Disneyland in California is the original Disney theme park and is very popular with West Coast families as well as Disney fans. Although I live in Massachusetts, I still like to visit Walt's original park. It offers a wide variety of rides and attractions, including some with no height requirement that are great for younger kids. In fact, some of these attractions are best for the youngest kids.
If you are planning a Disneyland vacation with kids, you'll want to be prepared before you go. Knowing in advance which rides have no height restrictions is a great way to prepare your kids for disappointment. I always feel bad when I see kids eager to ride when they are just an inch or so too short.
Here's a list of all of the Disneyland rides (at both parks) with no height requirement. We've also included non-ride attractions, including shows. Keep in mind that the height requirement is just one consideration. Some of these rides are dark and can be scary, so think specifically about your kids before riding.
Disclosure: We've received some complimentary admissions to Disneyland, but have also paid our own way for most trips. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
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Disneyland Rides With No Height Requirement
Disneyland Park
Disneyland Park is the original Disney theme park and offers many great options for families with young kids. While Fantasyland is the land of the park with the most options for young kids, there are rides throughout the park with no height requirement.
King Arthur Carrousel: A traditional carousel, located in Fantasyland. It's currently closed for refurbishment.
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room: Another classic show that was always a family favorite when I was little.
Adventureland Treehouse, inspired by Walt Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson: A huge treehouse that can be explored at your own pace.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters: A fun ride into the world of Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, where you shoot targets to score points. Very young kids can ride but may not understand or participate in the game's elements.
Astro Orbitor: This Tomorrowland attraction features a spinning motion similar to that of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Unlike the Walt Disney World version, this one has its entrance on the ground level.
Mark Twain Riverboat: A paddleboat that is one of the original 1955 attractions.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: A great option for little kids, this gentle dark ride features Winnie the Pooh and Friends.
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway: A new ride that has quickly become one of my favorites. Travel with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy on a runaway train. It has a few jerky movements, but there aren't any real scary elements.
Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes: Paddle a 20-person real canoe with guidance from your castmember guides. Small children are required to wear life jackets.
Casey Jr. Circus Train: Located in Fantasyland, this ride takes you through mini sets of popular Disney movie scenes (the same ones you'll see in the Storybook Land Canal Boats).
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island: Explore this island inspired by the world of Mark Twain's novels at your own pace.
Alice in Wonderland: A gentle dark ride that is great for little ones. It's such a classic.
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: This iconic dark ride is one of the original 1955 attractions. The story is a bit unusual and may be a little scary for little ones.
Storybook Land Canal Boats: A gentle, 12-person boat ride through mini sets of some popular Disney movie scenes (the same ones you'll see on the Casey Jr. Circus Train).
Jungle Cruise: This is an easy, gentle boat ride, but very young kids won't understand the corny jokes
Disneyland Railroad: This ride is both fun and functional, taking you from one part of the park to another. It's a must-do with little ones.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant: An absolute classic that my kids loved right from the beginning.
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin: A dark ride where you travel in cabs through the world of
Snow White's Enchanted Wish: A dark ride through the world of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Pinocchio's Daring Journey: A dark ride through Pinocchio's story.
Haunted Mansion: The ride mechanism is appropriate for kids, but the theme is likely scary for young kids.
Pirates of the Caribbean: This ride features boats and includes dark, scary elements for little ones, such as cannon fire and a small drop.
Peter Pan's Flight: Another Fantasyland classic that is extremely popular. Get a Lightning Lane or plan to arrive at rope drop.
Sailing Ship Columbia: A 15-minute boat voyage around the Pirates' Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage: An undersea submarine ride through the world of Finding Nemo.
"it's a small world": The Happiest Cruise That Ever Sailed features hundreds of dancing and singing animatronics and is a Disney classic.
Mad Tea Party: This spinning teacup ride is one of the original 1955 rides. It's the same as the Walt Disney World ride, but it is uncovered.
Disney's California Adventure
Adjacent to Disneyland park is Disney's California Adventure. It features both thrill and mild rides. Pixar Pier, especially, is a great stop for families with little kids.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!: A new live stage show featuring Mickey Mouse and friends.
Golden Zephyr: This is a spinning ride, similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant, but with a larger ride vehicle.
Pixar Pal-A-Round – Non-Swinging and Swinging: This Ferris wheel has both traditional cars and swinging cars. The swinging cars are a bit more of a thrill ride, so start with the traditional cars first. There are separate lines.
Turtle Talk with Crush: This live, interactive show features Crush, the turtle from Finding Nemo. It's a big hit with kids, and a great opportunity to cool down and rest.
Jessie's Critter Carousel: A traditional carousel featuring Jessie from Toy Story and some desert-themed critters.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: An explore-on-your-own trail with various climbing adventures. Some of these do have height restrictions.
The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure: A dark ride through the storyline of The Little Mermaid. Ursula does make an appearance, so keep that in mind if you have a child afraid of her (I did!).
Mickey's PhilharMagic: A family-friendly 3-D concert movie that could be scary to kids who are afraid of loud noises or the dark.
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind: A mild spinning ride themed as Riley's emotions and imagination.
Toy Story Midway Mania!: Another one of my favorites, where you'll put on 3D glasses and try your luck at carnival-style games. Young kids won't necessarily understand the game mechanism, and the scenes aren't clear unless you are wearing the 3D glasses.
Animation Academy: Learn how to draw a popular Disney character with one of Disneyland's animators.
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure: In this ride at Avengers Campus, you'll help Spider-Man defeat the spider bots by slinging webs.
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!: A dark ride where you travel through the storyline of Monsters Inc, as they send Boo back home to safety.
What are your child's favorite attractions with no height restrictions?
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