Top Orlando Kid Friendly Attractions

After visiting Disney World in Orlando Florida last year with two children (ages 5 and 7), and attending numerous Disney World rides with them - we quickly came to realize that some attractions are a huge hit with the kids, while other attractions can cause some problems if you aren't well prepared. 

Going to the wrong attraction is an easy mistake to make.  Be sure that you understand the limitations of your child - and how much theatrical drama or thrill they can handle.  For example, within five minutes in the "Bug's Life" 3-D attraction - we were forced to leave the theater with two screaming and crying children.  We had little idea that the middle of the show featured stuffed spiders hanging from strings and dropping from the ceiling.

This article will outline three of the best worry-free attractions in Orlando that both you and the kids will love.

Festival of the Lion King

The Lion King show in Animal Kingdom is one of the best shows we attended during our Orlando Florida vacation.  This full-length show features stunning acrobatics, amazing costumes, and beautiful singing.  The dancers and singers are obviously skilled performers as they perform through renditions of the most popular Lion King songs.  The seating can be somewhat crowded, but the circular stadium-style seating ensures that regardless of where you sit, seeing the show won't be a problem.

The ideal time to see the show is to take a speed pass the first thing in the morning for the 10 a.m. show.  This will help you avoid the long lines that usually precede this very popular show.  Another technique is to grab a speed pass in the afternoon and attend one of the last shows of the evening. 

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

One of our favorite rides during our vacation was Buzz Lightyear's Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom.  Our girls have always been heavily into computer games, so this ride was a sure hit from the start.  Each car has room for two passengers - so I was with our 7 year old, and my wife was with the youngest.  We were sure that the ride would be more of a "ride" than a real video game - but we were proven wrong within the first thirty seconds.  After being informed that the army of the Evil Emperor Zurg is threatening the future of the galaxy - riders are swept directly into a land of various space aliens that you need to fire at with the laser canons mounted on the car.  As you fire away, a scoreboard tallies your points.

I was surprised to see that the point system was very accurate, and within half a minute, we were in a heated competition with my wife and youngest daughter to rack up points.  By the end of the ride, I was flabbergasted to see that my daughter had easily outscored me by almost two hundred points.

This is also a very popular ride, and the wait can take as long as 45 minutes, so try to time your lunch or snack in the area and grab a fast pass before eating.

Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3-D

During our first visit to Disney World during our honeymoon seven years earlier, my wife and I instantly fell in love with this show.  Years later, with our kids, the wonder and amazement we experienced watching the show didn't fade at all. 

The show starts during the wait to get in - as Muppets talk and joke on T.V. screens in the waiting area.  Once you enter the theater, the show combines a mix of cartoon screen and real-life characters - as well as a whole mix of very impressive 3-D effects, especially the finale which impresses us every single time we visit the show.  The show is only 15 minutes - but it'll be one of the most fun 15 minutes of your day.

Preparing for Attractions

You can never be sure how children will react to certain attractions.  Sometimes the 3-D may be a bit too much, or the "smell-o-vision" may scare them (it did for our kids!)  So be sure to read all about each Orlando attraction and ride before you go on it.  Tell your child about the ride and ask them if it sounds like it's something they would enjoy.  If they appear hesitant or unsure about a certain part of the ride, don't force them to go on the ride just because you really want to experience it yourself.  If you like, have your family split up and take turns going on rides.  If you take the time to prepare your child for what the ride or attraction will be like - you will be far less likely to be forced to run out of the theater with a crying child in your arms.  Instead, go over all of the rides with your kids.  Making them prepared for what is to come will ensure that your Orlando Florida trip is a fun and memorable one.