Epcot Rides for Toddlers

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Epcot Rides for Toddlers

Which are the best Epcot Rides for Toddlers? Epcot is sometimes seen as the most “grown-up” of all the Walt Disney World Parks, but we think it is a great place for all ages, including toddlers.

Here we review all of the Epcot Rides for Toddlers and give tips on how to have the very best experience with your young pre-schooler.

What are the Epcot Rides For Toddlers?

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We will look at Future World and then Epcot World Showcase to see which are the rides that toddlers will most likely enjoy. Obviously one important factor is that your toddler must meet the Epcot Ride Height Requirements.

Epcot Soarin’ and Test Track both have height requirements of 40 inches to ride, therefore this is going to put those rides out of the reach of most toddlers.

Mission Space Green is not a particularly toddler-friendly ride, and also has a height requirement of 40 inches. Mission Space Orange is definitely not suitable for toddlers and has a height requirement of 44 inches to ride.

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If you want to experience a ride that is not toddler-friendly, but do not want to wait in line twice, you can use Rider Switch at these attractions.

What this means is that you ask a Cast Member at the entrance to the ride for a Rider Switch. One of you stays with your child whilst the other waits, often in a designated area. Once the first person has experienced the ride you switch and the second person can ride without waiting in line a second time.

Epcot Spaceship Earth

Want to know what is inside the huge geodesic dome which dominates the Epcot entrance? The iconic structure houses the very toddler-friendly Spaceship Earth.

There is no height requirement for Epcot Spaceship Earth which means any age can enjoy this attraction.

The one warning is that it is dark in certain parts of the ride, particularly at the beginning. If your child has a fear of the dark, this may not be the best ride for them.

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Spaceship Earth takes riders on a journey through the progress of communication through the ages. Honestly, it is more entertaining than that description makes it sound!

It uses animatronics, music, and commentary by Dame Judi Dench, to take guests on a ride from the beginning of time to the present day.

Aside from being entertaining in its own way Space Ship Earth is a 15-minute ride in a nice air-conditioned space. This can provide a much-needed break with a baby or young child. When my children were younger it was also a great breastfeeding spot in Epcot!

However, you will have to hurry if you want to experience Spaceship Earth. It is due to close for a much-needed refurbishment which will take approximately two and a half years.

Living With The Land

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Living with the Land is an Epcot ride that will keep most toddlers interest. It is a slow boat ride indoors which showcases greenhouses and sustainable farming techniques. Again, this is better than it sounds!

The ride does start with a boat ride through a thunderstorm so if this is likely to upset your toddler make sure you reassure them before getting on to the boat so they know what is going to happen.

It is a 14-minute ride indoors, so again, it has a big advantage in the Orlando heat! There are lots of things for toddlers to see and enjoy including animatronics, Cinderella Pumpkins fish tanks, and even baby alligators.

Living with the Land is not only entertaining it actually produces food for Epcot restaurants. Each year 30 tons of fruits and vegetables are grown in the Living with the Land space.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

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This Epcot attraction is definitely a toddler favorite. The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a definite must-see attraction at Epcot if you have a toddler or young child.

Guests board a slow-moving “Clam Mobile” to take them on a journey that lasts approximately 6 minutes. They will see Nemo, Marlin, Dory, and even Bruce the Shark. The ride is suitable for all ages and is short enough to keep the attention of most young children.

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The Seas with Nemo and Friends incorporates effects together with real-life fish swimming in the 5.7 million gallon salt-water tank. Toddlers will enjoy fish feeding time which is at 10 am and 3.30 pm every day. This is a great place to spend some time with toddlers out of the heat in this big, usually uncrowded, air-conditioned space.

You can also dine with the fish at the popular Epcot Coral Reef Restaurant.

You will soon find that the song “Big Blue World” is stuck in your head for at least the rest of your day at Epcot!

Epcot Turtle Talk with Crush

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Turtle Talk with Crush is another attraction in Epcot which toddlers will enjoy. This is a show, not a ride, but it is housed in the Seas Pavilion with the Nemo and Friends attraction.

The only disadvantage of this is that you have to sit on the floor. I have to admit I never enjoy doing this, but it is worth it to see the amusing interaction between Crush and the Epcot park guests.

