Which Disney World Park Is the Best: Ranked by Age Group

Since the winner of the best Disney World park largely depends on your travel party, I decided to break up this post into the best theme parks by age group. This way, you can read about the best things to do at each park for toddlers, young children, teenagers, and adults.

Since some of the Disney World rides enforce minimum height requirements, the best places to spend time with a toddler definitely differ from the best Disney parks for teens.

I know from visiting Disney World with my own family that that the babies and toddlers in our group prefer much different experiences than the big kids. So, I’ll rank the best Disney World parks below based on our visits with kids of all ages!

Best Disney Parks for Toddlers

Families taking a Disney vacation with 2 or 3 year olds may be wondering which is the best Disney park for toddlers. Although each of the four main theme parks offers plenty of entertainment options for little ones, some of the Disney parks offer more toddler activities than others.

Below, we will rank the best parks in Disney World for toddlers. These Disney parks are in order from best to worst not best, and you’ll notice that some have more height requirements than others.

1. Magic Kingdom

Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park has so many fun things to do that you’ll want to spend a full day at this park even with toddlers. Magic Kingdom is divided into themed lands, including Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, and Adventureland.

In addition to these sections of the park, guests will also find activities and dining options available in Liberty Square and on Main Street, USA. Some of the best toddler attractions at Magic Kingdom are located in Fantasyland.

However, little ones enjoy exploring all of the different sections of Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park. These are some of our favorite rides and attractions for toddlers at Magic Kingdom:

• The Barnstormer (Height Requirement – 35 inches)
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Casey Jr. Water Play Area
• Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• It’s a Small World
• Carrousel
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Jungle Cruise
• Under the Sea
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Mad Tea Party

Additionally, Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park offers lots of character meet and greet opportunities for visitors.

2. Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers because it’s full of amazing animals. Families love Animal Kingdom since the park typically feels less overwhelming than Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Some of our top picks for toddler attractions at Animal Kingdom include:

• Affection Section
• The Boneyard
• Donald’s Dino-Bash
• Festival of the Lion King 
• Finding Nemo
• Fossil Fun Games
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Na’vi River Journey
• Triceratop Spin

This park also provides plenty of character experiences along with the ability to view all sorts of animals.

3. Epcot

Although other websites may list Epcot as the worst park for toddlers, my kids always LOVED visiting Epcot as 2 and 3 year olds. You will find all sorts of character experiences available at this park, including meet and greet opportunities with Frozen’s Elsa and Anna. 

Some of the toddler-friendly activities you’ll find at Epcot include:

• Beauty and the Beast Sing Along
• Frozen Ever After
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends

In addition to the attractions listed above, the World Showcase is a fun area to stroll through with toddlers. You can make stops for desserts and treats for little ones to enjoy in their strollers. Plus, toddlers love experiencing the live entertainment taking place outside some of the countries.

4. Hollywood Studios

Even though we are ranking Disney’s Hollywood Studios last in our list of best Disney parks for toddlers, it’s definitely worth a visit. If your family has Park Hopper tickets, you could even combine Hollywood Studios and Epcot into one day.

With the opening of Toy Story Land, Hollywood Studios offers even more fun for little ones. Some of our top picks for toddler attractions at Hollywood Studios include:

• Alien Swirling Saucers (32 inches or taller)
• Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
• Disney Junior Play and Dance
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-long Celebration
• Toy Story Mania

This park also offers lots of character experiences with Disney Jr. characters.

If you’re looking for more information on visiting Disney with little ones, we highly recommend checking out our post: Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World with Toddlers. In that article, we provide toddler-friendly itineraries for each park along with tips for surviving Disney with little ones.

Best Park for Kids

If you are visiting Disney World with kids, you’ll find plenty of attractions to experience on your trip. Depending on your child’s growth rate, 4 to 10 year olds can greatly differ in their heights. So, you’ll see that we have included the Disney World minimum height requirement for certain rides.

1. Magic Kingdom

Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park ranks at the top of our list for kids much like it did for toddlers. This park is full of magical experiences like Cinderella’s Castle and Main Street, USA. 

