Choosing Rides for Your Child's First Trip to Disneyland: Things to Consider

Does your child have experience riding amusement rides?

There are local fairs, country fairs, amusement parks, and theme parks all over the world. If your child has been to many other attractions and has ridden dark rides, spinners, and roller coasters and has responded well to those rides, you may want to be more careful in choosing the perfect ride for their first WDW experience.

How long is the wait?

The wait times for various rides can range from zero to several hours. For your first ride, it is best to choose a ride with a short wait time. Long waits can make children more nervous and put the whole family in a bad mood, which reduces the fun of the entire ride.

How long does the trip take?

The high-flying Barnstormer ride lasts just 21 seconds. The equally challenging Big Thunder Railroad lasts about two and a half minutes. WDW has several rides that last more than ten minutes (Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, it's a small world, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure among them). If you're concerned about your child's reaction to a particular ride, a shorter option might be better. On the other hand, a longer ride might result in a kid-friendly ride that leaves fond memories, or it might inspire boredom or frustration. Only you know how long your child's attention span can sustain.

Can I see the bus route in advance?

Some children are skeptical of any new experience that they cannot fully evaluate ahead of time. For such children, options such as Dumbo, Teacups, Carousel, Slinky Dog Rush, Alien Spinning Saucers, or Aladdin's Magic Carpets may provide peace of mind and a better overall experience, as these options are fully visible from the space outside the ride.

Do you want to take a photo of your first ride?

For many holidaymakers, a child's first experience on an attraction has to be well documented – whether for the family album or for social media. If you want to take a great photo of the first attraction, you need to choose one with good lighting, bright colours and not too fast movement. It's a Small World is a classic that meets all of these criteria.

How are the seats configured?

I believe part of my sister's aversion to Space Mountain has to do with the configuration of the ride. On Space Mountain, riders sit in a line rather than sitting next to a companion, making you feel like you're on your own. Avatar Flight of Passage has a similar “I'm all alone” feel. Even something as seemingly innocuous as a carousel can be problematic, as children will ride alone on the ride even with a parent standing nearby. Consider whether your child's first ride experience would be better if they sat next to one or both parents.

To see what all WDW attraction vehicles look like, check out our Vehicle Guide Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdomand Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Are there any factors that might frighten your child?

Like adults, many children have natural fears and anxieties. They may be afraid of the dark, afraid of heights, and dislike bears, snakes, or dogs. Make sure the first ride you choose won't trigger their aversions. For example, the Peter Pan ride at the Magic Kingdom, while short and gentle, does have a toothy alligator. This ride may be a great first experience for some, but it may be terrible for a child who is afraid of large reptiles.

Does your child have a particular favorite character or Disney IP?

On the positive side of the decision spectrum, children will generally have a positive first-time experience if they already have pleasant associations with certain characters or story elements of an attraction. For example, Ariel fans may have a great first experience at the Magic Kingdom’s Little Mermaid attraction, while Winnie the Pooh fans may enjoy the Winnie the Pooh ride.

What time of day is it? Is your child well rested?

When I'm overtired, I find nothing enjoyable. The same is true for kids. If you want them to have a great first ride, make sure your child is in a state that allows this.

Are there other physical factors to consider?

Is it too hot? Is your child hungry? Do they have medical issues or special needs that need to be addressed? If you don’t behave or feel comfortable on a ride, it’s unrealistic to expect your child to behave differently. If you want to have a great first ride experience, you may want to hold off until all the necessary factors are in place.

Are there emotional factors that need to be considered?

Some families have traditions like this: Dumbo (for example) was the first Disney ride every sibling rode. Or Pirates of the Caribbean was Dad's first attraction, and they want to replicate that experience for the next generation. Sometimes you have to respect family lore.

Do I know what this journey is all about?

To be fair, our first trip to WDW was before the internet, and I don’t think they had any idea what kind of attraction Space Mountain was. That excuse is long gone. YouTube is full of hundreds of videos about every attraction at Disney.

A quick look at possible first rides may avoid some problems. For example, the Little Mermaid ride is otherwise delightful with a giant Ursula, the Jungle Cruise is zany and bright except for one long dark tunnel, and the Frozen ride at EPCOT is a slow water ride with princesses until a snow monster appears and a slide that goes backwards down a hill. These things may not be a problem for some kids, but may be completely off-putting to others.

Did you plan a special first ride for your child, or did they just go straight to the first available ride line? Did their first ride go well or not?