Hi Ross!
Thanks for bringing this question to planDisney! Fellow family of 5 here (with kids ranging from 4-8), so I’m happy to help you out!
One good thing to note before we jump into specific rides is that kids 7 and older can ride in their own ride vehicle. With that being said, my oldest is still a bit too nervous to ride on his own for the most part, but he’s been good with his own ride vehicle on rides like Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom and Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios. So, I’d play that by ear and see if your oldest (or middle if they’re old enough!) is up for an adventure. They might surprise you, especially toward the end of your trip as they get used to the rides!
Whenever my oldest isn’t comfortable riding by himself and the ride can’t sit 3 across, we utilize
Rider Switch to make sure everyone gets to ride. Just explain the situation to the Cast Member at the entrance to the queue, and they’ll get you all set up. We've been known to ride The Barnstormer 3 times in a row using Rider Switch so that each kid has a chance to ride!
Rider Switch can even be used along with a Lightning Lane as long as everyone who’s riding has a Lightning Lane booked for that ride. That’s saved us a lot of time since the first group doesn’t need to wait in the standby queue in that case.
Ok…now let’s move on to which rides to be on the lookout for as a family of 5! We usually break up into two groups – one parent with one kid and one parent with two kids. Because of that, here’s a quick look at which rides won’t seat 3 across.
At the
Magic Kingdom, the rides that won’t seat 3 across include: Astro Orbiter (which is currently closed until summer 2025), The Barnstormer, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and TRON. Rides like Dumbo and Magic Carpets can get a little snug with 3 across, but luckily for us, those are rides that my oldest did ok with riding by himself. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin can also seat 3 across, but there are only 2 game controllers in the vehicle.
One of my favorite ride tips at Disney World has to do with Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom. If you want to ride, have the group of 3 ask the Cast Member for the special flag so both kids can drive (my boys’ favorite part!). That way you can take two laps around in a row without having to wait in the queue twice.
At
Hollywood Studios, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, and Smugglers Run do not sit 3 across. When riding Smugglers Run, your whole family of 5 will be in one ride vehicle, but you’ll have individual seats. Toy Story Mania is similar to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in that it can technically fit 3 across, but there will only be 2 game controllers.
At
Animal Kingdom, Expedition Everest is the only ride that doesn’t sit 3 across. On Flight of Passage, everyone technically sits in their own ride vehicle, but you’re right next to each other.
Finally, at
Epcot, the only ride that doesn’t sit 3 across is Guardians of the Galaxy.
I hope that helps!
Let me know if you have any other family of 5 questions leading up to your trip!
Jenn J.