Be sure you’ve spent time in advance understanding of the Disney World height requirements at different attractions inside the park.
Disney World height requirements vary by attraction. For instance, in Magic Kingdom, “The Barnstormer” requires 35 inches, while “Space Mountain” demands 44 inches. Epcot’s “Test Track” and “Soarin’ Around the World” both have a 40-inch requirement. These are set for safety, ensuring guests fit securely within ride restraints.
Although height requirements seem like a very small thing, they have the power to make or break a magical Disney experience.
Also read our guide to the best stroller rentals in Disney World.
What are Height Requirements?
There are a number of rides at Disney World that have height requirements.
The following is a summary of the height requirements for the most popular rides at Disney World.
Magic Kingdom
- The Barnstormer: Guests must be 35 inches (89 centimeters) or taller
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Guests must be 40 inches (102 centimeters) or taller
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: Guests must be 38 inches (97 centimeters) or taller
- Space Mountain: Guests must be 44 inches (113 centimeters) or taller
- Splash Mountain: Guests must be 40 inches (102 centimeters) or taller
- Tomorrowland Speedway: Guests must be 32 inches (82 centimeters) or taller to ride; Guests must be 54 inches (137 centimeters) or taller to drive
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: Guests must be 40 inches (102 centimeters) or taller
- Space Ranger Spin: Any height
- Astro Orbiter: Any height
- Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station: Any height
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel: Any height
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Any height
- Enchanted Tales with Belle: Any height
- Haunted Mansion: Any height
- “it’s a small world”: Any height
- Jungle Cruise: Any height
- Mad Tea Party: Any height
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin: Any height
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Any height
- Peter Pan’s Flight: Any height
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Any height
- Swiss Family Treehouse: Any height
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid: Any height
- The Hall of Presidents: Any height
- Liberty Square Riverboat: Any height
- The Country Bear Jamboree: Any height
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room: Any height
- Tom Sawyer Island: Any height
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress: Any height
Epcot
- Test Track: Guests must be 40 inches (102 centimeters) or taller
- Mission: SPACE: Guests must be 40 inches (102 centimeters) or taller for the Orange Mission and 44 inches (113 centimeters) or taller for the Green Mission
- Soarin’ Around the World: Guests must be 40 inches (102 centimeters) or taller
- Spaceship Earth: Any height
- Living with the Land: Any height
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends: Any height
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros: Any height
- Journey into Imagination with Figment: Any height
- Frozen Ever After: Any height
Hollywood Studios
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster: Guests must be 48 inches (122 centimeters) or taller
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue: Guests must be 40 inches (102 centimeters) or taller
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: Guests must be 40 inches (102 centimeters) or taller
- Slinky Dog Dash: Guests must be 38 inches (97 centimeters) or taller
- Alien Swirling Saucers: Guests must be 32 inches (82 centimeters) or taller
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: Any height
- Toy Story Mania!: Any height
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run: Guests must be 38 inches (97 centimeters) or taller
Animal Kingdom
- Avatar Flight of Passage: Guests must be 44 inches (113 centimeters) or taller
- DINOSAUR: Guests must be 40 inches (102 centimeters) or taller
- Expedition Everest: Guests must be 44 inches (113 centimeters) or taller
- Kali River Rapids: Guests must be 38 inches (97 centimeters) or taller
- TriceraTop Spin: Any height
- Wildlife Express Train: Rafiki’s Planet Watch: Any height
In addition to the height requirements, some rides may have other restrictions, such as age or health restrictions, that should be considered before planning to ride.
Additional tips about the Disney World height requirements
Many of Disney’s more exciting rides have a “’minimum height requirement” for riders, and others have certain height requirements to ride unaccompanied by an adult.
The fastest and most thrilling rides are usually the ones with the greatest height requirements.
So, what do these height requirements look like?
It’s a bit different at each park, but by way of example, the greatest height requirement at Disneyland in Anaheim is 54 inches, which is the requirement to ride in Autopia alone (although you can ride with another person at 32 inches).
For Hyperspace Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours, and Rise of the Resistance, the requirement is 40 inches.
The height requirements for each ride are generally posted in two places. The first place is at the primary entrance to an attraction’s line.
