The Comprehensive Guide to Walt Disney World Rides and Attractions
By Dave Shute
DISNEY WORLD RIDES RANKED FOR LITTLE AND BIGGER KIDS
This chart (as always on this site, click it to enlarge it) ranks all attractions 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 may 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 may find dull
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108 comments
Hey Dave! I’m planning my military family’s first DW visit for April 29th thru May 4th, do you think this would be a big crowd time of year? My boys will be 8, 6, and 1 during this time, can you recommend a general game plan for which parks to hit for this week? Thank you for running this site, it’s a great help!
Hi Amy and thansk for the kind words!
I expect that to be a great time to visit, with low crowds and nice weather. You didn’t say how many ticket days you have–are you using the 4-day Military Salute? If so, I’d devote two days to MK, and one each to HS and AK. On your dates, avoid AK May 1, MK May 2, and HS on May 4…
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Hello again!
You’re correct, we are using the 4 day park hoppers! I noticed that the days you suggest to avoid coincide with the extra magic hours, is that a coincidence or do those days tend to be busier?
Another unrelated question, I just realized that our flights both come in before we are able to check in and leave after we have to check out of shades of green. Any suggestions on what to do with our luggage since we planned to take advantage of an early arrival and late departure to get in extra park time…
Thanks again!!
Hiya Amy–yes that’s exactly it. The EMH parks are more crowded on their EMH days than on nearby better days. This is because EMH-eligible guests without hoppers preferentially go to them and then stay…
I don;t know the answer to your Shades luggage question–my guess is that you can drop your stuff off with bell services there–but will see if someone else knows the exact answer!
Hi there Amy,
Dave asked me to chip in.
Shades, just like the Disney resorts has a bell staff which can take care of your needs. Upon arrival, they’ll store your bags until you return from your day’s events and they’ll hold them on your last day too.
If you are flying Shades also has the BAGS (Baggage Airline Guest Services) which is a remote airline check-in service allowing airline passengers to check their luggage and receive their boarding passes from the hotel lobby. Visit the Bell stand for price, instructions, and times. Participating airlines: American, Jet Blue, Alaska, Northwest, Air Tran, Continental, Delta, United, and US Airways.
Have a great trip!
Hi! great website! my husband has been to WDW several times as a kid but this will be our first trip with our kids age 6 and almost 3. We planned our trip for march 29-April 2 because that is the best time for us to go but I did see on your sight it will be really crowded. We will be staying at the Gaylord palms (we have points there so it’s free) and plan on doing magic kingdom 2 days. we are flexible which days we go, but would you suggest going Friday and Monday being better then a weekend day? Also when you say to get there before gates open how early? like an hour before? Rides are important but probably top on our list would be to locate the princesses in the MK and get pictures with them. We are less interested in the character dining with the princesses at the grande Floridian and may do breakfast there to meet whinnie the pooh and friends, so given that info how would you schedule in getting to the princess characters within the park along with getting the most of of rides…I know we naively picked a crappy time to go I didn’t realize it was the same weekend as Easter and it is during both kids birthdays so the trip is for their birthdays. this won’t be our last trip we are moving within a short driving distance and plan on coming back yearly as long as we are living there.
Hi Candace, I don’t really have any good ideas for you. All those days will be just horrible, and making it worse for you, MK opens an hour early each of those days to WDW resort guests, so it will already be pretty crowded before you can even get in. There’s one group of princesses you can fastpass–at Town Square just as you enter on the right–but the rest all involve long lines…Moreover, a lot of the best dining books up 5-6 months in advance, especially for such a crowded week. Honestly, I’d reschedule if there’s any way you can…
Me and my husband are going to Disney 4/11 to 4/18 for the first time (we have no kids and are in our early 30’s). We are planning on getting a four day MYW without park hopper option. Planning on doing one day at each park. We arrive at the Orlando airport at around 11AM on the 11th and want to go to a park on that day since we have other plans throughout the week (i.e. Universal Studios, Hard Rock Casino in Tampa). Which park do you suggest going to if we can arrive at a park around three PM on the 11th? Do you have any other suggestions on days for the other three parks. Thanks for your help and I am enjoying looking through your website!
