So he is tall enough but is he old enough? BTM, Test Tr. Soarin, splash?
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40'' 3 1/2 year old
- Thread starter RachelP6877
- Start date
Is he afraid of heights, speed, etc.?
You might let him watch Splash & Big Thunder for a while, and ask if he wants to ride. Unfortunately, he can't observe Soaring and Test Track until he's ready to board.
Just keep in mind that all of the rides have a quick exit if he changes his mind at the last minute. Please don't be like the mom in front of me in line for Space Mountain who was forcing her terrified child to ride - until he finally was so upset that he vomited in the loading area. He tried to tell her he really, really didn't want to ride - she should have listened.
You might let him watch Splash & Big Thunder for a while, and ask if he wants to ride. Unfortunately, he can't observe Soaring and Test Track until he's ready to board.
Just keep in mind that all of the rides have a quick exit if he changes his mind at the last minute. Please don't be like the mom in front of me in line for Space Mountain who was forcing her terrified child to ride - until he finally was so upset that he vomited in the loading area. He tried to tell her he really, really didn't want to ride - she should have listened.
accord99cutie
Premium Member
Just from own experience with this, encourage him to ride, but. Don't force him. My DD was 3 1/2 and 40" her first rip, and she tried everything, amd loved MOST of it. She did ToT said she liked it but didn't want to again. Everything else she did multiple times, and she was heart broken when she couldn't ride everest. Don't push them to try though if they don't want to
Well I just think he is a little tall for his age, No he wouldnt be afraid, I AM using my own common sence by looking in to it, from help, from what I thought was a disscusion for this subject from nice Disney fans
Big Thunder is closed. Test track should be fine because they can sit in the middle. I would try Splash if he's done a flume somewhere else. BUT, when they go up and it's dark... hold on to him! Whisper in his ear it's going to be fine. It really isn't a huge drop. We took our son at 4.5 but, that's another year older.
I left out Soaring... he can close his eyes if he gets scared... it's only scary for a minute when you take off... and that has a special extra belt in the middle for little aviators. I would NOT do rocking rollercoaster, tower of terror or everest... Dinasour was scary for our son the first time too.
HouCuseChickie
Well-Known Member
We skipped ToT for DD5 when she hit 40" b/c things like that terrify her. i.e. Haunted Mansion is on her list of things she doesn't want to ride again until she's older. She really enjoyed BTMR and Splash, but I had a mini heart attack on both of them. She was exactly 40" (or so our one dr told us) so I was a bit scared...i.e. being the worrying mom and all. She'd ridden the Barnstormer before it closed (as prev noted, reopened as the Great Goofini), and LOVED it- so I at least knew she'd like rides like this. So, as someone else noted- you might try that first to make sure your son enjoys rides like this. She also really loves the story of Brer Rabbit, so Splash was a huge hit beyond the thrill ride aspects. She also rode Soarin', Test Track and Star Tours and had a great time.
Edit- having ridden Dinosaur, I wouldn't let him ride that at this age even if he is tall enough. Maybe that's just me, but I know I lot of kids wind up being traumatized by this one.
Edit- having ridden Dinosaur, I wouldn't let him ride that at this age even if he is tall enough. Maybe that's just me, but I know I lot of kids wind up being traumatized by this one.
wilkeliza
Well-Known Member
Sorry about the rudeness you experienced in the first part of the thread. I understand why you asked people who may be a little more experienced with the rides.
I say you know him the best. Perhaps find some youtube videos of people having fun on the rides. Watch them first so you know it isn't one of the stupid show offs for doing something wrong ala the no seatbelt ToT ride. Let him decide if he wants to do it.
If you get to WDW and he says "Yah lets do that" and when he gets in line has second thoughts. Tell the CM at the front. They will let you stand to the side in a separate area and if you son says yes after seeing a few cars go they will put you on the next train. If he says absolutely not then you will go through the exit that is right there. No harm no foul. Test track is just like being in the car at home but seems faster. Does he like to go fast? If so talk those parts of BTM and Test Track up. Splash and ToT are all about heights.
In the end if he says yes let him go. Also let him know you will be with him the entire way and that he would never get hurt on the ride. Also perhaps tell him some rides like ToT are suppose to be scary but being scared is part of the fun. Don't talk down any of his fears. Have a discussion about why he wouldn't want to ride it or why he does. Walk him through exactly what happens and show him some ride through videos. Martin has the best selection of family friendly ride throughs on here so check him out.
I say you know him the best. Perhaps find some youtube videos of people having fun on the rides. Watch them first so you know it isn't one of the stupid show offs for doing something wrong ala the no seatbelt ToT ride. Let him decide if he wants to do it.
If you get to WDW and he says "Yah lets do that" and when he gets in line has second thoughts. Tell the CM at the front. They will let you stand to the side in a separate area and if you son says yes after seeing a few cars go they will put you on the next train. If he says absolutely not then you will go through the exit that is right there. No harm no foul. Test track is just like being in the car at home but seems faster. Does he like to go fast? If so talk those parts of BTM and Test Track up. Splash and ToT are all about heights.
In the end if he says yes let him go. Also let him know you will be with him the entire way and that he would never get hurt on the ride. Also perhaps tell him some rides like ToT are suppose to be scary but being scared is part of the fun. Don't talk down any of his fears. Have a discussion about why he wouldn't want to ride it or why he does. Walk him through exactly what happens and show him some ride through videos. Martin has the best selection of family friendly ride throughs on here so check him out.
Minnie1976
Well-Known Member
I would have taken my kids, but they had no fear.
crispy
Well-Known Member
My oldest daughter has always been tall for her age so I understand your dilemma. We did let her ride Barnstormer first to gauge how she would handle things. She rode it several times so we moved on it BTMRR. She loved it, too. Then we tried SM and later Soarin'. Uh oh! She hated them. We finally figured out that she loved speed and heights, but couldn't handle darkness.