(By “primary entrance”, we mean the entrance after any overflow line that may be marked by ropes or chains.)
The second place you’ll see the height requirement is at the loading point for an attraction.
The height requirements are usually in the form of a wooden or metal sign that has a marker at the specific height you must be to ride.
The sign will usually state some version of “you must be THIS tall” to ride, with an arrow pointing to the height marker.
If you just barely touch the marker by standing up straight and tall, that is generally sufficient to ride; but if you’re a half-inch or so below the marker even when standing tall, there’s a good chance you will not be permitted to ride.
If you or your Nerdling do not meet a height requirement, you want to note that before you’ve waited in a long line.
So, we strongly recommend checking your height at the line entrance, even if that means you need to go take a look at the primary entrance point before going to the end of an overflow line.
Nothing is more disappointing than waiting in a long line only to be turned away at the loading point!
Why should I learn about Disney World height requirements before visiting a park?
All of us Nerds with Nerdlings have experienced wanting to share a new adventure with our kids only to be stymied by height requirements.
Being aware of height requirements in advance will ensure your visit to the Disney Parks will be all magic and no disappointment!
By learning about height requirements in advance you can avoid disappointment and plan your visit more efficiently.
For example, don’t waste your most precious “waiting times” or speed admissions on rides for which you or a portion of your party don’t meet height requirements.
And always be sure to manage Nerdlings expectations by letting them know in advance about height requirements.
By knowing and talking about height requirements in advance, you’ll focus all your energy and time on the attractions you can ride, rather than being disappointed in the attractions you can’t ride.
Can I avoid Disney World height requirements?
Over the years, we Nerds have seen every possible method used by guests to try to circumvent the height requirements.
The most common methods we see are shoes with giant heels or tissue paper stuffed inside shoes to add a few extra inches; or sometimes both of these combined.
We understand why Disney guests make these attempts.
Height requirements can be frustrating. For the poorly prepared, they can damper the excitement of a visit.
Height requirements may also complicate park visits for big groups because it means that some people can’t ride.
This Nerd has been in plenty of situations where I must stay behind and watch Nerdlings while the rest of the adults and older Nerdlings go on exciting rides.
But we think the main reason most people try to circumvent height requirements is because they want to share a special experience with their Nerdling.
I can imagine a Nerd taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disneyland, eager to share their first rollercoaster experience with their Nerdling, only be turned away because the Nerdling is an inch to short. My heart breaks when I think about something like this!
Still, we Nerds strongly encourage guests NOT to try to avoid height requirements.
Before you get angry, remember these regulations are designed for your own safety.
Height requirements are put in place to prevent injuries and deaths as a result of riding these attractions.
Disney’s attractions are very safe in part because Disney has always prioritized the health and safety of its guests above all else.
Our Nerdlings may want to ride Hyperspace Mountain, but because of the high speeds and jerky turns, it is simply unsafe for people below a certain height.
More importantly, the safety restraint systems are designed for people of certain heights and may not safely and securely carry passengers below that height. Please don’t put your Nerdlings at risk.
As a final word of warning, be aware that Disneyland enforces its height requirements very strictly.
If you or your Nerdlings are not tall enough, they will not permit you or your Nerdlings to ride.
Period.
And if they catch you being dishonest or harassing staff regarding the height requirements, you may find yourself removed from the park.
So, before you think you can sneak your little one past the line, think about the consequences.
Don’t put your Nerdlings at risk, and don’t risk an unfortunate end to your magical visit!
Our final thoughts on Disney World height requirements
The biggest risk when it comes to height requirements is that you’ll be disappointed in the moment.
Seeing an amazing ride only to learn you don’t meet the height requirement can be very disappointing.
But by knowing the height requirements in advance, you can avoid some of that disappointment in the moment.
A little advance research allows you to identify and start getting excited about the numerous other rides and attractions that can make your trip to a Disney Park fun and exciting, even if you have to hold off on the most daring rollercoasters.
The most important part of any Disney visit is to experience the magic of the broader Disney world, not to ride any specific individual attraction.
So, do your homework and don’t let pesky height requirements get in the way of a broader, magical Disney experience.