Looking for a Disney vacation that’s perfect for the whole family, even the risk-averse members? We’ve got the top family friendly rides at Walt Disney World ready to go right here!
We wanted to keep the list fair, we are not including any shows or parades. Please note that all shows and parades are recommended for risk-averse visitors. With a little planning, you can have a great time at Disney World even if you’re not a thrill-seeker. Here are the best family friendly Disney rides that won’t make you feel queasy.
10. It’s Tough to be a Bug! – Discovery Island – Animal Kingdom
(It’s Tough to Be a Bug! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom permanently closed on March 16, 2025, making way for the new Zootopia: Better Zoogether! show, which opened in late 2025. The attraction, housed inside the Tree of Life, closed after nearly 30 years to allow for this transformation.)
This 4D film showed us what it’s like to be a bug in a Pixar film. You would not believe the surprises and delights that await you inside the Tree of Life. We’re so grateful our kids got to ride it before it was closed.
Honerable Mention for this list sits in the same family as It’s Tough to be a Bug, and was also elected by our Junior Reporters, but we’d say it’s one step less thrilling. Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom is also a 4D film, in a more traditional theatre with more traditional seats. We find ourselves wanting to visit this attraction over and over again, especially on a hot or rainy Florida day.
9. Living with the Land – World Nature – EPCOT
Our lead reporter’s favorite “chill” attraction will leave you wondering if YOU are truly living with the land. This smooth family friendly boat ride explores the history of farming and tours the green houses that grow some of the food that is served in Walt Disney World.
Pro Tip: Enjoy a meal at Sunshine Seasons or the Garden Grill Restaurant in The Land Pavilion (both serve fresh produce and seafood grown right here). If you eat at Garden Grill you can see behind the scenes in Living With the Land.
8. Kilimanjaro Safaris – Africa – Animal Kingdom
One of the most unique things about Kilimanjaro Safari is that there is a Disney Plus docuseries (Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom) highlighting the animals and keepers at the Harambe Wildlife Reserve and the rest of Disney World. Watching this show can help folks know what to expect when they visit Animal Kingdom, and for risk-averse folks it can be really helpful to know what to expect.
If you have a phobia of Animals, we do not recommend visiting the safari, but with that said, this family friendly ride doesn’t place the riders in dangerous proximity to any predators. When you enter the open-air vehicle you’ll sit on a bench seat with the rest of your party. The expert drivers will guide you through the safari. Recently we crested the corner as some lions were roaring at each other across the rock, and it was really impressive to see in real life.
TIP from our reporters: The animals are most active in the morning and after they’re fed, so we recommend rope dropping this ride or using Genie+ to get on the ride nice and early in the day!
7. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel – Fantasyland – Magic Kingdom
We know what you’re thinking. It’s just a merry-go-round. Technically you’re right; the Carrousel is a classic carrousel in the middle of a theme park full of innovative and themed amusement rides. There are still a few things that land Prince Charming Regal Carrousel on our list for risk-averse folks. For starters, did you know that this ride is almost as old as Walt Disney himself?
Per Disney’s Website,
“Prince Charming Regal Carrousel was built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. The attraction began life as the Liberty Carrousel at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan. It’s been delighting Guests at Walt Disney World Resort since 1971.”
Most importantly, this ride is accessible to folks of all ages and goes at a comfortable speed for anyone who wants to have fun without being too wild!
6. Journey Into Imagination With Figment – World Celebration – EPCOT
We know this is a divisive entry in this list, but NO REGRETS. Figment is a (Disney World) fan favorite, a Festival mascot and according to Eric Idle an, “animated little *expletive.” Our friends from Disneyland “don’t get it,” and that’s okay too; we know he’s an acquired taste. The family friendly ride itself is mild; the attraction itself is an omnimover, so it doesn’t go particularly fast. Most people feel as though the current iteration of Figment is the worst one, but we don’t care for that kind of negativity. We second Disney’s website when they invite you to, “Let your imagination run wild on this marvelous, madcap musical adventure!”
5. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – Tomorrowland – Magic Kingdom
This is a favorite over at Coaster Corner, because it checks boxes for all of our reporters and their family members. It’s Toy Story/Buzz Lightyear themed, it’s interactive, and at the end there’s a winner. Imagine sitting on a moving bench playing a delightful game of laser tag against Zurg. Everything is dark. The targets glow and you have a laser blaster! The best part is that the “spin” portion of the ride is controlled by the rider.
4. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Hollywood Boulevard – Hollywood Studios
So, (as always) full transparency, this ride does have twirls and spins, varies speed, and it has one faux-fall. All of that said, we still recommend this for ride-hesitant folks. All of the twirls and spins feel tolerable because they’re part of a deeper story. You are INSIDE a cartoon, and all of the movement you experience is carefully choreographed with your surroundings and makes sense with the immersion of the attraction. We recommend this to anyone and EVERYONE, especially if they can get a lightning lane.
3. Na’vi River Journey – Pandora – Animal Kingdom
Sometimes we feel like this ride has everything. It’s family friendly, it has proximity to some of the best snacks in Disney World, and it’s got the coolest animatronic in Disney. This ride provides excellent reprieve from the hot Florida sun, as it is dark and cool both in the queue and when you board your boat. The glowing flora and fauna of Pandora transport you straight into the movies, and seeing the Shaman animatronic is just transformative; She’s completely converse to her classic (and awkward and uncanny valley) animatronic predecessors a la the Hall of Presidents. On our last visit, our reporters voted unanimously that this ride has taken the lead as our favorite ride in Pandora.
2. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover – Tomorrowland – Magic Kingdom
The PeopleMover has a cult following and has become a fan favorite for seemingly no reason, but when looked at logically it totally makes sense. The PeopleMover allows people to sit and rest their legs while enjoying a relaxing “tour” through Tomorrowland. This includes a behind the scenes look at several attractions including the thrill ride Space Mountain. If someone is concerned about feeling sick on a ride like Space Mountain, the PeopleMover provides one with an opportunity to experience it in a unique way.
TIP from our reporters: To avoid crowds, sit on the PeopleMover when the fireworks show starts in Magic Kingdom. If you ride it twice in a row you should get to see several fireworks from the ride!
1. Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Fantasyland – Magic Kingdom), The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (Adventureland – Magic Kingdom) , TriceraTop Spin (DinoLand U.S.A. – Animal Kingdom)
These rides take the top spot as the best Disney Ride for the risk-averse. Each ride vehicle seats 4 passengers and are friendly for folks of every age and size. They are designed for kids and also kids-at-heart.
You do go around in a circle. However, the speed is set so that folks are unlikely to feel ill during or after the ride. The best part for ride-hesitant people is that they control how high they go. The ride is relatively short, so it’s over “soon.”
There are no hills/drops/thrills of any kind, but they’re still fun because they’re all themed for the “land” they reside in.
TIP from our reporters: If you’re seated in the back row of your ride vehicle, you can control how high or low you fly by moving an onboard lever up or down. If you’re sitting in the front row, maneuvering a controller will tip your vehicle forward or backward.
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