Hi Elizabeth! The rides at any park will be mobbed at that hour, but Epcot has lots for adults to enjoy (in the World Showcase) that doesn’t involve much in the way of lines, and a great fireworks show at 9p, so I’d advise that for the 11th. You want to do Universal over the weekend, as it will be less busy then.
Otherwise, on 4/12 avoid Epcot, on 4/13 avoid HS, on 4/14 avoid MK, on 4/15 avoid HS and AK, on 4/16 avoid Epcot, on 4/17 avoid AK, and on 4/18 avoid MK!
Hope this helps, and have a great trip…
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I will be heading to Disney 3/16-3/23. I have been to Disney more times than I can count so I have a somewhat skewed view of what to do. However, there will be 4 of us all mid/late 20’s and one has never ever been and another last went 12 years ago. I want this trip to be special for them. We are staying at Saratoga Spring and also plan to spend 1 day at IOA and Tuesday(3/19) at Busch Gardens Tampa… The rest is somewhat up in the air. What tickets to get ect. I did make some reservations for Hoop de doo and I think I want to add a character meal. We were also thinking about quick service dinning plan just to make things easier. Basically I don’t want to miss good experiences for people who rarely go because I go so frequently… was just there in Nov/Dec.
Nic, one thing you might do besides looking at the image on this page is to read through one of my itineraries, making notes on what you want to do! Check out this one, for example: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/itineraries-for-the-rest-of-the-year/v2-of-2009-autumn-winter-spring-itinerary/
You’ll need to decide between base and hopper tickets. See this for prices https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/06/03/disney-world-ticket-prices-2012-to-summer-2013/ and this for hopping: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/07/16/park-hoppers-hopping-walt-disney-world/
For a character meal, consider Akershus at Norway in Epcot. Adults like EPcot anyway; the food is better and more interesting than most character meals; females will enjoy the princesses, and males the cleavage!
Hope this helps, and have a great trip…
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Our family will be going in August 8 – 14th. Yes HOT & busy, but our only time with our schedules. My Husband & I have been before (several times & different parks) but it has been quite awhile. My daughters will be 9 & 13 and their 1st visit, we are staying on property & getting 6 day pass w/ park hopper & water/fun as well. What park itinerary would you suggest. We are a fast paced family on the go, but also want this to be a stress free vacation.
Hi, I don’t have an itinerary that’s a tight fit to your arrival day or length of trip, but this comes closest: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/01/16/seven-night-walt-disney-world-summer-itinerary-v2/
Hello! I’m back for more of your great advice! I booked breakfast at chef mickeys for our group and thought it would be perfect to spend the day at MK since its so close. The problem is that it’s on a day that we should avoid MK (5/2). Will it be that big of a deal if we have to leave say HS to go to breakfast at 945? Thanks so much for this site, it’s such a great help!
Amy the most valuable time in any park, including HS, is the first hour it is open.
If you are at the turnstiles 30 minutes before open, then you can see 3-4 rides in an hour that would take 2-3 hours later in the day.
As a result, breakfast at a “normal” hour on a park day is pretty much always a mistake. Breakfast is much better wolfed down in your room early, or as late as you can schedule it, or skipped entirely and replaced by an early lunch…. This is particularly a problem for MK on 5/2, as the park opens at 8a for WDW resort hotel guests…so my advice would be to cancel Chef Mickey and rebook it for lunch on a good MK day…
Hi Dave,
We are starting to book our vacation…wondered if you had a suggestion on the sequence if we go Oct 17-22. I was thinking
17 (Thur)-epcot (day we arrive, not quite a full day)
18-MK
19-HS
20-AK
21-MK again
22-open
We have 3 kids who will be between 9 and 4.
Thanks!
