When to make unwilling kid ride?

[juliekzp]

Curious how others handle kids who are scared to ride. I made my scaredy-cat daughter (probably age 6 at the time) go on Thunder Mountain a couple times - no loud crying, just a pouty face and a little pitiful whimpering. I truly thought (and still think) that she would like it if she just tried. Then when she was almost 8 I tried to get her to ride it again, but she burst into tears, so I didn't make her. But I've already told her that she's trying 7DMT next time, despite her protests (she'll be almost 9), so she has 6 months to get used to the idea .

What do you do? No judging each other please! Keep just keep about your own approach!

 

[Bete]

I would show her a u tube video for the ride. This way you are taking away the unknown factor about the ride. Getting the free DVD Disney video might be good to watch, too.

Is it possible your daughter may have motion sickness with these rides?

I would encourage to try a ride if she doesn't get sick at least once. I would reward her in some small way for accomplishing the ride. Maybe, create a card with certain rides you would like her to try. Let's say you give her 8 rides to choose from and if she goes on six of the eight she can have a souvenir or whatever.

 

[Dan Murphy]

When to make unwilling kid ride?

Never

 

[3DisneyFanz]

One of my first Disney memories was being 7 and having a meltdown because I thought my parents tricked me into riding Space Mountain when the People Mover went inside. At 8 they forced me on the mine train at Carrowinds and after that I haven't found any ride I won't try at least once.

 

[Jennasis]

Never.

 

[dja14]

We talked our daughter into rocknrollercoaster when she was younger. She was tall enough but just barely. I really regret it. We didn't make her, just strongly encouraged, but she was really scared afterward. She will ride almost anything, always was on the adventurous side but now she won't ride anything that even looks like it might go upside down or looks wild. I really wish when she was hesitant we had done child swap or something because I think now she would be willing to try. I did suggest that she try something similar next year when we go but I don't think she will.

Still I think each parent knows their child best and some kids might need to be encouraged. Encouragement is not making them though. My mom and my fil have both always hated rollercoasters so I know some people really don't like them.

 

[juliekzp]

Never

Too late for that, lol. No motion sickness, and I'd never force it if she was truly upset (like last time I suggested Thunder Mountain). Maybe I'll just have to get my thrills with my daredevil DD6!

 

[nduckles]

I have NEVER made my kids ride a ride.....I have willingly left a line near the very front of Space Mountain when my son panicked because I wanted him to know that he always had the choice not to go, and if the others came back saying how great it was and he wished he had gone, he would have learned the lesson that perhaps he should have tried it. But that's because I know my kids. If I push, they'll dig in their heels. When they're ready to do something, they will.

 

[cakebaker]

Never.

 

[Arden01]

I have a 10 year daughter who hates thrill rides. I made an alternate plan for her when we go to WDW later this week. My husband and I will split up - one will take her to meet characters while the other parent goes on thrill rides with our other daughter. Last year, we did nudge our scared daughter to ride Soarin'. She was nervous and wanted to leave at the last minute (it was too late since the doors were closed). It ended up being her favorite attraction! Go figure. She would not ride 7 Dwarves however, even when the CM at our resort sent her an personal invitation from Snow White! It's hard to say what to do. I'd have her watch Youtube videos and let her decide. We have fast passes for Mine Train and I told my daughter to decide before she taps her Magicband. If she doesn't want to ride, it's totally fine with us and my other daughter can use her sister's magic band to ride twice. I vote to let your daughter decide and not force her.

 

[loves to dive]

My son was a bit of a thrill seeker but didn't like heights so if he didn't want to do it, we didn't do it. No tears, no trying to talk him into it, it just wasn't worth the possible fight and we are always there to enjoy ourselves. He has talked me into riding a few rides I didn't really want to, but being the some time adult I've sucked it up and I rarely cry. Seriously, if they don't want to ride, for whatever reason, it's not worth the drama to me.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

It depends on the kid. My daughter needs to be made to do things sometimes. For example, the pool slide. She completely forgot how much she loved it last year. I made her go down it again this year (the one at GF) and she ended up going on it at least 60 more times. And she got more confident each go round…..at first she wanted someone to catch her but soon she didn't want us anywhere near the bottom of the slide (she was wearing a life vest). She also was suspicious of freakin' Winnie the Pooh because she couldn't remember if she had been on it before. I made her go on it and of course she liked it.

