3 year old Splash Mountian

[MKingfisher]

So this will be our first trip to Disney where my son is tall enough to ride both splash mountian, and big thunder railroad, the question is should he.... He's a realy thrill seeker the last time we went his all time favorite ride was matterorn he talks about it all the time still and our last trip was almost a year ago. he rode the whole ride with him arms int he arm screaming! I think he'll love it but i dont want to traumatize him and ruin his disney fun if it scaes him. We have a Disneyland Sing a long dvd that we had gotten through Disney Movie Rewards and it shows kids riding both splash mountain and Big Thunder and he tells me he wants to ride those in Disneyland. The part of splash mountain i'm worried about is going up before the drop with all the scary music and the rabbit tied up :S that may freak him out a bit. Has anyone else's little ones ridden either of these rides and was it a good or bad experience?

 

[ArchOwl]

Have you showed him a youtube video of the ride with the scary part? If not, maybe try that and see how he does with it. It may not be scary to him when watches it on the computer and then if he still wants to ride it, he knows what to expect.

 

[GenGen22]

So this will be our first trip to Disney where my son is tall enough to ride both splash mountian, and big thunder railroad, the question is should he.... He's a realy thrill seeker the last time we went his all time favorite ride was matterorn he talks about it all the time still and our last trip was almost a year ago. he rode the whole ride with him arms int he arm screaming! I think he'll love it but i dont want to traumatize him and ruin his disney fun if it scaes him. We have a Disneyland Sing a long dvd that we had gotten through Disney Movie Rewards and it shows kids riding both splash mountain and Big Thunder and he tells me he wants to ride those in Disneyland. The part of splash mountain i'm worried about is going up before the drop with all the scary music and the rabbit tied up :S that may freak him out a bit. Has anyone else's little ones ridden either of these rides and was it a good or bad experience?

Does he get scared by scarry sounds? My daughter rode those three rides for the first time when she was 8. Personally I would say no, but it seems like you have a child who doesn't scare easily. Every child is different.

 

[Hoku]

We took our almost 5-year old daughter on Splash when we last went about 2-weeks ago. She hated it. We didn't force her on it. I'm a firm believer in letting the kids decide when they're ready to try. She was definitely hesitant, but said she wanted to try it. It traumatized for about 30-minutes or so afterwards. She didn't even want to talk about it for the rest of the day.

She loved Grizzly River Run, though, and she also loved Big Thunder Mountain. But Splash was definitely a mistake for her. Others will have different experiences.

 

[mydisneymoney]

My DS6 had no problems with the scary music or the drop itself. He just didn't like getting that wet. He really got wet. Same with GRR. He does not mind the drop but getting really wet. I would assume that since your DS is only 3 that they might put you at the back of the log where two people can sit side by side. If you rode with him then he would have someone cuddle up with if he got scared. Sounds like he will do just about any ride and isn't easily scared. Good idea to show him the YouTube video and see how he reacts.

 

[grace249]

When I was 5 (that was about 15ish years ago), Splash Mountain was one of my favorite rides. Space Mountain was my absolute favorite. I was a huge thrill seeker, similar to your son. We took my cousin when he was about 9 years old and he wouldn't go on ANYTHING, not even the teacups. So as other have said, it is different for every child. Personally, I preferred that my parents let me go on anything I wanted, even if it was slightly traumatizing (e.g. a roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm at 7 years old that went upside down... never again!). I think the youtube video is a great idea if you have concerns.

 

[skiingfast]

If good on the Matterhorn probably fine to try the other big rides. Matterhorn has a dark lifthill and Abominable Snowman growling at you. Along with speed and heights that is most of the scary parts of the other rides.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Show him the ride on YouTube. I also talk my younger ones through the "scary sounds". My 4 year old just rode it and enjoyed it. If he wants to ride after seeing it on the computer go for it.

 

[It'sKim]

My boys were 3 on their first trip and just hit the 40" mark. They rode every ride they could, even Tower of Terror! They are little daredevils though, I won't even do ToT lol.

They really enjoyed Splash though. It was one son's favorite ride on that trip. The other did it about 5 times then didn't want to do it anymore, but that was more an issue that he didn't like getting wet. His favorite was Big Thunder Mountain. I think if your son likes Matterhorn, he will probably like BTM.

My boys are 5 now and we just came back from another trip where they couldn't get enough of Splash.

 

[4evrdisney]

The first time we took DS to DLR he was just a week shy of being 3 years old. He went on everything with a 40" height requirement - with the exception of ToT. He LOVED Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Big Thunder. Splash Mountain is awesome because the very back seat of some of the logs is a double seat and you can sit right next to your child rather than having them in front of you. Have a GREAT time!!!!

 

[kokotg]

My youngest was 3 for our DL trip, and he rode everything he was tall enough for...Splash, TOT, Big Thunder, Space Mountain. Splash Mountain wasn't a problem for him at all; I say if he wants to do it, let him try it.

 

[GenGen22]

You know I thought about this a bit and if he's not afraid of the matterhorn with the abominable snowman and he jumps out at times and makes some scarry sounds I definately don't think he will be afraid of Splash Mountain.

 

[twopeasonepod]

You know I thought about this a bit and if he's not afraid of the matterhorn with the abominable snowman and he jumps out at times and makes some scarry sounds I definately don't think he will be afraid of Splash Mountain.

ITA here! The Yeti is way more scary for my (gigantic) kids, who at 5 (and almost) 1/2 are 49" and 47". They have been going on BTMRR and SM since they were 3. TOT and Space since 4 (the height for Space is higher at WDW, and that is where we went the first two times when they were 3).

One goes on crazy 6-loop upside down rides at Cedar's Fair parks, the other prefers more mellow coasters (although they both do more than most kids their age solely because of their heights). Kids are all different. Use your judgment and just make sure everyone has fun!

 

[Liat]

My oldest DS went on Splash during our last visit at age 3. He was super excited the first time, got a little more hesitant the next time but still went on it at least 4 times over our visit. He didn't like getting wet during the last drop.

That and the Matterhorn were the only two mountains that he went on though due to closures and lack of interest.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Your son will like those rides. I'm not sure if he will like Splash Mountain.