8 Best Disneyland Rides for Children (Elementary Age)

Disclaimer: The following was written by my 11-year-old daughter, lightly edited by me. The opinions are hers, so complain to her.

If you have an elementary-age kid and you’re going to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park, you must know which rides are the best Disneyland rides for children (in my opinion). Since I've been there, I know which rides kids would like. I’m also in fifth grade, so if you have a seven-year-old, nine-year-old (like my sister), or eleven-year-old (like me) this could be helpful for bringing young kids or older children to Disneyland. I also have posts about the Disney World parks where we visit a lot, but if you’re going to Disneyland, keep reading for the best rides for kids at Disneyland Resort. Oh, and one more thing: make sure you check the height requirement in the Disney app for each ride to make sure little kids are tall enough.

1. Big Thunder Mountain

My sister and I about to ride Big Thunder Mountain!

This ride is very fun for kids and adults or for the whole family! This roller coaster is in Frontierland and is a great place to start, since it's one of the classic thrill rides. Just head down Main Street and hang a left at the hub. You'll see the giant mountain. This is (allegedly) “The wildest ride in the wilderness!” as they say during the ride. As you get on the train, you are riding through an abandoned mineshaft. Then you find out that the mineshaft is haunted! This ride has the energy of a true roller coaster and is very fun and satisfies thrill-seekers. I enjoy this ride because of the Western-esque thriller theme which can be exciting for others, too. For a while, Big Thunder Mountain was my favorite roller coaster at Magic Kingdom (until I first rode Tron) because of the slightly creepy and thrilling elements in the ride. I recommend this ride for ages 6 and up.

2. Incredicoaster

Our view of Incredicoaster just before the ride started. By the way, this ride breaks down a lot. We saw people get evacuated from this very spot (Not in danger, of course)

 At Disney California Adventure, one of the first rides that will catch your eye is the Incredicoaster. In this ride you need to rescue a runaway Jack-Jack who is using his newfound powers to escape. If you’re itching for a ride that is perfect for daredevils, decide to wait in line for this ride. While normally there is a very long wait time for this ride, it is worth the wait.  For younger children this ride may be too scary, as there are many twists and turns, you go upside down and endure a 108 foot drop. However, as a daredevil myself when it comes to roller coasters, I think this ride is a heck of a lot of fun. You also see multiple Jack-Jacks, all around the coasters and other members of the Incredible family attempting to retrieve him.

My dad and I loving Incredicoaster! My cousin and sister are behind us.

One of my favorite parts is when you go through a tunnel with Mr. Incredible trying to bribe Jack-Jack with cookies, but pay attention, because it actually smells like cookies. You can actually smell the cookies. Since there are many scary elements including going upside down, I recommend ages 8 and older.

 3. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Some of the awesome scenery we saw in Runaway Railway. We actually got stuck here for a long time. Here’s a link to the funny video.

     At Disneyland, in Mickey's Toontown they have a very popular attraction for kids: Mickey and Minnie’s Runway Railway. In this ride, you are taken into the cartoon to follow Mickey and Minnie on a day that seems nothing could go wrong. But suddenly, Goofy’s train comes apart and Mickey and Minnie need to save it!  This ride is perfect for kids of all ages. I really enjoy this ride because of the mix of actual sets and screens which makes a very immersive experience. My three year old brother, who loves Mickey, is always so surprised when he rides this ride since all his favorite characters are there.  Many Mickey fans will love this ride since it feels that you are actually in the cartoon because in the opening scene the wall explodes and you enter the cartoon. The magical whimsy of being sucked into a cartoon with beloved Disney characters is entertaining for all audiences. Despite the craziness, it's one of the most gentle rides on the list, great for younger kids. Even my two-year-old brother loved it.

