12 yo afraid to ride...

[befuddledlife]

We're headed to DW Mar. 19th and I need to know how to convince DS to ride. He's too big for the kiddie rides, and too scared to ride the wilder rides. I know that he'd love them if he'd just give it an honest try, he'd love it. In fact, he rode Dr. Doom's Fearfall at IOA last year and loved it. Then later in the week, I had to pretty much force him to ride Space Mountain - he didn't admit he liked it then, but he has said that he wants to ride it this year. He won't commit to riding anything else, however. Any ideas on how to get him to ride this year? It just seems like such a waste to pay for an adult ticket for him if he's going to be a big chicken. TIA for your help!

 

[dixipixi]

Hi! I kinda know what you're going through. My DS will be 12 when we go in June and he doesn't like to ride the wilder rides. Even standing by himself and watching everyone else doesn't phase him. On our last trip, however, we did manage to get him to do a few things. Space Mtn. is now one of his favorites! I found out from him that he mainly doesn't like drops or upside down action. Anything else and he's fine. He actually rode a couple of midway type rides at Busch Gardens that would have made me throw up, but with him if there are no long drops or upside downs, he's fine. I guess there's just different things that appeal to different people. The only ride we ever "forced" him to go on was Jurassic Park and that was because he is an absolute dinosaur junkie. Well, just because of that drop, he hates the ride. He does Dinosaur at AK with no problems and laughs at people who think it's scary. I guess my point is, sometimes you just have to go with the flow. I'll ride any kind of roller coaster, but don't put me on a carrousel. I can't stand to go round and round. I get so motion sick that I'm usually shot for the day. Stupid, but true.

 

[ckckc2000]

Same problem here-but it's with my 10yoDD-We made her ride Raging Bull at Six Flags-Chicago-it doesn't go upside down but has a huge drop in the beginining! Well-She started screaming"NEVER AGAIN-Oh no!" And even liked the end of the ride but refuses to go back on any coaster-She's my third child and I don't know where she got that darn chicken gene from?! Her brothers love coaster so does my DH and I-Well, she says she'll try most of the WDW rides-but is scared of ToT and Rock and Roller coaster-well find out this Dec-but I too would appreciate any hints to help ease her fear

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Don't push - Just pull.
You go on the rides and let him wait for you.
DS 12 Loved the Hulk and rode it repeatedly but was extremely upset by Mummy ride, he rode Fearfall once and didn't feel the need to try Tower of Terror.

I don't do the scarier rides usually and i get my money's worth.

 

[the kabuki]

I think it's just a matter of what he's comfortable with. DH hates spinny rides, myself I'll ride them all. But my SIL can't stand to go on any wild rides. He may feel differently once he gets there, but I wouldn't push. If you do and he really does end up liking it, he probably won't even admit you were right .

 

[Mom to Jordan]

AT 12 I think it's different that a younger child. All kinds of new stuff is going on with them about that time and new types of fears come back that you thought were gone. Yep, I have a 12 year old DS. I think at this age it is important to respect that decision as to what they choose to ride. I strongly "encouraged" DS to try things on our first trip when he was 8, but now let him make those choices.

BTW, No one is too big for the kiddie rides at WDW!!
Yes, we long ago gave up Dumbo and the Merry- Go- Round, but lots of the others DS will go on because I like, them. He however refuses to go on IASW more than one time!!!

Good luck and have a great trip!!!

Jordans' mom

 

[kidangel]

Not a criticism, just something to consider...

One of the memories that stands out the most for me of childhood trips to Disney, Cedar Point, and other amusement parks is my dad and little brother calling me chicken, ride after ride, as they trotted off to be spun, flipped, hung upside down and flung through the air at the speed of light. I never - NEVER - minded waiting patiently while they rode. Never complained about having to wait. What I minded was the endless, "she won't go on that, she's too chicken, she's no fun, come on, just try it." It wasn't said in a cruel way, but obviously, it left its mark.

I now ride SM, BTM, and Splash Mountain, but I still don't go on the teacups. And the new roller coasters and virtual reality stuff? Forget it.

