Big Thunder Mt. for 5 y.o?

[ckay87]

I have been hearing about Big Thunder Mountain can be "questionable" for a 5 year old. Does anybody have a 5 year old who actually rode it - and if so, what were their opinions? I ask because my 5 y.o. son is a huge train fanatic. The one and ONLY thing is is looking forward to with regards to our first DW trip is riding this one, particular ride. He is tall enough and can handle some fairly wild rides (like the scrambler, etc.) But, how wild is this one exactly? Just looking for some general opinions, in case I have to prepare him for a big dissappointment. Thanks

[Cindy B]

My 5 year old loved it, but again he's a tall kid, hes 6 now and about 49-50 inches.

So at 5 he was on Steel Force (hypercoaster), many many kiddie coasters, The Phoenix (antique wood one), and lots of other thrill rides.. At 5 also he did Rock n Roller Coaster, loved it!! And at 4 TOT, loved that too.

Hubby is an ex skydiver, so its in the genes... The only thing he didnt like at BTM was the bats in the cave..

He said it was pretty tame., I guess comparing it to RnR, it is tame...

[ckay87]

Wow Cindy B - you live near me. You said Steel Force and my heart skipped a beat (Dorney Park, right?) That's my all-time favorite. I'm a coaster-lover too so I'm hoping one of my boys will take after me so I finally have someone to ride with! Anyway, WOW - I can't believe your 5 year old rode Steel Force! Yea, I guess Big Thunder Mt. would be tame after that one. Heck, he probably thought the Phoenix was tame also (Knoebels, right?) Okay, so your advice was helpful - thank you. Curious if there's anyone else.

[DisneyMom92]

He absolutely loved it. It was his first major roller coaster. Before that Barnstormer was as wild as it got. He also loved Tower of Terror, but the preshow was too much for my 8 yo. Go figure.

You have to consider your child. It's a pretty tame roller coaster for the most part, but there are some who might be frightened by it. You can see most of it from outside the que line, however, which can give you an idea if your child can handle it or not.

Hope this helps.

[padams]

DS is 5. We rode it more times than I can count on our trip a few months ago. DS first rode BTMRR last year at age 4, and could barely wait a whole year to ride it again. Now, little DS 3 is eating ALL of his veggies trying to grow to the height requirement so he can ride too. There are no steep drops, just lots of turns and a little bumpy (more like a wooden coaster than a steel one). You know your DS best, but I think he will enjoy it. Have fun! Pamela

[floridafather]

Last year my four year old daughter rode it along with my 7 y/o son. They both loved it. I didnt think she would be that adventurous but after she rode space mountain and said "I want to go again" I wasnt too worried about the train. She was officially out of her shell that day.

[mainey-mouse]

We just got back and my 4 1/2 yr old LOVED Big Thunder. He also did the Scorpion at Busch Gardens. His 7 year old sister did Scorpion, Python, and Gwazi at BG - but she's always been a good rider. He's been a little more timid. Now Big Thunder isn't a ride like Scorpion which gives you a real loop (my son didn't like Scorpion too much) - but BT is bouncy and shaky. It didn't scare my son, but it scared us in an interesting way. My son was sitting with his sister, in the first seat of BT. My husband and I had the car behind. My son was having a blast - but we were constantly reaching out to grab him so he wouldn't fall out. Of course he wouldn't have fallen out. But on some of those turns, it sure SEEMED like he could have. The little guy kept yelling at us to let go of him, but I guess there's nothing to be done about those parental instincts.

[Cindy B]

Yes, that is Steel Force in Dorney and Phoenix in Knoebels...

He is a HUGE kid, and he is a big thrill seeker. My daughter is following in his footsteps.

I Have to say RnR was a little scary, but he loved it, went on it like 3 times in a row... after getting measured about 3 times each time he got in line...

The ride pic from Steel Force is pretty funny. My son is looking a little scared. But afterwards, he said it was fun.

[ohiominnie]

My dd is 6 (almost 7) and my ds is 4. They both LOVE Big Thunder! In fact, 4 yo son, who JUST makes the height requirement at 40 1/4 inches (with shoes), would ride the thing ALL DAY if he could! :bounce: He holds both his hands up for the entire ride and he sings "buffalo gals won't you come out tonight" through out the ENTIRE ride!!! :) During a particularly SLOW E-ticket night when we were down there last week we actually rode it THREE times back to back (once we had to switch rows, because people were waiting in our row) This is the kid who also loves Splash, Astro-orbiter, Tea Cups, Dinosaur, the scrambler, etc etc

I'd just see how your child reacts to it. Let him watch it run. If he wants to go on it, great. If he goes on it and doesn't like it, don't push it. Each kid is different. :D

ohiominnie :p

[SueM in MN]

Since you said he likes trains, I thought I would mention that you can get a really good look at BTMRR while riding the WDW train. You can see several hills and valleys and if you are lucky, you will see one or two trains as you go by.

[Patio]

Wow, I can't believe your son did Steel Force. It's intimidating just to look at. I was scared to death on it. Your son will have no problem with Big Thunder Mt. My dd was on rollercoasters very young, but my ds, 7 yrs, is afraid of them so consider your child's individualness. Enjoy!

