Choosing Your Child’s First Disney World Ride: Things to Consider

Taking your child on their first trip to Walt Disney World is a milestone moment for many families. A key part of that milestone is selecting which Disney ride will be their first.

During my initial trip to Walt Disney World, the first ride my family went on was Space Mountain. I was 10 years old at the time and this was my first real roller coaster. I’m prone to motion sickness so this was not my ideal way to start a vacation, but was able to quickly recover and move on to enjoy the rest of the visit. My sister was five years old and this was also her first roller coaster. Rather than experiencing the ride as mildly unsettling as I did, she experienced it with abject terror. She became convinced that every ride would be frighting and subsequently screamed prior to every attraction that was not fully visible from the start.

While Space Mountain was obviously a problematic first Disney World attraction choice for my five-year-old sister, it might be the perfect first ride for someone older, or with more amusement park experience, or who had been better prepared for what to expect.

Here are some things to think about as you choose your child’s first Walt Disney World ride.

How old is your child?

There is obviously a huge difference between choosing a first ride for a baby versus choosing a first ride for a tween. Not least among your concerns is the rides’ posted height requirements. But beyond that, age often comes with emotional maturity. In the example above, neither my sister nor I loved Space Mountain, but because I was older, I was better able to regulate my emotions and logically process that not all rides would have the same characteristics.

Another thing to consider is that below the age of about 18 months, a child’s reaction to a ride may more influenced by your demeanor and the general sounds and colors rather than the full experience of the ride. For example, Haunted Mansion is an all-ages attraction with no minimum height requirement. A ten month old baby might be perfectly content to sit on mom’s knee and watch the silly singing figures. On the other hand, a three year old preschooler might have more awareness that the darkness and skeletons signify “spooky and scary.” Haunted Mansion might be a fine first ride choice for a lap baby, but a disaster for a toddler.

On the other end of the spectrum, choosing a first ride that’s too juvenile might not work for an older elementary age child. Putting a nine year old on Dumbo or it’s a small world as a first attraction might put them in a “Disney is for babies” mindset that could influence their overall perception of your vacation. Something like Pirates of the Caribbean or Big Thunder Railroad might be a better choice for an older child.

Does your child have any experience with rides in general?

There are local expos, county fairs, amusement parks, and theme parks all over the world. If your child has been to many other attraction venues and been on dark rides, spinner, and coasters, and reacted well to these, then you’ll likely need to be less precious about selecting the perfect attraction to be their first WDW experience.

How long is the wait?

Attraction wait times vary from nothing to several hours. A ride with a brief wait time is a better choice for a first ride. A long wait gives more time for a child to develop jitters and can put the entire family in a sour mood, making the ride less enjoyable in general.

How long is the ride?

A ride on Goofy’s Barnstormer lasts just 21 seconds. The similarly challenging Big Thunder Railroad lasts about two and a half minutes. There are several attractions at WDW that last more than ten minutes (among them are Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, it’s a small world, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. If you’re concerned about a child’s reaction to a certain type of ride, then a shorter choice might be better. On the other hand, a long ride might allow a child to amicably settle in to an attraction, creating a fond memory, or it might spur boredom or frustration. Only you know what your child’s attention span can handle.

Is the ride visible in advance?

Some children are skeptical about any new experience that they can’t full assess in advance. For this type of youngster, a choice like Dumbo, the teacups, the carousel, Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, or Magic Carpets of Aladdin, all of which can be fully seen from spaces outside the ride, might provide them some piece of mind leading to a better overall experience.

Do you want a first ride photo op?

For many vacationers, a child’s first ride must be fully documented – either for the family album or for social media. If you want great photos of a first attraction, you’ll want to choose something that is well lit, colorful, and doesn’t move too fast. It’s a small world is a classic that meets all these criteria.

How is the ride seating configured?

I’m convinced that part of my sister’s adverse reaction to Space Mountain had to do with the attraction vehicle configuration. On Space Mountain, guests are seated in a single-file line, not next to their companions, making you feel like you’re riding alone. Avatar Flight of Passage has a similar I’m-on-my-own vibe. Even something as seemingly benign as the carousel could be problematic because a child will alone on a horse, even if a parent is standing nearby. Consider whether your child will have a better first ride experience if they are seated next to one, or both, parents.

To see what all the WDW attraction vehicles look like, consult our vehicle guides to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Are there any fear triggers for your child?

Just like adults, many children come with their own built-in fears and anxieties. Maybe they are afraid of the dark, or wary of heights, or don’t like bears, or snakes, or dogs. Be sure that whatever ride you’re choosing for a first attraction doesn’t trigger one of their aversions. For example, the Magic Kingdom’s Peter Pan attraction is short and mild, but it does feature a toothy crocodile. This ride might be a good first experience for some, but might be awful for a child with a fear of large reptiles.

Does your child have a particular affinity for a specific character or Disney IP?

On the plus side of the decision spectrum, children often have a positive first ride experience if they already have a pleasant association with some character or story element of the attraction. For example, an Ariel fan might have a great first experience on the Magic Kingdom’s Little Mermaid attraction or a Pooh fan might enjoy the Winnie the Pooh ride.

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

Nothing seems enjoyable to me when I’m over tired. This happens with children as well. If you want them to have a great first ride experience, make sure that your child is in a state that allows this.

Are there other physical factors to consider?

Is it too hot out? Is your child hungry? Do they have any medical issues or special needs that need to be addressed? If you wouldn’t be your best self or otherwise comfortable on an attraction, it’s unrealistic to expect that your child would be any different. If you want to have a wonderful first ride experience, then you may want to postpone your attempt until all the necessary ingredients are in place.

Are there sentimental factors to consider?

Some families have traditions where Dumbo (for example) is every sibling’s first Disney ride. Or maybe Pirates of the Caribbean was Dad’s first attraction and they want to replicate that for the next generation. Sometimes you have to honor the family lore.

Do I know what the ride really is?

In fairness to my parents, our first WDW trip was pre-internet and I don’t think they knew what sort of attraction Space Mountain was. That sort of excuse is long gone. There are hundreds of videos of every Disney attraction readily available on YouTube.

Taking a quick look at possible first ride choices might avert some problems. For example, the otherwise cheery Little Mermaid ride features a giant Ursula, the Jungle Cruise is silly and bright except for a long dark tunnel, and the Frozen attraction at EPCOT is a slow water ride with princesses until there’s a snow monster and a backward slide down a hill. Those things might pose no problem for some children and they might totally derail others.

Did you specifically plan your child’s first attraction or did you just hop into the first available queue? Did their first ride go well or poorly?