graphics and fast actions simulate a curler coaster-like expertise inside a clean gliding mouse-shaped automotive. Whereas this journey does contain 3D glasses, they have been in some way smaller and managed to remain on my daughter’s face with out grownup help. Rating!

Journey Into Creativeness with Figment

My daughter and I went on this slow-paced automobile journey on a whim to kill a while whereas her dad and brother did Mission: SPACE, and I’m so glad we did. It takes you on a tour of a science lab the place you study concerning the 5 senses in an interactive method — my daughter laughed after we have been sprayed by a smelly skunk odor for example scent — and deposits you into ImageWorks: The What-If Labs, an interactive exhibit on the journey’s exit. As you’ll be able to see within the photograph above, my daughter had a blast operating all around the Stepping Tones that make sounds when walked on. I personally cherished feeling like we maximized our downtime by getting two sights in a single.

Journey of Water, Impressed by Moana

We visited Disney World throughout an unseasonable chilly snap in January and debated even doing this walkthrough water attraction within the 40-degree climate. Fortunately we did, ensuring to rigorously keep away from getting moist, and nonetheless managed to have quite a lot of enjoyable taking part in with water from a distance. My daughter was amazed at having the ability to stroll by a curtain of water that stops when it senses motion and making fountains bounce with only a wave of her hand. The exhibit goals to show about water cycles and conservation, which was misplaced on my 3 yr previous, however the lush re-creation of the goddess Te Fiti (pictured above) actually was not.

The Seas with Nemo & Buddies

This light journey in a clamshell retells the story of Nemo by a mixture of on-screen looping movies and three-dimensional set props. The journey itself is truthfully unremarkable (and sort of boring?), however its saving grace is the precise aquarium with actual fish that will get built-in on the finish. You too can discover the dwell sea life — together with sharks, jellyfish and clown fish — in tanks exterior the journey’s exit. There’s even a reef-themed play space the place children can stick their heads inside a shark’s mouth for a enjoyable photograph opp, making this a extra holistic expertise.

Finest Animal Kingdom Rides for 3 Yr Olds

Wildlife Specific Prepare

For those who ask my daughter what her favourite factor about Animal Kingdom was, she’ll undoubtedly inform you it was assembly Rafiki and Timon. The one option to get to them in Rafiki’s Planet Watch is to take this 7-minute-long practice journey, which meanders previous veterinary buildings (although you’ll be hard-pressed to see any animals alongside the best way). The precise practice journey isn’t a lot to write down dwelling about, however what it will get you entry to utterly is. Along with Lion King character meet-and-greets, you’ll be able to view all types of reptiles, amphibians and even a dwell veterinary process — we noticed a sedated Cheetah get a wellness go to — on the Conservation Station. There’s additionally a small petting zoo known as the Affection Part the place you’ll be able to contact and even brush docile goats earlier than taking the practice again to the primary park.

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Whereas not fairly as intimate or genuine as an actual safari, this 20-minute guided tour on an open-air automobile by the Harambe Wildlife Reserve will nonetheless enthrall any 3 yr previous. Greater than 34 totally different species of African wildlife name the reserve dwelling and also you’re assured to see a great variety of them — on our journey, we noticed a number of giraffes operating round in addition to a flock of flamingos, an elephant, swimming hippos, rhinos and a satisfaction of lions my daughter swears have been Simba and Nala “sleeping on Pleasure Rock.”

Competition of the Lion King

Since my daughter is a enormous fan of The Lion King (no severely, she’s watched each the unique and dwell motion model dozens of occasions), this dwell theatrical efficiency was a must-do on our record. After I noticed that folks have been performing within the model of the Broadway present, I obtained somewhat nervous that she’d get bored — however then big parade-style floats that includes Timon and Simba entered the stage and I knew we’d be all proper. The present fantastically blends artistry, beloved characters and circus-level theatrics (the monkey acrobats and flame thrower dazzled each my 3- and 7-year-old) that can entertain all ages, however most significantly fulfill preschoolers.

The Boneyard

One of many best items of recommendation given to me previous to our journey was “let the youngsters prepared the ground.” Sure, there’s tons to do in a restricted period of time, however there’s no sense dragging them away from one thing that captivates their consideration as a result of then everyone seems to be left pressured and cranky. For us, this dinosaur dig–themed playground was exactly that. One doesn’t journey all the best way to Disney World simply to climb a fossilized dinosaur and go down some slides. And but! Each of my children merely didn’t need to depart this place. Even my 3-year-old needed to scale the rope bridges “yet one more time” and truthfully, who am I to argue?

It’s Powerful to Be a Bug!

By this level, you know the way I really feel about 3 yr olds and 3D glasses: they don’t combine nor make for an pleasant journey expertise (for the dad or mum, a minimum of). Paradoxically, that wasn’t the problem with this theater-style present that mixes 3D film results with animatronic bugs delivering a musical stage efficiency. The bug-eye glasses not solely match however have been really lovely! No, the explanation this attraction finds itself on the backside is that it scared the pants off my daughter — greater than Ursula and the Haunted Mansion mixed. Between the loud buzzing, the transferring seats beneath us and the too-realistic 3D results that had her yelping “they’re grabbing my eyes!,” this one may be a bit a lot for toddlers. It closes for good on March 17, 2025, so should you resolve to squeeze it in earlier than then, you’ve been warned.