A founding idea of Disneyland Park is that it would be a place where adults and children could have fun TOGETHER. It truly has been that place for our family. Some attractions do have height restrictions or other physical considerations but many more are for everyone. We have compiled a list of just five attractions that we think are great for people of all ages to enjoy together at Disneyland Park.
These attractions also have some of the better accessibility features in the park and no minimum height requirement. There are so many more attractions that we could have included (plus plenty of entertainment, dining and scenery) but let these five all-ages attractions from Disneyland Park be a starting point for your fun together.
One note before we begin:
These are all rides that we have personally done with (and as) very young children, but what your group considers intimidating may vary. If you are not sure if your group members will be scared by an attraction, consider helping them preview it by watching ride videos online or watching a related movie. One helpful feature about all five of these is that they have bench seating that makes it easy to put an arm around someone who may feel intimidated. We think that makes them good beginning attractions. We have also tried to include current accessibility information here to the best of our knowledge, but Disney itself should be referenced for the most up-to-date information.
Here are our top 5 all-ages rides for Disneyland Park in California:
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Mickey’s Toontown:
Mickey and Minnie take you on a dynamic and wacky journey with the help of their pal Goofy. This new attraction features a great queue and fun uncomplicated storyline. We think this ride is thrilling without being scary, and it has no height restrictions. The ride never goes very fast or upside-down, and the movement of the vehicles is erratic but not jerky. This feels like a thrill ride for all ages. Some considerations: the ride can be dark and loud, and there are some fog effects and cartoonish moments of peril. Guests must transfer from wheelchairs and ECVs. Designated transfer and load areas and transfer devices are available. Handheld captioning, audio description and assistive listening is offered.
Disneyland Railroad (with stops around the park)
We think the Disneyland Railroad is a quintessential Disneyland experience. Guest of all ages get to board a charming steam train and enjoy a scenic “grand circle tour” of Disneyland Park. This can be a neat way to scope out the lands and attractions around the park and is just a fun experience on its own. Some considerations: there are two dioramas between the Tomorrowland and Main Street U.S.A. Stations that some may find intimidating: Grand Canyon and Primeval World -Land of the Dinosaurs. Our toddlers adored these scenes. If you think yours will not, you can avoid them by disembarking at Tomorrowland and skipping this part of the track. Guest may remain in wheelchairs and ECVs for this attraction. There are handheld captioning and audio description services available.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland
This colorful and classic show has catchy songs, singing flowers and silly birds. In Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, guests are seated on benches for a fifteen minute show. We think this attraction has appeal for all ages. However, if you do have someone frightened by the experience, your exit is easy: this is a show and not a ride, and there are doors everywhere. The bench seating with relatively wide aisles also provide for nice accessibility. Some considerations: the show can get dark and loud with some storm effects. Guests may remain in wheelchairs and ECVs. Assistive listening, handheld captioning, audio description and video captioning are offered.
Jungle Cruise in Adventureland:
This opening day attraction is an absolute classic. The Jungle Cruise ride even inspired its own Jungle Cruise film created decades after the ride itself was built. (You can find it on Disney+, but it might be too scary for young viewers.) For the atraction, guest are seated on benches lining a canopied boat. An actual live cast member, your “skipper,” will take you on a tour of the rivers of the world. The bench seating makes it easy to comfort anyone who might be frightened by the light comedic danger, but the attraction is much more beautiful and funny than scary. There are no dark portions (unless you ride at night) and only a few loud ones (though the boat motor can get a little noisy). Some considerations: Guests may remain in wheelchairs and ECVs. Assistive listening, handheld captioning, audio description and sign language are offered.
“it’s a small world” in Fantasyland
Let others bemoan the catchiness of the song, we love it and everything about “it’s a small world.” This delightful attraction features stunning sets and intricately costumed dolls representing the children of the world. The boats for this ride have long bench seats that allow families to be seated close together. Your boat may occasionally bump into those boats ahead or behind you, but the very slow speeds means young children probably will not even notice this. We also like that the line is generally short and the ride long, so kids get a nice break from patiently (we hope) waiting in line. This is our favorite all-ages attraction at Disneyland Resort and a right-of-passage for our children. Some considerations: Guest must transfer from ECV to wheelchair. Handheld captioning and audio description are offered.
We hope that you have found this list of our favorite all-ages attractions at Disneyland Resort to be inspiring.
The Disneyland app and website both provide detailed information about all attractions including height restrictions, physical considerations, accommodations for those with disabilities and even whether a ride is loud, dark or fast. If you wonder whether an attraction will work for your whole group, that can be a good place to look.
We also have an article on our favorite all ages attractions at Disney California Adventure Park. For other information on planning a Disneyland Resort visit, check-out our comprehensive guide here.