7 Disney Attractions for 5 Year Old’s That Are Super Fun

Check out our list of the 7 best Disney Attractions for 5 Year Old’s! — “Lion King Topiary” by HarshLight licensed under CC BY 2.0

Disney World is so incredibly magical for younger kids and taking them while they are young is so special. However, Disney does have quite a few attractions that can be scary for younger ones, so I’ve compiled a list of the best attractions for 5-year old’s.

All of these attractions will feature characters familiar to your little one. They are also easy-going and bright. Many children are scared of dark experiences, so none of these will get too dark, but they will be engaging.

If you want to make the most of your little one’s Disney trip, I would consider spending the majority of your time in Magic Kingdom. The best Disney park for toddlers is Magic Kingdom because it has the most kid-friendly attractions, character meet and greets, and more. Animal Kingdom is also great offering animal encounters, rides, games, and fantastic performances.

Hollywood Studios has a lot of thrill rides that are not quite suitable for children, but they do have some fantastic shows and experiences every youngin’ can get on board with! Epcot’s Future World has some great activities as well, and if you’re planning on taking your child around the World Showcase, grab a passport for them. This makes the adventure more interactive and interesting for them while you try the incredible food and drinks each country has to offer.

Overall, Disney provides a very kid-friendly environment in every park, so plan your time wisely and it will be easy to make a magical vacation you and your little ones will love. In order to help you plan a magical vacation your children will love, I’ve compiled a list of attractions for 5-year olds to help you get started. So without further ado, here is my list of the top 7 Disney attractions for 5-year old’s that are super fun!

Festival of the Lion King – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The Festival of the Lion King is a musical experience unlike any other. It plays multiple times throughout the day, starting at 10am and playing every hour until 7pm. This show features a stunning array of acts. In this performance, you will say animatronic characters, gymnasts, acrobatics, dancing, singing, and more. This show is perfect for little ones because it is truly mesmerizing and will captivate their little eyes the entire time.

This is one of my favorite spots to hit during the middle of the day when everyone is a little tired and needs some time to sit and cool off. If this show is important to your family, it might be worth booking a FastPass for. You can typically make this show, without a FastPass, especially around lunch time. However, it is nice to get one just in case! You will find this show in the Africa portion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

You’ll see Simba, Timon, and Pumba throughout this performance, as well as encounter wild monkeys and beautiful birds with their own special talents. This is an interactive performance as well. Expect to sing along and make animal noises together while being lead by the cast members.

One of my favorite things about this show are the fantastic costumes. The attention to detail and beauty of each costume is breathtaking. This is one of my favorite experiences for the entire family. Young and old can’t help but enjoy this production celebrating one of Disney’s most famous cinematic masterpieces.

Frozen Ever-After – Epcot

This is one of the best animatronics rides in all of Disney World in my opinion. Most little ones love the characters and songs from Frozen, and this ride has it all! In the Norway pavilion at Epcot, you will board a small boat in the city of Arendale. After boarding, you’ll meet Anna, Kristof, Olaf, and Sven! You’ll travel all the way to Elsa’s magical ice castle and even come across a giant snow monster! Feel free to sing along as you ride through the water to meet Elsa.

Don’t worry, even though this ride is a little darker, the characters are brightly lit and won’t be scary for little ones. While this is a “water ride” don’t expect to get soaked. You’ll want to protect your electronics but will only get a really small splash of water on this ride. You will definitely need a FastPass to enjoy this ride without the wait.

You can book your FastPass 60 days in advance of your trip if you are staying at a Disney Resort Hotel, otherwise you will have to wait until 30 days out from your trip. Either way, book them as soon as possible in order to enjoy this ride! If your little one loves princesses, get a reservation at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.

If you book at park opening, you will be allowed to enter the park early and hop on the ride right before your reservation. Then, meet plenty of lovely princesses as you dine! If you’re in the mood for a snack, head next door to Kringla Bakerie for the famous school bread or a sweet troll horn!

Kilimanjaro Safaris – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This is a longer ride, but so captivating and exciting for little ones. Board a safari truck and travel through the jungle observing wild life in their natural habitat. This ride is educational for children as well, which I think is a huge perk. Children love seeing these large safari animals up close and personal, and you will too! This is also a great ride for taking a load off and cooling down for a good 20 or so minutes.

