The Best Disney Park for Toddlers
Walt Disney World Resort is magical for guests of all ages, but there’s something special about experiencing it through the eyes of a child.
When you’re seeing the theme parks through the eyes of someone who believes every princess, character, and castle is the real deal, it’s easy to get swept up in the true magic of it all.
If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World with a toddler, you may be wondering which of the four theme parks is the best for your little one. As a trusted Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel, we at Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista are here to break it down for you so everyone in your party can have an unforgettable Disney experience.
Magic Kingdom
When it comes to classic Disney magic that’s age-appropriate for toddlers, Magic Kingdom is the way to go.
Character Meet-and-Greets
Introduce your little one to their favorite characters, including Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Princess Tiana, Ariel, Aladdin and Jasmine, and so many more. At the Town Square Theatre, you can even meet Mickey Mouse himself.
Entertainment
Magic Kingdom is also home to the most toddler-friendly entertainment. Little ones will love watching their favorite characters perform together in Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire on the Cinderella Castle stage. In this show, Mickey and Minnie, Donald, and Goofy are joined by Rapunzel and Flynn from Tangled, Tiana and friends from The Princess and the Frog, and Olaf, Anna, and Elsa from Frozen.
The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade features even more beloved characters along with ornate floats, colorful costumes, and original music.
Who doesn’t love a great dance party? The Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party gathers in the circle in front of Cinderella Castle for a musical celebration where you can show off your dance moves.
Another underrated attraction for toddlers at Magic Kingdom is Enchanted Tales with Belle, an indoor interactive storytelling experience that invites you to help reenact the story of Beauty and the Beast. You’ll get to perform for Belle, who is beautifully dressed in her signature golden ball gown.
Rides
Out of the over 50 rides at Magic Kingdom, only seven have height requirements; this means that most of the rides are suitable for even the youngest guests.
Toddlers may particularly enjoy classic Walt Disney World rides like It’s a Small World, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and the Prince Charming Regal Carousel.
Explore the worlds of your favorite Disney stories on rides like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid.
Use your discretion to choose which rides are best suited for your toddler; for example, rides like The Haunted Mansion have no height limit, but may be a little spooky for a younger impressionable guest.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is another solid choice for guests with toddlers. Its animal attractions, air-conditioned stage shows, and immersive theming make it ideal for even the youngest explorers.
Character Meet-and-Greets
At Adventurers Outpost, you can meet Mickey and Minnie in their best explorer outfits. It’s a picture-perfect opportunity that you and your toddler will love.
Throughout the park, you may encounter characters like Russel, Dug, and Kevin from Up, Scrooge McDuck, Timon, Rafiki, and Pocahontas. Keep your eyes peeled for other Animal Kingdom exclusive meet-and-greets.
Entertainment
Animal Kingdom has several fabulous stage shows that not only provide entertainment, but also an escape from the warm Orlando weather.
Festival of the Lion King is an exciting celebration with acrobatics, aerial dancers, audience interaction, larger-than life puppets, and all your favorite songs from the movie. You’ll marvel at stilt walkers and fire dancers while dancing along to hits like “Hakuna Matata” and “The Circle of Life.”
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue...and Beyond! is a spectacular 40-minute stage show with puppets, singing and dancing, and incredible stage effects. With original songs like “In the Big Blue World” and “Go with the Flow,” you’ll see (and hear) the story of Finding Nemo from an entirely new perspective.
Rides
Animal Kingdom doesn’t have many rides suitable for toddlers; most have height requirements and of the two that don’t, It’s Tough to Be a Bug can be a little intense for young guests.
The exception is Kilimanjaro Safaris. This experience takes you on an open-air vehicle through the 110-acre Harambe Wildlife Reserve, home to real African animals that call Animal Kingdom home.
On your safari, you may see hippos, lions, giraffes, elephants, flamingos, hyenas, zebras, and a variety of other incredible species.
What Animal Kingdom lacks in toddler-friendly rides, however, it makes up for in zoo-like animal watching.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails is a path that leads you through exhibits that are home to majestic western lowland gorillas, meerkats, zebras, and a variety of other African animals. Wander along The Maharajah Jungle Trek that showcases graceful Asian tigers, as well as gibbons, water buffalo, and an aviary housing over 50 species of birds.
Take a short ride on the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch for a hands-on look at animal habitats around the world and the veterinary care provided at Animal Kingdom. The exhibit is also home to Disney World’s only petting zoo with friendly goats, sheep, and pigs.
EPCOT
If you’re traveling with a mix of older and younger kids, EPCOT might be the perfect compromise.
