Magic Kingdom

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9 Unexpectedly Overstimulating Magic Kingdom Attractions WITHOUT Height Requirements

An Overview of Unexpectedly Overstimulating and Scary Attractions at Magic Kingdom WITHOUT Height Requirements

Are you planning a visit to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World with your highly sensitive, sensory sensitive, or anxious kids?

Magic Kingdom is known for its enchanting and family-friendly attractions. It has the most options in terms of rides and attractions without height requirements among the Disney World theme parks, with EPCOT coming in second. This is why most families with infants and young children like to go to Magic Kingdom. There is just so much to ride and experience together as a family! However, there may be aspects of some of these rides that are unexpectedly scary for some sensitive kids. 

A lot of people mistakenly assume that if a ride has no height requirement, then it’s not scary and should be suitable for ANYONE. But this doesn’t always hold true. Just because a child is tall enough for a ride doesn’t always mean they are ready for it. There are lots of other factors to take into consideration besides height requirement when it comes to how scary or overstimulating a ride is. 

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Let’s jump right in and talk about 9 unexpectedly overstimulating Magic Kingdom attractions!

1. Haunted Mansion

Location: Liberty Square

This is such a fan favorite among Disney fans because of all of innovative work Disney’s Imagineers did to make this attraction come to life! You board a Doom buggy which takes you through this grand and eerie estate.

Reason for No Height Requirement:

The ride vehicle moves slowly throughout the whole attraction. The type of movement is similar to what you’d find on Peter Pan’s Flight, Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, or the Seas with Nemo & Friends over at EPCOT. I’ve heard of several infants falling asleep or nursing throughout this ride because of the darkness and slow movement.

What to Look Out For:

The pre-show involves being in the “stretching room”, which can be really scary for highly sensitive or anxious kids. There’s a pretty creepy voice speaking, as well as thunderous sounds and flashing lights. You can actually request to skip the pre-show if this is the only barrier to enjoying this ride. Just speak to the Cast Member as you enter the queue. You’ll see various spirits and ghosts throughout the ride. Be mindful of the very end of the attraction where the Doom buggy turns to face a mirror and you’ll notice a few ghosts have hitchhiked and joined you for the ride!

2. Pirates of the Caribbean

Location: Adventureland

This is another classic Disney ride that many love due its immersive experience and detailed storytelling. It is an indoor boat ride through various scenes of pirate life.

Reason for No Height Requirement:

It is a slow moving boat ride, similar to “it’s a small world”, aside from a small drop. The drop is similar to what you’d experience on Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, which also does not have a height requirement. There are no quick twists or turns.

What to Look Out For:

It is VERY dark throughout the ride, starting from the queue. Pirates are obviously the central theme in this ride, and therefore includes scenes of pirates engaging in activities like drinking and fighting. There are also eerie skeletal pirates guarding their treasure. It is also fairly loud throughout the ride. As mentioned earlier, there is a drop near the beginning of the ride in total darkness. This could be a bit startling for sensitive kids.

3. The Enchanted Tiki Room

Location: Adventureland

This bird-focused show at Magic Kingdom is an opening day attraction at Disney World! It is known for the music and the first-of-its-kind animatronics. Be prepared to be singing “Tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room” as you leave!

Reason for No Height Requirement:

Since this is a show, there are no limitations for who can experience this attraction. 

What to Look Out For:

This show could be a little intense for kids who are scared of the dark. Some scenes are more brightly lit than others, but there is a point when there is a crescendo of drumming sounds which ends with a big thundering noise and everything goes black for a second. The tiki faces start moving and chanting as well, which could be a little scary for some little ones.

4. “It’s a small world”

Location: Fantasyland

This iconic Disney ride is known for the classic song that gets stuck in everyone’s head, and the animatronic dolls representing cultures around the world. Welcome to the happiest cruise that ever sailed!

Reason for No Height Requirement:

It is a slow-moving and gentle boat ride. The lack of speed and physical “thrill” makes this appropriate for ALL ages.

What to Look Out For:

It is generally light-hearted but if anyone in your travel party has a fear of dolls (which is surprisingly not an uncommon fear!), this ride is probably not for you. There are some shifts in lighting and mood between the different “areas” of the world, which could be a little startling for some sensitive kids. The constant auditory stimulation, though pleasant, may be overwhelming as well. The length of the ride is another aspect to be mindful of, as it is on the longer end at little over 10 minutes.

5. Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid

Location: Fantasyland

Board a seashell and explore Ariel’s story, with fun songs and animatronics of your favorite Little Mermaid characters!

Reason for No Height Requirement:

This is a slow Omnimover ride vehicle. This style of ride vehicle is common at Disney, and you’ll see that the vehicles continue to move at a consistent speed throughout.

What to Look Out For:

The ride is very dark! There is also a period where you are going “under the sea”, and you start traveling backwards at an angle. Be mindful of the scene with Ursula where she sings “Poor Unfortunate Souls”, especially if you’ve got kids who are especially sensitive to villains.

6. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Location: Fantasyland

Go on an adventure with Pooh and friends through the Hundred Acre Woods, as you board a honey-pot vehicle! 

Reason for No Height Requirement:

Again, this is another fairly slow-moving Disney dark ride. It definitely isn’t a physically thrilling ride.

What to Look Out For:

The ride vehicle does simulate bouncing movements to jump around with Tigger. Also, when Pooh falls asleep and you enter his dream, be prepared for some thunder and lightning effects as you encounter the Heffalumps and Woozles. 

7. Peter Pan’s Flight

Location: Fantasyland

You get to board a whimsical pirate ship to “fly” over the city of London and various scenes from Peter Pan!

Reason for No Height Requirement:

This is yet another Omnimover-style ride vehicle where the chain of vehicles are continuously moving at the same pace. There are no big jolts, bumps, or elements of speed.

What to Look Out For:

This can very very dark at times. There are also a few scenes which could be scary to some kids, like Wendy walking the plank or Captain Hook standing precariously on the open jaws of an alligator (eek!). Those who have an extreme fear of heights should be aware that there is slight flying sensation, but in actuality, you really are not far off the ground at all. 

8. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Location: Tomorrowland

Go on a relaxing tour of Tomorrowland, as you ride a tram that travels along an elevated track throughout this land.

Reason for No Height Requirement:

It is not a very physically thrilling ride, as indicated by a lack of any restraint system (no lap bars or seatbelts). There are some twists and turns as the track curves around to different areas. 

What to Look Out For:

While a lot of the ride is outdoors, there are some parts where you get to go inside other Tomorrowland attractions (namely, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Space Mountain). It is pitch black in a few of these sections. You may also hear screaming of guests riding on Space Mountain. 

9. Jungle Cruise

Location: Adventureland

This is yet another opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom! Ride a boat along a river with lots of fun animal animatronics, with the guidance of a Skipper who will provide a ton of punny jokes along the way.

Reason for No Height Requirement:

This is a slow moving boat ride, where the focus is mostly on the Skipper and the various scenes along the river. No ride restraints are needed here.

What to Look Out For:

This ride can be a lot for those with auditory sensitivity. It is a lot of continuous and fast talking by the Skipper. Some of the jokes, if not understood as a joke, could be scary or confusing to sensitive kids. There are also a few parts where you are in the dark. You do have a chance of getting slightly wet as well.


So, there you have it! 9 rides at Magic Kingdom without height requirements that COULD be overstimulating or scary to sensitive kids. 

This does not mean that all of these Magic Kingdom rides and attractions are guaranteed to be scary for your child. There may be rides that didn’t show up on this list that end up triggering a sensory overload meltdown! Instead, this is your reminder to be aware that seemingly harmless things can be experienced as “scary” to a more sensitive child. 

Every child is different, and you know your child best! And if you know that your child is highly sensitive, sensory sensitive, or prone to anxiety, it makes sense to take the time to prepare yourselves for your Disney trip.

RELATED: How to Prepare Your Highly Sensitive Child for Disney World

Join my private Facebook Group to ask questions, share your opinions and get more tips on planning your Disney trip with your highly sensitive kids! 

And follow along with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Lastly, don’t forget to download your FREE copy of my must-have Disney ride planner tool! Use it so you can easily keep track of which rides you want to avoid and which you want to try with your highly sensitive kids. It will make planning your park days SO much easier!

OTHER ARTICLES YOU MIGHT FIND HELPFUL

Photo of people riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Background is light purple with text above Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for highly Sensitive Kids. From moms make it magical dot com.

Is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train a Scary Ride for Sensitive Kids?

