The Comprehensive Guide to Walt Disney World Rides and Attractions



DISNEY WORLD RIDES RANKED FOR LITTLE AND BIGGER KIDS

This chart, updated 3/2011, ranks all rides at Walt Disney World based on two different points of view:

  • Vertically from the eyes of pre-school kids: best loved, to be avoided, or neither;
  • Horizontally from the eyes of kids in the third grade or older, and their parents: skippable, favorites, or neither.

Groupings are based on ratings by age from a number of sources, on height restrictions, and on “scariness.”

If you have trouble interpreting it, this should help

  • The lower right shows rides and attractions everyone likely will love
  • The upper left shows ones everyone likely will find skippable
  • The upper right shows ones 3rd graders and older guests will likely love, but that pre-schoolers should avoid
  • The lower left shows ones pre-schoolers will love, but that every one else likely will find dull

Supplement this with this page for a more nuanced view of who might wish to skip a ride.

 

ITINERARY LINKS

  • For itinerary design goals and the basic December Itinerary, see this
  • For shorter and longer itineraries targeted at the same December week, see this
  • For itineraries covering all the other parts of the year, see this
  • To design your own itinerary, see this
  • For rides that might be skipped, see this
  • For a comprehensive guide to rides and attractions, see this

 

LINKS FOR HOW OLD/TALL YOUR KIDS SHOULD BE

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6 comments

1 Alejandra Clarke { 05.22.11 at 1:09 am }

I have been to the Disneyland in California, and I was able to get a special pass for my son who has Autism/Anxiety from Guest Services upon arrival. Would I be able to have that same pass for your parks in Orlando, and what paperwork do I need to provide or is their a database in which the information can be pulled up from?
Thanks

2 Dave { 05.22.11 at 6:43 pm }
3 Daniela { 07.04.11 at 4:39 pm }

I’m from Brazil and this site is beeing perfect for planning my first family visit to Disney World. Congratulations! Thanks for all informations.

4 Dave { 07.04.11 at 4:43 pm }

Thanks Daniela!!

5 Mardi in NC { 01.23.12 at 10:29 pm }

Dave – your site is AWESOME! My parents are using timeshare points to stay in Kissimmee for free for 3 nights, for them, my just-turning-8 year old daughter (this is a surprise b’day first DisneyWorld trip for her!), and myself. We want to visit the parks for 2 days, 2/20 & 2/21. My parents are approaching 70, my mother might need a cane (tho she won’t admit it), and my father will definitely need a wheelchair or scooter (tho, he too, doesn’t want to do that & has no choice due to recent hip replacement surgery).
2 questions I have are:
1) Should we try for the Magic Kingdom for 1 day, and the Animal Kingdom for the 2nd day – or should we just try to stay in the Magic Kingdom for 2 days?
2) I’ve heard from friends, and a few comments on the web, that if one in your party is wheelchair-bound, that you get moved to the front of the line with no waiting. Is this correct, or does this apply only to certain times or certain rides – OR do we have to purchase something special to get to the front without having to wait with them in wheelchair or scooter?
Thank you! I’ve only been once in 1983, so I think I am more excited than my daugther will be. We’re trying to make this super special, since her father ust passed away (young) May 2010, and I promised my parents I wouldn’t stress them in the planning of this – especially since they are using their points and footing the bill for the park tickets for all of us. :)
Thank you!!

6 Dave { 01.24.12 at 8:00 am }

Hi Mardi and thanks!

Your dates–around President’s Day–are among the busiest of the year. You will want to arrive well before the parks open….if you can, bring a scooter/wheelchair with you, as the line to rent them can be long, and there’s a fair amount of walking before you get to the rental site.

Given the crowds, I’d advise just MK, as it’s a two day park even at un-crowded times. If you do AK as well, do it the 21st.

Havoing a wheelchair does not get you moved to the front of the line, except on a few rides where the wheelchair loading area is different than the regular one…

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