With four theme parks, Walt Disney World has a variety of height restrictions for its rides. In this post, we review the height requirements for each ride and provide a park-by-park breakdown. If you’re looking for a specific park, you can click the following jumps:
Additionally you can click here to jump to the list of requirements for the entire resort for each height. As with all posts, you should confirm on the official Disney website (or in the app) if you’re worried about a particular ride.
Recommended Reading
Here are some other posts you might be interested in reading (links open in new tab):
And just as a reminder—scares can be found even on the rides without height requirements. So parents of little ones might want to read up on the Scariest Rides for Toddlers at Disney World. Finally, for all your planning needs, we have a Complete Guide to Visiting Disney World with a Toddler and tips for visiting Disney World with an Infant or Newborn.
Finally, if you’d like an age-by-age look at this topic, we have those posts, too:
A Broad Look at Disney World Height Requirements
Before we get to the park-by-park breakdown with all the rides, we want to talk more broadly about the height requirements.
We’re covering 52 rides here. We’re not counting non-ride attractions (like stage shows, explorable areas, or character greetings), none of which have height requirements.
Disney uses the following height requirements (centimeters are included below)—48 inches, 44 in, 42 in, 40 in, 38 in, 35 in, 32 in. There’s also a 54 inch height requirement if you’d like to drive the Tomorrowland Speedway go kart without supervision or supervise a shorter driver.
The below chart is built to “if you are [height] tall you can ride [this many] rides at [this park]. So if you are 38 inches tall, you can ride five rides at Hollywood Studios. If you are 35 inches but not 38 inches, you can only ride three rides at Hollywood Studios.
At 48 inches / 122 cm, you can ride all 52 rides at Walt Disney World. If you’re under 32 inches / 82 centimeters you can ride 30 rides, or 58%.
By pure ride counts, Magic Kingdom is the best park at all heights. But it also does a good job of having a high percentage of its rides available at each cutoff.
Of course, one has to remember that all the parks have other things to do, and anything not on this list has no height requirement. For example, Canada Far & Wide, The Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, and the Gorilla Falls Exploration trail are all excellent offerings at the other three parks that aren’t a part of this analysis.
Hollywood Studios—despite the additions of Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway—remains the most restrictive as far as height requirements go. Only two rides have no height requirement, and anyone under 38 inches only gets one third of the rides.
One final thing to note from the chart is that the biggest number of rides gained comes when you hit 40 inches. You gain 9 rides at 40 inches: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Soarin’, Test Track, Mission: SPACE, DINOSAUR, Star Tours - The Adventures Continue, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
I’ve noted elsewhere that 40 inches really isn’t that tall. As a parent of a kid who recently hit that mark, it’s honestly terrifying to think of them riding Tower of Terror or DINOSAUR (update: kid loved DINOSAUR, so who knows). But height requirements are about safety, not intensity. Just something to keep in mind.
Next up are some tips about navigating the height requirements, then we have a park-by-park breakdown and a height-by-height breakdown of the height requirements.
Handling a Kid on the Edge of a Height Requirement
Height requirements are put in place for safety reasons. You absolutely should not try to subvert them, and doing so risks the safety of your child. With that very important note in mind, I wanted to talk about the situation where your kid hits a height requirement, but just barely.
We visited right around Zoe’s second birthday, and they were able to ride Barnstormer one day but not the next. Why? Because they were in the mood to stand up straight one day but not the next. This is something you’ll have to be prepared for even if your kid hits the height requirement on your at home measuring tape.
If your little one is right at a height requirement, we recommend you practice standing up straight beforehand. You might even try with something safe over their head, because the instinct all kids have is to duck and avoid hitting the measuring bar at the rides.
If they’re close, be prepared for them to get turned away. Even if you think they’re clear of the height requirement based on your measurements, they might fall a little short—or they might refuse to stand up straight—at Disney World. Don’t hype up a ride before they’ve been cleared, and don’t act super disappointed if they can’t ride it. There’s plenty for everyone at the parks, even kids who don’t meet any height requirements.
Moreover, kids can and often will be checked twice if they’re near the cutoff. I’ve witnessed multiple incidents of poorly behaved parents berating Cast Members when the child won’t acquiesce to the second check. Admittedly, this second check is usually right before you board the ride, which could mean you and the child have been in line for well over an hour. Nonetheless, I find this a perfectly reasonable safety measure and something you have the responsibility of preparing your child for (or else just be prepared to not ride if they won’t stand up straight).
Rider Swap (“Rider Switch”) at Disney World
Just because one member of your party doesn’t meet the height requirements, it doesn’t mean no one can ride. You’ll need to use rider swap (aka “rider switch”). Here’s the basics on the system:
Your group has at least three people and one of them is too short for the ride (e.g. two parents and kid, or a parent, a friend, and a kid, etc.).
Break the people who can ride into two groups—Group 1 and Group 2.
