Big Thunder Mountain

[cookie334]

I'm trying to decide whether it's a good idea to take my 5 year old DS on BTM next time we go.

We're both total scaredy cats and have never ridden BTM in the past, so I'm going with the "C'mon we'll both be brave together" approach. I think he'll love it, but obviously as I've never been on it before, I thought I'd see what you guys think.

He LOVES Cars, Tea Cups, Dumbo etc and wishes they all went faster, but he really didn't like POTC, Snow White etc.

I've realised it seems to be he likes going fast so long as he can see where he's going and what's coming next. We went on the normal train that goes round the park the last time and he was even scared when it went through the tunnel so I'm assuming it's the dark that scares him more than the ride. But saying that he loves Buzz, I think because there is no scary element involved.

Soooo, my question to you all is do you think he would like it? I know there are some dark bits in it, but are these over and done with quickly? Or is there quite a lot of darkness? He can't decide if he want to do it. One day he will say yes, the next he will say no, so I think he wants to, but is just understandably a lil scared lol.

[Calumsmummy]

I'm trying to decide whether it's a good idea to take my 5 year old DS on BTM next time we go.

We're both total scaredy cats and have never ridden BTM in the past, so I'm going with the "C'mon we'll both be brave together" approach. I think he'll love it, but obviously as I've never been on it before, I thought I'd see what you guys think.

He LOVES Cars, Tea Cups, Dumbo etc and wishes they all went faster, but he really didn't like POTC, Snow White etc.

I've realised it seems to be he likes going fast so long as he can see where he's going and what's coming next. We went on the normal train that goes round the park the last time and he was even scared when it went through the tunnel so I'm assuming it's the dark that scares him more than the ride. But saying that he loves Buzz, I think because there is no scary element involved.

Soooo, my question to you all is do you think he would like it? I know there are some dark bits in it, but are these over and done with quickly? Or is there quite a lot of darkness? He can't decide if he want to do it. One day he will say yes, the next he will say no, so I think he wants to, but is just understandably a lil scared lol.

My daughter went on BTM when she was 4.10 yrs and she was nervous about going on but loved it! My little boy Calum who is 7 and has special needs rode BTM twice on Tuesday this week and loved it to!
I am also a scaredy cat- No way would I ride Space Mountain, and I hated The Tower Of Terror but I loved BTM :)

[ap156]

BTM has a couple of parts totally in the dark, going under the water out and back so that might answer your question!? And of course it has a lot that is outside, far more than the other!

Might be worth looking at YouTube to see if a video of the rdie is on there so he can see it himself perhaps?

As to would he / won't he like it...that's for you!

A

[Belle's World]

My niece and nephew both love this ride. Personally i think it is over too quickly and could quite happily stay on all day. I think you should give it a shot quite early on in the holiday, if you love it more cahnce to ride if you hate it more time to forget!

Ro

[cookie334]

My daughter went on BTM when she was 4.10 yrs and she was nervous about going on but loved it! My little boy Calum who is 7 and has special needs rode BTM twice on Tuesday this week and loved it to!
I am also a scaredy cat- No way would I ride Space Mountain, and I hated The Tower Of Terror but I loved BTM :)

That's exactly my thinking. Would never ride SM or TOT either lol, but think I'll definitely brave BTM next time, with or without DS :rotfl:. I think he's going to be like your DD, nervous about it now, but I have a feeling he would really like it if he tried.

BTM has a couple of parts totally in the dark, going under the water out and back so that might answer your question!? And of course it has a lot that is outside, far more than the other!

Might be worth looking at YouTube to see if a video of the rdie is on there so he can see it himself perhaps?

As to would he / won't he like it...that's for you!

A

Thanks never though about YouTube. I knew some of it was in the dark, but thought if it was over with quickly he wouldn't mind it so much? I don't think he'd mind a quick in and out of a tunnel, but don't think he'd like it for more than a few seconds.

Another important question is probably what does it do in the dark? Are there any drops/really sudden changes of direction when it's under the water?

I am pretty sure he'd like it, but need to check these little things out first lol coz if I took him on there and it was all dark and twisty he'd freak.

My niece and nephew both love this ride. Personally i think it is over too quickly and could quite happily stay on all day. I think you should give it a shot quite early on in the holiday, if you love it more cahnce to ride if you hate it more time to forget!

Ro

Sounds like a fab plan, will definitely do that. Thanks.