Epcot Journey into Imagination

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This is one of those Epcot attractions which has been elevated into almost cult status! Epcot Journey Into Imagination is a difficult ride to describe. You really do have to experience it at least once. Riders are taken on a journey through their imagination by the legendary dragon character Figment.

The catchy song was written by the Sherman Brothers. Not exactly Mary Poppins’ quality, but you will be singing it long after the ride has finished.

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There is no height requirement and it almost never has a line either. So this can be the perfect entertainment for your toddler at Epcot. This attraction was originally opened in 1993 and then reimagined in 2001. Some would say this is the weakest of the Epcot attractions, but if you have some time you need to give it a try.

The only thing which a young child may not enjoy about Journey into Imagination is that some of it is a bit dark and there are loud noises that can make you jump.

Epcot World Showcase Rides for Toddlers

Right now there are only 2 rides in Epcot World Showcase. This will be changing soon with the opening of the Guardians of the Galaxy Ride and the Ratatouille Ride.

It is highly likely that the Guardians of the Galaxy ride will have a height restriction of at least 40 inches and so won’t be suitable for most toddlers.

However, the Ratatouille ride has been popular at Disneyland Paris since it opened and it has no height restrictions. Based on the very popular Pixar movie, it is popular with all ages including toddlers and young children.

Epcot Frozen Ever After

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Want to know what the Epcot Ride with the longest line is? Most definitely Frozen Ever After.

This boat ride was for many years the Maelstrom ride, a pleasant but not overly interesting ride through the culture and history of Norway. However, following the overwhelming popularity of the movie Frozen, Disney decided to transform this Norway Pavilion ride into an Arandelle attraction. Then came the crowds.

Lines of around 120 minutes are common at this Epcot attraction. If you possibly can, you need to get a Fast Pass. To read all about the strategies for making the most of your Fast Passes at Epcot we have written this article for you.

This really is a must-do ride if you have young children with you at Epcot. Elsa and Anna take you on a journey through their homeland which is highly entertaining.

Be aware though that even though this ride is based on the very popular movie some children may not enjoy the dark elements or the two short drops which you experience.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

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This is located in the Mexico Pavilion which is right at the edge of the Epcot World Showcase. This is another boat ride, but it is very different from the Frozen Ever After attraction.

Most toddlers and indeed adults are not going to be very familiar with the Three Caballeros. The characters are based on a 1945 Disney movie starring Donald Duck. But really it isn’t necessary to know the movie to enjoy the ride.

This is a slow boat ride which lasts 8 minutes and is suitable for all ages. The ride is an interesting combination of Mexican sites and history together with the incorporation of the Three Caballeros characters.

It is often an overlooked attraction at Epcot, and whilst it certainly doesn’t have the appeal of Frozen Ever After, if the line is relatively short you should certainly give it a try. One of the best parts is at the start of the ride when you sail slowly past the San Angel Inn Restaurant.

Epcot Rides for Toddlers Tips and Essentials

One thing that all visitors to Epcot need to realize is that the park is large. Very large. You need to be prepared to walk a long way.

Obviously a toddler is not going to be very happy if they have to spend a 12 hour day walking 10 miles around a Disney park, no matter how entertaining the rides and attractions might be! Therefore I suggest you always either bring your own stroller to Epcot or that you rent one.

Strollers are available to rent at Epcot and all the Disney parks for $15 per day for a single or $31 per day for a double stroller. You will probably want to bring your own though.

Strollers are a great way to not only transport your toddler but to bring all the things that you need for them during the day. Many toddlers are not yet potty-trained so you will want to bring your own diapers and essentials. You can purchase diapers and wipes at the parks, but of course, these are at a premium.

You will also most likely want to bring some snacks for your toddler. It’s easy to carry these in a backpack in your stroller. Remember to bring their own drinking cups too. Keeping hydrated is very important for everyone. You can always ask for cups of iced water at any quick-service venue or kiosk.

The main thing that you need to know about bringing a toddler to Epcot is that you need to be prepared to be flexible and to not try and do too much in one day. The more flexible that you can be in your expectations the more all members of the family will enjoy their day in Epcot.

Which of the Epcot rides for toddlers do you like best?