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

and he did great. Kept wanting to go back again. I think it depends on your child though. My son is not at all timid. Maybe you could find a place to watch the ride for a while and then ask your child if he'd like to do it.

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

and he did great. Kept wanting to go back again. I think it depends on your child though. My son is not at all timid. Maybe you could find a place to watch the ride for a while and then ask your child if he'd like to do it.

[BuzzLightYear3]

My 3 year old just made the height requirement when we were there last October and rode Big Thunder Mountain. She's pretty adventurous but had never been on an adult roller coaster. She was a little scared, but I think that was probably because we went at night and she couldn't see very well. I'd make sure you ride it in the daylight first. It's pretty tame (mostly fast turns) as far as roller coasters go.

[clutter]

My dd's afraid of her shadow, but loves going fast. Go figure. She's also exceptionally tall, so on her first trip to disney at 3year 1month, she loved BTMRR the best. Next trip, the first stop was the "little trains." (She's a train lover, too.)

At almost 4, she yelled at me because I wasn't screaming enough! In my defense, it was about my hundredth trip.

I did what I'd seen recommended - tried Goofy's Barnstormer first. It's a shorter ride if they don't like the coaster feeling.

[musical2]

My 3 year old (almost 4) did Thunder Mountain Railroad last week. She was tall enough and wanted to ride the "Train Roller Coaster" she was watching. First my wife took her while I watched the twin 16 month olds, then we did baby swap and my daughter liked it so much she took the second ride with me. I think it all depends on your childs temperament. Mine really likes the idea of riding coasters. If she is tall enough she goes.

Bart

[mom2boys]

My oldest was 5 the first time he went on BTMRR. He was a bit scared in the dark tunnel at the beginning. At that point in time, he did not want anything to do with anything dark. He loved the rest of the ride. In fact, he wanted to get back on as soon as he got off. When I asked about the dark tunnel, he said it wasn't scary. Thunder Mtn now ranks up there with Splash Mtn, Buzz Lightyear & space Mtn as his favorite rides. (He's now 7.) My youngest (now 5) is a daredevil and loves anything fast. (The 5 yr old loves Tower of Terror. The 7 yr old won't go near it.)

[KangaT]

Last week my 4 y.o. loved it. Until this trip he was not what I'd call a fan of roller coasters. But he did everything at WDW he was tall enough for this time around (voluntarily, of course). The only thing he didn't like was the Tower of Terror at MGM.

[B3LM]

My 5YO rode Big Thunder Mountain multiple times and LOVED it!

[jlima]

Our son was 2 mos shy of his 3rd birthday when he met the height requirement for the "Choo Choo Roller Coaster" We have APs for DisneyLand and that night we rode EVERYTHING that had a 42 inch height requirement - Space Mountain, Spalsh Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain (he was already a Matterhorn veteran). Hope this helps!!
:bounce:

[All Aboard]

Our 3yr, 4mo old daughter loves it!

[Guy]

My son was about three weeks short of 4y.o. when he was on BTMRR. It was not his first trip on a coaster (he had been on a "small" coaster in New Hampshire -- Storyland -- the previous summer when he was only 2-1/2 and he had loved that one).

My wife and I were attempting a "baby swap" with our youngest at BTMRR and I rode first, so as we
were walking off, I asked my older son if he wanted to go again. "No." We sat in the shade for a couple of minutes with my wife and kids, and then my oldest decided he did want to go on a second time. Luckily there was no problem with a baby swap some 5 minutes later.

When he came off again, he told us he didn't want to go back on again anymore. I think he'd had enough. It's a pretty challenging coaster for my wife too, so maybe he takes after her in that regard.

A couple of days later, we were over at Goofy's Barnstormer, and there weren't enough people to sustain the line, so the CMs were letting us ride multiple times. I think we rode at least six times, and he loved that one (me too...I love the swooping down through the barn part).

[Lplayer]

My 8 year old rode BTMRR and was miserable at the first drop. I love coasters, and while this is tame to me, my son hated it. He is very daring, loved Goofy's barnstormer. If drops of any kind scare your child, this is not one for them. Please don't think I'm a prude, it's just that you know your childs limits better than anyone. You be the judge, based on past experience. This coaster is not a kiddie coaster. I have ridden hundreds of various coasters(all of the disney and various east coast parks), and while this one is tame to me-- I wouldn't classify it as a kiddie coaster--mild but not kiddie. After all of the affirming responses, I felt the need to balance things out with a different kind of kid experience.

[kinlaw6450]

I tokk both of my kids on Big Thunder Mountain last year, they were 3 and 5. The absolutely loved it. However, when it came to Space Mountain my oldest took one look and said noway. I think she would have liked it if she gave it a chance but why push?

Anyway, I say let them make the decision and everyone will be happy.

[tar heel]

Each of my three boys listed Big Thunder as their favorite ride when they were five years old. My youngest is almost 7 and it was still his favorite ride when we were there last week! As far as thrill rides go, he also liked Test Track a lot at that age. He waited until this tript to do Space Mountain and Rock 'n Roller Coaster, though.