Skip the thrill rides and enjoy Disney World together — these attractions are ideal for multi-generational fun.
Planning a family vacation to Disney World isn’t easy, and I know I always like having an extra set of hands (or two!) along for the trip. In fact, I always recommend families with young kids bring along grandparents when possible. The kids get to make magical memories with Grandma and Grandpa, and parents get a chance to sit back and relax now and then.
But multi-generational Disney World vacations can be a little tricky. The larger the group, the more everyone’s interests will diverge. And what’s fun for the kids isn’t always well-suited to grandparents and their mobility or thrill levels.
Whether you’re visiting the theme parks with very active or slower-moving grandparents, the following rides are my top picks for kids, parents, and grandparents alike. Trust me: You’ll all enjoy them, even if they aren’t the fastest or most dizzying picks.
The Best Rides for Grandparents at Magic Kingdom
“it’s a small world”
Photo by Cliff Wang
It’s a multi-generational classic for good reason, regardless of how you feel about its catchy tune! “it’s a small world” takes guests of every age on a gentle cruise through scenes of dolls from countries around the world, and it’s as captivating for toddlers as it is for grandparents. It’s colorful, it’s adorable, and there’s plenty to look at, even if you’re quite familiar with the attraction.
I particularly love “it’s a small world” as a whole-family ride because it combines fun with downtime. Everyone gets the opportunity to sit down and rest their feet, and the ride is long enough to feel like a true break.
Plus, if you’re not a huge fan of this one, you can always adopt the approach my husband and dad take: Shut your eyes and squeeze in a light nap on the 10-minute journey.
Jungle Cruise
Every ride on the Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise is unique, which makes it an attraction that never fails to deliver on fun. Your skipper will deliver a spiel that’s packed with puns, and though the sights along the waterways of the jungle will remain the same trip after trip, you always have the chance to look at different details.
While most of the jokes on a Jungle Cruise sailing will go right over little kids’ heads, older children, parents, and grandparents will all easily find themselves laughing. Plus, like “it’s a small world”, this is an attraction that’s surprisingly lengthy and offers a perfect opportunity to rest those tired feet.
Worried about grandparents’ ability to get in and out of the boats? In my experience, Disney makes the Jungle Cruise easily accessible regardless of your party’s specific needs, so you can consider this one a safe bet.
Haunted Mansion
Photo by Laurie Sapp
Technically, the Haunted Mansion might be too scary for the youngest of guests. But for everyone else in your party — grandparents included — it’s sure to be a hit.
Yes, it’s spooky, but the immersive theming, slow-moving Doom Buggies, and nostalgia come together inside the Haunted Mansion to make it a must-ride for pretty much everyone. And grandparents won’t have any issue with the speed or movement of this classic attraction, making it a solid choice any time of the day.
Pirates of the Caribbean
This is another Disney World classic that’s beloved for good reason: It’s a gentle boat ride, but one that features seriously impressive theming, an engaging storyline, and a solid runtime so you can sit back, relax, and fully enjoy the ride.
Pirates of the Caribbean is a great pick for pretty much all ages, though it may be slightly dark and scary for young toddlers. It does include a few light thrills that’ll keep everyone on their toes, but it’s calm enough for young and old guests alike, plus parents who are looking for a cool, air-conditioned break (and maybe a little quiet).
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
This Fantasyland dark ride isn’t very exciting (and it is pretty short), but its laid-back, slow-moving nature makes it perfect for guests of every age. Plus, who doesn’t love the always adorable and charming Winnie the Pooh?
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will take grandparents back to their own childhoods with the cuddly ol’ bear himself and delight kids, thanks to the vibrant colors and easy-to-follow storyline. Plus, thanks to the play area inside the ride’s queue, it’s a great place to bring the whole family to get some wiggles out and enjoy more relaxed entertainment once you’re on the ride.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
If there was any Disney World attraction my own grandpa loved more than the Country Bears, it was this one. (In fact, he was sorely disappointed when its Disneyland counterpart bit the dust in the late 1990s.) The PeopleMover is really a grandparents’ dream ride: It’s slow, it isn’t too thrilling, and it offers the chance to soak in the sights quietly.
While the PeopleMover might be slower-paced than any tweens or teens in your family prefer, it does offer some stellar views of Tomorrowland and the larger Magic Kingdom. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to spend quality time one another, and grandparents are sure to appreciate the chance to soak in the sights with their grandkids.