Approach the Cast Member outside the line to the ride with everyone (Groups 1 and 2).
Group 1 will be told to get in line for the ride.
Group 2 stays with the person too short to ride. Group 2 has their MagicBands or tickets scanned and they’re given a Rider Swap pass for the ride.
When the return time comes up, you swap. Group 1 waits with the person too short to ride while Group 2 uses the Rider Swap Pass to skip the bulk of the line via the Lightning Lane.
As of this writing, rider swap is available at every ride with a height requirement.
As TouringPlans reports, the details can be inconsistent, and Disney has tweaked language a few times. The bottom line on all this is that everyone will get to ride at least once without your group going through two waits in the standby line. Whether a CM will let, for example, an older kid ride twice (by giving them a Rider Swap pass even though they’re also waiting in the standby line first, too), might vary.
The other big variance is how Rider Swap works with two other services—Single Rider and Lightning Lanes.
Combining Rider Swap With Other Services
These next two sections are very much “your experience may vary.” What we’ve written above is how the service is intended to be used. There’s absolutely no reason Disney or a CM has to let you do anything in this section. We wish they’d clarify the rules, because three guests riding the same ride on the same day could have three experiences. But we’ll do our best to explain what we know.
Combining Rider Swap With Single Rider
One idea is to combine rider swap with single rider. If there are only two people in your party who will be riding anyways, they’ll both be riding alone.
On the rides with single rider lines (Test Track, Smugglers Run, Expedition Everest, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster), you can see if the first rider can use the single rider line. You can read more about single rider at Disney World. I’ve done this and never been told by a CM that it can’t be done, but I could see it being disallowed.
Combining Rider Swap With Lightning Lanes
This is a complicated and controversial topic. My quick advice is that if you want to use rider swap while also using Lightning Lanes for a ride, just make sure you listen to Cast Members and are straightforward about what you’re tying to do. This isn’t a particularly common thing to have to do (I explain why next), so it’s not surprising these systems don’t always work seamlessly together.
First thing is first—if you have a Lightning Lane for a ride through Multi Pass or Single Pass purchase, you usually won’t need to use rider swap. Instead, you just use the Lightning Lane in two groups while the other group watches the non-rider. Of course, there are exceptions.
Second, if you intend on combining Lightning Lanes with Rider Swap for any reason described in this section, every rider needs a Lightning Lane for the ride. You can’t use Rider Swap to get additional Lightning Lanes for people who don’t already have them. Now, onto the reasons you might combine these services.
The most common reason people want to combine Rider Swap with Lightning Lanes is so that some party members can use the Lightning Lane twice. I want to emphasize first that this is not something Cast Members (CMs) are obligated to do. It’s not strictly a “trick” either—I’ve had CMs openly tell me that this is a reason to use Rider Swap when you have Lightning Lanes. Personally I’d like fixed rules on this, but for now it’s very much “your experience may vary.” Here’s an example…
Emily (rider) and Kenny (rider) are parents to Timmy (rider) and Zoe (non-rider). Emily, Kenny, and Timmy all have Lightning Lanes for Avatar Flight of Passage. They approach the CM to set up rider swap. A CM might give both Emily and Timmy Rider Swap passes. Then Kenny and Timmy use their Lightning Lanes to ride. After they’re done, Kenny watches Zoe and Emily and Timmy use their Rider Swap passes to ride. Timmy, the older kid, got to use the Lightning Lane twice.
Again, I’ve had this recommended to me by Rider Swap CMs at attractions, so it’s not a “trick.” But it’s also not something CMs are obligated to do. If they’re willing, great, if not, that’s just how it goes.
The second reason to combine Rider Swap with Lightning Lanes is because you’re running late. For example, Emily and I had a Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance from 11:05AM to 12:05PM. We got to the ride (with Zoe in tow) at 11:55AM.
Rise takes around 20 minutes to get through via the Lightning Lane, so if I rode first, Emily would be late for her Lightning Lane. A sympathetic CM might let her ride anyways, but they’re not obligated to.
When we asked to set up Rider Swap, the CM was a little perplexed. He explained that he’d just let her through late in any case. Another CM recommended he just give us the rider swap, though, so he did.
Magic Kingdom Height Requirements
There are 24 rides at Magic Kingdom (this list doesn’t include non-ride attractions like Country Bear Musical Jamboree or Tom Sawyer Island). If you’re looking for more information, we have a guide the the rides of Magic Kingdom.
