If your kids are too young for coasters but ready for something new, these are the Disney World rides that’ll make their first “big kid” experience fun.

Heading to Disney World with kids who are nervous about new experiences – like new-to-them rides – can be tricky. You want them to have brand-new fun on different rides, but if you choose a ride that’s a bit too thrilling, it can easily backfire and scare them off even gentle rides. And how can you tell which rides are a good option for first-timers, balancing just the right amount of excitement with comfort?

As a parent who’s definitely waited in her fair share of lines only to find out my son is too scared to ride, I’m sharing two picks from each of Disney World’s theme parks that are calm enough for kids who aren’t ready for big thrills, but want something beyond the always-smooth seas of “it’s a small world.” These are the best rides for first-time riders who might feel nervous, scared, or apprehensive about trying something new.

Animal Kingdom Rides That Won’t Scare Nervous Kids

Photo by Danny Shuster

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Okay, technically Kilimanjaro Safaris isn’t any scarier or more thrilling than your average Disney World dark ride like Peter Pan’s Flight or The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. But it does add a real-world element that can’t be found in any other theme park – after all, you won’t find giraffes, tigers, and zebras roaming around Magic Kingdom!

Kilimanjaro Safaris is kind of like the Jungle Cruise: Every ride is a bit different. You never know which animals might be awake and most active, or closest to your ride vehicle. The ever-changing experience adds a light element of surprise, making it fresh even if you’ve visited before (and I’m talking about kids and adults!).

Kali River Rapids

On a hot day, there’s something nothing better than a cool water ride, and Kali River Rapids fits that bill. More importantly, though, this rapids-style ride is a great “in between” option for nervous first-time riders. If your kids aren’t quite ready for big drops or high speeds, this ride delivers lighter thrills (and plenty of splashes and sprays).

Overall, this is a relatively smooth river rapids ride that features a few light surprises – including one gradual, not-too-steep drop and water cannons – that shouldn’t scare even the most hesitant riders. As long as your kids are okay with getting wet, they’ll have plenty of fun on this one. 

EPCOT Rides That Won’t Scare Nervous Kids

Photo by Cliff Wang

Soarin’ Around the World

Featuring gentle movement and some stunning visuals, Soarin’ Around the World is a perennial guest favorite for good reason. And for kids who might be nervous about riding “bigger” attractions, this is a ride that’s slow enough, calm enough, and yet still exciting enough to feel like a great step up.

Soarin’ raises guests off the ground and simulates a hang glider flight over iconic destinations. It’ll make kids feel like they’re actually soaring – and there are no surprises along the way, other than the change in locations onscreen. The height from which you’re flying feels impressive, even though it’s the only real thrill aside from the gentle tilting of your ride vehicle.

Frozen Ever After

Odds are you won’t have to persuade your kids to get on this EPCOT ride. Frozen Ever After has no height requirement and is pretty popular with guests of all ages, but it can be a good “surprise” test for nervous first-timers. It is, overall, a pretty calm boat ride through the storyline of Frozen, starring all of kids’ favorite characters.

But Frozen Ever After does include a few little thrills, like a drop and a backwards drop. The dark setting of the ride makes it tricky to see what’s coming, so it will surprise riders. But thanks to the overall gentle movement of this ride and its familiar, kid-loved storyline, it’s overall a good one to test the waters (pun intended) with nervous little ones.

Hollywood Studios Rides That Won’t Scare Nervous Kids

Photo by Brett Svenson

Alien Swirling Saucers

Toy Story Land is a kid’s paradise – everything in this land, including its roller coaster (Slinky Dog Dash), is sized and designed for younger guests. And if your kids are on the fence about riding their first coaster but want to step up from dark rides like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Alien Swirling Saucers is a great, not-at-all-scary option.

Alien Swirling Saucers sends riders spinning, in a manner that’s somewhat similar to the teacups of the Magic Kingdom’s Mad Tea Party. Your rocket will spin in circles underneath the Claw and those familiar green aliens. It delivers a bit of an adrenaline rush like a thrill ride, but it’s pretty toned down and perfectly friendly for first-timers. They may walk off a little dizzy, but that’s the biggest thrill on this ride.

Toy Story Mania

Completely free of thrills (unless you consider winning a competition against your family members thrilling), Toy Story Mania is a ride that’s perfect for nervous first-time riders. Not only will kids be able to get involved by playing with their own pull-toy device, but they’ll also be able to aim, shoot, and handle each game in the attraction independently. 

More arcade than ride, this dimly-lit attraction in Toy Story Land will have kids forgetting about any fear of the dark as they play against fellow riders in a series of video games. While it might seem like a slightly complicated choice for younger kids, truly anyone can play – there’s a good mix of easy-to-reach targets and moving ones, offering a mix that’ll make every rider feel confident.

Magic Kingdom Rides That Won’t Scare Nervous Kids

Photo by Laurie Sapp

The Barnstormer

If your kids are tall enough to start trying out roller coasters but are too afraid of steep drops and inversions (like plenty of adults are, too!), I suggest giving The Barnstormer a try. Located in Fantasyland’s Storybook Circus, this kid-sized coaster is the perfect introduction to thrill rides, thanks to its small dips and slight curves.

Plus, there’s another reason The Barnstormer is great for nervous first-time riders: It’s short. The entire ride clocks in at just one minute, meaning it will be over before scared kids even realize it. It’s gentle enough to slowly introduce roller coaster thrills, but quick enough to get the entire experience over with in no time.

Classic Dark Rides (Like Peter Pan’s Flight)

Lastly, if your kids decide it’s better to take it slow instead of fast (even slightly fast) when it comes to more thrilling rides at Disney World, Magic Kingdom is filled with options. As the resort’s original theme park, it’s home to plenty of classics that are gentle, suitable for all ages, and perfectly tailored to keep kids entertained, not frightened.

Safe ride options for nervous first-time riders include:

• Peter Pan’s Flight
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• “it’s a small world”
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Astro Orbiter
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Jungle Cruise

And that’s just some of the options at Magic Kingdom. As a whole, as long as you avoid somewhat scary options like Haunted Mansion and coasters like Space Mountain, your nervous first-timers will be perfectly fine to ride most of what’s in this park.