We've been to Disney with our kids three times, and my oldest (now a teen) has never gone on BTM, SM, ToT, won't even go on Splash Mountain. (she did, on the last trip at age 13, go on Goofy's Barnstormer)

She doesn't mind waiting. What can bring her to tears quickly though is an offhanded comment from her dad or little sisters about being "chicken" and "no fun".

So my advice? Leave him be. One of the things that draws us back to WDW again and again is that there is such a wide variety of rides and attractions, and that there's plenty for us to enjoy, even for us "chickens" who won't go on the speedy stuff. Unlike parks that are mostly thrill rides, I've never felt like the price for a day at WDW is a waste.

And you may find that, left alone, eventually your son decides to try a few new rides. A 12 year old has a pretty good idea of what he's up for, and it's not like he's asking for everyone else to skip the ride. (unless he is, in which case, a long discussion about respecting the groups likes and dislikes might be in order)

I wouldn't want anyone to "force" me onto a ride I was apprehensive about. And at the same time, I wouldn't criticize the rest of my family for being thrill seekers. We all get something different from WDW - one of the things that makes it such a great place to be!

 

[java]

Well my guy(8 at the time) was inspired to go on TOT after his 5 year old sister went on it. Then he chose to go on RNR because she was too small to get on. The competition thing work to get him on.
But I did want to agree with the previous poster that spoke of family teasing him because he wouldn't ride- my brother(now32) still talks about how he hated going to amusement parks because of the pressure to go on stuff he was afraid of. So I tend towards letting them go on what they want. He may surprise you. My guy also felt better when he learned that most of the "ride" experience is optical illussions- We rode the people mover thing that goes through SM before he went on. When he saw it with the lights on
(it was broken down) he saw that it really was not scary at all.

 

[Julia M]

We "make" our kids go on the ride once.........to try it. And we've always said, if you don't like it, you don't need to ride it again. But it's a family trip, and we're a family, and we all ride it once, together.

My oldest son is quite timid, and never wanted to ride any "thrill" rides. At about 10 or 11, we started this philosophy. Ironically, rides he didn't want to ride became his favorites!

DD often doesn't want to ride a second time, but is okay with the philosophy. And we NEVER make her/try to coerce her to ride again. And youngest ds is a daredevel; his problem is he's still too short for some rides he desperately wants to ride!

It seems to work for us.

 

[Evil Queen]

My DS8 doesn't like many rides, usually his older brother 22, can get him to try it once. So he's been on most rides. This year I believe will be tough to get him on rides. At first I felt that buying him a PAP was a big waste of money, but you know, we spend quality time together and that is good enough for me.

DS22 says he is going to try to get him to try ToT and Mission Space, I just told him don't push it and don't make fun if he refuses.

DS8 is wanting to go to Universal one day soon, but I told him I would not invest any more money in theme park tickets, until he has done more at Disney on a regular basis. He is thinking that by the time he is 10 or 12 he will be ready to go to Universal under those conditions. We will see.

I agree with another poster, no ride is too "kiddie" for anyone. My DS22 still rides many of those rides. His best friend who is going with us and also went on last trip wants to try those too. I said go for it, you paid to have a good time, now have one. The best friend has never been to Disney before last March on the trip with us. He is missing some of the magic my boys and I have experienced.

Let him go with the flow and just try to be understanding about it.

 

[ptrbryant]

I just want to agree with the notion that I wouldn't "force" my child to go on any ride or call him names because of any fear issues---whether it's about a theme park or elsewhere. Tweens are at a point where they're so self-critical and so much is changing with them that they have no control over, they really need support. I personally don't like many rides...prone to motion sickness, etc. Yet, I am the biggest WDW fan in our household and feel that I get my money's worth just as much as DH and DS do. If it was all about the rides, a local Six Flags would be a hot spot for us. But, we all know that WDW is so much more than that.

Just my two cents!

Karla B.