Hi Keith! Given the ages of your kids you look thin on MK–but can do that again the 22nd if need be. You stuff generally looks good, but HS has am EMH on 19th, pm the 20th, and MK has pm EMH the 21st. So I’d move things around these days. Of these three days, MK will be least crowded the 20th, so do it then, AK has am EMH the 21st, so do it the 19th, and do HS the 21st.
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Hi, great site….SO much info! We are a party of 12 travelling from Canada and South Africa. Kids ages 4-7. We will be in Disney world for 5 days at the end of june. Would you think we need 2 days for magical Kingdom? Then we were thinking. Seaworld, waterpark and not sure what else to go for!???
Hi Irms, for kids that age–especially the 4 year old–MK and SeaWorld are a great choice. I’d spend two-three mornings, an afternoon, and an evening at MK, and a day at Sea World…the water park is highly optional…
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Dave,
Thank you so much for all of this great information. We have our trip, by necessity, scheduled May 25-June 1, with 6 park days Sun 5/26 through Fri 5/31; we are staying at the WDW Animation Resort (two kiddos, 5 and 7). Will we be able to get into all four parks early that week? Is the Star Wars Experience at Hollywood Studios worth going on Sunday the 26th? I have already scheduled dining reservations for the following parks on the following days; I would really appreciate your opinion on any glaring mistakes in my planning that I should reschedule:
Saturday 5/25 HoopdeDoo revue at 4:00
Sunday 5/26: HS (Star Wars Experience, PrimeTime Cafe)
Monday 5/27: MK (Crystal Palace character dinner)
Tuesday 5/28: AK (Tusker House dinner)
Wednesday 5/29: Epcot (Nine Dragons dinner)
Thursday 5/30: MK (Tony’s Town Square–only one we could get in to!)
Friday 5/31: Epcot (Akershus Princess storybook lunch)
Also, any recommendations for how we could spend our time on Saturday the 1st before we leave for the airport early afternoon? It will not be a park day for us. Thank you so much for any help you can give–will definitely use this site BEFORE our next trip scheduling! 😉
Hi Ames, and thanks!
The Star Wars weekends have become a zoo, with massive crowds, so I’d avoid them.
Moreover, MK is likely to be pretty crowded on Memorial Day.
So I’d do AK the 26th, Epcot the 27th, HS the 28th, and MK the 29th and 30th. I’d leave the 31st open for whatever park you wish to return to–given the ages of the kids, unlikely to be Epcot…
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Hello Dave;
Too bad I didn’t find your website before planning our 1st trip to Disney World. We are coming from Canada arriving on Sunday May 19th and leaving on Sunday morning May 26th . We only bought 5 days pass (no meal plan) as we are planning to go to Universal Studios one day and Disney Water Park another day. We’ll arrive to the hotel around 10:00 am and head out to the park right away. Your Autumn-Winter-Spring Itinerary V3 suggest Animal Kingdom for the 1st Sunday so I guess we should go to this park based on your suggestion and follow your itinerary. Probably use Thursday May 23rd to go to Universal Studios and Saturday May 25th to the water park which is our last day. It is a tight schedule but enough for now. I was thinking to buy the water parks pass upon our arrival. I would like to know which water park would you recommend for a family with two active boys, 7 and 10 years old. Also which park should we focus on during our stay based on our kids gender and age. I am sure there are lots of things we should consider for our trip to Disney but I am already feeling stress and overwhelmed with so much information on how to do Disney World. Part of me wants to play by ear and not feel anxiety. A friend of mine suggested to download the Disney Application on my smart phone so I would know line up timing, game schedule, shows, crowds… OMG, I feel like we’ll be on the Amazing Race….. go, go, go. 🙂
Anyway, thanks for your great and useful website. Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Hi Alessandra! A couple of thoughts.
First go to Universal Saturday, Sunday or Monday, not Thursday–see this for why https://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/12/15/when-to-go-to-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter/
Second, you said Universal Studios–did you mean Universal’s Islands of Adventure (a different park)? Harry Potter is at Universal’s Islands of Advenute, not Univeral Studios, and there’s not much at Universal Studios for kids that age.
Third on the waterparks–I have no strong sense that one is better for the kids than another. Each has their fans.
