We recently visited Disneyland with two little ones, ages three and six. We only wanted to do one day in each park (Disneyland and California Adventure), so I interviewed a “Disneyland expert” to make sure our kids experienced the best of the best in such a short stay. These are the best Disneyland rides for toddlers and children under 8, according to the expert (well, and us of course).
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Katie Restrepo is who I call one of the Disneyland experts. She is a family travel blogger and true Disney fanatic, who could tell you every Disney hack that you want to know. Her blog says it all, and then some, for visiting Disneyland with toddlers and young children.
My best tip if you want your Disneyland vacation to center around rides is to prepare your kid for the rides. You can watch videos of the rides on YouTube, read books that center around the rides or characters, and even go to local fairs to “practice” going on similar theme park rides.
~ Katie Restrepo, Family Travel Blogger
This is a great trip that I should have followed sooner myself. It proved to be helpful for our six-year-old son who was so scared after Indiana Jones and the Matterhorn. But after my husband watched videos with him of “scary rides,” he felt much better and was excited to brave the rides at California Adventure the next day.
When you’re done with these lists, read my experts’ tips for visiting Disneyland, including the best foods, how to save money, and how to keep your little ones happy and safe. Six of the Disney pros gave me all the hacks!
Table of Contents
- Top Disneyland Rides for Toddlers (and Preschoolers, Under 4)
- Top Disney’s California Adventure Rides and Attractions for Toddlers
- Best Disneyland Rides for Children Under 8
- What NOT To Go On
- Top California Adventure Rides for 4-7 Year Olds
Top Disneyland Rides for Toddlers (and Preschoolers, Under 4)
Peter Pan is a popular family favorite. But I don’t understand how so many Disneyland rides like this one are dark and loud. I don’t think our three-year-old would do these unless she was obsessed with the movies. Maybe.
So this list is catered to those toddlers (I would think most toddlers) who don’t like dark, loud rides.
If your child is noise-sensitive, bring noise-cancellation headphones and wear them during any indoor ride where it gets dark and loud.”
~ Katie Restrepo, Family Travel Blogger
- The Carousel (this line doesn’t get too crazy, but of course it’s what my daughter chose to jump on first after “rope drop”, I just had to laugh, a girl wants what a girl wants
- Casey Junior Circus Train… Katie @famtravelfolio says “trains and boats usually go over very well, there are lots of things to look at and fun music” in regards to “non-scary” recommendations I asked her for
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (popular ride with a long wait, but may also be dark at times?)
- It’s a Small World
- Meet Mickey and Minnie in ToonTown
- Goofy’s How to Play Yard in ToonTown (there is a separate area in the back for those two and under)
- Mad Tea Party (the teacups!) – our daughter’s favorite…my head’s still spinning after we did it over and over
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a newer ride in ToonTown at Disneyland. You’re immersed in a cartoon world on a runaway train adventure. It is a trackless vehicle that moves around, but not too fast.”
~ Katie
Top Disney’s California Adventure Rides and Attractions for Toddlers
(and Preschoolers, Under 4):
- Toy Story Mania
- Mater’s Jamboree
- Little Mermaid
- The Carousel
- Meet Anna, Elsa and/or Olaf at Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Our three-year-old liked Jumpin’ Jellyfish enough to ride it twice, but the reviews online aren’t great. Inside Out’s Emotional Whirlwind reviews are better, but we didn’t try it.
She and I actually got a kick out of Turtle Talk with Crush from Finding Nemo, which was a funny, interactive show in an indoor theater. The turtle is playful with the audience with his silly jokes and questions, almost like a great stand-up comedian. I think I liked it more than she did, actually- a cute and entertaining break from the madness outside.
She loved meeting Elsa afterwards right outside of the theater at Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome. Both this and Turtle Talk are in the Animation Building at Hollywood Land. There are no advanced reservations needed, but there was a long wait to meet Elsa at the peak of the day around 2pm. For Crush we just waited the 15 minutes before the next show started, which is about every half hour.
I’ll never forget our Ella blowing kisses to Elsa as we walked away. I was proud of her waiting 50 minutes to see her. She said she didn’t mind waiting and she was right.
While waiting in line, we enjoyed our little snacks and cuddling as we watched clips of my favorite Disney classics (and maybe her soon to be favorites, too). I’d forgotten how much I lived in this Disney world as a young girl. #nostalgic
Best Disneyland Rides for Children Under 8
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad (no height requirement)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (no height requirement)
- Rise of the Resistance and Smuggler’s Run (for Star Wars fans)
- Indiana Jones (our six year old was scared of this!)
- Space Mountain (our boy was too traumatized to ride this after riding Indiana Jones)
- Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster (our family favorite)
- Goofy’s How to Play Yard in Toon Town
- Thunder Mountain Railroad (our son’s favorite)
Pirates of the Caribbean has two small drops that we call “slides,” so it’s nothing crazy. The drops give your kid a confidence boost, and then they can relax on the boat and enjoy the fascinating pirate adventure.”
~ Katie Restrepo, Family Travel Blogger
What NOT To Go On
What to avoid?
I have mixed thoughts on Finding Nemo’s Submarine Voyage. It’s a cute concept but we weren’t crazy about it. Our youngest was crying. We got it – we wanted out of that submarine just as bad as she did after five minutes of stuffy claustrophobia. Never again. But I am laughing still.
Top California Adventure Rides for 4-7 Year Olds
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Incredicoaster
- Soarin’
- Toy Story Mania
- Spider-Man Webslingers
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Our six-year-old actually loved almost all of the rides at Disney’s California Adventure. He did Incredicoaster and Radiator Springs Racers multiple times.
They both didn’t want to leave Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, a free play “forest” where they could climb, zip, slide, and adventure. Thanks for the rec, Katie!
Here is a more in-depth, printable list of the rides in the parks that Katie Restrepo created. Her list even has color-coded height requirements, so helpful!
The list makes it easier to glance at what you can and can’t do with younger kids, and it’s fun for them to check off rides as you go…”
~ Katie Restrepo @famtravelfolio
You can’t possibly get everything in at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. But hopefully these lists will help you get your priorities straight!
Really, the top Disneyland attractions for little ones were the ones that we all got to do together. Our favorite family ride in Disneyland was Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster, albeit too quick of a ride after too long of a line. Our favorite family ride in Disney’s California Adventure was…
Soarin’!!!
But are you at all surprised that this globe-trotting family liked ‘seeing the world’ on Soarin’ more than anything else in Disneyland?
To get the most out of your next Disneyland trip (and save some money), read my tips for visiting Disneyland, according to experts.
Also, contact me for 10% off admission tickets, as I have a discount code depending on the time of year.
