Lies parents tell their small kids at Disney?

[Swirly girls]

I have to chuckle a little thinking back to these moments.....
It happened a few different times.
My family and I were in line for some rides at Disney. Off hand the specific rides this occurred on were : tower of terror, rock n roll roller coaster, and expedition Everest.
The parent was standing in line waiting with thier small child (all just met the height guidelines to be able to go in ride) it was obvious the child had never been on ride. They were a little nervous about going, and asked questions about what the ride was like. Each time, we heard the parent lie to the child, and say things like " oh it's like a fun little show" or " it's not scary at all"

I get you maybe have to tell this fib just to get your child to go in, otherwise how do you kniw if they are going like rides like that or not. But, I felt it was a little but wrong, and kinda mean to lie to thier kids!

We never forced our kids, or told them a fib about how and ride was going to be when they were little.
If they wanted to go in it, we would go. If they didn't want to, we didn't.
We would tell them, this ride us going to go very fast, or it's going to be dark ect ect....
All of my kids are riders now.... They love rides, and are usually pretty willing to try a new ride as long as I'm going too!
While at sea world, my 16 year old and I rode Manta. While my 15 and 13 year old were hesitant about going on it. So, they didn't go in it the first time. DD 16 and I went first. We liked it, and I knew my DD 15 would love it too, but thought my 13 year old would be a little but scared on it. So, the second time my DD 15 joined us and went. While my 13 year old decided to sit it out with my DH.

So, what is the deal with parents who fib ? I'm not judging their parenting skills, at all -- I'm just wondering why they chose to go about it this way?

I know once or twice it was apparent that the parent was there alone with the child. The parent really wanted to go on ride, and didn't have a choice but to take the child with.
I don't know how they were when the ride was over.

 

[SammySlythers]

My father did this to my sister when she was around 5 years old. I wanted to ride Splash Mountain and he didn't want my mom to have to wait with 2 and 5 year olds by herself so my sister came with us in line and was told "Oh, it's like small world - you'll love it." Yeah...not so much. She screamed her head off at the drop (not sure how she missed it when we walked by to get in) and wouldn't ride anything bigger than Dumbo for the rest of the day. I'd say that plan backfired spectacularly.

 

[wiigirl]

My father did this to my sister when she was around 5 years old. I wanted to ride Splash Mountain and he didn't want my mom to have to wait with 2 and 5 year olds by herself so my sister came with us in line and was told "Oh, it's like small world - you'll love it." Yeah...not so much. She screamed her head off at the drop (not sure how she missed it when we walked by to get in) and wouldn't ride anything bigger than Dumbo for the rest of the day. I'd say that plan backfired spectacularly.

lol

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I'm usually pretty honest with DD about rides. My one lie wasn't at WDW, but at Cedar Point. It was our first trip there after she was tall enough to ride the "big" rides. She'd ridden on Gemini, and she said she wanted to ride on Corkscrew. We had stood on the path under the Corkscrew and watched the ride go upside down so I didn't feel the need to remind her it would do that. The sign said a 15 minute wait, which turned into 40 minutes, and just as we were getting to the boarding area, DD asks me "does this go upside down?" I was worried that if I said yes, she'd back out. So I answered "it has some good turns." Okay, not exactly a direct answer. More of an evasion than a lie. Luckily she loved it, and on our next trip to WDW, she was primed and ready to ride Rock n Roller Coaster. Which, btw, I was completely honest with her about that ride and how it has a super fast take off. We rode RnRC repeatedly and she calls it her favorite ride now. So I'm glad I was a little less than 100% honest about the Corkscrew. If she hadn't ridden that (much tamer) ride and loved it, I might never have gotten her on RnRC.

There are other times that I have been less than truthful about rides, but not about their intensity or scare factors. When DD was younger, there were times when she wanted to ride the same ride over and over again. After a couple rides, I'd tell her the line was getting too long even if it was short so she'd want to go onto something else. I could only take it's a small world a couple times in a row before wanting to scream so it was really in everyone's best interest that I fibbed a little.

 

[Swirly girls]

Funny

 

[imjoyful2]

Shoot, I didn't tell my hubby that Rock 'N' Roller Coaster went upside down or he never would've went on!!! I knew he'd like it once he tried it (and he did). But he never would've attempted it had he known before hand. He's like that with a lot of things though (like food). Once he tries things, he's fine. I tell him it's all in his head.

Edited to add, while I didn't tell hubby everything involved on this ride (wasn't a lie, just an omission), I don't do that to my kids.

