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What are the best rides for a 10-year-old boy?
- Thread starter tazmad
- Start date
CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
Disney's rollercoasters are quite mild and offer fantastic theming. Try him out on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, then advance to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and eventually Space Mountain.
Might be best to avoid Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom) and Rock'n'Rollercoaster (Hollywood Studios).
he's been on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland and it terrified him. I reminded him he was six when he did it, and now he's 10. but he's convinced he's still a non-rollercoaster kinda kid. He also said that Splash Mountain is too scary for him.
he's terrified of heights.
I think he'll change his mind on this trip. I was scared of rollercoasters as a kid, but tried one each year, and finally, at age 10, thought they were fantastic! I always loved Space Mountain at Disneyland. I would hate for him to miss out on that.
Coaster Lover
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
From a height standpoint, he'll be tall enough to ride just about everything (especially at Magic Kingdom). At Magic Kingdom specifically, I would suggest Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean if he is 100% against any roller coasters. If you can talk him onto a roller coaster or two, Seven Dwarfs is a VERY mild coaster and would be a good option to "ease" him into riding.
As I assume you will be doing more than just Magic Kingdom, I would also suggest Soarin (Epcot), Test Track (Epcot), Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom), Kilimanjaro Safari (Animal Kingdom), Dinosaur (Animal Kingdom), Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios), Midway Mania (Hollywood Studios), and Star Tours (Hollywood Studios). My 6 year old went on all of the above (plus all of the Magic Kingdom coasters, plus Everist) and of ALL of those, the only attractions the wasn't pressing for re-rides on were Tower of Terror ad Everist (though to be fair, I do have a tall 6 yr old who is very much a thrill seeker like his daddy).
If he does well on all of those, Mission: Space (Epcot) would be good too, but that is a bit intense (from a physical standpoint).
As I assume you will be doing more than just Magic Kingdom, I would also suggest Soarin (Epcot), Test Track (Epcot), Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom), Kilimanjaro Safari (Animal Kingdom), Dinosaur (Animal Kingdom), Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios), Midway Mania (Hollywood Studios), and Star Tours (Hollywood Studios). My 6 year old went on all of the above (plus all of the Magic Kingdom coasters, plus Everist) and of ALL of those, the only attractions the wasn't pressing for re-rides on were Tower of Terror ad Everist (though to be fair, I do have a tall 6 yr old who is very much a thrill seeker like his daddy).
If he does well on all of those, Mission: Space (Epcot) would be good too, but that is a bit intense (from a physical standpoint).
mousehockey37
Well-Known Member
Are you going to the other parks? Not just the Magic Kingdom?
If you are headed to the other parks, Test Track would be awesome for him. I'm not a rollercoaster person and I love Test Track. There's no big hills and the first one you climb after the seat belt check goes over a little hump and levels off. So there's not a huge drop on the other side.
For MK, teacups are fun, spin or don't spin, Buzz, Speedway, Mansion... they're all fun.
If you are headed to the other parks, Test Track would be awesome for him. I'm not a rollercoaster person and I love Test Track. There's no big hills and the first one you climb after the seat belt check goes over a little hump and levels off. So there's not a huge drop on the other side.
For MK, teacups are fun, spin or don't spin, Buzz, Speedway, Mansion... they're all fun.
yes, we will also go to Epcot and Hollywood Studios and AK.
mousehockey37
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I'd hit up just about anything that isn't a coaster. I don't count Test Track as a coaster (I'm also a racing guy). It doesn't have hills (minus the first climb) and it's speed and banking. The safaris at Animal Kingdom are neat with the free roaming animals. Toy Story is fun for a gamer.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I cannot think of a single thing in MK that a 10 year old wouldn't like.... other then princess M&G's. Ride them all with him, Pirates, HM, Splash Mtn. 7DMT, Little Mermaid, People Mover, Buzz Light year, Carousel of Progress, maybe even the Raceway. Actually I could just go through the list of everything in the park and think that they all would be perfect. I think you have an image of little kid stuff that would be to young for him, but, if there are any, it will be obvious when you get to see them. In the meantime, do yourself and your kid a favor... do them all if you can.
Po'Rich
Well-Known Member
My son is also terrified of heights. He likes 7 Dwarfs and is okay with Big Thunder (but only during the day...dislikes riding it at night). Absolutely hates Space Mountain and Splash Mountain (won't even try Tower of Terror, Everest, or Rock-n-Roll coaster). Like you I thought that he would snap out of his fear if he just kept trying the rides. Now every kid is different, but mine never snapped out of it (he's much older than 10 now). It wasn't until we got the ride pictures back from Space Mountain and I saw how utterly terrified he was on the ride, that I stopped trying to push him to ride these rides. I felt awful for trying to get him to ride the rides, but I kept thinking he would snap out of it one day and start to enjoy the experience. After all, that's what happened with me. Now, he enjoys WDW more knowing that I won't ask him to try any ride that he initially doesn't want to ride.