Families will find all sorts of character meet and greet opportunities at this park as well as lots of other entertainment options. Additionally, Magic Kingdom is home to several exciting rides with fairly low height requirements that are perfect for young children. Some of the best attractions at Magic Kingdom include:

• Astro Orbiter
• Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Splash Mountain (40 inches or taller)
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Barnstormer (35 inches or taller)
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40 inches or taller)
• Mad Tea Party
• Dumbo
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Casey Jr. Splash Area
• Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
• Jungle Cruise
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Seven Dwarf Mine Train (38 inches or taller)
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Haunted Mansion
• Space Mountain (44 inches or taller)

Young kids also love exploring the Swiss Family Treehouse and Tom Sawyer Island at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

2/3. Hollywood Studios

Although we are including Hollywood Studios in the second place spot, this Disney park actually shares this ranking with Disney’s Animal Kingdom. If your child is highly interested in Toy Story or Star Wars, Hollywood Studios would take the edge over Animal Kingdom. These are the fun attractions available for young kids at Hollywood Studios:

• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
• Disney Junior Play and Dance
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-long Celebration
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run (Minimum Height – 38 inches)
• Muppet Vision 3D
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (Minimum Height – 48 inches)
• Slinky Dog Dash (Minimum Height – 38 inches)
• Star Tours (Minimum Height – 40 inches)
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Minimum Height – 40 inches)
• Toy Story Mania
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Minimum Height – 40 inches)

In addition to the rides and entertainment options listed above, Hollywood Studios is full of character experiences and dining options. You’ll also want to make sure you check out the fun things Toy Story Land has to offer!

2/3. Animal Kingdom

If your young child is more interested in animals than in Star Wars, he/she may place Disney’s Animal Kingdom ahead of Hollywood Studios in our list. With thrilling rides and amazing live shows, Animal Kingdom is a great park for little kids. These are some of our favorite attractions for young kiddos:

• Affection Section
• Avatar Flight of Passage (44 inches or taller)
• The Boneyard
• Dinosaur (40 inches or taller)
• Donald’s Dino-Bash
• Kali River Rapids (38 inches or taller)
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Expedition Everest (44 inches or taller) 
• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo
• Fossil Fun Games
• It’s Tough to Be a Bug
• Na’vi River Journey
• Triceratop Spin
• Characters

Additionally, elementary aged kids love spending time viewing different animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The Animal Kingdom Lodge is also one of our top picks for families with young kids. This beautifully themed resort allows guests to view animals right from the balconies of their rooms.

4. Epcot

Although Epcot is one of my personal favorite parks at Disney World, it takes the last spot in our list of best parks for young kids. This park is full of fun attractions that young children really enjoy; however, the other parks offer slightly more entertainment for this age group. Nonetheless, these are the super fun things to do at Epcot with little kids:

• Beauty and the Beast Sing Along
• Frozen Ever After
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Minimum Height – 42 inches)
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Mission: Space (Minimum Height – 40 inches)
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• Soarin’ Around the World (Minimum Height – 40 inches)
• Test Track (Minimum Height – 40 inches)
• Turtle Talk with Crush

If your family is interested in exploring the World Showcase with young kids, make sure you visit the Kidcot Fun Stops to pick up activity cards at each country you visit!

Best Park for Teens

If you’re visiting the Disney parks with teenagers, they may not be as impressed as the younger kids with character experiences and play areas. Instead, teens are often searching for the best rides and most entertaining shows.

1. Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios sits at the top of our list for best Disney parks for teens. This park features thrill rides and great shows that teenagers love. Some of our top picks for best attractions for teens at Hollywood Studios include:

• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
• Muppet Vision 3D
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Star Tours
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Tower of Terror

2. Disney’s Animal Kingdom 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is another great park for teens at Disney World. In addition to the amazing animals, this Disney park is full of rides and exceptional shows. Some of our favorite attractions for teens at Animal Kingdom include:

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Dinosaur
• Expedition Everest
• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo Show
• Kali River Rapids
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Na’vi River Journey

3. Epcot 

While not the most toddler friendly park at Disney World, Epcot has plenty to offer older kids and teenagers. If your teen is especially interested in cultures, he/she will love experiencing the countries in the World Showcase. Some of the other fun attractions for teens at Epcot include:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Mission: Space
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Test Track

4. Magic Kingdom 

While ranked at the bottom of our list, Magic Kingdom is still an appealing park to teens. It offers several rides in addition to the magical castle and parades. Some of the attractions that are most popular with teenagers include:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Haunted Mansion
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• TRON Lightcycle

For a list of things to pack when you visit the parks, check out our Ultimate Disney Packing List. In that post we include a free printable packing list for your Disney vacation!

