Best Rides for Toddlers at Epcot and Hollywood Studios

Looking for the best rides and attractions for toddlers at both Epcot and Hollywood Studios? You’ve come to the right place! Today we will guide you through all of our tips for having a magical Disney vacation with your toddler.

Taking toddlers to Disney World is one of life’s greatest joys and also can be one of life’s biggest frustrations! Between toddlers being small, nap time, and the uncertainty of how they will respond to certain events and characters, our biggest tip is this: BE FLEXIBLE. Relax, remember that you are at the happiest place on earth, and go with the flow!

A few disclaimers:

1. We are considering toddlers to be approximately age 2-4 (preschool age)
2. Our goal is to give you a good base of what to explore in Epcot and Hollywood Studios with your toddler. This is not an extensive list but this gives you an excellent starting point.
3. You know your child best. Read the pros and cons list carefully and use your best judgment. For example, if your child is extremely scared of the dark, you may want to avoid a particular ride even though our suggestion is to try it.

Best Rides for Toddlers at Epcot

Epcot is a great place to visit with your preschooler! Epcot has a more low-key feel than the Magic Kingdom and has some gems hidden in it that your toddler will love. Let’s jump in!

Frozen Ever After

Pros: Probably THE most popular attraction at Epcot for not only toddlers, but for everyone. It is imperative that you FastPass+ or Rope Drop this one or you will be standing in line for a LONG TIME. This attraction is a calm, beautifully designed boat ride with one VERY minor “drop.”  

Cons:  Perfect in every way!

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

Pros: Easy, fun boat ride at the Mexico Pavilion in the World Showcase. Think of a modern version of “It’s a Small World” that stars Donald Duck and The Three Caballeros.

Cons: Absolutely nothing!

The Seas With Nemo and Friends

Pros: Sitting in your “clamobile” you are searching for Nemo with Dory and Marlin. Very kid friendly and fun! As the ride concludes, it deposits you into the SeaBase aquarium where your toddler will enjoy looking at the fish, mammals and crustaceans in a 200 foot diameter, 27 foot deep tank! It may be hard to get your preschooler to leave this area as it truly is amazing.

Cons: Some scenes are dark and there are some sharks that are a bit frightening but we would say nothing to get worried about, especially if your child is familiar with Finding Nemo.

Turtle Talk With Crush

Pros: This interactive animated film with the 153 year old surfer dude is great fun for your toddler! Crush will actually have a conversation with guests! It is pretty amazing for both adults and kids.

Cons: If you are older like Dave, you get intimidated that a 153 year old turtle can remain so “cool”.  Other than that, no worries whatsoever!

Spaceship Earth

Pros: One of the big reasons for going on this attraction is because kids love the fact they are going into this big ball.  The attraction is a slow moving history lesson that will probably lose your child, but the visual elements should keep them engaged enough to not be completely bored.

Cons: No Mickey, no Minnie, and no typical Disney characters can make this a “skip it” if it’s only your child’s happiness you are after.

Journey Into Imagination With Figment

Pros: This fast moving attraction gets some bad reviews by people but we have always enjoyed it!  Except for the few cons below, we feel it’s a great must do with your toddler, especially if she is on the older side.

Cons: Loud noises and some very surprising moments are found on this attraction.

Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival

Pros: A wonderful 18 minute experience featuring 3 short films and in-theater effects.

Cons: These films can actually be found on-line, but the atmosphere is part of the experience.  

Toddlers and Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios – where we find Toy Story Land! We love spending time at Hollywood Studios and there is plenty there that your toddler will enjoy.

Toy Story Midway Mania!

Pros:  A 3D carnival game ride where each guest uses a pull-string “shooter’ to toss digital objects at the on screen targets. Fun for children even if they aren’t interested in pulling the shooter. The queue is fun as well, so standing in line is pretty enjoyable.

Cons: This attraction jerks around a bit so not necessarily a gentle ride.

Beauty and The Beast – Live on Stage

Pros: Broadway musical version of the movie in an open-air amphitheater.  Great songs, costumes and theatrical surprises.  Very enjoyable 25 minute performance that the whole family will enjoy.

Cons: Make sure your kids have seen the movie (the play closely resembles the animated version) before you go.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Pros: A “midway” style ride that spins like the Mad Tea Party.  Cute, bright and kids love it.

Cons: Keep in mind that this attraction has a 32 inch height requirement. You can find a Disney attractions height chart here. This ride can also cause motion sickness – parents, beware!

Slinky Dog Dash

Pros:  A kiddie roller coaster ride sitting in Slinky Dog from Toy Story.  

Cons: A 38 inch height requirement and and thrill ride tolerance needs to be taken into consideration.

Muppet Vision 3D

Pros: This is a 3-D vision 15 minute show which features all the Muppets.

Cons: Some of the 3D effects can get pretty “real” for the kids. Loud sounds and surprises can be a bit overwhelming. If you are interested in this show do your research before going to make your best judgment.

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

Pros: 10 minute show centered on Lightning McQueen with great animatronics in an impressive theater.

Cons: Nothing! As Lightning McQueen says “Lets do this thing!”

Disney Junior Dance Party!

Pros: Live people/characters and animation combine for a fun interactive experience! This 25 minute dance party and sing along has characters such as Doc McStuffins, Timon, Vampirina, and Mickey.

Cons: This is a pretty tame experience.

Our hope is that you now have a good idea of what to do at Epcot and Hollywood Studios with your toddler. Keep these ideas in mind as you make your plan, and you are off to a great start!

If you have not read our post on what to do in the Magic Kingdom with your toddler head there! We recommend spending two days in the Magic Kingdom and getting the full Disney experience there.

Obviously visit the other parks (we have tips for visiting Animal Kingdom with toddlers here), but because we are all on limited time at Disney, prioritize the Magic Kingdom if you are visiting with toddlers.

You may want to check out Disney attractions height chart to see if there are any additional attractions you want to consider – especially if you have kids on the taller side. Along with knowing the height requirements, we have additional tips for having a fun Disney vacation with your toddler here.

We love dressing our kids in Disney clothes while we are at Walt Disney World – be sure to check out our round up of our favorite clothes for toddler girls! We have a cute Minnie sweatshirt with ears for chilly weather and the cutest tutu outfit for your littlest princess!