If you are taking a toddler or preschooler to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, you probably want to know what they can ride before you buy tickets. Holiday World is a fair park for small kids. There are gentle carousel-style rides and playgrounds for kids of any height. A junior coaster opens up at 36 in (91 cm), but the biggest coasters are for kids 48 in (122 cm) and taller.
This guide is organised by what your child can do, from no height minimum up through 42 in (107 cm). It uses the park’s own ride pages and its accessibility guide. Some of the park’s own pages disagree with each other on a few rides, so those are flagged instead of guessed at. Check the official Holiday World website (holidayworld.com) for the definitive current list before you go.
Stats at a Glance
- Kids’ Area: Holidog’s FunTown and Rudolph’s Reindeer Ranch
- First Roller Coaster At: 36 in (91 cm) with a companion — The Howler
- Companion Rule: “A Supervising Companion is defined as any Guest who is at least 16 years of age and meets the rider requirements to ride alone.”
- Rider Swap: Yes — the park calls it Parent Swap
Rides With No Height Minimum
Rudolph’s Reindeer Ranch, in the Christmas section, has the classic gentle rides for the smallest riders. The park lists all of these as open to guests no taller than 54 in (137 cm), with no minimum. Dancer’s Fish is a gentle ride where each child gets their own fish that goes up and down and turns slowly. Prancer’s Merry-Go-Round is a small children’s carousel with horses that rise and fall. Comet’s Rockets is a slow-turning ride with two-seat rockets, one seat facing forward and one facing back. Dasher’s Seahorses is a slow-turning children’s carousel that has been around since the mid-1970s.
For climbing and burning off energy, there are three play structures. Holidog’s Treehouse in Holidog’s FunTown is a two-story playground with ladders and slides. The park’s page says it is “sturdy enough for adults, too, who may accompany their under-54″ children.” Just for Pups is another Holidog’s FunTown playground, also limited to guests up to 54 in (137 cm). Cranberry Corner is a playground with slides, climbing structures and music stations, next to Good Gravy!. The park says “Parents and older siblings are welcome to play when accompanying an under-54″ child.”
At Splashin’ Safari, which is included with Holiday World admission, Tembo Falls has junior water slides and is listed for guests under 54 in (137 cm).
What Opens Up at 36, 40 and 42 Inches
**36 in (91 cm) and up:** This is the tier that unlocks the park’s first real roller coaster, The Howler. It is a steel family coaster with gentle drops and quick turns, in Holidog’s FunTown. The park’s wording is “Guest must be at least 36″ to ride with a companion,” and riders must be 42 in (107 cm) to ride alone. Reindeer Games is a family drop ride that bounces up and down a three-story tower, with the same 36 in (91 cm) with a companion and 42 in (107 cm) alone requirements. The park’s page says “Adults may ride with their children.” Eagles Flight is a flying scooter where riders control the up-and-down and side-to-side motion. It also runs at 36 in (91 cm) with a companion and 42 in (107 cm) alone. Kitty’s Tea Party is a spinning teacup ride in Holidog’s FunTown, listed at at least 36 in (91 cm) to ride. Its page says riders must “maintain an upright position and control of upper torso, head, and neck throughout the ride or be accompanied by a Supervising Companion.” Turkey Whirl (a classic Tilt-A-Whirl), Firecracker (a Calypso-style ride whose cars move around a rotating base), Scarecrow Scrambler (a classic scrambler) and Frightful Falls (a log flume with a 35-foot drop, and you will get wet) all list 36 in (91 cm) with a companion and 48 in (122 cm) to ride alone.
**Between 36 and 40 inches:** Good Gravy! Family Coaster is a steel boomerang-style family coaster. It runs forwards and backwards in a gravy-boat-shaped train, with mild drops and quick turns. Its page says “Guest must be at least 38″ to ride with a companion” (97 cm), and 48 in (122 cm) to ride alone.
**40 in (102 cm) and up:** I did not find any ride on the park’s own pages with its own 40 in (102 cm) minimum, so nothing is listed for this tier. A child at 40 in (102 cm) gets everything from the tiers above.