Best Park for Adults

Who says Disney World is just for kids?! The Walt Disney World parks offer plenty of excitement and entertainment for couples and adults as well. In fact, my husband and I spent part of our honeymoon visiting some of the Disney World parks.

1. Epcot

Epcot is full of entertaining attractions for adults to enjoy. Some of our favorite experiences at Epcot include:

• Beauty and the Beast Sing Along
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Mission: Space
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Test Track 
• Turtle Talk with Crush

In addition to the rides and entertainment above, adults love spending time touring the World Showcase at Epcot. You can often find live entertainment available in some of the countries. 

Additionally, the World Showcase is full of food and beverage options from all over the world. Adults often enjoy strolling through the different countries while enjoying an adult beverage or dessert from one of the many vendors.

2. Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom appeals to both kids and adults. With thrilling attractions and amazing live performances, this park is always a favorite for Disney World visitors. Some of the best attractions for adults at Animal Kingdom include:

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Dinosaur
• Expedition Everest 
• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo
• It’s Tough to be a Bug
• Kali River Rapids
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Na’vi River Journey

Additionally, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park provides great ambiance for adults looking to escape the hectic atmosphere of some of the other parks. Foodies will also be impressed with some of the unique options available at this Walt Disney World park.

3. Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios features all kinds of fun rides and shows for couples and adults. Some of our top picks include:

• Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-long Celebration
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
• Muppet Vision 3D
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Star Tours
• Tower of Terror

4. Magic Kingdom Park

Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park offers many attractions and experiences for adults to enjoy. This park can be a bit crowded and wild, though, which forces it to the bottom of our list of best Disney parks for adults. Some of the best rides at Magic Kingdom for adults include:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Hall of Presidents
• Splash Mountain
• Haunted Mansion
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• TRON Lightcycle Run

Disney Park Tickets

Disney ticket prices can vary greatly depending on several factors. Families do not need to purchase a theme park ticket for children under age 3 as they are free. Additionally, children aged 3-9 receive a very small discount on tickets.

Guests who want to visit multiple theme parks in the same day will need to purchase the “Park Hopper” feature in order to be admitted into two or more parks. 

If you’re looking for the best deals on Disney park tickets, we highly recommend checking out Undercover Tourist. This Disney approved company offers discounts on theme park tickets, hotels, and rental cars.

My family and I personally use Undercover Tourist when we vacation at Disney World since they consistently provide the best rates. They also provide amazing customer service if you ever need to contact them for anything. You can find out more information about this reputable company in our Review of Undercover Tourist for Disney Park Tickets

Where to Stay

If you plan to spend a majority of your time at a specific Walt Disney World theme park, you may want to reserve a hotel near that park. Since these conveniently located hotels tend to be classified as “Deluxe Resorts,” they can often come with a hefty price tag. The best way to stay on budget while booking one of these preferred hotels is to utilize David’s Vacation Club Rentals.

Rather than paying full price to stay at the deluxe resort near your favorite park, you can reserve your stay at a Deluxe Villa through David’s Vacation Club Rentals. This is by far the best way to save money on Disney hotels while still enjoying luxurious amenities and a convenient location.

If you are interested in learning more about how this process works, you can check out our post on the Best DVC Rental Site. My family and I have used David’s website to save hundreds of dollars per night at Disney resorts like:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows
• Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas

So, which is the best park at Disney World?

Overall, each of the Walt Disney World theme parks offers its own unique atmosphere and attractions. Guests really can’t go wrong visiting any of these magical parks.

Whether you’re looking for thrill rides, character experiences, or live shows, the four Disney World theme parks provide plenty of entertainment. Our lists above rank the Disney parks based on age, but even the “worst” ranked park is full of memory-making opportunities for guests.

We hope you have a magical trip to Walt Disney World no matter which of the Disney theme parks you choose to visit! You may also love our List of All Disney Characters at Disney World. In that post, we include a free printable list of every character experience in the parks!

So, what do you think? What is the best Disney World park to visit? Comment below to share your thoughts with us!

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