10-DD showing fear of rides

[sherr]

We are heading for WDW on Feb.22 for land/sea vacation. My 10
twin DD are saying they don't want to go on this or that because they would be scared. LIke Space Mountain or Rock Roller RC and my 6-dd says she doesn't want to do Haunted Mansion. I have to say that I want to make them do this stuff because I know they would love these rides if they just pushed thru their fear plus we have spent WAY too much money for them to chicken out on the funnest rides in WDW. Any advice?

sherr

 

[ahutton]

It sounds like you have a great trip planned. I was once one of those kids who got really stressed out about rides. I found it helpful that I was encouraged to talk to the cast members; what I was scared about in Haunted Mansion was based on my experiences in local haunted houses - I told the cast member so, and she reassured me it was a moving ride, and that there were not real people that were going to jump out. I was nervous, held my cousins hand, and I went and loved it.

Maybe asking why they are scared, and rationalizing would work at that age? Another option is say you can chicken out at the last second, but you have to go through the line with us first, and then take the walk you are directed to and wait. A big part of nerves was waiting to go on, seeing all the kids younger/smaller and they were riding, so I would ride.

And for youngest ones - Mickey won't let anything bad happen to you while you are here!

 

[Twigs]

My twin sons are 11 now. One is not able to go on the roller coaster type rides. He cannot take the drops, even when he is asleep in the car and we go over large dip in the road he will wake up. In the past when he was younger, we urged him to go on BTMRR as it is not a very large roller coaster ride, not realizing that it is an internal feeling that he cannot shake (he also can't eat for 2 hours after the ride). It turned out to be a disaster as he would literally grab hold of me or DH for life and ruined the ride so we couldn't enjoy it. So I don't recommend forcing a child who is afraid to do something. Better to do the child swap and enjoy yourself, or try to get them to agree to try it. And there are plenty of rides and things to do in the parks without going on the big roller coaster type rides. One ride he was afraid to try was test track because on the monorail it said it is the fastest ride in Disney. We waited for DH and my other son by the picture pick up at the end of the ride, and the CM there talked him into trying it and then we couldn't get him off of it ( no drops), but it was his decision to try it.

As for the HM, when DS's were 4 we took them on thinking they would love it, we had a Disney Halloween video which has scenes from the DL HM ride and they couldn't wait to try it. From the start in the stretching room they freaked out (dark and the hanging person got to them), they didn't relax and they were frightened the rest of the ride. It was one of the first things we did and we couldn't get them in any attraction that was dark after that, even if it wasn't scary. When we were in Disney when they were 6 they loved HM and went on it repeatedly. So see what it is she is afraid of and try to judge whether to coax her or not, if its a fear of the unknown maybe explaining exactly what is going to happen will help. We learned from experience that making them go on rides can back fire and make you miserable.

 

[ahutton]

The Sing Along Disneyland Fun video has the Haunted Mansion song in it, and shows quite a bit of the ride... I better pull that our for my girls!

 

[sherr]

Thanks for all the good advice. I too have the Disneyland video so I will pull that out. Also, we went to see the Haunted Mansion movie so I am hoping she is more aware that it is more fun than scary like the movie.

Good advice about standing in line and seeing the other kids some younger getting on the rides.
So a cast member would come and try and talk them into trying a ride? I like that.
Does anyone know if 10 year olds should wait alone if they chicken out at the last minute? Is there a safe place for them?

Thanks again all !

 

[disneymama73]

Hi, Sherr! I'm in Illinois, too! So, howdy neighbor!

I am a 31-yr-old mom of 2 (with 1 on the way). I have been to Disney 27 times, and I have never been on Space Mountain or Rock 'n Roller Coaster. I hate Tower of Terror and Big Thunder Mountain. I just don't enjoy rides like that. But I don't feel like I haven't gotten my money's worth. There's so much to do, you can't possibly do it all anyway...

If you can get the kids to go on the rides without them being terrified, great! But I wouldn't push them. Everyone is different, and they may never enjoy rollercoasters and haunted houses (although I LOVE the Haunted Mansion).

Talk to them about what they're afraid of, and maybe you can work out their fear with them. But mostly, have a GREAT trip whether they choose to ride on everything or not.

 

[vicb]

As the mother of of "ride chicken" I feel I must throw my 2 cents in.

First trip with DS, had no idea he would be so overwhelmed by WDW, he was just over 3. First day, in the darkest part of SE the ride stopped, he freaked, that was it for the trip. Tried Living Seas later that day and he freaked again (bet you never knew there was a "chicken exit" for that ride! ). Later in the trip we dragged him crying into Small World which was ok but he was still scared of anything "inside and dark". Gave up and did what he wanted which was swim and ride the monorail.

Next trip he was 6, still fearful but more willing to try new rides. We took a total non-pressure approach, told him this would not be our last trip so anything he wasn't ready to ride would be there another time. He tried Goofy's Barnstormer, BTM, POC and HM. I really think because we backed off he was more willing to try rides.

Going next month, he is now 8 and "thinking about" trying TOT and MS but no way SM in the dark!

BTW, DD who is 3 years older, loves all rides, the darker and faster the better!

 

[sherr]

Hi DisneyMama!
Wow, that is a lot of trips to Disney. This is our first since having kids and with the cost, it could be our last. So we are going all out and I want them to at least try the rides. I know they have gone on scarier rides at other amusement parks and so I hope to persuade them to just give it a whirl. You are all right about not pressuring them. I just really want us to all stay together and not split up because my 6 year old will go on anything and 10 year olds are afraid. I also don't want to have to wait while my dh takes someone and than I sit with the unwilling ones and than I get my turn. Maybe that is just the way it goes I guess.