There are many attractions at the Disneyland Resort that are not only appropriate for young children but also much loved by children of all ages. Some of the attractions in the list below may surprise you. Some are rides that our obviously designed for young children but several are more 'adult' rides that Alexander had no problem riding.
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Disneyland
Disneyland Rail Road with stations on Main Street, in New Orleans Square, ToonTown and Tomorrowland is not only fun for children but also a great way to move from place to place while sitting down. Very important when you are on your feet so much.
ToonTown for obvious reasons is very popular with both children and adults. You can find characters all over ToonTown including the homes of both Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The home of the Toons is full of little gags that make children of all ages laugh. Simply touch almost anything in ToonTown and it will make a noise of some sort. The homes of Mickey and Minnie are filled with eye candy and fun things to do. Always visit ToonTown early… the lines for Mickey and Minnie Mouse become very long in the afternoons.
The rides of Fantasyland that are appropriate for children do not have Fastpass and lines can become horribly long. It is best to ride these attractions in the early morning.
It's A Small World is a favorite of children because of the nonstop music, a very catchy tune, and the colors. It is also a very relaxing ride over the water. This attraction is a nice rest for tired feet, and will bring a smile to your child's face. Even if you don't like the ride, are sick of the song, it is worth going on to see how your child reacts.
Storybook Land Canal Boats is another relaxing water ride that will take you through miniature villages of some of your favorite Disney characters.
Casey Junior Circus Train is a very popular ride for the toddler set. While the attraction vehicles can be hard for an adult to fit into, the children love riding this train.
King Arthur's Carousel is a perennial favorite of children and adults alike. This attraction is even more beautiful after dark when it is all lit up. This was Alex's first ride in Disneyland. If you toddler is too young to sit on a horse by them selves you can stand next to them and hold them on. Also there are benches on the carousel that you can sit on and hold your baby.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant is an attraction that flies in the air as you sit in a ride vehicle that looks like Dumbo. This is a short ride that young children absolutely love.
The Mad Tea Party is a ride that spins as you sit in a teacup. You can control how fast or slow you spin, and it does have motion sickness warnings. It is a favorite of children and adults alike.
The Dark rides of Fantasyland: Snow White's Scary Adventures, Peter Pan's Flight, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Pinocchio's Daring Journey and Alice in Wonderland are all rides that take place in an enclosed area. Some children absolutely loves these rides, while others are terrified of them. If your child panics during the first ride, it may be best to skip the others until your child is older.
If your child is 3 or older and at least 35 inches tall, he or she can ride the Matterhorn. Use your own judgment on this one, as it is a fast moving roller coaster ride, and may scare 3 year old. Others may love the speed with which this coaster flies over the tracks. Tomorrowland currently has one ride for a young child with a second one opening this spring that has no age or height restrictions.
Currently open is Autopia, a ride toddlers love for many reasons. A child must be 52 inches tall in order to drive the car, but can be a passenger at any age. The lines for this attraction can be very long, so be sure to take advantage of Fastpass.
How to use Disney Fastpasses
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is a new attraction opening this spring. This ride promises to be full of color and excitement, and since it is not open yet, there is no information on what age children like it best. Since the goal of the ride is to become a Junior Ranger, it will probably be great for older children, teens, and adults, but has no restrictions on it at this time. New attractions always have huge crowds, so be sure to take advantage of Fastpass on this attraction as well.
How to use Disney Fastpasses
(2005 Update) - Do not miss Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters if you have a Toddler. This is now Alex's favorite ride at age 2 ¾. It uses buggies like the Haunted Mansion and will seat 2 adults and a toddler but there are only 2 'guns'. Alex preferred his own gun so we ended up usually taking turns riding with him. Unlike the Haunted Mansion there is a lever that rotates the buggy which I always let Alex control. Highly recommended for Toddlers!
Adventureland has one attraction that we find suitable for babies and toddlers, while others feel that very young children should not be on this attraction. Pirates of the Caribbean is a water ride with lively music and scenes to attract attention. At 14 months old, our son fell asleep amid the ruckus of this attraction. At 21 months, he loved it, and smiled all the way through. Give this attraction a shot with your child for a nice long ride that allows you to sit and take a break.
