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Height Requirements for Walt Disney World Rides and Rider Switch Service [Avoid the Tears and Tantrums]

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Height Requirements for Walt Disney World Rides and Rider Switch Service [Avoid the Tears and Tantrums]

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There are more than 50 rides between 4 theme parks and 2 water parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. While plenty of rides don’t have a height requirement — meaning anyone can ride — there are some rides with minimum heights.

Before you go, get an idea of which parks and rides are best for your family when it comes to height requirements. Also, familiarize yourself with Disney’s Rider Switch service, which ensures that adults and big kids alike don’t have to miss out on thrilling rides located throughout the parks.

Here is every attraction at Walt Disney World, along with each attraction’s height requirement and information on taking advantage of the Rider Switch service.

Walt Disney World Height Requirements by Parks

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom Rain
A dozen rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including TriceraTop Spin, don’t have a height requirement. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

The following attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom do not have a height requirement:

  • Affection Section
  • The Boneyard
  • Conservation Station
  • Discovery Island Trails
  • Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
  • It’s Tough to be a Bug!
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • Maharajah Jungle Trek
  • Na’vi River Journey
  • Tree of Life
  • TriceraTop Spin
  • Wildlife Express Train

The following rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom do have a height requirement:

  • Avatar Flight of Passage: 44 inches (112 cm) or taller
  • DINOSAUR: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
  • Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain: 44 inches (113 cm) or taller
  • Kali River Rapids: 38 inches (97 cm) or taller

EPCOT

An image of the the signage in front of EPCOT for Disneyworld's Food and Wine Festival.
EPCOT is home to attractions, festivals, international cuisine at the annual Food and Wine Festival, and more. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

The following attractions at EPCOT do not have a height requirement:

  • Advanced Training Lab
  • The American Adventure
  • Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
  • Impressions de France
  • Journey Into Imagination With Figment
  • Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
  • Living with the Land
  • O Canada!
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • Reflections of China
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Turtle Talk with Crush

The following rides at EPCOT do have height requirements:

  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: 42 inches (107 cm) or taller
  • Mission: SPACE: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
  • Soarin’ Around the World: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
  • Test Track: 40 inches (102cm) or taller
» Related: How To Make Your Next Trip to Disney as “Stress-free” as Possible

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Toy Story Land Disney Hollywood Studios Orlando
Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a 38-inch height requirement. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

The following attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios do not have a height requirement:

  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Muppet*Vision 3D
  • Toy Story Mania!

The following rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios do have a height requirement:

  • Alien Swirling Saucers: 32 inches (81 cm) or taller
  • Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run: 38 inches (97 cm) or taller
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
  • Slinky Dog Dash: 38 inches (97 cm) or taller
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller

Magic Kingdom Park

Disney Boutique
Magic Kingdom Park has the most kid-friendly attractions in all of Disney World. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

The following attractions at Magic Kingdom Park do not have a height requirement:

  • Astro Orbiter
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
  • Country Bear Jamboree
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Enchanted Tales with Belle
  • Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
  • The Hall of Presidents
  • Haunted Mansion
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Liberty Square Riverboat
  • Mad Tea Party
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic
  • Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • A Pirate’s Adventure ~ Treasure of the Seven Seas
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
  • Swiss Family Treehouse
  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
  • Tom Sawyer Island
  • Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid
  • Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
  • Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
  • Walt Disney World Railroad

The following rides at Magic Kingdom Park do have a height requirement:

  • The Barnstormer: 35 inches (89 cm) or taller
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: 38 inches (97 cm) or taller
  • Space Mountain: 44 inches (113 cm) or taller
  • Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
  • Tomorrowland Speedway: 54 inches (117 cm) or taller
  • TRON Lightcycle / Run: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
» Related: How To Visit Disney World for Cheap by Using Points & Miles [2024]

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

Blizzard Beach Water Park is 1 of 2 water parks at Disney World Orlando FL.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park will close for refurbishment on March 17, 2024. Image Credit: Disney

