January 2026
The Best First Disney World Theme Park for Baby
As a Disney fan, bringing your child for the first time is a monumental occasion. And in all honesty, Disney World ends up being a great option for a first trip to do with your baby. While we have visited the Disney World Resort a few times with baby, we actually never went inside a theme park. And now that baby is a little older and more interactive with longer wake windows and consistent naps – we are ready to tackle a day at one of the Disney World parks. Remember, kids under 3 have free admission to the parks and that is something we definitely did not want to miss.
Knowing that taking a baby to a theme park does have limited experiences, we also wanted to make sure we were going to have a good time. EPCOT has always been our favorite park but we were not sure it would be a good fit for babies.
But the question stood out – which of the parks do we choose if we were to only start with one park for this trip? Magic Kingdom is an obvious and iconic first choice. But to be honest, with high crowds and long waits, and paying extra to get on rides quicker, and the high stimulation that goes with this park, it just did not seem like the first experience we wanted with baby. We wanted something that was relaxing and not feel like we had to make the most out of the money spent. Even though there are tons of rides without height requirements that baby can ride and I so desperately want a photo of us at the castle, we ultimately opted against Magic Kingdom.
In assessing the other three Disney World theme parks, Animal Kingdom will be perfect in a few years when interacting with animals is up baby’s alley. Unfortunately there are just not enough things for a baby to do in this park at a young age and while this park has great shows, that is just not in the cards right now. And I do not think we will be stepping into Hollywood Studios for a long time. Not only is it pretty pathetic for babies, it is also currently not too great for small kids either. That all being said, there are new additions that are coming to both parks that may help their small human potential in the future so I am certainly looking forward to seeing how those areas come along with representation from Encanto, Zootopia, and Monsters Inc!
And so, we landed on EPCOT.
Yes, the park famously labeled as ‘adults only’ and boring for kids is actually the best first theme park at Disney World for babies. But the decision was not by process of elimination since we did not feel the other three Disney parks were a good fit – EPCOT truly has some magical things for babies. Let me explain.
- There are actually a number of rides and experiences appropriate for babies. Overall, EPCOT is a more low stimulation park as well.
- While baby naps on the go, parents can enjoy adult time without needing to go on rides. Adult fun at EPCOT isn’t solely dependent on being separated from your partner or friends while you take turns going on rides (though you can if you want!). There is also something about walking around World Showcase with a snack and beverage in hand while baby is chilling in the stroller.
- There are multiple types in park dining experiences to choose from – full service sit down restaurants to quick service options, or even just grab and go. You can pick the option to match any mood your baby is in. And of course yo u can take full advantage of one of the many festivals EPCOT hosts if you are visiting during that season – Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden, Food and Wine, and Festival of the Holidays keep a Festival active at EPCOT almost all year round.
- EPCOT is the only Disney World theme park that currently has a playground.
Attractions and Experiences
- Living with the Land – This slow boat ride that highlights agriculture with calming music and voice overs. It is a 15 minute experience that is low stimulation, very relaxing, and nothing about it is scary. Wait times are typically very low and often a walk on attraction.
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends – There are multiple components to this area and for us, this was actually the selling point for EPCOT with babies. The ride itself features “clamobiles” that take you on a slow moving ride through movie scenes from Nemo. After the 6 minute ride, there is a giant 5.7 million gallon aquarium! Home to various aquatic life, you can view sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, and more along with education and feeding viewing opportunities. The center also serves as rehabilitation for
manatees. - Spaceship Earth – At 16 minutes, this slow and continuously moving ride is mostly in the dark is a great option for babies. I know we have used this ride in the past as a great way to escape and unwind (maybe even close our eyes for a few minutes to recharge). Wait times here are a good indicator for how busy the park is for the day.
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros at the Mexico Pavilion – Another EPCOT low thrill attraction, located inside the Mexico Pavilion is a slow moving 6 minute boat ride that is baby friendly.
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana – If your baby loves splashing in the bath, then they will love Moana’s Journey of Water. This is a walk through attraction that allows for guests to interact with water in various ways. Do not worry – getting wet is not a requirement to enjoy this experience. What is nice is people wander through at varying speeds so even by waiting a few minutes in an area you would like to experience with your little one should allow you a less crowded opportunity.
Food and Beverage Options
EPCOT really has an endless supply of places to get something to eat and drink. Here are our favorite options in each category. Want to sit down and have a full service meal? What to grab something and eat on the go? Want something in between? Want a meal with some characters? Yep, EPCOT has it all. And World Showcase has multiple options in each of the country’s pavilions – the options really are plentiful. Do not forget to check out one of the numerous festivals that go on at EPCOT throughout the year as well.
Here are some examples of spots to eat or drink in World Celebration (entrance, hub), World Discovery (thrills, tech), World Nature (nature, science):
| Grab and Go | Quick Service | Sit Down | Character Meal |
| Festival Booths Sunshine Seasons | Connections Cafe and Eatery Sunshine Seasons | Space 220 | Garden Grill |
Here are some examples of spots to eat or drink in World Showcase:
| Country | Table Service | Quick Service | Grab and Go Snack / Beverage Cart | Bar / Lounge |
| Mexico | X (two of them!) | X | X | X |
| Norway | X (Character Dining!) | X | ||
| China | X | X | X | |
| Germany | X (Buffet) | X | X | |
| Italy | X (two of them!) | X | X | X |
| America | X | X | X | |
| Japan | X (three of them!) | X | X | X |
| Morocco | X | X | X | |
| France | X (three of them!) | X (two of them!) | X (two of them!) | X |
| United Kingdom | X | X | X | |
| Canada | X | X |
EPCOT could not have been a more perfect choice for us to experience our first Disney World theme park with baby. It gave all three of us exactly what we were hoping for – a relaxing way to immerse ourselves in that Disney magic. We went on several attractions, met characters, ate around the world, and even relaxed a bit. We are counting down the days until or next trip!