Finally on the Disney parks, I’d go with two days at Magic Kingdom, one each at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Your fith ticket day you could either retunr to your favorite from among these, or go to DIsney’s fourth park, Epcot.
Use this to help with picking which day at which Disney park:
5/19: Avoid HS and MK
5/20: Avoid HS and AK
5/21: Avoid Epcot
5/22: Avoid HS
5/23: Avoid MK
5/24: Avoid Epcot and HS
5/25 Avoid AK and HS
5/26: Avoid MK and HS
Hope this helps!!
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Dave… thank you so much for your respond. Your are the best! really!
I actually meant Universal’s Islands of Adventure, so we’ll probably go Monday or Saturday the day before our departure. For the water park I am sure both are fantastic…. so we’ll just pick up one and have fun.
OK Alessandra!
Hi Dave,
I have two toddlers age 2 1/2 and 18 months old that I would like to take to Disney in Orlando this Summer. Any day this Summer is good. I’m a Florida resident; I would like itinerary for a couple of days that will best suit my little ones. Do hotels on site offer an express pass? Should I take the kids to animal kingdom or should I just focus on Magic kingdom?
Many thanks for all of your input.
Hi Mariela, I focus on kids 8 and older, so I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer…There’s no “express pass” at Disney WOrld–that’s only at Universal, and the summer is wildly busy until late AUgust. You can get some itinerary ideas for such young kids here http://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/touring-plans?utm_campaign=referral&utm_medium=website&utm_source=yourfirstvisit&utm_content=r1&property_id=1 and here http://www.leaveittogenie.com/
Hi Dave!
I’ve been reading through trying to find my scenario, but couldn’t. This is far from our first visit (we LOVE Disney), but its our first time with Christmas decorations! So, here’s my question, we’ll be in Orlando 11/5/13-11/13/13. We want to goto the MVMCP but I’m struggling between the first show on the 8th or on the 11th? My concerns are Jersey week, marathon, and Monday the 11th being no school! Please advise! Thanks!!!!
Hiya Stepahnie!! Disney limits the MVMCP tickets it sells, so either night would be fine.
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Thanks Dave! We used your advice last year, and split our stay between the AoA and Poly. We had a great time, and were able to enjoy the best of both resorts! Thanks again!
You are welcome, Stephanie!
Hi Dave, we will be arriving from Canada on Dec. 14-21 with our 14, 12 and 8 year old daughters. The park hopper passes are on sale get 5 for the price of 3 days. Given this is a last minute trip can you give me some advice of what to do and see based on our girls ages? We are staying off-site, about a mile from MK & will have a car rental. Your advice is awesome & appreciated. PS our first time visit. Thank you. Sally
Sally, at those ages, pretty much everything is appropriate.
I recommend at least 6 full days in the parks. For your five day tickets, I think the thing to do is to plan one day in each of the 4 parks, and then on your fifth day to return to your favorite or the one that you think you’ve not seen enough of–most likely the Magic Kingdom. (You may also want to split up the fifth fay if wishes vary–eg one parent and the younger one to one park, the other parent and the two older ones to another.)
You can use this to target rides https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/ , but do read through one of my itineraries so that you understand the basic approaches–like this one https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/basic-itinerary-daily-links/
I don’t single day itineraries–all my itineraries are integrated longer itineraries–but you can find them here: http://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/touring-plans?utm_campaign=referral&utm_medium=website&utm_source=yourfirstvisit&utm_content=r1&property_id=1
On your dates,
The 14th avoid MK and HS
The 15th avoid HS
The 16th avoid MK and AK
The 17th avoid Epcot
The 18th avoid AK
The 19th avoid MK
The 20th avoid Epcot
The 21st avoid HS and MK
Hope this helps!!
