Disney World Height Requirements: What You Need to Know

You will notice a list of warnings for many attractions throughout Walt Disney World.  Among these warnings are height requirements.  The minimum height requirement, if any, will be posted at the entrance to the attraction and will also be online within the My Disney Experience application.  Be very mindful of these as you are planning your day so you don’t get hopes up for an attraction that someone may not be able to ride.  Here are key things that you need to know about Disney’s height requirements:

5 – Why are there height requirements?

The height requirements are established based on safety tests conducted during the attraction’s development.  The height requirements are put in place in order to protect individuals.  The restrictions are typically based on speed, intensity level, seat belt or restraint placement, and type, etc.  Disney is extremely concerned about safety in everything they do, and they won’t take any chances.

4 – The attractions that have height requirements across all of Walt Disney World:

32″:

• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway – Magic Kingdom (to ride with a driver over 52″)
• Alien Swirling Saucers – Hollywood Studios
• Chairlift – Blizzard Beach

35″:

• The Barnstormer – Magic Kingdom

38″:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – Magic Kingdom
• Kali River Rapids – Animal Kingdom
• Slinky Dog Dash – Hollywood Studios
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run – Hollywood Studios

40″:

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – Magic Kingdom
• Big Thunder Mountain – Magic Kingdom
• Test Track – Epcot (closed for refurbishment through 2025)
• Soarin’ – Epcot
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – Hollywood Studios
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – Hollywood Studios
• Star Tours – Hollywood Studios
• DINOSAUR – Animal Kingdom

42″:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Epcot

44″:

• Space Mountain – Magic Kingdom
• Mission: Space – Epcot
• Expedition Everest – Animal Kingdom
• Avatar Flight of Passage – Animal Kingdom

48″:

• TRON Lightycycle / Run
• Rock-n-Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – Hollywood Studios
• Primeval Whirl – Animal Kingdom
• Slush Gusher – Blizzard Beach
• Summit Plummet – Blizzard Beach
• Downhill Double Dipper – Blizzard Beach
• Crush ‘n’ Gusher – Typhoon Lagoon
• Humunga Kowabunga – Typhoon Lagoon

52″:

• Tomorrowland Indy Speedway – Magic Kingdom (to ride alone or drive)

3 – How heights are measured and determined.

At the entrance to each attraction with a height requirement, a height measurement stand is positioned to match the height requirement for that specific attraction.  You can walk up and test your kids yourself to see if they are tall enough to ride so that you don’t spend time waiting for an attraction that they won’t be able to ride.  Also, don’t be surprised if the cast members stop you if your kids are right at the cusp of the height requirements, as they double-check anyone who looks to be too short or very close to the requirement.

2 – Don’t try to “sneak” a child who isn’t the appropriate height onto an attraction.

Try to remember that these requirements aren’t put in place for no reason.  They are a matter of safety and ensure that every passenger is most likely to get off the attraction with no injury or other serious issues.  Trying to get someone under the height requirement past the filters and on the attraction is a bad idea.  Many parents have tried to add height to their children by adding padding to their shoes or other crazy means, and it isn’t in their best interest for safety. Just don’t do it and wait until they are tall enough to ride!

1 – Utilize rider swap.

Rider Swap is a great feature if you have guests in your party who aren’t tall enough for some attractions.  You tell the cast member that you will need a rider swap.  You then wait in the standby line while someone waits with the child who can’t ride in another location.  That keeps them from waiting in the long line and allows part of your group to do something else.  Then, after you ride, you will be able to take your Rider Swap to the Lightning Lane entrance, and the person who had to sit out can ride with two other members of your party with a far shorter wait.  It is really helpful and prevents small children from waiting in the standby line, which can get long and exhausting for them.