Which Disney Attractions Will Your Child Like?

Hello from the place where I’m currently trapped under a foot of snow!

Yes, my city just experienced its worst snowstorm since 1993. I haven’t left my home in five days, and the cabin fever is real.

However, I just watched a member of my family experience her first snowfall.

She’s only a year old and can’t string two sentences together yet, but from the joy on her face, I’m pretty sure she’s gonna live at a ski resort.

In honor of the childish joy of baby’s first snow, let’s talk about something that will provide you with a lifetime of memories.

Here are some of the Disney attractions your child will like the most.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Let’s cover two quick notes before we begin. I’ve ignored any ride with a reputation for scaring a small percentage of children.

For example, the loud cannon fire on Pirates of the Caribbean can startle kids, and the Barnstormer can be a bit too intense for first-time riders.

I so badly wanted to include The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, but the dark section is problematic for some.

Also, I’m skipping anything with a height requirement since I don’t know your child’s age.

Having said that, every baby exits the womb knowing how to play videogames. It’s just a thing now.

You can hand a newborn an iPad, and they’ll build an entire level of Minecraft by naptime.

Similarly, you can take a child to Tomorrowland, stick them on Space Ranger Spin, and they’ll score at Space Ace or higher after three rides.

Peter Pan’s Flight

The story of Peter Pan resonates to this day, but that’s not why kids will adore this ride.

Instead, the underlying thought will captivate them. Your child will see the Darling kids in their bedroom.

Then, the ride cart will create the illusion of flight, causing a youngster to believe that they’re soaring over London.

Soon afterward, they’ll arrive in Neverland, a place where mermaids are real, pirates are jerks, and crocodiles dole out karma.

Any child would want to visit that place. 

It’s a Small World

Every parent can tell the same story about their child.

Inevitably, a kid locks in on some pop culture flavor of the moment like, say, Cocomelon.

The child won’t just watch an episode. They’ll loop it repeatedly, thereby driving their parents to distraction.

It’s a Small World is just like that, but it’s even better because it has dolls!

Your little boat ride will carry you and your child from scene to scene, thereby allowing you to travel the world in 12 minutes.

Throughout this journey, your child will be mesmerized by their surroundings.

Perhaps no attraction has ever encapsulated the family-friendly nature of Disney like It’s a Small World.

You should just sit back, relax, and watch your child bask in the glory of Mary Blair’s dolls and the music of the Sherman Brothers.

Journey into Imagination with Figment

During a recent EPCOT visit, my wife espoused a philosophy that has stuck with me.

She believes that an adult’s reaction to Journey into Imagination with Figment reflects how much they’ve kept touch with their inner child.

Conversely, you’ll never need to ask anyone under the age of eight whether they enjoyed the Figment ride.

The glow in their cheeks will tell the story. There’s a reason why fans remain so passionate about Figment to this day.

The core concept of the ride, the existence of a dragon-shaped figment of imagination, resonates with people of all ages.

Some of them are more in touch with it than others, and I say that as someone who wishes Disney would plus this ride.

For kids, that first encounter with Figment is unforgettable.

You’re not getting your child out of that gift shop without buying something.

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

One of the dirty secrets of Walt Disney World is that lines can get quite long for Magic Kingdom’s oldest ride.

This carousel is somehow older than the park itself and is now 107 years old and counting!

Despite the fact that people were enjoying this ride during the Woodrow Wilson administration, children still love it today.

The timeless nature of a carousel works in its favor.

Plus, when you ride it, you’ll be doing something that Walt Disney once did with his daughters. That’s pretty great, too.

For your child, the experience is purer. They’re riding a bouncy horse while soothing music plays.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Finding Nemo is more than 20 years old now, which suggests that many parents of small children today grew up on the film.

The subtle brilliance of this story is that it reflects the underlying fears of parents and children alike.

A clownfish named Nemo mischievously strays too far from his parent and gets lost.

I have a vivid recollection of being lost in a parking lot on a church trip to Nashville.

Conversely, I remember the first time I was placed in charge of my nephew, who is only 11 years younger than me.

I lost sight of him for two agonizing minutes, and it scarred me and turned me into a wildly overprotective person.

The kernel of that fear drives the otherwise gentle plot of The Seas with Nemo & Friends, a ride that recreates the film.

Kids will delight in the encounter with Bruce the Shark and gaze in awe at the special effects of the East Australian Current.

The remarkable thing about children is that they’re open to even the most impossible ideas, accepting them as natural.

So, the thought of a fish surfing with a turtle seems normal and wildly entertaining. This one’s always a huge winner with kids.

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

Something I admire about the best Disney rides is that you don’t need to have a passing familiarity with the film.

For example, few Disney fans today have any experience whatsoever with Song of the South, yet we treasured Splash Mountain.

When Imagineers tell a story the right way, we don’t need the source material to understand the magic.

I think that’s particularly applicable to the Little Mermaid dark ride.

Even if a child has never seen The Little Mermaid – an oversight that should be corrected immediately – they’ll get it.

The sight of spinning fish spitting water doesn’t require any explanation. It’s just visually funny.

This sort of sensory stimulation will start immediately on the ride and continue until the happy ending.

Plus, as mentioned, music factors a great deal in a child’s enjoyment…and that Little Mermaid soundtrack is joyful!

Walt Disney World Railroad

Kids love trains.

Many of them never grow out of this early adoration for a throwback style of entertainment.

In fact, Walt Disney’s passion for trains partially explains the existence of the Disney theme parks we all love.

When Disneyland opened in 1955, Uncle Walt drove a train car down Main Street, U.S.A.!

Since that moment, trains have been synonymous with the Disney park experience.

Not coincidentally, when you enter Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, the train tracks are the first thing you’ll see.

Your child will hear the siren song pulling them toward that train ride, and your only hope of delaying them is the fragrant aroma of the bakery.

Otherwise, you’ll start your park visit by riding the train. It happens more than you might expect.

No matter when the ride happens, your kid will want to hop on the train. And they’ll laugh with glee when that train whistle sounds.

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Feature Photo: Disney