Disneyland Height Requirements and Rider Switch: All the Basics Covered

If you’re planning a visit to Disneyland Resort with children, it’s a good idea to review the Disneyland height requirements ahead of time. Measure your children at home, with their shoes on, with a standard tape measure. Then you have your child’s height at the ready and you can prepare yourself for which rides they might not be tall enough for. Disneyland is strict on their height requirements- if you are not tall enough, even if you waited for an hour in line, you will not ride.

It’s best to just avoid the rides that children cannot go on rather than give them a big list of things they can’t ride because they’re not tall enough. Focus on the rides they can enjoy and it will make your entire trip much more fun. And for parents that want to ride attractions their children aren’t tall enough, they can utilize Rider Switch.

Rider Switch is a system that Disneyland has to help parents (or other families) switch off care-giving duties at the front of the line rather than waiting in line twice so each caregiver can ride. This system also helps Disneyland fill any gaps in seating when loading the attractions which is a similar concept to the Single Rider line.

This guide will provide the Disneyland height requirements for attractions, an overview of Rider Switch, and a how-to on the Single Rider line so everyone can enjoy their time spent in the parks.

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Disneyland Height Requirements

Here is the full list of Disneyland height requirements for attractions that have required height minimums in order to ride. If an attraction is not on this list, then there is no minimum height required and anyone can ride.

32″ (81 cm) or taller and accompanied by another rider 54″ or taller

• Autopia

35″ (89 cm) or taller

• Gadget’s Go Coaster

38 (92 cm) or taller

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

40″ (102 cm) or taller

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Star Tours
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

42″ (107 cm) or taller

• Matterhorn Bobsleds

46″ (117 cm) or taller

• Indiana Jones Adventure

54″ (137 cm) or taller to ride alone

• Autopia

California Adventure Height Requirements

Here is the full list of California Adventure height requirements for attractions that have required height minimums in order to ride. If an attraction is not on this list, then there is no minimum height required and anyone can ride.

32″ (81 cm) or taller

• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters

36″ (91 cm) or taller

• Tuck and Roll’s Drive’Em Buggies

40″ (102 cm) or taller

• Jumpin’ Jellyfish
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
• Radiator Springs Racers
• Silly Symphony Swings (tandem swings only)
• Soarin’ Around The World

42″ (107 cm) or taller

• Goofy’s Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail (rock wall and zip line only)

48″ (122 cm) or taller

• Incredicoaster
• Silly Symphony Swings (ride in single swing)

Rider Switch

Any ride with a minimum height requirement at both Disneyland and California Adventure offers a Disneyland Rider Switch option. Rider Switch is a system put in place by Disney to accommodate families so parents can ride their favorite attractions even if their littlest kids aren’t old enough to ride. This is a great option to take advantage of if the Disneyland Height Requirements means that some kiddos in your party cannot ride all the attractions.

You can read all the steps for how to use Rider Switch at Disneyland here.

Single Rider Line

The Single Rider line is another great option to use for families with kids that don’t meet the Disneyland height requirements. If utilizing Rider Switch becomes complicated for your group then this is another great option. One parent can take the littlest off to meet characters, get a snack, or ride an age appropriate attraction. Then the other parent can utilize some of the Single Rider lines which typically always have a lower wait time than the standby lines or even Lightning Lane lines.

You can read more in full guide to Disneyland Single Rider.

Here are the attractions that offer single rider options at Disneyland and California Adventure:

• Radiator Springs Racers
• Incredicoaster
• Goofy’s Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
• WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

Single rider can be a great option for parents if their children are being fussy and can’t handle doing the Rider Switch option. Despite the Disneyland height requirements, Disneyland really is one of the most child friendly amusement park in the country. There are so many rides that have no minimum height requirements so little ones do not miss out on the fun. Aside from attractions, there are plenty of characters to see, shows to watch, and fun foods to try. Disneyland works hard at making every guest feel included and welcome.

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1. Best Times to Visit Disneyland 
2. Best Disneyland Souvenirs 
3. Disneyland Restaurant Reviews and Tips
4. Booking Disneyland Packages