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for Highly Sensitive Kids: a Ride Review and Rating

Are you planning a trip to Disney World and wondering if your highly sensitive, sensory sensitive or anxious kids will enjoy Seven Dwarfs Mine Train? Or will they be scared and have meltdowns instead?

Look no further!

Here you’ll find a thorough overview of one of Disney World’s popular rides—Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Maybe some of your kids’ triggers are sudden noises, noise level, darkness, bright or flashing lights, speed, or “scary” visuals. Sometimes, these seemingly minor things can cause sensory overload meltdowns in our sensitive family members.

If you don’t like spoilers and it’s your first time going to Disney World, STOP READING NOW! The reason for creating these ride reviews and ratings in the first place is to make sure there are NO surprises that will throw off you and your family. But continue on if you’d like all the details about Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and want to find out if it’d be a scary ride for the sensitive or anxious members of your family.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride Info

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, also sometimes referred to as 7DMT in Disney abbreviations, is a rollercoaster found in the Fantasyland section of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It first opened on May 28, 2014. Since then it has been one of the most popular rides at Magic Kingdom as indicated by the long wait times. It is also one of the attractions at Magic Kingdom that use the Individual Lightning Lane (where you can pay extra to bypass the standby line). So, this clearly shows that Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is usually in HIGH demand!

It is themed after the beloved dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It feels like you are racing through a diamond mine on a rustic mine train. Inside the mine, you’ll get to see glittering jewels and see all of your favorite dwarfs whistling and singing while they dig. The audio-animatronic technology used for the dwarfs make them look super realistic!

This coaster travels both outdoors and indoors. There are also two on-ride cameras that take pretty epic pictures and videos of guests. You’ll need Disney’s Photopass to access them. 

On Ride Photo from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

There is a minimum height requirement of 38 inches (97cm) for this ride. If you’ve got taller kiddos, this could be one they are tall enough to ride at the age of 2 or 3 years old! My son was one month shy of 3 when he was able to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It’s a really quick ride, as the duration is about 2 minutes, 50 seconds long. This ride is NOT recommended for expectant mothers. 

While it IS a roller coaster with a height restriction, is it really that scary for sensitive or anxious kids? Let’s break it down and figure out if this ride will be an enjoyable one or totally unpleasant for your child.

Will your highly sensitive child enjoy Tomorrowland speedway? With pink background and image of entrance of Tomorrowland speedway. From moms make it magical dot com.

Tomorrowland Speedway for Your Highly Sensitive Child

Will your highly sensitive child enjoy Disney’s Tomorrowland Speedway?

It’s hard to miss Tomorrowland Speedway once you enter the Tomorrowland section of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Your highly sensitive child will quickly hear the roar of the engines and the smell of gasoline fumes, once in the near vicinity. 

Basically, you get to drive a small gas-powered car around a 2000-foot race track, with a guide rail that keeps you in your lane. Some kids are really excited for this since it feels like you’re driving a mini race car, while enjoying the sights of Magic Kingdom around you. There is a height minimum of 32” to ride with an adult, and you must be at least 54” tall to ride alone. 

Image of cars driving on Disney's Tomorrowland speedway. Photo from magic guides dot com.
Photo Credit: magicguides.com

There seem to be mixed opinions when it comes to this ride—some feel that it’s a classic, timeless Disney ride. Others think it is dated, smelly, and loud. 

Let’s break it down with a “Moms Make it Magical” rating to see whether or not your highly sensitive child will enjoy Tomorrowland Speedway, so that we can minimize those potential meltdowns. 

title image of blog post "Will my highly sensitive child enjoy Peter pan's flight?"

Will My Highly Sensitive Child Enjoy Peter Pan’s Flight?

Have you wondered if your highly sensitive child will enjoy their experience on Peter Pan’s Flight? Peter Pan’s Flight is a classic Disney ride, which was an opening day attraction at Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971. It is located in the Fantasyland section of Magic Kingdom, right across from “it’s a small world”. It is a slow-moving ride where you board a “flying pirate ship” over London, and then to Never Land. The pirate ships are suspended from a rail on the ceiling, to simulate the sense of flying. 

Because it is a fairly gentle ride, there is no minimum height requirement. Infants and small toddlers, expectant moms, and older adults (if ambulatory) should be able to ride without a problem. I often see this ride and “it’s a small world” being recommended as some of the best rides at Magic Kingdom for very young children, kids who scare easily, and those who dislike typical thrill rides.

