Splash Mountain - 3 1/2 year old

[splashmountain31]

Hi again,

My dh and I are taking our 3 yo twins in October and had no intention on taking them on Splash Mountain or Thunder Mountain because we thought they were too small. However, we recently had their 3 yo checkups and they are over 40 inches (the requirement for Splash). Has anyone ever taken their 3yo on this ride? It's my absolute favorite.

Chances are pretty good that we will NOT take them on, because I'm overprotective, but I'd be interested in learning if anyone has taken their 3yo on this ride and how their child did with it.

Thanks so much!!! :)

[Dsnymouse]

Splash - we took my dd5 on splash mountain at about that timeframe (3 1/2 almost 4). We also took my neice who was 6 at the time. My dd was trying to be brave because cousin was there and opted to go on Splash Mountain. She loved the Briar Rabbit stuff in the ride but did not like the big drop. She said she would never go back on it. The bad part too - they make each person sit in there own seat. I clung to the front of my seat to hang onto her (probally threw my neck out doing this). I guess it depends on the child - mine didn't like Haunted Mansion or Pirates either cause there were turns in the dark. My advise explain the ride, show them pictures, etc. and ask them if they want to go. My daughter didn't hesitate when I asked if she wanted to ride splash when we go in November. Her answer - NO! :wave2:

[ascardino]

We were there in late April/May just as my DD was turning 4. She just made the 40 inch height requirement and weighs less than 35 lbs. Those are two of her favorite rides. She made us ride them more than once. She is not overly outgoing either. She sat next to my husband who is a pretty big guy, so I am sure he cushioned her and made her feel secure. She went on the Toontown coaster and loved it as a trial run and wasn't scared of BTMR at all. She loved the ride on SM up until the big drop. We had her "duck" going down the last drop, so she really did not get too wet and it is over so quick, she didn't bat an eye. My twelve year old son actually sat out that ride because he was feeling queasy from Mission to Mars. But, he isn't crazy about SM anyway with the big drop. So, I guess it really depends on the child.

Have fun! We will be there next week and while I cannot ride either ride :sad1: at 7 months pregnant, I am sure my husband will be taking my DD again! :flower:

[splashmountain31]

and I know they would like it, but I'm afraid they would fall out. Although they meet the height requirement, both are only 32 and 33 lbs. I was actually surprised at their height, as I thought they were smaller than the average 3 yo. I've read posts of 2 yo children weighing 35 lbs and meeting the height requirement.

I think we'll be swapping at the ride though. :)

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There is no risk of falling out on the fall unless your girls begin to climb. If you can trust that they will follow instructions and stay seated, they will be just fine.

If weight was a problem--they would have included that in the requirements :)

[PinkCinderella]

This wont really answer your question but it may also be useful. Your 3 year olds may like the characters in the ride (the part where it tells a story bout brer rabbit and the fox and all of them) because that may be fun for them when they are riding past all of the scenery. Although they may not like the drops but I guess depending on the kids they may not mind it too much but most little children would get scared if they didnt know that it was coming. The dark may not be that great either.

[ascardino]

I agree with the previous post. There is no chance of falling out unless they climbed out. Paired with an adult even at that weight (same as my DD) they are perfectly safe. In my mind it is a question of if they like would like the drop. Play it by ear when you get there and see how they react once they know what to expect.

[becca011906]

Well my dd is only 3 years and 3 months and 40inches tall but only weights 29lbs she's a little tooth pick and very skinny! But She LOVES thrill rides and is a big dear devil! She will be riding splash mt, thunder mt, tower of terror, test trac, dinosour ect ect.! If she's tall enough she's going, b/c if i don't let her she'll be so upset and if she rides it and doesn't like it then ok she doesnt' have to go again! :)

[Bugsmom73]

DD was 3 1/2 when she rode this and thought it okay. She kinda liked Goofy's Barnstormer. She loved Test Track though. When DS goes when he is 3, he will definitely be tall enough to ride as he is not quite 2 and 36in.

[bartleby1]

We just got back and DS (turned 3 in May and weighs 32 lbs) rode splash and big thunder. He liked splash, claims it was his favorite ride. I think he was a little scared on big thunder although he did agree to ride it a second time.

I think the little ones don't notice the big hill on splash as much as the adults because they are too short to see it coming. On our second or third time on splash, after the big hill my 3 yr old asked if the big hill was coming soon. He didn't realize we had just gone down it, lol!

DD rode splash at 3-1/2 and loved it also. She wouldn't ride big thunder on that trip though because she was afraid of thunder and lightening storms and since the ride was called big "thunder" mountain she wouldn't go near it, lol!

I would think that most 3 yr olds could handle splash mountain better than big thunder since it is so heavily themed. Definitely try Goofy's barnstormer before putting them on big thunder to see how they do.

[Suzanne74]

My dd was just 3 when she went on Barnstormer and LOVED it. We went back when she was almost 3.5yrs old and she was tall enough for Splash and Thunder. She loved splash but ducked when we went down the hill - she didn't want to get wet, she said. She laughed when she saw that DH and I were soaked. We asked if she wanted to go on again and she said - no thank you! We tried Thunder and she probably would have really liked it but she is so sensative to noise (she covers her ears during most shows, although she isn't scared.) and she hated the rickety noise going up the hills. We are going back in 1 month when she will be just 4 and she already asked about both rides so I guess will see. She LOVED Soarin - that is the easiest 40" ride to go on. She wouldn't go near Test Track - too noisy, but I know she would love it.