4. Rise of the Resistance

My dad yelling, “It’s a trap!” He apparently thinks he’s funny. (On Rise of the Resistance)

This ride takes place in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The Resistance needs recruits for a secret mission to infiltrate the First Order. However the First Order captures you first! Eventually, you are able to escape, and Finn leads you out. Unfortunately, you encounter Kylo Ren on your way out, but you are able to escape and complete your mission successfully!  This ride has incredible animatronics, special effects that really immerse you into the vast universe of Star Wars. For children that get easily startled or terrified, you may want to skip this ride. They might enjoy Star Tours or Smugglers Run better. I recommend this ride for ages 7 and older.

5. Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

Here’s our scores from Webslingers. I have no idea if it’s any good. Let me know.

In California Adventure, Peter Parker has created a new design that allows you to shoot webs like Spider-Man! You are the test subject who is going to use the invention in a simulation. But, while Peter Parker is explaining the activity, his robot spiders start wreaking havoc! The robots have started taking over the campus, so we have to use the new invention to stop them!  In this attraction all you have to do is use your hands to aim at the robots. Especially for young Spider-Man fans or older Marvel fanatics, this ride is perfectly entertaining and satisfying. As a Marvel fan, I loved the nods and references to the franchise like when Peter Parker desperately doesn’t want to ask Tony Stark for help. Suitable for ages 5 and up, especially kids who love Spider-Man.

6. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

We took this awesome pic of the hill to the drop at Tiana’s!

This ride in Disneyland is perfect if it is a very hot day in Anaheim. In this attraction, Tiana is having a Mardi Gras party at her restaurant but needs someone to play in the band with Louis! You embark on an adventure to find animals who can play with Louis in his Mardi Gras band. This is a water ride and if you ride on this ride you won’t be dry. There is a 50 foot hill, and a few more smaller drops.  I like riding this ride in the afternoon since that it is when it is the hottest, and me and my sibling are usually miserable from the hot California sun. This ride is usually the perfect opportunity to cool off. The many impressive animatronics and set designs are delightful for Disney fans and Disney Princess fans. This ride near New Orleans Square is perfect for ages 6 and older. 

7. Radiator Springs Racers

The loading area at Radiator Springs Racers. We had an awesome time, and the eyes are cute.

In this popular attraction in Cars Land, you are going to step into a race car and race another car. In this ride many of your favorite characters from the film Cars will cheer you on as you prepare to race on one of the wildest race tracks. For many young children who love the Cars franchise, this is a good time to see some beloved characters. Young thrill-seekers also love this ride.  

My dad and I racing in Radiator Springs…we didn’t win :(

I definitely enjoyed this attraction because the ride overall is very impressive as it is a mix of a dark ride and a roller coaster, which is great because dark rides and roller coasters are my two favorite types of Disney attractions. The set is also impressive because it really sucks you into the world of Cars. This ride, going as fast as 40 mph, might scare some kids but since you're usually going straight, it doesn't seem that intense. I recommend this ride for ages 6 and older. It's good for small kids if they're tall enough.

8. Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout

The rope drop crowd for Mission Breakout. That’s the top of my head in the bottom of the picture.

In this ride the Guardians are trapped in the infamous Collector’s Tivan Collection. You are being taken on a tour of the Collection when Rocket the raccoon comes and asks you to help the Guardians escape. In the attraction you are on an elevator that shakes you up and down. For children who love a good thrill ride or are a Marvel fan this attraction is very delightful. I really think this a better attraction than the original Tower of Terror, especially since the plot of this ride and loud rock music are much more entertaining for me. I wouldn’t be surprised if  other people would agree with me, since this is not as scary as Tower of Terror, which means your child is less likely to get nightmares from this ride. This ride can be very disorientating for some people. I recommend this ride for older kids or really tough ones.

Conclusion

That’s the top 8 best attractions at Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth! I recently went in July for the first time, but I got an idea of what are the most thrilling attractions there. You probably noticed that I mentioned rides from both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, as a Disney World girl, these parks are so close together, there's no point in thinking about them as two separate parks. I also left a lot of awesome, classic rides off the list like it's a small world, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan's Flight, and Little Mermaid. I love them, so don't get mad at me, but the rides I mentioned above are the ones I would do over and over again if I could, and I bet most small children would agree with me. If you want to learn more about Disneyland or Disney World, click here: