Dreamworld is the Gold Coast’s BIGGEST theme park, and there is so much there for your pre-schooler to do that you’ll want to go back again and again! See what’s at Dreamworld for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Only at Dreamworld can you find rides suitable for the very youngest member of your family; a water park with fun splash’n’play areas; a wildlife area with cute baby natives and full-grown tigers; entertaining and educational shows throughout your entire visit AND your kids’ favourite TV characters! There’s lots there for parents to love too – it’s the perfect day out.
BIG Moments for Pre-Schoolers
Your pre-schoolers will be thrilled to see all their television favourites at Dreamworld’s ABC Kids World, and their cute and loveable wildlife favourites at Corroboree. Dreamworld is also parent-friendly so you won’t have to worry about little legs getting tired and hungry tummies!
ABC Kids World
ABC Kids World is Dreamworld’s go-to play space for pre-schoolers, where they can see the characters from their favourite ABC Kids television shows; The Wiggles, Giggle and Hoot, Bananas in Pyjamas, and Play School. There are gentle rides and attractions to entertain your little one, and the ABC Kids World Fun Spot with interactive screens and activities (temporarily closed under the Covid Safe plan), and look out for roving ABC Kids characters eager to have their photo taken with your child!
The rides and activities in ABC Kids World are specifically designed for pre-schoolers, providing gentle fun and safe play. Parents can ride too! Your pre-schooler will love:
Dorothy’s Rosy Tea Cups
Twist, twirl and sing along to some of your favourite Wiggles songs in a giant tea cup.
Height requirements: Minimum height 90cm. Riders under 105cm must be accompanied by an adult.
Age requirements: No minimum age.
Giggle and Hoot Pirate Ship
A fun activity play centre aboard a static pirate ship.
Height requirements: No restrictions.
Age requirements: No restrictions.
Bananas in Pyjamas Fun Maze
Your kids can be ‘chasing teddy bear’ as they navigate this fun maze, with a low wall that parents can see over.
Height requirements: No restrictions.
Age requirements: Designed for children up to 5 years old.
Play School Wheel
This is the cutest little Ferris wheel with colourful balloon carriages.
Height requirements: Guests under 105cm must be accompanied by an adult to ride.
Age requirements: Children under 4 years and/or 105cm tall must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 1 are not permitted to ride.
Big Red Boat 1
Glide backwards and forwards with gentle turns, just like being on the sea.
Height requirements: Guests under 105cm must be accompanied by an adult to ride.
Age requirements: Children under 4 and/or 105cm tall must be accompanied by an adult. Babies under 1 year old are not permitted to ride.
ABC Kids World Fun Spot
In this activity centre full of toys and games, kids can interact and play at their leisure.
Height requirements: No restrictions.
Age requirements: No restrictions.
Play School Art Room
Children can play on the beanbags and use the interactive touch screens.
Height requirements: No restrictions.
Age requirements: No restrictions.
Big Red Car
A sing-along adventure through the rooms of Wigglehouse.
Height requirements: Physical size must not reduce effectiveness of restraints.
Age requirements: Children under 4 must be accompanied by an adult.
Animal Encounters at Dreamworld for toddlers
How exciting for your pre-schooler to pat a kangaroo at Corroboree! Dreamworld’s Corroboree provides the perfect opportunity to slow the pace a little, relax and explore. There are so many native Australian animals and birds to see in Corroboree – can your child find the wombat or the bilby? Go on a fun mini safari to see which animals your pre-schooler can find and identify.
Dreamworld’s Corroboree is home to around 500 native animals and birds, including tree kangaroos, dingoes, emus and dancing brolgas. This year, the staff at Corroboree are being kept especially busy with lots of new arrivals. There are kangaroo and koala joeys and even baby crocodiles!
Don’t forget to visit Tiger Island to see the tigers and their three fast-growing cubs – they all turn 2 years old in April and May! There’s a daily presentation and keeper talk where you can see the tigers demonstrate their natural skills and behaviours, and it’s conveniently located next to a food outlet so you can grab a drink and a bite to eat!
Animals at Dreamworld
Does your toddler or pre-schooler love animals? Dreamworld is home to around 500 animals and birds. You can see them in the Nocturnal House (temporarily closed), The Aviary (temporarily closed), and other special enclosures representing the rainforests, wetlands, woodlands and arid areas of Australia. Some of the wonderful wildlife your child can see include:
- Bilbies
- Cassowaries
- Dingos
- Wombats
- Tasmanian Devils
- Birds of prey
- Bats
- Sugar Glider
- Snakes
- Emu
Wildlife Presentations
Every day you can learn more about some of the animals who call Dreamworld home, with Keeper Talks and presentations. The following experiences are included with your entry at no extra cost:
- Koala Talk
- Crocodile Talk
- Tree Kangaroo Talk
- Tiger Presentation
Shows at Dreamworld for toddlers and pre-schoolers
There are daily shows of singing and dancing to delight and entertain your pre-schooler, and characters to meet for a wave. Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog and Captain Feathersword invite little ones to get up and wiggle about at the Fun Spot Stage, and you can see King Julien and his Madagascar friends perform live each afternoon at the King Julien Theatre.
Your little ones might also enjoy the sheep shearing demonstration in The Woolshed and seeing the clever sheepdogs do their tricks – it’s a favourite with our family!
Here are some of the characters you may meet and daily shows your toddler might enjoy. Please bear in mind that all character appearances are currently contactless and some shows may be temporarily cancelled to adhere to shifting Covid guidelines. More information will be available at the gate when you arrive:
- Kenny & Belinda’s Welcome Celebration
- Bananas in Pyjamas
- Wiggly Friends Show
- Bushrangers Train Hold Up – temporarily closed
- Sheep Shearing Show – temporarily closed
- Madagascar Live Show
- Shrek
- Dreamerz Dancers
- Kenny’s Shake, Rattle & Roll
- Po the Kung Fu Panda
Pick up your show times list as you enter the park and sign up to the Dreamworld email newsletter to make sure you’re amongst the first to know about special performances by The Wiggles or Jimmy Giggle. All shows are included in your park entry – there’s no extra to pay!
Wiggle Bay
Complete with mini slides, interactive sprays, colourful water cannons and giant instruments – children 120cm and under can splash, play, and create their own Wiggly music all day in this haven made for parents and young children.
Wiggle Bay is in WhiteWater World, right next door to Dreamworld. Entry to WhiteWater World is included in your Dreamworld Annual Pass, and you can simply stroll through from one park to the other. There’s lots of shade and plenty of sun lounges, so if you don’t fancy getting your feet wet you can relax and supervise your child’s play in comfort.
Age requirements: no age restrictions (see height restrictions). Babies under the age of one are not permitted to ride the slides.
Height requirements: Children must be under 120cms.
Other Dreamworld rides and attractions for toddlers & pre-schoolers
Dreamworld has rides suitable for toddlers scattered throughout the park, so if you have older children who want to try out the bigger rides, there will be something nearby for your toddler too.
The Dreamworks Experience
The Dreamworks Experience is where you will find Shrek’s Faire Faire Away, Madagascar Madness, and Kung Fu Panda’s Land of Awesomeness. Whilst most of the rides here are more suited to primary school-aged children, (we wrote about those here) little ones certainly don’t have to miss out.
Shrek’s Ogre-Go-Round
This is a fun carousel with characters from Dreamwork’s Shrek movies.
Height requirements: Minimum 110cm tall.
Age requirements: Babies under one year old are not permitted to ride. Children under the age of 5 and/or under 110cm tall must be accompanied by an adult.
Mad Jungle Jam
Mad Jungle Jam is a huge activity centre with hundreds of squidgy balls, foam fountains, rope bridges and lookout towers. It’s the perfect place for pre-schoolers to burn off energy and practice gross motor skills.
Height requirements: No height restrictions.
Age requirements: Children under 4 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 1 are not permitted to enter the attraction.