 

[Habbott]

I'm usually pretty honest with DD about rides. My one lie wasn't at WDW, but at Cedar Point. It was our first trip there after she was tall enough to ride the "big" rides. She'd ridden on Gemini, and she said she wanted to ride on Corkscrew. We had stood on the path under the Corkscrew and watched the ride go upside down so I didn't feel the need to remind her it would do that. The sign said a 15 minute wait, which turned into 40 minutes, and just as we were getting to the boarding area, DD asks me "does this go upside down?" I was worried that if I said yes, she'd back out. So I answered "it has some good turns." Okay, not exactly a direct answer. More of an evasion than a lie. Luckily she loved it, and on our next trip to WDW, she was primed and ready to ride Rock n Roller Coaster. Which, btw, I was completely honest with her about that ride and how it has a super fast take off. We rode RnRC repeatedly and she calls it her favorite ride now. So I'm glad I was a little less than 100% honest about the Corkscrew. If she hadn't ridden that (much tamer) ride and loved it, I might never have gotten her on RnRC.

The corkscrew was my first roller coaster. I remember standing under that asking if we were going to do that. Totally loved it. I grew up loving all of Cedar Point's roller coasters.

 

[nchulka]

I would never outright lie ("it's just a fun little show" for TOT), but I would say something like "oh, it's not going to be that scary". I would not volunteer info, but I wouldn't lie to a direct question. My kids are 9 & 10 now and love all kids of thrill rides, but there were a few rough years when they were 4/5 and tall enough but not so brave.

When DD was 6 I accidentally took her on a very wild coaster that shot off like a rocket straight up and over a hill. I had no idea what the ride did, I thought it was a regular coaster. After we got on, the ride left the station slowly. Then it came to a stop and I realized we were looking straight ahead at a giant hill and there was a stoplight that was blinking and a siren. I realized what was about to happen but had no time to warn her. The light turned green and we shot off! Now at 10 it's one of her favorite rides, but it sure scared us both that day

 

[4kids4karen]

I have to chuckle a little thinking back to these moments.....
It happened a few different times.
My family and I were in line for some rides at Disney. Off hand the specific rides this occurred on were : tower of terror, rock n roll roller coaster, and expedition Everest.
The parent was standing in line waiting with thier small child (all just met the height guidelines to be able to go in ride) it was obvious the child had never been on ride. They were a little nervous about going, and asked questions about what the ride was like. Each time, we heard the parent lie to the child, and say things like " oh it's like a fun little show" or " it's not scary at all"

I get you maybe have to tell this fib just to get your child to go in, otherwise how do you kniw if they are going like rides like that or not. But, I felt it was a little but wrong, and kinda mean to lie to thier kids!

We never forced our kids, or told them a fib about how and ride was going to be when they were little.
If they wanted to go in it, we would go. If they didn't want to, we didn't.
We would tell them, this ride us going to go very fast, or it's going to be dark ect ect....
All of my kids are riders now.... They love rides, and are usually pretty willing to try a new ride as long as I'm going too!
While at sea world, my 16 year old and I rode Manta. While my 15 and 13 year old were hesitant about going on it. So, they didn't go in it the first time. DD 16 and I went first. We liked it, and I knew my DD 15 would love it too, but thought my 13 year old would be a little but scared on it. So, the second time my DD 15 joined us and went. While my 13 year old decided to sit it out with my DH.

So, what is the deal with parents who fib ? I'm not judging their parenting skills, at all -- I'm just wondering why they chose to go about it this way?

I know once or twice it was apparent that the parent was there alone with the child. The parent really wanted to go on ride, and didn't have a choice but to take the child with.
I don't know how they were when the ride was over.

Add me to the list. My son (now 18) use to never agree to ride a roller coaster. On one of our many Disney trips, I ended up telling him that Space Mountain was an indoor log flume because I knew he has ridden log flumes in the past. So he got on. He loved it! At first he says it was because it was indoor and dark so it's really not a roller coaster and is okay as long as it is dark. As the years have passed he now rides roller coasters to include the rockin roller coaster, dueling dragons, and Shriekra (Busch Gardens) which is a scary one in my opnion.

 

[North of Mouse]

I've always wanted my children to trust me completely in all things, so would never lie to get them to do something that might scare them.

I, too, might not *volunteer* info, but would not answer wrong to questions. How could they ever really trust you in anything if you knowing lied to them about something as insignificant as a ride? I've always tried to put myself in the place of others, and see how I'd like to be treated.

We've heard parents outright lie to their little ones at Disney, and it would break my heart when they were terrified, while the parents were laughing, thinking it was so hilarious.