She is now sis and tall enough to ride everything, but we won't let her do Space Mountain, Mission:Space (easy side), or RocknRollercoaster because she still has issues with things being dark, and I don't want to chance it when I can't help her.
Good luck and just go slowly with some of the easier things like Barnstormer and Soarin' to see how he handles it. I would avoid any of the intense rides at his age even if he is tall enough. The height requirement for ToT is only 42inches, but I think the storyline is a bit too intense for most children. We finally let my daughter ride it last year when she was 5 (actually DH allowed her, not me), and I think it was a pretty bad idea.
She is now sis and tall enough to ride everything, but we won't let her do Space Mountain, Mission:Space (easy side), or RocknRollercoaster because she still has issues with things being dark, and I don't want to chance it when I can't help her.
Good luck and just go slowly with some of the easier things like Barnstormer and Soarin' to see how he handles it. I would avoid any of the intense rides at his age even if he is tall enough. The height requirement for ToT is only 42inches, but I think the storyline is a bit too intense for most children. We finally let my daughter ride it last year when she was 5 (actually DH allowed her, not me), and I think it was a pretty bad idea.
jikobean
Member
We are taking our 3 1/2yo in May. He's reached the 40" mark as well so will be able to experience many more rides than at his last visit. We've been talking about splash, BTM, and TT with him to prepare him a bit. We've also shown him some videos from this site as well as youtube of the rides so he can be more prepared. I know it will be different when he's on the ride, but I'm hoping a bit of familiarity with put him at ease some, without taking away the magic. May help your child too.
davidc1578
Member
Took my 3 1/2 year old in January and he just made the 40" requirement. Did Splash, BTM and Test Track. We held our arm around him from getting thrown side to side too much on BTM and TT but he loved all of them and wanted to go back for more. He did get scared of Haunted Mansion so only one ride there. Didn't get to Soarin'. We watched the videos ahead of time and we let him tell us if he wanted to ride or not. Don't force it. Have a great time!
EvilQueen-T
Well-Known Member
we've been taking my granddaughter at least once a year since her 3rd birthday. on her 1st trip those rides would have been to overwhelming for her. in fact, her mother had her initially in a panic over pirates and the up/down motion of dumbo...we took her back on without her mother and got her excited over the rides after which the game of put one hand in the air and use the other to go up/down to make mommy scream was born. we found out my gd was more interested in being a tease than being afraid real quick. when we took her for her 2nd trip she was almost 4 and was a totally different child. she had her arms up, loved loved loved splash and btm, laughed like crazy on tot...and the adrenaline junkie was born. since then the moment she was tall enough for anything new she was on it in a flash. the first time she rode space around age 5 1/2-6 she asked the cm for the last seat so she could make her first ride the best ride. last year (at age 7) she finally grew tall enough for rnrc and by her second time riding went the entire ride (take off included) with arms up.
BrittanyRose428
Well-Known Member
I didn't go on any of those until I was about 14... and I still will not go on Rock n Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror. I'm not help here, haha. :lol:
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
Youtube
Don't know if this will help, but my boys watched the rides on youtube and said I'd like to ride that, or no way! But, The Great Goofini is where you start. My one son just jumped on rides no problem. It took some coaxing for my other son, especially Splash and Thunder. 1st ride on TT we got stuck sideways- uncomfortable ride breakdown. My one son rode again immediately, the other one cried, but the WONDERFUL CMs took my son up to the control room to see how it worked We came back an hour later to ride it!:ROFLOL:Good luck!Most of all, don't stress, just have fun!
Don't know if this will help, but my boys watched the rides on youtube and said I'd like to ride that, or no way!
But, The Great Goofini is where you start. My one son just jumped on rides no problem. It took some coaxing for my other son, especially Splash and Thunder. 1st ride on TT we got stuck sideways- uncomfortable ride breakdown. My one son rode again immediately, the other one cried, but the WONDERFUL CMs took my son up to the control room to see how it worked We came back an hour later to ride it!:ROFLOL:Good luck!Most of all, don't stress, just have fun!We have been taking our now 3.5 year to a local amusement park since she was 2. (DH and I both work there.) It is absolutely no comparison to WDW of course but it has gotten her used to the movement and the idea behind rides. We have one coast similar to BTM but on a smaller scale and it is her absolute favorite ride. She goes 6 times in a visit. So we will be trying her on everything she is tall enough for (41.5 inches right now) on our September trip.
We have been watching You Tube, Disney Vacation DVD's and WDW website so that she has an idea of what to expect. So far she keeps asking to see the "pretend ghosts" and the "Dark Ride" (AKA Haunted Mansion) over and over and over and over on You Tube! I sure hope the real thing does not disappoint.
We have been watching You Tube, Disney Vacation DVD's and WDW website so that she has an idea of what to expect. So far she keeps asking to see the "pretend ghosts" and the "Dark Ride" (AKA Haunted Mansion) over and over and over and over on You Tube! I sure hope the real thing does not disappoint.
I have the same dilemma. My DD is 4 and 1/2, 44 inches tall. She loves thrills, ghost and rides (due to a teenager sister). Now, I don't want to scare her for the rest of the trip, but when I show her Youtube stuff, she says that she loves it and wants to do it (as long as one of the adults is with her).
Do I let her?
Do I let her?
DisDadEddie
Active Member
My daughter was the same way. By four years old she rode Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Soarin' and anything else she was tall enough four. At 5 years old she got to ride Rock N Roller Coaster. It was her choice. she wanted to so we let her.She loved all the rides.