The Best Rides for Grandparents at EPCOT
Spaceship Earth
Photo by Marisa Alvarado
Just call Spaceship Earth a big ol’ ball of nostalgia, because this is the kind of classic Disney World ride that grandparents love. It may not be super appealing to the younger generation, but this attraction is still around for a reason — it’s a multi-generation hit.
With its slow pace and journey through time, this history lesson bundled into an EPCOT ride is a great opportunity for the kids and their grandparents to ride together. It won’t thrill anyone, but it will certainly wind up being a memory-maker for everyone (and it’ll continue the nostalgic appeal of this ride in your very own family).
Living with the Land
Ever since becoming an adult and parent myself, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to Living with the Land. Sure, some of it might be a growing appreciation for agriculture, but odds are it’s the nostalgia of “old EPCOT” bundled in this relaxing boat ride.
And odds are, you and your parents or in-laws will feel the same. Living with the Land is a great multi-generational ride, as it’s appealing to grandparents, parents, and young kids. In-betweeners like tweens and teens may not get it (it’s far more boring than the nearby Soarin’, after all), but the chance to sit back, cruise through scenes of all kinds, and relax makes this a ride well worth walking onto.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Photo by Cliff Wang
Air-conditioned, dimly lit, and very relaxing for adults, The Seas with Nemo and Friends is an EPCOT rides grandparents will love. While it can be a bit too dark for the youngest of kids, overall this is a modern Disney World dark ride that’s enjoyable for all ages.
Sure, it’s not very thrilling, but parents and grandparents alike will love the opportunity to sit back, relax, and see Nemo’s story in a fresh way. Plus, the ride ends inside the larger The Seas aquarium, another walkable attraction that’s perfect for multi-generational groups.
Frozen Ever After
Let’s be honest: Your kids are going to want to ride this one over and over again. Luckily, it’s a slow-moving boat ride (with a couple of thrilling surprises along the way) that the entire family will enjoy.
Frozen Ever After takes guests into Arendelle and the storyline from Frozen, featuring the beloved cast of characters (Snowgies included). And, best of all, it maintains some of the same details from the former Maelstrom, a ride the grandparents in your party likely remember. While your kids’ grandparents may not be up for coasters like Cosmic Rewind, they will enjoy this modern, upgraded boat ride.
The Best Rides for Grandparents at Hollywood Studios
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Photo by Marisa Alvarado
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is the sole Disney World attraction starring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, and trust me: It’ll be a hit with your entire family. This wacky ride combines the classic hijinks of a Mickey Mouse animated short with a fun trackless ride through scenes both fun and slightly dangerous.
This isn’t your average Disney World dark ride. It is smooth and slow-moving enough to be ideal for the grandparents in your group, but it’s thrilling enough and feels immersive to the point that it’ll keep kids and parents entertained. And the movement of your train car is exciting enough to make it feel exciting every step of the way.
Toy Story Mania
Sure, grandparents aren’t exactly huge on video games for the most part. But Toy Story Mania blends Disney World fun with a hands-on video game that’ll spark plenty of inter-family competition. And you might be surprised at just how agile they are when playing these games!
Toy Story Mania doesn’t feature a lot of movement; your ride vehicle will whirl from room to room, but for the most part, you and your fellow riders are going head to head in a series of aim-and-shoot games. Speaking as someone who’s absolutely awful at most video games, it’s simple enough that anyone can rack up points and win – even young kids and older adults.
The Best Rides for Grandparents at Animal Kingdom
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Photo by Marisa Alvarado
Kilimanjaro Safaris is a ride that’s fantastic for the whole family. Parents, grandparents, and kids will all love this trek out into Animal Kingdom’s savanna, where it’s easy to see animals like lions, crocodiles, cheetahs, and elephants in recreations of their natural habitats. The landscape is gorgeous, and the animals are surprisingly close by.
As an added perk, the gentle motion of the safari vehicles is comfortable even for older adults. Grandparents in your party won’t have to worry about comfort, and it’s an attraction that makes it easy for everyone to get a great view and enjoy the trek (no walking required after you’re through the queue!).
Na’vi River Journey
Disney World’s dark rides are always slow, calm, and gentle, which is why they’re so universally beloved. It’s all the magic and immersion you’d hope for, in an accessible and all-ages format. And Na’vi River Journey, one of the newest additions into this ride category, is a great pick for multi-generational trips.
This all-ages attraction is all about the visuals. Even if the grandparents in your family aren’t the biggest Avatar fans, they’ll enjoy the impressive Audio-Animatronics, the bioluminescent landscape, and the smooth motion of the ride. And little ones, too, will most likely be as wowed as their grandparents.
