Thinking about taking a child under 2 to Walt Disney World but wondering, “What will they actually be able to do?”
The answer might surprise you—a LOT!
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear from families with babies and toddlers is that they should wait until their children are older to visit Walt Disney World. While there are certainly attractions with height requirements throughout the parks, there are also dozens of rides, shows and experiences with no height requirement at all.
That means your baby or toddler can experience them right alongside you!
If you’re planning your family’s first Walt Disney World vacation and aren’t familiar with the four theme parks, we’ve put together a park-by-park guide to help you understand where you’ll find the most things to do with children under 2.
Magic Kingdom: The Best Disney Park for Babies & Toddlers
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World with a baby or toddler, Magic Kingdom should be at the top of your list.
Of the four Walt Disney World theme parks, Magic Kingdom has the largest selection of attractions with no height requirement, including many of the classic Disney rides families picture when they imagine their first Disney vacation.
Your little one can fly with Dumbo, travel through Never Land with Peter Pan, bounce through the Hundred Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh and sail through “it’s a small world”—all without needing to meet a minimum height.
Magic Kingdom Attractions With No Height Requirement
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- “it’s a small world”
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Under the Sea
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Haunted Mansion
- Hall of Presidents
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- Jungle Cruise
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
- Walt Disney World Railroad
If you only have time for one park with a very young child, Magic Kingdom would be our first choice simply because of the sheer number and variety of experiences the whole family can enjoy together.
There are slow-moving rides, boat rides, shows and plenty of opportunities to take breaks between attractions.
And there’s something pretty special about watching your baby experience classic Disney attractions for the first time—even if they won’t remember it quite as well as you will!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios With a Baby or Toddler
Hollywood Studios is known for some of Walt Disney World’s bigger thrill rides, but don’t automatically cross it off your list if you’re traveling with a little one.
There are still several attractions and shows that families can experience together.
Hollywood Studios Attractions With No Height Requirement
- Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
- Disney Junior Play and Dance!
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Star Wars Launch Bay
- Vacation Fun
- The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Toy Story Mania!
For families with young children, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Toy Story Mania! are especially exciting because they give little ones the opportunity to experience actual rides alongside the rest of the family.
Hollywood Studios also has several live shows, which can be a nice way to sit down in the air conditioning and give everyone a break.
EPCOT With a Baby or Toddler
EPCOT might not immediately come to mind when you think about taking a baby to Disney World, but don’t underestimate this park!
There are plenty of attractions young children can enjoy, along with slower-paced experiences that can make EPCOT easier to navigate with a baby or toddler.
EPCOT Attractions With No Height Requirement
- Spaceship Earth
- Moana: Journey of Water
- Living with the Land
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Journey Into Imagination with Figment
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
- Frozen Ever After
- Reflections of China
- The American Adventure
- Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
- Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360
One of our favorite things about EPCOT for families is the variety.
Your little one can ride through Arendelle on Frozen Ever After, search for Nemo aboard The Seas with Nemo & Friends, explore the interactive water experience at Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana and take a relaxing boat ride through the greenhouses on Living with the Land.
There are also plenty of places throughout EPCOT to slow down, walk around and explore at your own pace—which can be incredibly helpful when you’re working around naps and feeding schedules.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom With a Baby or Toddler
Animal Kingdom can be another fantastic choice for families with little ones, especially if your child loves animals.
While there aren’t as many rides without height requirements as you’ll find at Magic Kingdom, there are several experiences that can easily fill your day.
Animal Kingdom Attractions With No Height Requirement
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Na’vi River Journey
- Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
- Maharajah Jungle Trek
One of the highlights for families is Kilimanjaro Safaris, where even your littlest travelers can come along to see animals including giraffes, elephants and more.
Na’vi River Journey also gives families a beautiful, slower-moving boat ride through Pandora, while Animal Kingdom’s live entertainment provides opportunities to sit down and enjoy some incredible Disney performances together.
And don’t overlook the animal trails!
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek give families the freedom to explore at their own pace, which is especially convenient when traveling with a stroller.
Which Disney World Park Is Best for Children Under 2?
If you’re trying to prioritize parks for your first Walt Disney World vacation with a baby or toddler, Magic Kingdom offers the most attractions without a height requirement.
It’s also where you’ll find many of the classic Disney experiences families dream about sharing with their children.
But that doesn’t mean you should skip the other parks.
Each park offers something completely different:
Magic Kingdom has the largest selection of rides and classic Disney experiences.
Hollywood Studios combines family-friendly rides with live shows and entertainment.
EPCOT offers gentle rides, interactive experiences and plenty of opportunities to explore at a slower pace.
Animal Kingdom combines Disney attractions with incredible animal experiences and live entertainment.
If your vacation allows enough time, visiting all four parks gives your family the most complete Walt Disney World experience.
Don’t Feel Like You Have to Wait Until They’re Older
Will your 1-year-old remember riding Dumbo for the first time?
Probably not.
But you will.
You’ll remember their face when they see Mickey. You’ll have the pictures of their first ride on “it’s a small world.” You’ll remember watching them point at the animals on Kilimanjaro Safaris or dance along to a Disney show.
Taking a baby or toddler to Walt Disney World isn’t necessarily about creating memories they’ll remember forever. Sometimes, it’s about creating memories you’ll remember forever.
And because so many attractions have no height requirement, bringing a little one doesn’t mean spending the entire vacation sitting on the sidelines.
There is so much you can experience together as a family.
Planning Disney World With a Baby Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming
If you’ve never been to Walt Disney World—or haven’t visited since having children—planning your first family vacation can feel like a LOT.
Which park should you visit first? How many park days do you need? Which Disney Resort works best with a baby? Which attractions can everyone ride? What do you do about naps? Where can you feed or change your baby?
That’s where having someone who understands Disney vacation planning can make a huge difference.
An Academy Travel agent can help you plan your Walt Disney World vacation at no additional cost, from choosing your resort and park tickets to helping you understand which experiences will work best for your family.
So if you’ve been telling yourself, “We’ll take them to Disney when they’re older,” you might want to reconsider.
There is plenty of Disney magic waiting for even the tiniest Mouseketeers. ✨🏰
