Greetings, Jessica, and thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I’m so excited for you to bring your little Mouseketeer to the
Happiest Place on Earth! You’re going to make so many special memories together.
As the mom of three little Mouseketeers ages 8 and under, I can relate to your question! I’ve been bringing my little ones to the Disneyland Resort since they were just a few months old, so I’m happy to tell you that there are plenty of family-friendly
attractions you can enjoy with your little one on your lap! The best way to view these attractions is by filtering the attractions list by
“Any Height” under the “Height” drop-down. Currently,
there are 63 attractions inside both
Disneyland Park and
Disney California Adventure Park that don’t have a minimum height requirement. Some of my family’s favorite attractions from this list include Casey Jr. Circus Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Disneyland Railroad, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, “it’s a small world”, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. The only any-height attraction that I’ve been asked to have my baby sit next to me (instead of on my lap) is Golden Zephyr. This can be difficult for a tiny baby of course, but your 1.5-year-old would probably be alright, since the smaller rider must ride on the inside of this attraction’s seating for safety.
As for attractions with lap bars, (such as The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure and Peter Pan’s Flight) your baby will be required to fit under the bar on your lap. I have been asked to flip my babies to a forward-facing position (if they’re in the baby carrier) on some attractions with a lap bar. However, on attractions with bench-style seating (such as “it’s a small world” or Jungle Cruise) your baby should be able to face you on your lap, if that’s more comfortable in a baby carrier.
If you happen to be traveling with your spouse or a Guest age 14 or older, you may want to take advantage of the
Rider Switch service, which allows Guests with children who don’t meet the height requirement to take turns enjoying attractions. This is my favorite way to make sure parents don’t miss any fun!
Also, be sure to check out the
Baby Care Centers, located in each theme park, for the perfect spot to feed or change your baby. There’s a handy vending machine at each Center, just in case you forget any necessities, like diapers or wipes. You can find the Disneyland Park location at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., and the Disney California Adventure Park location on Pacific Wharf.
Please stop by with any additional questions, Jessica… I’m all EARs!
Kristin