From dark and scary to downright boring, these are the Disney World rides you’ll want to skip if you’re a toddler parent.

Toddlers may not be ready for thrill rides at Disney World, but there are plenty of attractions they can enjoy. However, just because your toddler can ride some Disney World attractions doesn’t mean it’s worth the time, the Lightning Lane, or scaring them with too-spooky scenes.

As someone who’s been visiting Disney Parks for more than 30 years – as a kid myself, a solo adult, and now a toddler mom – I’ve discovered firsthand which Disney World rides are the worst for toddlers. Below, find out which attractions are worth a skip during any park visit with kids three and under.

Worst Disney World Rides for Toddlers

• Worst Rides for Toddlers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Worst Rides for Toddlers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Worst Rides for Toddlers at EPCOT
• Worst Rides for Toddlers at Magic Kingdom Park

Worst Rides for Toddlers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Cliff Wang

Animal Kingdom is actually the only Disney World park where pretty much every attraction that’s toddler-safe is also toddler-friendly. Here, you won’t run into any rides without height requirements that include jump scares, overwhelming darkness (minus Na’vi River Journey, which is a pleasant, fright-free boat ride), or surprises that may overwhelm toddlers. 

Plus, as an added perk, there’s so much for toddlers to explore here. From watching animals in their habitats across the park to getting up close to them via the Affection Section or even Kilimanjaro Safaris, this is one of the best parks at Disney World for kids three and younger. 

So, you won’t find any of Disney World’s worst rides for toddlers in Animal Kingdom!

Worst Rides for Toddlers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Photo by Cliff Wang

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Here’s the deal with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: On its surface, it seems like the perfect attraction for toddlers. After all, it stars Mickey and Minnie, two characters toddlers (and older kids) universally adore. And it’s filled with mischief, mayhem, and plenty of bold, eye-catching colors… and screens, which are obviously like catnip for little kids.

But in my experience, this is a very hit or miss ride. When my son and I rode this attraction, I figured it would check all of the boxes for my little Mickey fan – but instead, he was extremely stressed out the entire time.

That’s because a number of the scenes in Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, while fun for older kids, are too scary and overwhelming for the three-and-under crowd. The twister at the amusement park, “fall” down a tall waterfall, and factory conveyor belt scenes in particular are a bit frightening and, since toddlers can’t quite tell the difference between what’s real and what isn’t, it makes them feel like they’re in peril.

While we managed to escape this ride without tears, my son was clinging to me for dear life by the end and kept asking if Mickey was okay. As a result, I’d save this one for when your kids are slightly older and able to handle unpredictable, loud, and slightly scary situations a bit better.

Worst Rides for Toddlers at EPCOT

Photo by Cliff Wang

Journey Into Imagination with Figment

As an adult you may be a huge Figment fan, but don’t expect your toddler to fall in love with the iconic purple dragon. Rather, you’ll want to skip Journey Into Imagination with Figment – in my experience, it’s one of the worst rides for toddlers at Disney World.

That’s because this attraction features a few intense scenes that are certain to scare kids age three or younger. From loud, sudden sounds like the noise of a freight train approaching in the dark sound lab to simulated explosions to disorienting visuals like the upside down house, it’s a lot for toddlers to take in.

I personally find Journey Into Imagination with Figment to offer far too much stimulation for my toddler. Changes between scenes and even sounds are sudden and intense, bright flashes and bold smells will overwhelm their senses, and its somewhat noisy nature overall can put anyone on edge – and for little riders, it can completely overload them.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

With 3D glasses required for guests, a mostly dark setting, and intense moments like being chased with a cleaver, escaping under a fiery oven, and “falling” from up high, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a ride that’s terrible for toddlers.

Although its trackless design and storyline are exciting for older kids and even adults, it’s a bit too much for the under-three set. Plus, toddlers are both too small for the 3D glasses needed to experience many of the ride’s effects – and even if they did fit, as a parent I hate trying to convince my son to keep glasses on his face. Trust me, those things would end up outside of the ride vehicle in seconds.

Regardless, all toddlers are likely to wind up spooked by at least one of the scenes in Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. So, unless your little one is a total pro at dark rides and doesn’t flinch at loud noises, surprise elements, and scary visuals, this is one of the worst rides for any toddler at EPCOT.

Worst Rides for Toddlers at Magic Kingdom Park

Photo by Laurie Sapp

Haunted Mansion

This one shouldn’t come as a surprise if you’ve ever met a toddler (or, like me, had the misfortune of taking your toddler on this ride!). But the Haunted Mansion is one of the worst rides in all of Disney World for the three-and-under age group. 

The Haunted Mansion isn’t too frightening for older kids, but for toddlers, it features everything they’re terrified of: darkness, unexpected noises, and eerie visuals. The spooky setting of the entire ride, from the preshow to the ghosts following you home, are simply too scary for most toddlers.

In my experience, the preshow in particular is the worst part for toddlers. My son was scared by the elevator, the loud sounds of glass breaking and piercing screams (and other guests joining in on that part certainly didn’t help), and the sudden darkness. From there, it was all downhill and far too frightening for him. Odds are your toddler will feel the same.

Pirates of the Caribbean

This classic Magic Kingdom attraction isn’t exactly scary – at least not on the same level as the Haunted Mansion – but it does include some of the elements toddlers dislike the most. And because the ride kicks off with a bang (literally), it sets the tone for a scary ride.

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the worst Disney World rides for toddlers because of its first few minutes. After boarding, guests are immediately introduced to a spooky setting. The surroundings are dark, there’s a surprise sudden drop, and there’s everything from skeletons to cannon blasts going off around the boat.

As a result, most toddlers will be frightened in those initial moments and scenes of the ride. While the rest of Pirates is pretty tame and even includes a catchy tune toddlers might otherwise like, I’ve found that the beginning of this attraction scares my son far too much to even look at what’s happening for the rest of the ride. 

Save yourself and your kid the stress, and try this one when they’re slightly older.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Maybe my son knows I don’t like this ride – I’m still salty that it not only took over Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at Magic Kingdom, but also the Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland – or maybe he’s just suspicious of the main bear himself. But every time we’ve ridden the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, he’s absolutely hated it.

At first glance, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh seems perfect for toddlers. It features familiar characters they (probably) know and love, bright bold colors, and a relatively calm storyline. But there are a few moments of darkness, and those can be a bit scary and overwhelming for some toddlers.

Specifically, my son hates the heffalumps and woozles, which are pretty overwhelming visually and in a dark room. The storm scene also tends to spook him like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the implied danger is something toddlers definitely pick up on. 

However, that being said, I do recommend giving the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at least one try to see how your toddler reacts. They may only be frightened by select parts, or it may not bother them at all. But, if you want to err on the safe side, I recommend skipping it.