3 yr old on BTM???

[lexiluke]

Should we allow our son, who will be just barely 3yrs when we go, to try Big Thunder Mountain? The closest he's come to a ride like that is the log ride and the kiddie coaster at Six Flags. Has anyone had any experience trying BTM with young ones? If so, what was their reaction? Thanks.

 

[clutter]

My dd was 3 years, 1 month for her first ride. (but you gotta be 40".) Her reaction??? "Again!!!" It's our favorite ride, and the first one (and last one, if we can work it out) we do on every trip.

But it's a good idea to try Goofy's Barnstormer first.

 

[lexiluke]

Thanks Clutter! Is your child the brave, adventurous type?

 

[mmeb144]

My DD was 5 when she rode it. She's on the small side. Barely tall enough to ride it at the time. She didn't like roller coasters before the ride, and she still doesn't. Personally, BTMR is a really easy coaster to ride. However, my DD hated every minute of the ride.

 

[jiggerj]

My son was 3 when he went on BTM and loved it !! He loved splash mountain too but Goofys barnstormer he flipped out and tried to climb out and cried like crazy on the Pooh ride !

 

[ChiTownZee]

Our DD has been riding the 40" and over rides since she was 2 and 10 1/2 months, and loving every minute. Why don't you take him on Goofy's Barnstormer first and see how he likes that before you try BTM.

 

[eeyore65]

My DS newly 4 and just 40 inches told me to call Mickey and slow it down to about 20 mph! LOL!

He also thinks goofy is too fast. But he loved test track...go figure. He dicided to wait on SPlas mountain until he is six.

 

[MulanMom]

DD first rode when she was 4 and DS when he was 3. Though DD was okay with Barnstormer, she didn't care for her first ride on BTM. A year later, and with the influence of DS loving BTM, DD likes to ride it multiple times.

I think it all depends on the disposition of the child. And even then, sometimes you can get a reaction you never anticipated!

 

[clutter]

Lexiluke, NO she's not the brave and adventurous type. But, I figured she would be ok on roller coasters since, even at 9 months, I couldn't push her on a swing high enough or fast enough.

 

[mrsmick]

I was wondering about this ride, too. Our son is 5 and he is a
train lover. (Thomas the tank engine....) I've never ridden this ride, I love coasters, the bigger the better. Since they allow such young ones on here, am I right to assume it's pretty tame?
I kind of think as long as its entertaining , he'll love it.
Guess we'll find out in about 5 more days!!!!!

 

[Cindy B]

Ok, I have something to think about with this ride. My son was riding it on our first visit in 1999. He wasn't even five then. We thought he was the brave adventourous type with this ride, because he had been riding coasters since he was about 2 1/2 -3 (the ones within his requirements)

The one thing he DIDN"T like about this ride, and scared him was the "bats in the cave". The bats freaked him out!

Thankfully he has outgrown this, and can't wait to ride Cedar Points Top Thrill Dragster on Friday... (all of 400 plus feet!)

 

[Shells9]

Our DD (just turned 6) went on it, and LOVED it, with the excpetion of one thing. She met the height requirement (cannot recall exactly what it is), but she is very light weight-wise. She ended up sliding around and hitting her ear on the side of the car on one of the curves, which she did not like.

Of course, this is the child, who -- on her first time on Splash Mountain -- threw both little arms up in the air on the big drop, but cannot do Tough to Be a Bug or Honey, I Shrunk the Audience -- go figure!

 

[lexiluke]

Sounds like we should give it a try if my DS meets the height requirement. He's a couple of inches shy right now, but we still have until Oct., so maybe he'll grow!

Has anyone taken their little ones on BTM and had them cry or freak out?

 

[erikthewise]

IMHO Goofy's Barnstormer and BTM are at roughly the same thrill level; BTM is more fun and lasts longer but actually fairly tame as a coaster. If he likes kiddy coasters, I think he'll be alright.

If you feel a need to observe first, you can get a great view of BTM from Tom Sawyer's Island.