I totally understand, Po'Rich. I'm not going to force my son on any ride that he's scared of, so I'd rather skip the initial FP reservation on something he really is going to freak out about. I did that once, too, when he was six. His older cousins were visiting and I convinced him to do the log ride at Holiday World, a park a few hours from our home. He was worried the whole time we were in line, but I really thought once he tried it he'd be fine. His older cousin convinced him to give it a go, so he did. We weren't going to force him on the ride. He decided to be brave and try it. But once we hit the downhill part he was so scared. I felt terrible afterward for convincing him to do it. I told myself never again.
WondersOfLife
Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
Keeping it simple--
MK-
Buzz Lightyear's SpaceRanger Spin
Mickey's Philharmagic
Ariel's Undersea Adventure
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Peter Pan's Flight
PeopleMover
Laugh Floor Comedy Club
EPCOT-
Soarin'
Test Track (There aren't any drops. It's like riding a car on the interstate with the top down.)
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Journey Into Imagination with Figment
Frozen Ever After
3 Caballeros at Mexico
Spaceship Earth
HS-
All of the shows
Muppet*Vision 3D
Toy Story Mania
Star Tours
AK-
Na'vi River Journey
Flight of Passage
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Kali River Rapids
All of the shows
If he's terrified of Thunder Mountain, I'd personally skip "It's Tough to be a Bug," and "Dinosaur" at AK, as those can be pretty terrifying for young ones normally.
MK-
Buzz Lightyear's SpaceRanger Spin
Mickey's Philharmagic
Ariel's Undersea Adventure
Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Peter Pan's Flight
PeopleMover
Laugh Floor Comedy Club
EPCOT-
Soarin'
Test Track (There aren't any drops. It's like riding a car on the interstate with the top down.)
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Journey Into Imagination with Figment
Frozen Ever After
3 Caballeros at Mexico
Spaceship Earth
HS-
All of the shows
Muppet*Vision 3D
Toy Story Mania
Star Tours
AK-
Na'vi River Journey
Flight of Passage
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Kali River Rapids
All of the shows
If he's terrified of Thunder Mountain, I'd personally skip "It's Tough to be a Bug," and "Dinosaur" at AK, as those can be pretty terrifying for young ones normally.
eliza61nyc
Well-Known Member
LOL, Hey I'm waaaay past 10 and still don't like splash mountain and will probably die happily never having done RNR.
There are plenty he can do. Buzz lightyear is a favorite of ours. the people mover is cool.
The speedway while old is also cool, a little bumpy.
There are plenty he can do. Buzz lightyear is a favorite of ours. the people mover is cool.
The speedway while old is also cool, a little bumpy.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
The Magic Kingdom was built by and for small boys of all ages. Take him to:
Tom Sawyer Island - caves, forts, exploration while you find a quiet spot to relax!
Treehouse - the mother of all treehouses
Tom Sawyer Island - caves, forts, exploration while you find a quiet spot to relax!
Treehouse - the mother of all treehouses
jloucks
Well-Known Member
With the exception of Everest and Rockin Roller coaster everything else it pretty tame and will likely be enjoyable. If his fears of coasters are not based on anything other than ignorance, you might just work him up to the big coasters. A lot of the rides are inside on little cart dealies. Pirates, Manison, Peter Pan, Frozen, etc, and are slow moving and pretty cool. There is a hidden ride, Grand Fiesta Tour, that is a neat little water log ride inside the pyramid. Check that one out too.
Label me as a bad parent if you want, but I forced/bribed my kids onto the giant coasters as soon as they were tall enough. Fear based on ignorance is discouraged at my house. We now, as a family, ride all the biggest of coasters. The kids thank me now.
No Fear!!
That being said, justifiable reasons to not ride are a different story. One particular coaster (Poltergeist, Six Flags San Antonio) makes my kids both nauseous, so they get a pass on that one (but they rode it several times each). The Titan at Six Flags Over Texas is so extreme, even for me (and I am a hard core rider), that I understand being in the mood for that one. ...it makes you feel funny for a while after riding. We only ride that one when we are feeling cocky every 4-5th trip. The Texas Giant, pre rebuild, was really hard on your neck and spine, so they passed on that one. Now tho, it is excellent.
Okay, first shame him for weeks before you are going to arrive at the world, call him names and even make him cry a few times. When you finally get to WDW you drag him on every coaster and if you have to tie him to that seat and make him go three or four times in a row, depending on how busy the parks are of course, make him RIDE!!
Just Kidding,
My nephew was afraid of all the coasters and rides like Twilight Zone Tower of Terror when he was in his teens. He would ride a few each time he visited and would literally shake with fear at some attractions. He eventually got over it. He is thirty now and regularly rides Summit Plummet with no problems. It just takes time.
Just Kidding,
My nephew was afraid of all the coasters and rides like Twilight Zone Tower of Terror when he was in his teens. He would ride a few each time he visited and would literally shake with fear at some attractions. He eventually got over it. He is thirty now and regularly rides Summit Plummet with no problems. It just takes time.