If I didn't make her do rides she complained about we literally might have rode three rides in the entirety of Disney World.

 

[soniam]

When DS was 8, he started acting freaky in the 7DMT line. Saying that he was scared to ride and fake crying (at least the sobbing sounds, no actual tears). He had just ridden Space Mountain twice, and I think he rode Everest the day before. So, I knew it would be fine. I kept telling him that it was easier than those, and that if it wasn't, then I wouldn't be riding. I'm a chicken and haven't done Space (at least since I was a kid) or Everest. People around me were giving me the evil eye. He rode it just fine and said that he wanted to ride again before we had even exited the ride. He also thought it was a little boring compared to Space

So, I think it really depends if the kid is acting or not. It sounds like your DD wasn't acting and doesn't like such rides. I would let her do it in her own time. Otherwise, she may resist out of revenge, instead of getting to enjoy them when she's comfortable. I myself, as an adult, am having to slowly increase my level. BMTRR used to bother me, but both it and 7DMT were very easy last trip. So, I am going to try Space next trip. Just workin' my way up slowly.

 

[kmdrago1783]

Curious how others handle kids who are scared to ride. I made my scaredy-cat daughter (probably age 6 at the time) go on Thunder Mountain a couple times - no loud crying, just a pouty face and a little pitiful whimpering. I truly thought (and still think) that she would like it if she just tried. Then when she was almost 8 I tried to get her to ride it again, but she burst into tears, so I didn't make her. But I've already told her that she's trying 7DMT next time, despite her protests (she'll be almost 9), so she has 6 months to get used to the idea .

What do you do? No judging each other please! Keep just keep about your own approach!

I have the opposite problem. My DD who is 4, and will be almost 5 at the time of our trip, wants to go on EVERYTHING! She even wants to do TOT which I really don't think she is ready for, even though she's tall enough.

I am still taking a gradual approach when we do in October and introducing her to the over 40" rides slowly but surely because I don't want her to have a bad experience and get spooked! Going to start with things like Splash, Soarin before doing the coasters like BTMR and 7DMT...

She didn't like Barnstormer when she was 3, but I have to be honest-- I thought it was a little rough for that age group!

 

[juliekzp]

I have the opposite problem. My DD who is 4, and will be almost 5 at the time of our trip, wants to go on EVERYTHING! She even wants to do TOT which I really don't think she is ready for, even though she's tall enough.

I am still taking a gradual approach when we do in October and introducing her to the over 40" rides slowly but surely because I don't want her to have a bad experience and get spooked! Going to start with things like Splash, Soarin before doing the coasters like BTMR and 7DMT...

She didn't like Barnstormer when she was 3, but I have to be honest-- I thought it was a little rough for that age group!

That's like my son! He went on BTMR and SpLM at 3, SM at 4, and all the rest (California Screamin, RnR, TOT, EE) at 5. For your trip, I'd do 7DMT before BTMR, because it's quite a bit smoother and not so loud. He and his big sis are SO different! We'll definitely be splitting up a lot next trip.

 

[2Zoomers]

Never.

 

[chocolateavocado]

Never.

 

[MischaOz]

You know your child best, but I wouldn't force it.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I think you have to base this on the child's personality. My DD is ALWAYS terrified of new rides. She will even ask me before a trip with a new ride to make her ride it, because she loves rides and is just scared of the unknown. Her first words after the ride are always, "Let's do that again!"

 

[Isatricia]

Our rule is that each trip, we all try each ride once. We started this when the girls were 6 & 8. The older daughter "claimed" to hate roller coasters. Yes, we made her go on them. Now she is almost 12 and she loves roller coasters. If we hadn't forced her to go, she never would have given them a chance.