[mummyal]

We rode BTM for the first time when we went in December. My DD is 6. She wasn't too sure about it at first but I told her it was similar to Runaway Train at Chessington's but a bit faster lol. I put my arm around her, so she was actually quite close to me and didn't move about much. I think she was a bit scared but when she came off the ride, she said she wanted to go on it again. The next day, she went on it with DH. I told him to hug her quite well but I don't think he did. So she came off it saying that she never wants to go back on that ride again till she's much older! lol.

It's not twisty as such. There're just quick bends and stuff - there're no upside down loops etc. Maybe when you go on together, put your arm around him quite firmly. They're so little and at the speed it goes, they do tend to move around quite a bit and I think that's what might be quite scary for them.

[sarahc]

DD is a bit of a wuss but absolutely loves this ride! It's pretty fast and there are the dark bits but as long as someone's holding onto her tightly she's fine.
Ultimately, your son will decide though. If he gets to the train and won't get on, that'll be it!

[cookie334]

We rode BTM for the first time when we went in December. My DD is 6. She wasn't too sure about it at first but I told her it was similar to Runaway Train at Chessington's but a bit faster lol. I put my arm around her, so she was actually quite close to me and didn't move about much. I think she was a bit scared but when she came off the ride, she said she wanted to go on it again. The next day, she went on it with DH. I told him to hug her quite well but I don't think he did. So she came off it saying that she never wants to go back on that ride again till she's much older! lol.

It's not twisty as such. There're just quick bends and stuff - there're no upside down loops etc. Maybe when you go on together, put your arm around him quite firmly. They're so little and at the speed it goes, they do tend to move around quite a bit and I think that's what might be quite scary for them.

That's great advice, thanks, that's definitely what I'll do if I get him on it lol

DD is a bit of a wuss but absolutely loves this ride! It's pretty fast and there are the dark bits but as long as someone's holding onto her tightly she's fine.
Ultimately, your son will decide though. If he gets to the train and won't get on, that'll be it!


Yeah you're absolutely right, doesn't really matter if he agrees to it here or not, if he gets there and wont go on that will be that lol.

[britchic4]

My son is 7 and doesn't really like BTM although he feels he ought to. DH loves it. DD is just 4 and rode it for the first time just after her birthday after begging to go on it all last year. She rather liked it. I hate it - rollercoasters just aren't for me, but DH can't take both of them on as they both need hugging so I have to go on. I have to admit I just will it to be over with.

[C3PO]

My son is 5 and likes/dislikes the same rides as yours. He was very clear about not wanting to ride BTM, and I respected that.

[scampbunny]

both my boys love it - it is ds2 fav ride i think - he is 3 (but tall lol) he rode it the first time in dec (just before he was 3) and came off saying again!!! we hold them close (although not too close lol) just our arms around them and they like it - more to stop them sliding around the seat!!

all u can do is take them to see it, and let them decide..... but i think it is good!!

[cookie334]

My son is 7 and doesn't really like BTM although he feels he ought to. DH loves it. DD is just 4 and rode it for the first time just after her birthday after begging to go on it all last year. She rather liked it. I hate it - rollercoasters just aren't for me, but DH can't take both of them on as they both need hugging so I have to go on. I have to admit I just will it to be over with.

To be honest I'm not even 100% I will go on it either as I'm not a rollercoaster person. Watch this, we'll get there and DS will want to go on and I wont :rotfl:.

My son is 5 and likes/dislikes the same rides as yours. He was very clear about not wanting to ride BTM, and I respected that.

That's what DS was like the first time we went too, but DD went on it in January and absolutely loved it and that's what's got DS swaying. I think her enthusiasm is contagious. To be honest, I think I should've taken him on it at the end of our stay in January when the enthusiasm was still strong, but DD still goes on about it all the time and DS will say "when I go on it next time...." :rotfl:, but when I ask if he is he'll go "Errrrrrrmm...... no I don't think so" :lmao:.

both my boys love it - it is ds2 fav ride i think - he is 3 (but tall lol) he rode it the first time in dec (just before he was 3) and came off saying again!!! we hold them close (although not too close lol) just our arms around them and they like it - more to stop them sliding around the seat!!

all u can do is take them to see it, and let them decide..... but i think it is good!!

They have no fear at that age eh? That's great though coz he wont have any probs with that sort of thing when he's bigger and gets a sense of fear.

I think if we watch it while DD and OH go on it first and then he hears her going on about it again, he will probably agree.