[stahshee]

I took my 3 1/2 on that she had a blast and still remembers it . we have a pic of her going down she cant wait to go on again. in fact she went 3 times! :earsgirl: :cheer2:

[Brightsy]

I've taken my 3 1/2 yr. old on Splash Mtn., Big Thuder, Goofy's Barnstormer and even Test Track and Soarin'. He loves 'em all!
He really seemed to like Splash an awful lot. We got to sit next to each other. I read one poster who said they wouldn't let them sit together which seems odd to me. Heck my husband got to sit next to my other son AND our older niece, so they were three together. Do they have different boats now? We were there just at the beginning of August this year.

Sara

[Lisa loves Pooh]

No--you can still sit 3 wide if you have a small person with you. Not sure at what point they become too big for 3-wide, but we ride 3-wide with my 5yo on most rides that do not have individual belted seats. Some we do 4-wide....but doing less of that since the 5yo wants her own row (with an adult of course) :).

[Loriannf]

We were there in July with our 40 lb., 41 inch 3.75 year old DD. She LOVED Big Thunder and wanted to ride it again and again. The first time she rode Splash, she thought it was "boring" and wondered "where's the big drop?" She warmed up to Splash only after she realized that people in the front seat got wet; thereafter we only rode in the front. Take your kids if you think they'll like it; you know them best.

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

DD was not quite three when she went on Splash last October. My aunt, uncle, and cousin had come down from Gainseville for the day and uncle Mark told her he'd go on it with her if she wanted to go. So off we went, aunt and cousin stayed behind with the baby. She LOVED it, squealed the whole way. She rode it 8 more times while we were there, most of the time in the front row. She wanted to ride it at DL but it was shut down almost the entire time we were there and when it was open there was a 115 minute wait - ouch!

[Aneille]

I've actually never ridden Splash since my husband really dislikes the ride so this May my 3.5 year old was tall enough and I was so excited to go in with her but she wouldn't go. I think it was because the walkway going up is dark and gloomy. There was no wait either!

She did ride Big Thunder Mountain twice right after we left the Splash line.

She also rode Soarin, Goofy's Barnstormer (she first rode that at just under 3) and Test Track (which she loved!).

So I would take them if they would want to go.

[ThreeMusketeers]

deleted..sorry! :goodvibes

[poohguys]

We took my DS on Splash on our last trip. It was two weeks before his 3rd bd. He was just over 40" tall and was 40 lbs. He was a little afraid while waiting in line, but once we were on the ride he really enjoyed it. It turned out to be his favorite ride. He went on it 5 or 6 times. On that trip he also went on Goofy's Barnstormer, test track and Tower of Terror. BTM was closed that trip so we were not able to go on it. I say if you think your child is ready go on it. This trip DS will be tall enough for Space MT.

[In Luv with Disney]

When we go in Oct, my son will JUST be turning 4 that week! He is now 40 inches, so he can go on. I keep talking to him about it, and he is EXCITED for it! He can't wait! (Neither can I!!! :rotfl: )

[bengalbelle]

My DS was almost 4 the first time he went on Splash Mtn. We showed him the drop and asked him if he wanted to ride it. First he said no, then he said he did. We asked him again right before we got on. We all sat together in the front row (DH, DS and I). He loved the ride, just didn't like getting so wet.

[rt2dz]

These are two of my sons favorite rides. He first rode BTMRR at 3.5 (42", 32 lbs) and then rode Splash Mountain shortly after turning 4 (44", 34 lbs) (it was closed down every time we tried to ride our previous trip). The only ride that he has a problem with though is the queue for Haunted Mansion--the ride itself is fine.

[guangs]

I brought my daughter on thunder mountain when she was three and it scared her to death! She loved goofy's coaster, but after riding thunder mountain she wouldn't even ride in her stroller. Every child is different!

[bscs]

My dd went on splash mt. when she was 3. She loved it! :Pinkbounc

[tink,too]

My DD loved Goofy's Barnstormer when she was just over 3 (and also Flying Unicorn at IoA and Woody Woodpecker's coaster at US) but she wasn't tall enough for SM or BTMR. She's almost 4 now and at 39" we know she'll be tall enough on our next visit (in 2006) and I'm sure she'll want to go on them both - I wouldn't push her though if she says that she doesn't want to. :)

[flagdaytwins]

do we know each other....i live in mass. too and have 3 yr old twins!

we went to disney in may. girls love thrill rides but i did not take them on splash or thunder BECAUSE -- there is a cute little play area near splash that we couldn't get them out of!!!! We stumbled upon it by accident -- when you look at splash mountain at the entry line - the play area is down on the right, it's covered (shade!).

it's too bad that the cute little rabbit animation (how do you spell "brare" anyway) is at splashmountain and not by itself - all kids would love to see that!

maybe you can stand and watch splash for a bit and see other kids and then decide? personally, i need to sit with my kids on rides -- i am afraid they will climb out if alone! they loved goofy's barnstormer and the tea cup ride...and buzz lightyear....

[magictrickboy71]

Howdy Everyone,

It all depends on the child.My Daughter is a Thrill ride junkie and she loved all of these rides.

When we were at Disney in March 2005 my DD was 3 1/2 and she went on Tower of Terror twice, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain 3 time, Goofy's Barnstormer.

We are going back in December , She will be 4 1/2 and she cannot wait. She has it all planned out, 1st Big Thunder Mountain, then back to the hotel to put on our bathing suits for Splash Mountain, then on to Tower of Terror. I had to explain to her that we did not have to go back to the hotel and also that Tower of Terror was at MGM not MK. It was so cute!

Hope this helps,
Frank :wizard: