Disney World Height Requirements: Which Rides Can My Child Go On?
Disney posts every height requirement in inches, which is no help at all when you’re standing in Clarks measuring a five-year-old.
Here’s the lot converted into centimetres, plus the thing that matters more than the numbers: how to handle it when a child misses out.
Measure at home, honestly
Measure in the shoes they’ll actually wear, and don’t round up hopefully. Cast members measure at the entrance, and again at the ride if there’s any doubt. A child finding out at the front of a 70-minute queue is genuinely awful, and completely avoidable.
The heights, in centimetres
Under 89cm (35″): there’s still a great deal to do — Dumbo, the Magic Carpets, Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Na’vi River Journey, Frozen Ever After, Spaceship Earth, Toy Story Mania and all the shows have no minimum at all.
| Height | Rides that open up |
|---|---|
| 89cm (35″) | The Barnstormer (Magic Kingdom) |
| 97cm (38″) | Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Slinky Dog Dash, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Kali River Rapids |
| 102cm (40″) | Big Thunder Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Tower of Terror, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Test Track, Soarin’, Mission: SPACE (green) |
| 107cm (42″) | Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind |
| 113cm (44″) | Space Mountain, Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, Mission: SPACE (orange) |
| 122cm (48″) | TRON Lightcycle / Run, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster |
Always double-check in My Disney Experience before you queue. Requirements occasionally change, and rethemed attractions sometimes change with them.
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Caption: Measure at home in the shoes they'll wear — cast members measure at the entrance. — Photo: Jedi94, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The magic numbers
Two heights unlock a disproportionate amount:
97cm opens up Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Slinky Dog Dash — the two family coasters children most want to do.
102cm is the big one. It opens Big Thunder, Tower of Terror, Rise of the Resistance and Test Track in one go, and takes a child from “quite a lot to do” to “most of the park”.
If your child is close to either, it’s genuinely worth considering whether waiting six months changes the trip.
Rider Switch — the thing to know
If one adult has to wait with a child who’s too small, Rider Switch means the second adult rides afterwards without queueing again.
How it works: tell the cast member at the entrance to the queue. One adult rides while the other waits with the child. When the first returns, the second goes straight through the Lightning Lane entrance.
The bit people don’t realise: an older sibling who is tall enough can usually ride twice — once with each parent. Children consider this an enormous win.
It works at every attraction with a height requirement, and it costs nothing.
When a child just misses out
It happens, and it stings. A few things that genuinely help:
Tell them beforehand. Look at the list together before the trip and agree what they’ll do instead. Surprise disappointment is much worse than expected disappointment.
Have a plan B ride ready — “you can’t do that one yet, but we’re going straight on the Barnstormer after.”
Cast members are good at this. Mention it. A sticker, a “come back when you’re this tall” moment, or a bit of attention from a cast member often turns it round completely.
Don’t try to game it. Fluffy shoes, hair up, standing on tiptoes — cast members see it constantly, the check gets repeated at the ride, and being turned away at the front is far worse than being turned away at the entrance. The requirements are about restraint systems fitting properly.
What to do at each park with a small child
Magic Kingdom — by far the most for under-fives. Fantasyland alone will fill a day.
Animal Kingdom — the safari, the trails, Na’vi River Journey and Festival of the Lion King all have no minimum. Very good for little ones.
EPCOT — Frozen Ever After, The Seas with Nemo, Spaceship Earth, Remy’s and the Kidcot stops. More than its reputation suggests.
Hollywood Studios — the hardest with a small child. Toy Story Mania, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and the shows, and not a lot else.
Frequently asked questions
Are height requirements strictly enforced?
Yes. They exist because restraints need to fit properly, and cast members will re-check at the ride if there’s doubt.
Can I carry a child on a ride they’re too short for?
No, under any circumstances.
Does Disney measure in shoes?
Yes, they measure as the child presents — so shoes count. Don’t rely on it, though; thick soles get spotted.
Is there an age minimum as well?
No. Disney uses height rather than age, which is fairer on tall four-year-olds and harder on small seven-year-olds.
What if my child is tall enough but frightened?
Never force it. Use Rider Switch, and let them try something gentler first. There’s no shortage of alternatives.
Next: the app that runs your whole trip — The My Disney Experience App.