Gingy’s Gliders
Guests lie on Gingy shaped carriages and fly through the sky amongst lollipops and gummy drop buttons.
Height requirements: Minimum height 105cm.
Age requirements: Children under 4 must be accompanied by an adult.
Vintage Cars
The Vintage Cars ride is a sedate tour in a replica vintage 1920s Ford car, along a track tucked behind Corroboree. It’s ideal for slowing the pace of a hectic day, with no height restrictions for passengers (driver must be over 120cm tall, and children under 4 years-old accompanied by someone over the age of 14).
Height requirements: Must be 120cm to drive.
Age requirements: Under 120cm must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 4 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Dronkey Flyers
This ride is a cute merry-go-round which is fun for your little one.
Height requirements: Guests under 105cm must be accompanied by an adult to ride.
Age requirements: 12 months and older (when accompanied by someone over 14 years old).
Dreamworld Express
Dreamworld Express departs Central Park Station every 30 minutes for a scenic ride around Dreamworld. It’s a great way to see the park, with stops along the way by The Woolshed and Corroboree. Look out for turtles as you pass the lake, count how many sheep have been shorn at The Woolshed, and spot the colourful Rainbow Serpent tunnel at the entrance to Corroboree.
Height requirement: No height restrictions.
Age requirements: Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult.
Dreamworld for parents
With so much for your toddler and pre-schooler to see and do, Dreamworld has made it easy for parents to get around in comfort. All the paths are pram and pushchair friendly, there are lots of stop-and-rest zones, baby change and parent facilities, storage lockers, dining and picnic areas, and shopping opportunities too. Everything you need for all day comfort and convenience!
Food outlets
Dreamworld has a variety of food outlets to suit almost every taste. There are snack and fast food stores, several cafes, fresh sandwiches, and an all-you-can-eat buffet licensed buffet restaurant (buffet restaurant temporarily closed under the Covid Safe plan) .
Retail
There are themed stores throughout the park selling gifts and souvenirs, including Australiana, Dreamworks licensed products, clothing, toys … and LEGO! The LEGO store at Dreamworld is one of the largest in Australia, with 10 life-sized LEGO statues for the perfect photo opportunity.
Facilities
Wherever you are in Dreamworld, you are not far from toilets, baby-change facilities and parenting rooms. Strollers (prams and wagons) can be hired, and lockers are available so that you can be ‘hands-free’ to enjoy all that Dreamworld has to offer with your child. Car parking is free!
And there’s so much more!
We’ve told you about ABC Kids World, the animals at Corroboree, and Wiggle Bay, but there is HEAPS more fun at Dreamworld for toddlers and pre-schoolers to be had yet! There really is so much for pre-schoolers at Dreamworld – it’s the BIGGEST day out on the coast!
The BEST way to see Dreamworld
One day is simply not enough to explore all that Dreamworld has to offer. The best way to see Dreamworld is again and again with a Dreamworld annual pass. Your Annual Pass comes with BIG bonuses.
Passholders receive:
- discounts on food and drink purchases
- discounts on merchandise purchases (excludes LEGO)
- FREE digital photos
- 12 months entry to WhiteWater World (seasonal opening) and SkyPoint Observation Deck
- and other great offers including FREE or discounted entry to special events such as Happy Halloween and Winterfest
Free kids tickets to Dreamworld
Remember kids under 3 get FREE entry into Dreamworld, so if you have kids aged 3+, your best value option to enjoy Dreamworld ALL YEAR long with your toddler is an annual pass. From only $119 (Afterpay available), you can grab yours here: Dreamworld Annual Pass
Find more great family days out here.
Here is everything you need to know about Dreamworld:
- Cheap Dreamworld tickets
- Complete overview to Dreamworld rides and shows
- Dreamworld for Primary aged kids
- Dreamworld for tweens and teens
- What events are on at Dreamworld this week
If you are looking for accommodation near Dreamworld, we have reviewed the top 10 hotels nearby so you can make and informed choice!
This article was featured in Issue 39 of our printed magazine, published April 2020.
