Parents of toddlers and preschoolers usually ask the same thing before visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios: what can my small child actually ride? Honestly, this is one of the thinner Walt Disney World parks for little ones. The big thrill rides here have real height minimums, and the one dedicated kids’ area is Toy Story Land.
This guide is organised by what your child can do, starting with the ride that has no height minimum, then moving up through 32 in (81 cm), 38 in (97 cm) and 40 in (102 cm). Every ride named here was checked against Disney’s own attraction pages. It is not a full list of what the park offers, so use the official Walt Disney World website for the definitive, current details.
Stats at a Glance
- Kids’ Area: Toy Story Land
- First Roller Coaster At: 38 in (97 cm) — Slinky Dog Dash
- Companion Rule: “To board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 or older.”
- Rider Swap: Yes — Rider Switch
Rides With No Height Minimum
Toy Story Mania! in Toy Story Land is the standout. Disney’s page lists it as “Any Height”. You ride a carnival-style tram, wear 3D glasses and fire spring-action shooters at targets across a series of Toy Story-themed games. It suits toddlers who can sit still and are happy to watch, and it is a good pick for preschoolers who like pulling and aiming.
The official attractions page also lists two shows with no height requirement: Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! and Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage. These are seated performances rather than rides, but they give small kids a rest in the shade. Disney also lists the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection as an any-height experience.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is also billed by Disney as a kid-friendly ride. I could not read its current height wording in this session, so check its official page before you plan around it.
What Opens Up at 36, 40 and 42 Inches
None of the rides I confirmed on Disney’s pages has a 36 in (91 cm) or 42 in (107 cm) minimum. The real steps for small kids are 32 in (81 cm), 38 in (97 cm) and 40 in (102 cm).
32 in (81 cm) and up: Alien Swirling Saucers in Toy Story Land. Disney describes it as a gentle spinning ride with the Toy Story aliens, and it is the first ride that needs a measured child.
38 in (97 cm) and up: Slinky Dog Dash, the park’s first real roller coaster. Disney calls it a family-friendly coaster that runs through Andy’s oversized backyard in Toy Story Land. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run also opens up at 38 in (97 cm). It is an interactive attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge where guests take on roles in the Falcon’s cockpit as pilots, gunners or engineers.
40 in (102 cm) and up: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Rise of the Resistance is a large, multi-ride-system Star Wars adventure. Star Tours is a 3D space-flight simulator that Disney warns may affect people sensitive to motion. Tower of Terror is a haunted-elevator drop ride. Disney warns its sudden, fast drops in a dark, enclosed space may be frightening to some guests, so think carefully even if your child is tall enough.
Tall enough is not the same as ready. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was not confirmed on Disney’s pages in this session, so it is left out here. Check the official site for its status and height rule.
Practical Tips for a Day With Small Kids
Measure your child at home in shoes they will wear, and know their number before you arrive. The step from no minimum to 32 in (81 cm), 38 in (97 cm) and 40 in (102 cm) decides which rides are open to you. Toy Story Land is the natural base for a family with young kids, because Toy Story Mania!, Alien Swirling Saucers and Slinky Dog Dash are all there.
Disney’s Rider Switch lets adults take turns waiting with a child who does not meet the boarding requirements or does not plan to ride. In Disney’s words, “One party waits outside the queue while the remainder of their party waits in the queue. Once the first party returns from riding, the waiting Guest(s) may board the attraction without having to wait in the standard queue.” It applies when the child “cannot wait outside the queue alone”, and Disney’s page says the waiting party is a maximum of two people riding next.
The park’s supervising-companion rule is: “To board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 or older.” That is about who must go with a young child. It does not let a child ride below a ride’s height minimum.
Expect long stretches with little for a toddler to ride, so plan around the shows and Toy Story Land. Check the official Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app for current hours, ride status and height rules on the day you visit.
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Best Rides for Little Kids at Disney’s Hollywood Studios FAQs
What can a toddler ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
Toy Story Mania! in Toy Story Land is listed on Disney’s official page as “Any Height”. Alien Swirling Saucers, a gentle spinning ride in the same land, requires 32 in (81 cm). Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! and Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage are shows with no height requirement. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is billed as kid-friendly, but check its official page for the current height rule. The park is thin for toddlers, so check the official Walt Disney World website for the current list.
How tall does my child have to be for their first roller coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
Slinky Dog Dash is the first real roller coaster and needs 38 in (97 cm) or taller, according to Disney’s official page. Disney describes it as a family-friendly coaster through Andy’s oversized backyard in Toy Story Land.
Does Disney’s Hollywood Studios have a rider swap policy?
Yes. It is called Rider Switch. Disney describes it as allowing “adult Guests to take turns waiting with youngsters or Guests unable to ride.” One party waits outside the queue while the rest of the party rides, then the waiting guests may board without waiting in the standard queue. Disney’s page says the party waiting outside is a maximum of two people riding next.
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Photo: Jedi94 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.