You will find this ride in the Africa portion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The wait here isn’t bad most of the time but can definitely exceed an hour on busy park days. If this is a top choice for your family, I would recommend grabbing a FastPass to ensure you can snag a spot on this one! Animal Kingdom has a lot of great animal experiences throughout the entirety of the park. Take time to explore the park and visit all the different animals Animal Kingdom has.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – Magic Kingdom

In Disney’s Magic Kingdom, head towards Fantasyland to find this ride. This is a slow moving ride for little ones that features bright and colorful scenes straight from the 100-Acre Woods! Join Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger on a fun ride through a story written by Pooh himself. This ride is a little darker but definitely safe for kids who might be scared of the dark. I think one of the best parts about this ride, is the queue. The queue is interactive for little ones with drums, interactive screens, and more.

This ride doesn’t get too backed up most of the time but can definitely have some long wait times during peak park days. I would get a FastPass only if your little one must ride this one. Otherwise, a 20 to 30 minute wait is not bad here thanks to the fun activities to do while waiting to board your “hunny” pot! The gift shop next door is awesome as well. They have tons of cute Winnie the Pooh themed merchandise including toys, plushies, mugs, and more. This is definitely a great area for anyone who loves Pooh and all of his friends.

Peter Pan’s Flight – Magic Kingdom

This is definitely one of Disney’s older rides, which reflects in the animatronics. However, it is still a really exciting one for smaller children. Also in Disney’s Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, this ride takes you through the story of Peter Pan! You will board Captain Hook’s ship before flying high into the sky looking over scenes from London and Neverland! Even though this ride isn’t the most impressive, it always has ridiculous wait times.

So, if your family is dying to head towards the second star on the right and continue straight on ‘til morning, you will definitely want a FastPass! This ride is completely lit with blacklights which is a unique experience for little kids. The ride doesn’t go super high, but if anyone has a fear of heights, it might not be the best option. There are videos of the ride online if you aren’t sure whether your child will be okay with the height or not. Check those out to decide if it is suitable for your family members.

For the First Time in Forever – A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration – Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This experience comes in the form of a show! At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you will join Anna and Kristoff as their friends tell the history of Arendale through songs and jokes. This performance is suitable for adults as well. In fact, I laughed more than most kids during the show! This show is the perfect escape from a hot day in Florida. It plays multiple times throughout each day beginning at 9:30am and ending at 8:30pm.

You most likely won’t need a FastPass for this experience because the theater is huge and almost always fits everyone in line. As long as you’re there about 10 minutes before showtime, you shouldn’t have an issue getting in! The most magical part of this show is Elsa’s ice powers coming to life at the end and snow falling over the crowd during her signature song, Let It Go! This is a must-see for any little Frozen fans, so head on over to Arendale for the perfect celebration!

Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage – Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This is another performance that is truly fantastic for all ages, especially little ones. Follow Belle through her journey of finding an enchanted castle and ferocious beast that are both more than meets the eye. This musical production features incredible dances, costumes, and songs. This show plays at 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 4pm, and 5pm each day (times always subject to change).

You will find this production in Disney’s Hollywood Studios as you travel down Sunset Boulevard. It will be on your right in a massive amphitheater large enough to host almost everyone interested at any given time.

I wouldn’t recommend getting a FastPass for this show, it almost always seats everyone in line. Show up about 10-15 mins before showtime, and you will find a seat and be good to go! Take a load off from your Disney adventures to sit through this wonderful performance! Grab a popcorn bucket from the closest popcorn cart to elevate the experience of this show!

The Conclusion

There are so many fantastic things for little ones to in Disney, you don’t have to limit your fun at all! Disney’s attractions are very kid-friendly and great for adult entertainment as well. Each park has its own rides, shows, and other attractions for little ones. Magic Kingdom is definitely the most kid-friendly, followed by Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.

There are so many great attractions, you’ll definitely want to book FastPasses for your top choices. If you have chosen to stay in a resort located on Disney property, you will be able to book your FastPass reservations at 6am, 60 days before the first day of your vacation. If you are not staying on Disney property, you can book your FastPasses beginning at 6am 30 days before the start of your vacation.

When planning Disney for toddlers, you may also want to take breaks as the parks can get tiring, especially when it is hot in the Florida heat. I like to plan my days in halves. I book all my FastPasses as early in the morning as possible. Then, after the first half of our day in the parks, I head back to the hotel with the little ones for an afternoon nap.

As soon as dusk starts to come, we head back out in the cooler temperatures for more fun! I can book more FastPasses by now for everyone to enjoy even more rides without the wait!

There’s no limit to the amount of fun Disney offers. With some wise planning and Disney hacks, you can definitely make the absolute most of your Disney vacation. The little ones will feel all the magic of Disney with special attractions and experiences tailored just for them!

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