[tttessa]

Hiya,

my girls love BTM now - and have been on it both sides of the ocean.....

however - to start with when eldest was 4 she went on it and didn't like it - it took us 2 years to get her back on it. It was the dark bit - unfortunately straight at the start. The way we got over it was tell her to close her eyes for the dark bit and we'd tell her when to open them... I know, I know - still dark, but she was "in control" of the dark... now no problems at all.

Also, i would advise getting there early or do fast pass for this ride- the last thing you need with a nervous child is the build up of queueing for 30min or more, just to find they will not ride when you get there.

Tessa

[A Small World]

This is now one of my favourite rides at DLP (the only coaster I will do there although I also love TOT) and would ride it over and over now however the first time I rode it I hated it.

It was the dark part which I didnt like - I wasnt expecting it and as its immediate it seemed to make it worse. It seemed to go on for ever and I felt very claustrophobic - this part now seems so short. I also coped with it on our next trip by closing my eyes and so being in control of the dark.

So I would say definitely warn your DS that it will be dark at first but will be over soon.

[cookie334]

Hiya,

my girls love BTM now - and have been on it both sides of the ocean.....

however - to start with when eldest was 4 she went on it and didn't like it - it took us 2 years to get her back on it. It was the dark bit - unfortunately straight at the start. The way we got over it was tell her to close her eyes for the dark bit and we'd tell her when to open them... I know, I know - still dark, but she was "in control" of the dark... now no problems at all.

Also, i would advise getting there early or do fast pass for this ride- the last thing you need with a nervous child is the build up of queueing for 30min or more, just to find they will not ride when you get there.

Tessa

That's fantastic advice thanks. Yeah I don't think I'd be able to do it if I had to queue very long, never mind DS :lmao:.

The closing the eyes tip is great, will definitely be doing that lol

This is now one of my favourite rides at DLP (the only coaster I will do there although I also love TOT) and would ride it over and over now however the first time I rode it I hated it.

It was the dark part which I didnt like - I wasnt expecting it and as its immediate it seemed to make it worse. It seemed to go on for ever and I felt very claustrophobic - this part now seems so short. I also coped with it on our next trip by closing my eyes and so being in control of the dark.

So I would say definitely warn your DS that it will be dark at first but will be over soon.

That's fab, thanks, will definitely be able to prepare him for that now. Is the dark bit at the beginning the only dark bit of the ride?

[Roon]

Big Thunder Mountain is a firm favourite of ours. It's a coaster but it is different somehow. You can see what is happening. You don't get knocked about too much and it is just brilliant. This is probably the most used ride for us at DLP.

[cookie334]

Big Thunder Mountain is a firm favourite of ours. It's a coaster but it is different somehow. You can see what is happening. You don't get knocked about too much and it is just brilliant. This is probably the most used ride for us at DLP.

Well when we were there in January I spent most of my time at the end of it watching it over the water because it was also DD and OH's most used ride :rotfl:. Another reason it would be nice if DS would come on with me then we'd actually be doing something instead of hanging around all day waiting for them ;). Great to know that you can see what's happening, I think that will make a huge difference for DS. Thanks

[torsie24]

The first dark bit isn't too bad I don't think. And the really long inside hill climb has a lot to see and isn't really too dark.

Is he easily distracted? You could always entertain him by making train noises together and stuff in the darker bits. Choo choo!

I've not been with small children to DLRP but have been with friends children to other theme parks, and if I worry they are getting a bit nervous we sing a song together, or I point out things or laugh or go 'booo!' at the scary parts and I call them silly. Has seemed to work so far....

My fiance Jack's 23 but the first time we went on BTM I pointed out the possums to him and everytime we ride it we both go "POSSUM!" and point at the possum bit.....I think people think we're crazy but we love it!

Also, if you sit close to the front his first time the ride is a lot slower and gentler.

[cookie334]

The first dark bit isn't too bad I don't think. And the really long inside hill climb has a lot to see and isn't really too dark.

Is he easily distracted? You could always entertain him by making train noises together and stuff in the darker bits. Choo choo!

I've not been with small children to DLRP but have been with friends children to other theme parks, and if I worry they are getting a bit nervous we sing a song together, or I point out things or laugh or go 'booo!' at the scary parts and I call them silly. Has seemed to work so far....

My fiance Jack's 23 but the first time we went on BTM I pointed out the possums to him and everytime we ride it we both go "POSSUM!" and point at the possum bit.....I think people think we're crazy but we love it!

Also, if you sit close to the front his first time the ride is a lot slower and gentler.


Thanks a lot, great advice, I'll be trying all of that if we get on it lol.

Thanks for the tip about sitting at the front as well :thumbsup2