Hi Dave, My Family of 5 will be visiting WDW for the first time 10/20-10/26/13. My husband, Myself, daughter age 7, twin boys age 4. We have bought a 2 quick serve dining option and a 5 day base ticket no add-ons. After researching some and realizing that we can’t do it all in the time span, budget and the age children we have, I have narrowed down that we most likely will focus on MK and HS with the possibility of a short (not full day visit) to Epcot. My kids are not Animal lovers so AK ranks at the lowest for us. We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside b/c of the 5th person murphy bed option. We booked this visit only 95 days out and since the kids no nothing about character meals and we are on a budget we opted to do the two quick serve meal plan. I’m trying to get an itinerary planned out figuring that we will spend 2 days at MK 2 days at HS and may or may not use the 5th day ticket depending on how the week is going. The kids will want to enjoy some time at the pool and also downtown disney. Any suggestions for our itinerary would be helpful. I feel overwhelmed by looking at the itineraries posted b/c we will not be doing any of the sit down meals :(. Thank you for your help and the website it has been the most helpful as I quickly plan this trip.
Thank you
Chera
Hi Chera!!
First, I’d take a slightly different approach. Honestly, at those ages, HS is is not worth 2 days, but AK absolutely is worth one day. There’s only one major ride at AK that’s deadly dull if you have no interest in animals–Kilimanjaro safaris–and lots of fun stuff. See this for more: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
Moreover DTD is pretty dull compared to the parks, so what I’d do is save “day 5” for the decision the night before–either a return to a favorite park, or a day off/at DTD.
Here’s how the days lay out (ignoring Epcot but including AK)
21: Avoid MK and AK
22: All OK, MK best
23: Avoid MK
24: Avoid MK
25: Avoid HS
Even tho I have the 23rd as “avoid MK,” it’s the best day among your options for the evening fireworks and parade. So here’s how that then shakes out: On the 21st, do HS, do MK the 22nd and 23rd, and the 24th do AK. As noted, the 25th either return to your favorite or take the day off or go to DTD or combine all 3!
Hope this helps!
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Hi Dave-
I will apologize in advance for all the questions I am getting ready to ask….
1.- If I got tickets from undercover tourist can I add on a day without starting from day one like you can if you order them directly from disney? I am trying to decide if we need to get a ticket for the first day we arrive. Late morning or early afternoon Sun. after driving 12 hrs. with a 6& 9 yr old .
2.- Would this day be a good day to go and start a park, see the parade (to knock that out) and fireworks or maybe do a waterpark OR should we hang out at the pool and go to downtown disney (would like to go there) and see circque del sol if its ok for the kids? All the others days will be packed going to one of the parks so I dont think we will be able to enjoy the hotel or go to downtown disney due to leaving early mornings and getting back late from parks. I assume??????
3. – If we do a 5 day park pass what do you suggest ….all the theme parks and skip a water one or skip one of the theme ones and do a water park we are going middle of May.
4.- Also I saw where someone already booked their dinning reservations for May I didnt think the window had opened yet, when I looked at the calendar on disney it stopped in the middle of April?
Thank you for this site and all the very useful information you provide in planning a disney vacation and helping to make it a little less stressful.
Hi Jennifer and thanks for the kind words!
On 1, I’m actually not sure. I’d suggest reaching out directly to them! (And then coming back here, with your findings, so that I and everyone else knows!! 🙂 )
On 2, the cost of an extra ticket day once you’ve bought three or four days is tiny, so I highly recommend knocking off a park’s evening shows–particularly at the Magic Kingdom! I get you on the rest of the days being packed…but getting some stuff done night one will give you more flexibility on late evenings…
On 3, the theme parks are so much better than the water parks that you should skip the waterparks on such a short visit. Aim for 2+ days at MK, a day each at the other three parks.
On 4 You can book dining 180 days ahead, so today you can book into mid-April.
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Hi.
I’m going to Disney during spring break and I ‘m wondering if it would be smart to go to the water parks? Also if the list you show here is all the rides in the whole entire parks. ( including the new Fantasy Land)
Thanks,
SAM
Samantha, spring break is so crowded that you will likely need all the time you have for the theme parks themselves. So I wouldn’t plan on a water park. And the answer to your second question is yes–everything that’s open now is on it.
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