Which Disney Attractions Are the Most Family-Friendly?

This summer, you want to spend your family vacation together.

You’d rather not split into groups while you’re at Disney, as that’s an oftentimes chaotic process.

So, you need to pick the attractions that you can all enjoy as a group.

You’re probably wondering a simple question. Which Disney attractions are the most family-friendly?

Here are a dozen attractions I consider fun for everyone.

Alien Swirling Saucers

When Toy Story debuted in theaters, a set of characters stole the show. They were the Three-Eyed Aliens, aka the Little Green Men.

These kawaii creatures were in awe of everything, and their innocence delighted movie-goers.

Since then, the aliens have become a staple of the Toy Story franchise, appearing whenever a cheap laugh is needed.

In 2018, Disney opened the first American version of Toy Story Land, and Imagineers needed a new ride concept.

So, they modified the tech from Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree to make it even more family-friendly.

The end result is Alien Swirling Saucers, which puts you behind the wheel of an alien ship. It’s just that they’re not very good drivers.

You find yourself along for the ride, and said ride gets rough when you get hurled into your partner’s lap.

Kids LOVE “accidentally” ramming into their parents, making this one a ton of fun.

Enchanted Tales with Belle

You want to make memories while you’re at Disney, and this attraction provides one of the best opportunities.

Enchanted Tales with Belle recreates some key moments from Beauty & the Beast.

This time, several members of a walking tour act out the story.

That level of fan participation means that kids and parents become a part of the show.

You’ll definitely find out who the hammy over-actors are during this presentation.

Usually, it’s the kids, but it’s funnier when the parents go over the top with their “acting.”

It’s a Small World

Walt Disney himself invented this attraction, which he planned as a harmonious demonstration that all people are the same.

Disney described the concept as a “little boat ride,” where guests take a quick tour of international cultures.

Since kids are too young to be cynical about the proceedings, the broad nature of the humor appeals to them.

Meanwhile, parents can relax and let go, embracing the simpler nature of the ride. It’s brimming with positivity.

So, the cynicism adults develop as a kind of emotional armor dissipates as we watch Mary Blair’s puppets.

It’s a Small World is a smile machine.

Journey into Imagination with Figment

Similarly, the creative process takes center stage at the Imagination! pavilion.

You join a scientist portrayed by Eric Idle on a journey into the human psyche.

Along the way, you encounter a mischievous dragon named Figment, whose creativity causes him to misbehave.

Kids spend most of their childhood listening to their parents ask them not to act out.

On this ride, Disney throws out the rulebook and basically says, “Never lose touch with your creativity!”

Figment has become an iconic part of EPCOT due to the stubborn positivity of this attraction.

Jungle Cruise

Look, your parents are gonna make dad jokes no matter what.

Your family might as well lean into this fact by riding Jungle Cruise, the ride that arguably invented the concept.

Jungle Cruise provides more puns in ten minutes than you’ll find during a full-day Angie Tribeca/Naked Gun/Get Smart marathon.

The remarkable part of the Jungle Cruise ride concept is that each Jungle Skipper brings their own comedic style to the proceedings.

So, each ride proves a bit different, even to those of us who know the script by heart.

Kilimanjaro Safaris

The beauty of wildlife never ceases to amaze.

As children, we learn to appreciate what we see of ourselves in nature, and that admiration never diminishes as we mature.

For this reason, every trip on Kilimanjaro Safaris provides wonderment to people of all ages.

No matter how old you are, you’ll still admire lions in their natural habitats or zebras playing in open fields.

Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of those rare theme park attractions that unites us all.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

While some children’s characters have lost their popularity over the years, the denizens of Hundred-Acre Wood have stood the test of time.

Even now, people love to watch Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and their friends interact because we know it’ll be good, wholesome fun.

That’s what Disney should be as well, making The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh one of Disney’s most family-friendly rides.

You enter the pages of the story, you live out a fun and sometimes scary adventure, and when you depart, you’ll feel like Christopher Robin saying goodbye.

Imagineers deserve plenty of credit for how perfectly they’ve encapsulated the charm of the characters on this attraction.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

We waited 65 years for the first Mickey Mouse-themed ride, but I’m happy to report it was worth the delay.

In 2020, Disney finished re-themed the former attraction, The Great Movie Ride, into a new ride.

This experience uses the same general ride mechanics as the old attraction, but it somehow feels totally different.

That’s because Disney turned entire rooms into real-life implementations of cartoon settings.

You’ll find backdrops for carnivals, busy streets, manufacturing plants, and even a cliffside waterway.

Cartoon fans know that if there’s a cliff, a boat is gonna go over that cliff. It’s an ironclad law of cartoon physics.

That’s the charm of Runaway Railway. For the first time ever, people get to enter the cartoons and become part of the story.

Since we all grew up with Mickey & Minnie Mouse cartoons, this entire attraction is like a dream come true.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

Similarly, we’ve all watched classic Disney movies like The Lion King, Aladdin, and Under the Sea.

So, when Disney puts together a show-based attraction based on these titles, we’re all interested.

Specifically, Mickey’s PhilharMagic uses the Sorcerer Mickey elements from Fantasia as a jumping-off point.

That reckless Donald Duck steals a magic wand and accidentally finds himself thrust into several other memorable movie moments.

I think of this show as Disney’s Greatest Hits, only with Donald Duck inserted into various scenes. It’s so charming.

This attraction is one of the safest for families in that I cannot imagine anyone disliking it. PhilharMagic is like a warm hug.

Muppet*Vision 3D

Similarly, everyone loves The Muppets. So, Imagineers worked with Jim Henson to create a short film with the characters.

Whereas PhilharMagic is Disney’s greatest hits, Muppet*Vision 3D works as a speedrun through generations of Muppet jokes.

All your favorite characters will pull off their most recognizable shtick, and it’s another presentation everyone should love.

Peter Pan’s Flight

When Disneyland opened in 1955, Walt Disney acted particularly proud of one of the rides.

As a lifelong fan of Peter Pan, Uncle Walt beamed with pride about the attraction that allowed guests to soar through the air.

Nearly 70 years later, Peter Pan’s Flight has stood the test of time as a family-friendly exploration of J.M. Barrie’s Neverland.

This larger-than-life experience recreates the events of the story that Walt Disney treasured in a straightforward, efficient manner.

Imagineers have distilled an entire fantasy tale into two minutes of kinetic escapism. It’s truly a masterpiece of immersive design.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Finally, we have another of the obvious choices.

On The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Disney recounts the story of Finding Nemo, although this ride is technically standalone.

Somehow, that lovable scamp, Nemo, has gotten lost again.

Nobody is that concerned since he always seems to find his way back, but Bruce the Shark thinks he might grab a bite to eat anyway.

Kids love everything about the theming here, starting with the Clamobile ride carts.

The euphoria continues through the upbeat rendition of In the Big Blue World at the end.

Disney heightens the family-friendly excitement of that section by projecting Nemo characters against the real residents of the aquarium.

This clever bit of Imagineering will give everyone in the traveling party something to discuss as they exit the ride.

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Feature Photo: Disney