The Jungle Cruise, also in Adventureland is a great attraction for young and old alike. Corny jokes please the adults, the scenes during the ride please adults and children.
New Orleans Square is the home of one of Disneyland's most loved attractions. The Haunted Mansion is another one that some people feel a young child should not be riding. Once again, at 14 months old, our son fell asleep on this ride. At 21 months old he loved it, as he was very familiar with the music from the Disney Sing Along Songs, Disneyland Fun video, which he watches nightly. Grim Grinning Ghosts is one of his favorite songs, and this attraction does not scare him at all.
Disney's Sing Along Songs: Disneyland Fun - It's a Small World
Critter Country houses the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction, which children love and many adults love to hate. The attraction vehicle is a honey pot, and you ride through a dream sequence that Pooh has. This is a fantastic ride to use while another adult in your group does single rider on Splash Mountain since children need to be 40 inches tall for that perennial favorite.
Disneyland Single Rider/Baby Swap
Disney's California Adventure
Hollywood Pictures Backlot has the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage show which the younger children, babies and toddlers alike just love. This show features Bear, from Bear in the Big Blue House, Stanley and Rolie Polie Olie. When the show ends, bubbles fall from the ceiling to the delight of all the children present.
Also in the Backlot is Disney Animation, which is great whether you are young or old. With several rooms, each with a different form of entertainment, young children will probably enjoy the main room best, where Disney videos are show and characters may appear.
Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D is a show loved my adults who grew up with the Muppets, and by children first meeting them. This show does have some loud noises, so if sudden noise scares your toddler or baby, you may want to hold of on this one.
The Golden State Grizzly Peak area is home to the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, which gives children the opportunity to run around an exercise. For the older children, there are rope swings and rock walls to climb, ropes to climb to reach the top of the fort, a cave, and a tunnel slide. For the younger set, there are small slides in an area with a soft ground surface in case of falls. In this area your child can play in water, go into the small cave, do the slide or just run around. If you have a toddler or baby and two adults, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is also great to facilitate the adults riding the attractions. Leaving an adult with a child while the other rides the rides works out great for us, and other parents.
Disneyland Single Rider/Baby Swap
A Bugs Land is home to Flik's Fun Fair, the major young child ride area of California Adventure. Please note though, that while this area is full of rides for children, there are height restrictions on some.
Tuck and Roll's Drive 'em Buggies is one ride that requires your child to be 42 inches to ride and 48 inches to drive the attraction vehicle. This attraction is a bumper car ride that children love.
Princess Dot Puddle Park is an area to simply get wet. If your child is in diapers, a swim diaper is a good idea here.
Francis' Ladybug Boogie is another spinning ride that children love. If your child loves to spin until dizzy, this is the ride for him or her! This is similar to the teacup ride at Disneyland.
Flik's Flyers is a ride similar to Dumbo at Disneyland. If your child likes one, then the other will also be loved.
Heimlich's Chew Chew Train is a child sized train, and a very short ride. While the scenery is cute, the attraction is very quick.
Also in A Bugs Land is the 3D film It's Tough To Be A Bug. This can be quite scary for adults and children alike. If you are terrified of bugs, stay away from this one!
While Paradise Pier seems to me mainly for adults, there are some attractions here that toddlers will love.
King Triton's Carousel is another merry-go-round, but instead of riding horses, you will be on a fish of some sort. This is one of those attractions that is great anytime, but beautiful at night when the lights are on.
Golden Zephyr is another flying ride, but on this attraction there are up to 12 people in the attraction vehicle.
Most toddlers are unable to ride Jumpin' Jellyfish because of the height requirement of 40 inches. If your child can ride, this is an attraction that goes 40 feet straight up, and slowly comes back down.
The Sun Wheel is a Ferris Wheel with a twist. Some of the cars will swing. When queuing for this ride, get in the line for the swinging car, or the stationary car. Since the attraction vehicles are enclosed there are no minimum requirements on this attraction.
The S. S. Rustworthy is an area in which your children will get very wet. They can run, play with little cannons, and make lots of noise all while getting soaked. A swim diaper is definitely a good idea for this attraction.