Of the 24 rides at Magic Kingdom, seven (29%) have height requirements. Tomorrowland Speedway has two height requirements—one for people who wish to drive the go kart without supervision or supervise a shorter driver and one for people who wish to ride or to drive with supervision. Here are the height requirements at Magic Kingdom:
Magic Kingdom Rides With Height Requirements
Tomorrowland Speedway (supervising or driving without supervision) - 54 inches / 137 centimeters
TRON Lightcycle / Run - 48 inches / 122 centimeters
Space Mountain - 44 inches / 112 centimeters
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - 40 inches / 102 centimeters
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure - 40 inches / 102 centimeters
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - 38 inches / 97 centimeters
The Barnstormer - 35 inches / 89 centimeters
Tomorrowland Speedway (ride or drive with supervision) - 32 inches / 81 centimeters
Magic Kingdom Rides Without Height Requirements
The remaining 17 rides do not have height requirements: Astro Orbiter, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Haunted Mansion, “it’s a small world,” Jungle Cruise, Liberty Square Riverboat, Mad Tea Party, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Main Street Vehicles, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, Walt Disney World Railroad.
Epcot Height Requirements
There are eleven rides at Epcot (this list doesn’t include non-ride attractions like Canada Far and Wide). If you’re looking for more information, we have a guide the the rides, attractions, and entertainment of Epcot.
Of the eleven rides at Epcot, four (36%) have height requirements. Here are the height requirements at Epcot:
Epcot Rides With Height Requirements
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind 42 inches / 107 centimeters
Soarin’ - 40 inches / 102 centimeters
Test Track - 40 inches / 102 centimeters
Mission: SPACE - 40 inches / 102 centimeters
Epcot Rides Without Height Requirements
The remaining seven rides do not have height requirements: Frozen Ever After, Gran Fiesta Tour, Journey Into Imagination With Figment, Living with the Land, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and Spaceship Earth.
Hollywood Studios Height Requirements
There are nine rides at Hollywood Studios (this list doesn’t include non-ride attractions like Muppet Vision 3D). The newest ride at Hollywood Studios, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a welcome addition with no height requirement.
If you’re looking for more information, we have a guide the the rides, attractions, and entertainment of Hollywood Studios.
Of the nine rides at Hollywood Studios, seven (78%) have height requirements. Here are the height requirements at Hollywood Studios:
Hollywood Studios Rides With Height Requirements
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith - 48 inches / 122 centimeters
Star Tours - The Adventures Continue - 40 inches / 102 centimeters
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance - 40 inches / 102 centimeters
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - 40 inches / 102 centimeters
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run - 38 inches / 97 centimeters
Slinky Dog Dash - 38 inches / 97 centimeters
Alien Swirling Saucers - 32 inches / 81 centimeters
Hollywood Studios Rides Without Height Requirements
The only two rides without a height requirement at Hollywood Studios are Toy Story Mania! and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Animal Kingdom Height Requirements
There are eight rides at Animal Kingdom (this list doesn’t include non-ride attractions like the Maharajah Jungle Trek). If you’re looking for more information, we have a guide the the rides, attractions, and entertainment of Animal Kingdom.
Of the eight rides at Animal Kingdom, four (50%) have height requirements. Here are the height requirements at Animal Kingdom:
Animal Kingdom Rides With Height Requirements
Expedition Everest - 44 inches / 112 centimeters
Avatar Flight of Passage - 44 inches / 112 centimeters
DINOSAUR - 40 inches / 102 centimeters
Kali River Rapids - 38 inches / 97 centimeters
Animal Kingdom Rides Without Height Requirements
The remaining four rides do not have height requirements: Kilimanjaro Safaris, Na’vi River Journey, TriceraTop Spin, and Wildlife Express Train.
Disney World Height Requirements By Height
Let’s bring back our nifty chart. We’ll go through each of these height requirements and then list the attractions that have that height requirement.
No Height Requirement (30 Rides)
30 rides have no height requirement, they are listed above in their respective parks.
32 inches / 81 Centimeters (2 rides)
Tomorrowland Speedway (ride or drive with supervision) (Magic Kingdom)
Alien Swirling Saucers (Hollywood Studios)
35 Inches / 89 Centimeters (1 Ride)
The Barnstormer - 35 inches / 89 centimeters
38 Inches / 97 centimeters (4 rides)
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom)
Kali River Rapids (Animal Kingdom)
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Hollywood Studios)
Slinky Dog Dash (Hollywood Studios)
40 Inches / 102 centimeters (9 rides)
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Magic Kingdom)
DINOSAUR (Animal Kingdom)
Soarin’ (Epcot)
Test Track (Epcot)
Mission: SPACE (Epcot)
Star Tours - The Adventures Continue (Hollywood Studios)
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios)
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom)
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios)
42 inches / 107 centimeters (1 Ride)
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Epcot)
44 Inches / 112 Centimeters (3 Rides)
Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom)
Avatar Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)
48 inches / 122 centimeters (2 rides)
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (Hollywood Studios)
TRON Lightcycle / Run (Magic Kingdom
54 inches / 137 Centimeters
The height requirement of 54 inches / 137 centimeters only applies to people who wish to drive Tomorrowland Speedway alone (or who wish to supervise a driver between 32 inches and 54 inches).
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Lightning Lane Guide and Strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, Epcot Lightning Lane Strategy, Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, and Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Strategy.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.