WDW Ride Considerations: Heights, Motion Sickness, & More

 Planning your next trip to Walt Disney World with young children? It's important to keep height restrictions and ride intensity in mind!

There are PLENTY of rides in all four WDW parks that are suitable for children (and adults) of all ages. However, for safety, some rides have height restrictions that may keep members of your group from riding. Disney is strict about height requirements (which is good, because they are keeping YOUR safety in mind). If your 43" child wants to ride an attraction that requires riders to be 44" tall, it's best to prepare them that they will not be able to ride this trip (but maybe by the next visit, they will be tall enough).

Some families choose to "divide and conquer," while others take advantage of the Rider Swap program (allowing a member of your group to stay behind with those who cannot ride, then they can take their turn to ride after you have exited the attraction, rather than waiting in the full queue again). 

Another consideration-- motion sickness! Rides range from low to high intensity-- some are even 3D. If a member of your group is sensitive to motion or speed, you may want to opt out of some of WDW's more intense thrills.

Height Restrictions

Magic Kingdom

• Tomorrowland Speedway 32"
• The Barnstormer 35"
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 38"
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 40"
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure 40"
• Space Mountain 44"
• TRON Lightcycle Run 48"

Animal Kingdom

• Kali River Rapids 38"
• Avatar Flight of Passage 44"
• Expedition Everest 44"

Epcot

• Mission: SPACE 40"
• Soarin’ Around the World 40"
• Test Track 40"
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind 42"

Hollywood Studios

• Alien Swirling Saucers 32"
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run 38"
• Slinky Dog Dash 38"
• Star Tours: The Adventure Continues 40"
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance 40"
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 40"
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster 48"

Rider Switch

What is it?

Rider Switch (also called Child Swap) is a FREE service offered at many WDW attractions with height requirements. Rider Switch allows adults in a group to take turns riding without waiting in line twice when a member of your travel group cannot/does not want to ride.

How Does it work?

1. Approach Cast Member at the attraction entrance with your entire group and let them know you’d like to use Rider Switch.
2. The Cast Member will issue a Rider Switch pass to the adult waiting with the non-rider, which will allow them to enjoy the ride later with a designated number of additional guests (up to 2).
3. The first group rides while the second group waits.
4. When the first group is done riding, the adult using the Rider Switch pass can enter the attraction via the Lightning Lane entrance to enjoy the ride as well!

For rides using Lightning Lane, all Rider Swap participants are required to have an eligible Lightning Lane prior to riding.

LOW

Motion Sickness Intensity

LOW

EPCOT:

• Living with the Land
• Grand Fiesta Tour
• Spaceship Earth

ANIMAL KINGDOM:

• Na’vi River Journey
• Wildlife Express Train

MAGIC KINGDOM:

• Haunted Mansion
• It’s a Small World
• Jungle Cruise
• Peoplemover
• Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• WDW Railroad

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:

• All shows

Medium

EPCOT:

• Mission: SPACE Green
• Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Soarin’
• Frozen Ever After

ANIMAL KINGDOM:

• Kilimanjaro Safari

MAGIC KINGDOM:

• Big Thunder Mountain RR
• Prince Charming Carousel
• Dumbo
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pirates of Caribbean
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:

• Slinky Dog Dash
• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Toy Story Mania
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
• Star Wars: Rise of Resist.
• M & M Runaway Railway

HIGH

EPCOT:

• Remy’s
• Mission: SPACE Orange
• Guardians: Cosmic Rewind
• Test Track

ANIMAL KINGDOM:

• Expedition Everest
• Flight of Passage
• Kali River Rapids

MAGIC KINGDOM:

• Astro Orbitors
• Mad Tea Party
• Space Mountain
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• TRON Lightcycle Run
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:

• Star Tours
• Tower of Terror
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster