Before You Pack
Children under age 3 ride free and do not need a ticket. That's a meaningful saving and it means you should lean into the stroller-friendly, no-height-requirement sections of the park rather than burning a toddler out chasing height-restricted thrill rides.
Rides for Infants and Toddlers (No Height Requirement)
These are the core rides for the youngest guests. Most are slow-moving, dark in spots (manageable), and run 4–6 minutes:
- it's a small world — the classic. Visually overwhelming in the best way for toddlers. Long enough that it functions as a rest for parents too.
- Peter Pan's Flight — a dark ride that flies over London and Neverland. Kids consistently love it. Lines routinely hit 60–90 minutes, so ride it at park opening or near close.
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — colorful, calm, familiar characters. Perfect first dark ride.
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant — outdoor spinner, controllable up-and-down. Lines can be long; head here early.
- Disneyland Railroad — a full loop around the park. Doubles as a walking break. Board at Main Street, Toontown, or New Orleans Square.
- Jungle Cruise — a slow boat ride with animatronic animals and dad jokes from the skipper. Babies tend to be riveted by the animals. No scares.
- Pirates of the Caribbean — there is one short drop at the beginning that can surprise very young kids. Otherwise it's a gentle boat ride. One of the longer attractions at about 15 minutes.
- Haunted Mansion — some families skip this with toddlers due to darkness and ghost imagery; others find kids are fascinated rather than scared. Worth a test.
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage — slow-moving submarine with fish visible through portholes. Strong hit with preschoolers who know the movie.
- Storybook Land Canal Boats — narrated boat tour of miniature fairy tale scenes. Calm, charming, almost always a short wait.
Rides for Ages 3–6 (Some Thrill)
At this age kids are starting to want something more exciting but may not meet 40" yet:
- Chip 'n' Dale's GADGET Coaster (35") — the perfect first roller coaster. Brief, mild, no inversions.
- Mater's Junkyard Jamboree (DCA, no height req) — tow-cable spinner with Cars characters. Very popular with this age group.
- Toy Story Midway Mania (DCA) — a 4D shooting game on a moving car. Hugely popular with all ages.
- Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway — no height requirement, immersive dark ride with cartoon visuals. One of the best family rides at the park.
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters — interactive shooter, no height requirement. Kids who like competing with parents will ride this twice.
Rides for Ages 7–12 (40" Unlocked)
Once a child clears 40", a big portion of the park opens up:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — billed as "the wildest ride in the wilderness." Mild coaster with outdoor desert scenery. Strong first real coaster.
- Space Mountain — indoor roller coaster in near-total darkness. The dark is the scary part, not the speed. Good gauge for whether your kid is ready for more.
- Tiana's Bayou Adventure — the new log flume ride in Fantasyland. Has a significant drop. Kids who like getting wet will love it.
- Radiator Springs Racers (DCA, 40") — a racing dark ride through the Cars universe. Usually the longest waits in DCA. Ride it first.
- Rise of the Resistance (40") — a must-do immersive Star Wars experience. More spectacle than thrill; the "drops" are mild. Long waits; use Lightning Lane or go at rope drop.
What to Skip with Young Kids
- Indiana Jones Adventure (46") — aggressive vehicle movement, long winding queue with minimal entertainment for restless kids. Age-appropriate probably 8+.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds (42") — the yeti appearance in the dark can genuinely frighten kids under 6–7. Know your child.
- Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! (DCA, 40") — basically a drop tower with variable sequences. Wait until kids explicitly want a drop-tower experience.
- Incredicoaster (DCA, 42") — the fastest coaster at the resort. Appropriate for older kids who want a real coaster.
Nap Strategy
The #1 mistake families with toddlers make is skipping the nap. By 1–2 PM, most kids under 5 are melting down. Options:
1. Leave and come back — if you're at a nearby hotel, a 90-minute break at 1 PM and a return at 4 PM is more productive than grinding through an overtired afternoon.
2. In-park nap spots — the theater shows at Main Street (Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln) and the Mickey and Friends Theater in Hollywood Land (DCA) are seated, air-conditioned, and dim. A sleeping toddler in a stroller in these venues is common and acceptable.
3. Stroller loop — a walk down Main Street or around the back of Fantasyland often puts very young kids out. Then park the stroller in a shaded area.
Character Meets
Character meet-and-greet locations change frequently. The most reliable spots as of 2026:
- Mickey Mouse — Mickey's Toontown, Town Square on Main Street
- Princess characters — Royal Hall in Fantasyland DCA, and rotating appearances at Fantasy Faire
- Star Wars characters — Launch Bay and the Resistance area in Galaxy's Edge
- Check the Disneyland app the morning of your visit — schedules post daily and locations shift seasonally
Lines for popular characters (Moana, Elsa, newer characters) run 30–60 minutes. If your child has a specific favorite, prioritize that character as early as possible — queues often close before the character does.