Character Meet-and-Greets
EPCOT is a great theme park if your toddler loves Disney princesses.
Representing their respective countries, you can meet princesses including Moana, Mulan, Belle, Snow White, Jasmine, Asha, Aurora, and of course, Anna and Elsa.
Other non-royal meet-and-greets include Donald Duck, Mary Poppins, Alice from Alice in Wonderland, Joy from Inside Out, the beloved purple dragon Figment, and of course, Mickey Mouse.
Entertainment
As you journey throughout the World Showcase, you’ll find a variety of performances to enjoy. Voices of Liberty is a beautiful choir performing American classics in The American Pavilion. Command Performance is a British rock band performing classic hits from the 1960s through the 1990s in the United Kingdom Gazebo. Matsuriza is a group of traditional Japanese drummers performing Taiko, an ancient form of Japanese drumming.
The new Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is an outdoor exploration trail that lets you interact and play with water as it travels through the water cycle. The best part is, you’re in total control over how wet you get along the trail.
Toddlers may also love the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along in the France Pavilion, where you can join in on favorite songs like, “Be Our Guest” and “Gaston.”
Rides
While EPCOT isn’t a very ride-heavy theme park, there are a few that are suitable for toddlers.
Frozen Ever After is a beautiful voyage into the world of Arendelle. You’ll board an ancient Nordic boat and take a journey on the water through your favorite Frozen songs and moments featuring Olaf, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Sven. Anticipate a few small drops throughout the ride that provide mini thrills for young riders.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a toddler-friendly 4D ride that makes you feel as if you’ve been shrunk down to the size of a rat. All your senses will be engaged as you scurry through Gusteau’s famous Paris restaurant in this exciting new adventure.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a slow ride that has you searching for Nemo once again. The ride ends in the SeaBase aquarium where you can get up close with real sea turtles, sharks, manatees, and thousands of other sea animals.
Living with the Land, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, Journey into Imagination with Figment, and Spaceship Earth are also toddler-appropriate slow rides at EPCOT.
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is home to some pretty epic adventures but has the least amount of toddler-friendly programming and attractions in comparison to their full offerings. However, there are still plenty of things to keep your toddler engaged at this exciting Disney theme park.
Character Meet-and-Greets
Fans of Toy Story will love having the chance to meet Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie in Toy Story Land. Hollywood Studios is also the only place you can meet Disney Jr. characters like Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, and Fancy Nancy.
You can also meet Ariel from the recent film The Little Mermaid on the terrace of Prince Eric’s seaside castle.
Pixar movie lovers can say hello to Mr. And Mrs. Incredible and Frozone from The Incredibles, and Sulley from Monster’s Inc.
Don’t forget to say hello to Fantasia Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in her red carpet finest.
Entertainment
Settle into an indoor, air-conditioned theatre for the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, a performance that combines clips from the classic Frozen movie and Anna, Elsa, and Royal Historians of Arendelle onstage.
Muppet*Vision 3D is an entertaining and hilarious film and live-action extravaganza that replicates the theatre from The Muppet Show.
At night, Fantasmic is an outdoor firework and musical extravaganza with water projections, special effects, and all your favorite Disney characters. However, with performances at 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Fantasmic may be past your toddler’s bedtime.
Rides
Hollywood Studios has the most limited ride offerings for toddlers.
The park only has two rides without height requirements: Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway and Toy Story Mania!
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is inspired by the colorful Mickey Mouse Shorts, and while it features all of the classic Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy, it is a loud and busy ride that could still be overwhelming for littler riders.
Toy Story Mania! is a 3D carnival game ride where riders get to use a pull-string launcher to toss digital items at on-screen targets.
As little ones grow, more Hollywood Studios rides become available to them. At 32", they'll be able to ride the Alien Swirling Saucers, and at 38", they can try the Slinky Dog Dash kiddie coaster.
Stay at Rosen Inn at Lake Buena Vista for a Family-Friendly Getaway
Rosen Inn at Lake Buena Vista is a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel, meaning you can rest easy knowing we have Disney's seal of approval when it comes to providing a quality vacation experience.
From our complimentary shuttles to and from Walt Disney World Resort theme parks to our Mickey waffles available every morning in the Boardwalk Buffet restaurant, we make it easy to make the most of your Disney vacation.
We're also a family-friendly - and toddler-friendly - hotel. Kids 5 and under eat free at the Boardwalk Buffet when accompanied by a paying adult. When you're not exploring the theme parks, you can take advantage of our two seasonally heated swimming pools and Ozzie's Splash Zone, a splash pad designed with kids in mind.
Come see what makes Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista the ideal choice for your next Disney trip with your family.