But what about for highly sensitive or sensory sensitive children? Let’s go through some of the attraction details to see whether your highly sensitive child will enjoy Peter Pan’s Flight, or totally hate it and freak out. 

Will my highly sensitive child like “it’s a small world”?

its a small world. a ride rating for highly sensitive kids. images of Walt Disney World.

Ride Rating: “it’s a small world for the Highly Sensitive Child

it’s a small world” is one of those iconic Disney rides. You can find it in the Fantasyland section of Magic Kingdom, right across from Peter Pan’s Flight.

There is no height minimum, so anyone from babies to expectant moms to the elderly can go on this ride! Let me rate this ride for you from a “Moms Make it Magical” perspective, so we can minimize those potential meltdowns for your highly sensitive kids.

Sudden Noises – ⅕

Your highly sensitive child may dislike sudden noises. “It’s a small world” is definitely more of a ride with constant noise with the repetition of the catchy song throughout the entire 10 minutes and 30 second duration, as opposed to sudden noises. This is why I give this a low rating.

Noise Level – ⅗ 

“It’s a small world” wouldn’t be what it is without the infamous song! From what I’ve seen, it is a “love it” or “hate it” situation from both adults and kids. If you’re curious, I personally love it and don’t mind the song being stuck in my head all day long.

But this is exactly why I would rate the noise level at a 3. It is not a quiet ride by any means, and the song playing loudly on a loop might be too much for some little ears (or even some adult ones too, if you’re part of the “hate it” camp)!

Darkness – ⅖

This ride is not too dark at all! Most of the scenes are lit brightly enough to see all the animatronics dancing and singing. One section that features Australia, New Zealand, and the Polynesian islands had a bit of a darker color palette than the other sections, but overall, highly sensitive kids with a fear of the dark shouldn’t have a huge issue on this ride.

Bright & Flashing Lights – ⅕

While it is VERY colorful and there are lots of moving parts, bright and flashing lights are not something to worry about on “it’s a small world”. There are no sudden transitions between darker areas and brightly lit sections. 

Speed – ⅕

This is a slow-moving boat ride, which moves at a pretty consistent pace throughout. Just watch for the very end when they bring you back to the exit gates–it is a little jolting transitioning out of the water, after a mostly smooth ride. But really, no major speed concerns here!

Drops – 0/5

The ride moves through the different scenes without any drops or unexpected movements. It is very tame in terms of any “thrill” factor.

“Scary” Visuals – ⅖

What is scary to one child isn’t always scary to another, so this is extremely subjective! My kids did pretty well, but the Australia, New Zealand, Polynesian section did have a variety of large tiki masks displayed, which could freak out some kids.

K used to cry at our local children’s museum because of a “sun with a face” that creeped her out and we never ended up renewing our membership there since she hated it so much!

But anyway, the visual scenes overall are very pleasant as they try to promote a happy world where people of all cultures get along. 

Crowded/Close Proximity to Others – 0/5

Crowds are often overwhelming for highly sensitive kids. On “it’s a small world”, there are several rows of seating on these boats, and they will seat your party together in these rows. So, there is a low likelihood of being squashed in like sardines and having to be in close proximity to virtual strangers. 

Strong/Unpleasant Smells – 0/5

Disney is known to use the sense of smell to make their attractions even MORE immersive without you fully realizing it. In this case, I don’t recall any strong or unpleasant smells, so this shouldn’t be an issue even if your kid’s sense of smell is just as strong as your dog’s! 😉   

Wetness Factor – 0/5

Some highly sensitive children are extremely uncomfortable getting wet or sitting around in wet clothes. While “its a small world” is a boat ride, you will NOT be getting wet at all! J was a little fearful of getting splashed after having ridden Frozen Ever After at Epcot, but he was fine after many many times of reassurance.

TOTAL SCORE – 10/50 

Ride Rating, it's a small world. Score breakdown.

How do we understand the rating? A lower score means less sensory overload, while a higher score means a greater likelihood of being overwhelmed and overstimulated. Based on that understanding, “its a small world” is a ride I would generally recommend for highly sensitive children (and adults), as long as constant noise and visual stimulation isn’t a huge trigger!

will my highly sensitive child enjoy its a small world?

What has YOUR experience been on “it’s a small world”? Do you love it or hate it? Click the image below to join my private Facebook Group to share your opinion and get more tips on planning your Disney trip with your highly sensitive kids!

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