 

[Kallison]

I know my kids and when to coax and when to not. We forced my middle ds onto Test Track several years ago, I mean literally pried his fingers loose and he LOVED it, rode it three times in a row. Now my oldest said no way to TOT, and we didn't push, because I know he hates elevators. He just rode it at the age of 14 on our last trip and also loved it, went on twice. Youngest DD 10 said no way, so she waited. She got in line 4 times to do RNR and changed her mind, but loves Space and BTMRR. I've learned through the years, it is no big deal, they will ride when they are ready. Now I tried Mission Space once and NEVER again!!!

 

[conmama]

My son will be 11.5 when we go in April. He has always disliked roller coasters and we made him go on one (a kiddie one at that) when he was 8.5. He cried quietly during the ride and my dh and I said, "never again" will we put him through that. There are so many other issues, especially at this age, that we come down on him on, that rides are not something I want to debate with him.

As my dh said, he doesn't like the sense of being out of control, and that's not such a bad thing!

Don't force, lightly suggest, and then drop it. Don't make him feel silly, or a coward, as that will ruin his fun...and THAT is what he'll remember. That you ruined the day.

A child vividly remembers the best things in life and the worst things in life. Make this a "best thing" in life. Not pushing him will only make you closer, I think.

conmama

 

[ladydancer]

I'm of the mind to ask and maybe try to coax a little but if they don't want to "let it go". I took my 10 year old grandson to WDW last Oct. He wouldn't ride test track he road Rock and Roller Coaster, Space Mtn. ect. We are going back in April and he now say's he wants to ride Test Track.

I never road a roller coaster in my life until a couple of years ago. Just never wanted to. I don't feel like I missed out on anything. Now I ride all the roller coasters. I still won't ride tot. Probably never will. Although I should never say never.

 

[Daxx]

Daxx's wife here. DS, age 8, is terrified of HM. Can barely stand to walk past it. He saw the movie several times and enjoys it, so you'd think he would want to ride it. He won't go on PoTC either (although he has no problem watching the movie or walking past the ride). I *think* it's b/c he's terrified of things that pop out at you and is expecting a lot of that to happen (although we've told him that doesn't happen). In July 04, we got so close to the boarding area on POTC and he burst out into tears b/c he was afraid. We ended up walking out. Why make the child miserable? He's at WDW for enjoyment, not for fear! I could force him and make him miserable and reduce him to tears ... but that seems cruel to me.

He was less than thrilled to ride Test Track, Space Mountain or BTMRR on our July 04 trip ... we bribed him to go on BTMRR and he loved it. Told him Test Track was similar. He loved that, too. Then, on the last day, hours before we had to leave for the airport, we finally talked him (read bribed) into trying SM. He was soooo nervous that he was shaking ... but he wanted that bribe, so he tried it. I cannot tell you how many times we rode SM in the last hours we had before we had to leave for the airport. When we went back in Oct. 04, he was all about SM, Test Track & BTMRR. Now, we thought after SM and BTMRR, he'd love Splash Mountain. We convinced him to try it and, if you can believe it, he hated it. Said he never wants to ride it again. He thought the drop was too steep. OK, whatever. When we go in May, I'll ask if he wants to go. If so, good. If not, oh well.

He tried Tower of Terror when he was 7 and hated it. Says he might go on it in May. He said absolutely no way to RNRC. I can't blame him ... he just "got his legs" on the other smaller coasters, so I won't rush him into this.

The key is to find the rides he likes and let him ride those. Otherwise, you will make both him and yourself miserable. This May vaca., it'll be me and DS. I adore ToT ... but who knows what DS will do. I'm resigning myself to the fact that DS will not ride ToT and I'll have to live without for once. So, that means more Star Tours, more BLSRS, more SM, BTMRR & Test Track.

That's ok b/c after all, these Disney trips are about him, not me.

 

[befuddledlife]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I bought him today "Walt Disney World 4 Teens by Teens" in the hopes that it will inspire him to try some things. We also have a friend going with us - a nearly 18 yo girl. I hope seeing her do things will encourage him as well.