The following Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park attractions do not have a height requirement:

  • Cross Country Creek
  • Melt-Away Bay
  • Runoff Rapids
  • Ski Patrol Training Camp
  • Snow Stormers
  • Teamboat Springs
  • Toboggan Racers

The following Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park ride do have a height requirement:

  • Chairlift: 32 inches (82 cm) or taller
  • Downhill Double Dipper: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
  • Slush Gusher: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
  • Summit Plummet: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
  • Tike’s Peak: 48 inches (122 cm) or shorter

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

The Bay Slides attraction at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will reopen on March 17, 2024. Image Credit: Disney

The following attractions at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park do not have a height requirement:

  • Castaway Creek
  • Gangplank Falls
  • Keelhaul Falls
  • Mayday Falls
  • Miss Adventure Falls
  • Storm Slides
  • Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool

The following rides at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park do have a height requirement:

  • Bay Slides: 60 inches (152 cm) or taller
  • Crush ‘n’ Gusher: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
  • Humunga Kowabunga: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
  • Ketchakiddee Creek: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller

Rider Switch Service

Tron height requirement Disney World
Rider Switch is available at TRON Lightcycle / Run for those adults who may need to stay behind with smaller children. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

You don’t have to miss out if your group includes visitors who are too small or not willing to ride a particular ride. When traveling with smaller visitors, you can switch with another adult in your party through the free Rider Switch service.

The Rider Switch service allows you to wait with someone who doesn’t meet the height requirement, or who otherwise doesn’t want to go on a particular ride, and then switch with another person in your party after they ride an attraction next without waiting in line.

To use Rider Switch, your entire party will approach a cast member at that attraction and let them know that you’d like a Ride Switch entitlement. At least 1 adult member and anyone else in your party who is not riding will be given the entitlement. They will be designated as Party 2 and will wait in a separate area near the attraction. Once Party 1 returns from the ride, they stay with those visitors who are not going on the ride while Party 2 gets to ride.

Not every ride allows the Rider Switch service at Disney World, and it isn’t available at either water park. Below is a table of every ride that you can use this service at by theme park:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Disney’s Animal Kingdom ParkDisney’s Hollywood StudiosEPCOTMagic KindomPark
  • Avatar Flight of Passage
  • DINOSAUR
  • Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
  • Kali River Rapids
  • Na’vi River Journey
  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind*
  • Mission: SPACE
  • Soarin’
  • Test Track
  • The Barnstormer
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Space Mountain
  • Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
  • TRON Lightcycle / Run

* All Rider Swap participants are required to be in a Virtual Queue boarding group or have an individually purchased Lightning Lane entrance for the attraction prior to boarding.

Final Thoughts

Walt Disney World has more than 4 dozen attractions to choose from across 6 parks. Some of these rides have height requirements, but the majority do not. Thanks to the complimentary Rider Switch service, everyone in your group can ride any ride they meet height requirements for.

Featured Image Credit: Matt Stroshane via Disney

Frequently Asked Questions

How strict are Disney height requirements?

Disney height requirements are strict. You will not be permitted to ride unless you meet the height requirement minimum.

What is the height requirement for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train?

The height requirement for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is 38 inches (97 cm) or taller. This ride is located in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park.

How tall do you have to be to ride the Tower of Terror?

The height requirement for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is 40 inches (102 cm) or taller. This ride is located in Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios.

Is there a height requirement for Haunted Mansion?

There is no height requirement for Haunted Mansion. This attraction is located in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park.

Are Disney rides based on height or age?

Disney rides are not based on age, but on height. Even still, a child’s age and tolerance should be considered before experiencing a ride that they meet the height requirement for.

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About Ashley Onadele

Ashley discovered a love for travel in college that’s continued as her family has grown. She loves showing parents how they can take their families on trips using points and has contributed to numerous publications and podcasts.

Read More

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