**42 in (107 cm) and up:** Crow’s Nest is a swing ride with two-person swings that travel in a circle while rising and falling on a 65-foot tower. It is listed at 42 in (107 cm) with a companion and 48 in (122 cm) alone. Rough Riders is a bumper-car ride with horse and buffalo-themed cars, also 42 in (107 cm) with a companion and 48 in (122 cm) alone. At this height a child can also ride Reindeer Games, Eagles Flight and The Howler without a companion.
**Where the big coasters start:** The Legend, The Voyage and The Raven list a 48 in (122 cm) minimum. The Thunderbird’s minimum was lowered to 48 in (122 cm) from 52 in (132 cm) for 2025. Some pages, such as the accessibility chart, may still show older figures, so check the park before counting on it.
Practical Tips for a Day With Small Kids
**Check the rides listed differently across the park’s pages.** The accessibility guide marks Holidog Express, Gobbler Getaway, Doggone Trail, Star Spangled Carousel and Lewis & Clark Trail as needing a supervising companion for riders under 36 in (91 cm). The individual ride pages for Holidog Express, Gobbler Getaway, Doggone Trail and Star Spangled Carousel instead say guests must be at least 42 in (107 cm) to ride. I could not reconcile the two, so I have not put those rides in a height tier. Ask at the gate or check holidayworld.com before planning around them.
**Measure first.** The park says guests are measured with shoes on at Holiday World and shoes off at Splashin’ Safari. It measures “the top of the head – not hair” with heels flat on the ground. Measure your child at home the same way so there are no surprises in line. The Howler’s page also recommends placing the smallest rider first, on the enclosed side of the car.
**Kids’ areas.** Holidog’s FunTown is in the 4th of July section and holds the playgrounds, The Howler and Kitty’s Tea Party. Rudolph’s Reindeer Ranch, in the Christmas section, has the gentlest rides.
**Parent Swap.** The park says “Parents who wish to enjoy rides that their children aren’t ready to ride may use our Parent Swap option.” One parent rides while the other stays with the child, then they switch, without the second parent re-queuing.
**Strollers.** You may bring your own pull or push-type stroller or wagon if it is a reasonable size and not self-propelled. The park rents double strollers ($18) and wagons ($10) on a first-come, first-served basis. Everything must be taken out of strollers and wagons for security screening.
Explore more: Theme Parks guide.
Plan Your Holiday World Visit
- Holiday World park guide: hours, tickets, rides and parking
- Holiday World height requirements for every ride
- Scariest rides at Holiday World, ranked
- Happy Halloween Weekends 2026 at Holiday World
Best Rides for Little Kids at Holiday World FAQs
What can a toddler ride at Holiday World?
The park lists no height minimum for the gentle rides in Rudolph’s Reindeer Ranch: Dancer’s Fish, Prancer’s Merry-Go-Round, Comet’s Rockets and Dasher’s Seahorses. These are open to guests no taller than 54 in (137 cm). Toddlers can also use the playgrounds Holidog’s Treehouse, Just for Pups and Cranberry Corner, and the junior slides at Tembo Falls in Splashin’ Safari. Most other rides start at 36 in (91 cm) or higher.
How tall does my child have to be for their first roller coaster at Holiday World?
36 in (91 cm) to ride The Howler, a steel family coaster in Holidog’s FunTown. The park’s wording is “Guest must be at least 36″ to ride with a companion.” Riders must be 42 in (107 cm) to ride alone. Good Gravy! Family Coaster is next at 38 in (97 cm) with a companion and 48 in (122 cm) alone.
Does Holiday World have a rider swap policy?
Yes. Holiday World calls it Parent Swap. The park says “Parents who wish to enjoy rides that their children aren’t ready to ride may use our Parent Swap option.” One parent rides while the other waits with the child, then they swap. Check holidayworld.com for the current rules.
Get More from Best Rides for Little Kids at Holiday World
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Best Rides for Little Kids at Holiday World, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Want the day’s theme park news in your inbox? Subscribe to ThrillZing Daily — free.
Photo: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.