 

[DISNEYWITHCHILDREN]

The only "lie" I have told is the following. My dd is very petite. Now at 4.5 she is just a little over 41 inches. I write a blog, and go to Disney 3-4 times a year if not more. Starting last year all her friends began going and telling her about going on Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours and TOT. DD was upset she was not tall enough. She had often been hesitant to go on Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. I told her while she wasn't tall enough for the other rides-SHE was tall enough for these two rides. She was so happy and excited. Luckily she is now tall enough for all the 40 inch rides.

I have to tell you-I would be honest with your kids if a ride is scary. Ironically now that DD is old enough for Splash Mountain and TOT she won't go. She's afraid of big drops, and I have explained that both have big drops. My thinking is we have a lifetime to go on these rides together I want to wait till she is ready.

 

[*Seanaci*]

You know...with YouTube being so prevalent, I'm surprised that parents would fib to their kids about a ride.

We have been watching YouTube ride through videos of all the rides my son is tall enough to go on come our December trip. We've also been watching a Disney Special on Netflix every week so he sees (some of) the rides and is prepared for when we get to Disneyland to say "yeah, I'll ride it" or "no...I remember this one from netflix/youtube and I'm not ready for it". Now, do I expect him to ride the few things he's told me he WANTS to ride based on seeing it on Netflix or YouTube...nope. I'm prepared to be cool with his decision and I won't push him to go on something he doesn't want to go on. Nothing worse (in my opinion) than scaring the crap out of your kid and having a miserable trip because they won't get on anything other than Dumbo or Pooh.

 

[Granny square]

I didn't lie to my kids about rides. I don't like being scared or not knowing what to expect. My dad would minimize stuff so I couldn't make an informed decision, and I hated it.

 

[4NWDW]

Ha! I had to lie to my wife to get her to go on Rock N' Roller Coaster! She kept asking if it goes upside down, I knew she would like it but she wouldn't ride it if she knew it went upside down. So she screamed while we were on the ride and as soon as we got off the ride she was ready to get in line for it again. Sometimes you have to tell little white lies to your loved ones to get them to relax and enjoy themselves, but it's all in good fun

 

[runsandjumps]

I usually have my kids watch the ride videos on YouTube. My 4 year old loved tower of terror and asked to go twice. But on one ride at legoland he decided once was more than enough. I think because I get so excited for the rides that they go more with the flow.

When we went with family, their children were scared of the teacups. I did not lie to them and as a result we rode about 6 rides over three days. For me it wasn't as much fun, but at least the shopping was good.

 

[tianna26]

Lol i lied to my lil brother about a ride called the demon told him it was slow & didnt go upside down. I also bribed him that morning that if he got on a roller coaster i would buy him a power ranger megazord. After the ride was over after the initial shock he was proud he faced his fears called my mom everyone else to tell them & yes he got his megazord

 

[Rylee]

We told our kids...

"You know how your favorite rides, ________ and ________ seem WAY TOO SHORT, and you're always wishing the rides were longer? Well, all rides are pretty short. If you don't like it, close your eyes and hang on, it will be over in a couple of minutes."

 

[SAT887]

Ha! I had to lie to my wife to get her to go on Rock N' Roller Coaster! She kept asking if it goes upside down, I knew she would like it but she wouldn't ride it if she knew it went upside down. So she screamed while we were on the ride and as soon as we got off the ride she was ready to get in line for it again. Sometimes you have to tell little white lies to your loved ones to get them to relax and enjoy themselves, but it's all in good fun

Haha this made me laugh. Same thing happened to me on our honeymoon - they eluded to it in the cue and I asked my husband again and he told me its just a roller coaster. My husband is lucky I didn't get an annulment!! However, now even though I get anxious I can ride RnR over and over

 

[MSSANDRA]

Not about the rides, but have convinced DS that the rate information on the back of the doors are Mickey's hotel rules. It's been working since he was two but now he reads well enough that it will no longer work. There are rules about kids under 5 having to take a nap every day, that you have to eat breakfast before you can ride the bus to the parks, you have to get dressed as fast as you can so you will not be late etc. Not big on lying to kids ever, but this little trick has saved soooo many melt-downs that I don't feel toooo bad.

 

[ellone]

The only fib I told my daughter was that there were no rollercoasters at AK. She's 3 and 41" so I didn't want to deal with explaining to her how she wouldn't be able to get on.

She loved Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. She understood the concept of a rollercoaster so we had no trouble getting her to try it out. Of course, then we had trouble getting her on other rides since they didn't go fast (she hated Small World & Peter Pan).