Disney World Ride Height Requirements 101 – Know before you go if your little one will come up short!

There is nothing worse than planning an exciting trip to Disney World, arriving and then realizing your child is too short to ride some of the classic attractions, due to height requirements. This dilemma has the potential to ruin your (and your child’s) day. Before you go, do your homework, so that your family can have realistic expectations.

35” – In general terms, this size child would be about 3 years old. Basically, any attraction with a height requirement would be off limits for your child, with one exception, The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. Besides being visually appealing, this is the only roller coaster in Walt Disney World designed specifically for children. You and your child can ride together.

38” – Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park is the next step up for your child, with a height requirement of 38 inches. This is an attraction for the entire family. Beware, you will get (very) wet on this fun boat ride through the Chakranadi River!

40” – At this height, a whole new world (pardon the pun) opens up for your child! At Magic Kingdom, your youngster can experience Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Stitch’s Great Escape. In Epcot’s Future World, your child can ride Soarin’ and Test Track. Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, they can have fun on Star Tours and Tower of Terror, and at Animal Kingdom, your child can experience Dinosaur. From personal experience, I can tell you, these attractions scare some adults, so consider your child’s maturity level before riding.

44” – By now, your child should be 5 or 6 years old, on average. Mission: Space at Epcot, a motion simulator ride to Mars, and Expedition Everest at the Animal Kingdom, a roller coaster, are exciting and educational attractions for the whole family, but beware of motion sickness.

48” – Your child can now experience Sum of All Thrills, a motion simulator where you design your own roller coaster before riding. Tip: Help them with the design so it’s not too much for their maturity level. At Animal Kingdom, they can ride Primeval Whirl, a “wild mouse” coaster with lots of twists and turns. Tip: This attraction is more fun with a group, so get the whole family involved. Over at Hollywood Studios, your child can ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, a roller coaster with a quick start! Disney’s two water parks have some height requirements also. At 48”, your child can ride Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach and Humunga Kowabunga at Typhoon Lagoon.

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51” – At this point, your child can experience almost anything they’re willing to. Over at DisneyQuest, an indoor video theme park located at Downtown Disney, there are height requirements for Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blaster (not to be confused with the Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom-no height requirement) and Cyberspace Mountain.

If you don’t see an attraction listed here, then your child is ok to ride!