41" 4 year olds, do they ride?

[amynorth]

I have a ds who will be 4 and is tall enough for lots of rides. He has never been to any amusment park so I am wondering how do the 4 year olds act or at least how did yours act? I am hoping he will ride the rides, I have shown him pictures and he seems excited, but I don't want to get up to the ride and him back out

So just looking for some of your experiences with young ones and their first time on the rides

 

[summermac]

My son is just over 40'' at almost 5 and he has been riding a few coasters (36 inches) since he was just over 3 at Kennywood, a park in Pittsburgh. He LOVES rides so I am not concerned.

What I'm more concerned about is the stories I've read here about kids being measured inaccurately and then the child being turned away before boarding. Some if it is user error & some of it kids standing differently, I'm sure. I've been explaining to my son that he must stand up tall & straight. He's over 40 without shoes and we still have 2 months to go so...here's hoping.

 

[delmar411]

My little ones have been 40"+ since they were 2. (except the youngest who is still not quite there at 3) They enjoy all the rides at WDW. They are definitely unsure over Tower of Terror but still ride it at least 1x each trip at their own request. We do not push them onto any rides and if they want to back out once we are in line then one of us will take them out and wait for the others. Many of the bigger rides have 'chicken' exits at various points along the queue.

My 5yr old DD's favorite ride is the full spinning version of Mission Space. LOL She's been riding that since she was 4.

The kids also really like test track.

I think it all depends on the child and they can love a ride one minute and hate it the next so just be prepared to go with however they are doing at the moment.

I'm sure you will have a great trip and he'll ride tons of rides!

 

[JimR24]

We took my son this past September. He was 2 1/2 at the time and was able to get on Test Track (4 times), Splash Mountain and Dinosaur. There was an older gentleman doing the measuring the kids before the ride. He said to make sure the kids stand with their feet together. It could make up the inch or so they are short.

 

[summermac]

Man ya'll have got some TALL kids.

 

[JimR24]

Brady has always been in the 90+ percentile since he was born. He turned 3 in January and is 43 inches and about 60 pounds. He is a put together little boy. He carries a football or baseball where ever he goes. I call him my retirement plan.

 

[Pixieflip]

Uhhhh, that totally depends on the kid and you might not know till you get there. I have one who has loved TOT since she was 5 and two others who might not ever ride it!

I know there are lots of good tour books, but for this exact purpose, I totally recommend the Birnbaum's WDW For Kids By Kids. Lots of photos, descriptions and reviews written by kids and, here's the important part, they tell you which rides are dark, wet, loud, intense, etc. You can read it together to prepare for the trip, along with watching the planning video and Travel Channel shows.

4 is young, so don't feel like you have to push it. Plenty of years ahead to ride the big kid stuff. Enjoy the younger attractions while that special magic is still there for you.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Mine's been riding Splash and BTMRR since he was 2.5 (yeah I have a giant, ha ha, Dh and I are tall too). We just got back he is 3.5 now and loved everything except Philharmagic and Haunted Mansion. The roller coasters, he loved.

 

[Darcy03231]

I took my niece to WDW last fall when she was 4. She rode everything she was tall enough for the with exception of Dinosaur, Haunted Mansion and Tower of Terror. She actually wanted to try Tower of Terror but got scared halfway through the preshow so we left. I knew Dinosaur would be way to scary for her and since I wasn't sure about the Haunted Mansion I decided to skip it. I didn't want to scare her and have her not want to ride any more rides.

 

[amynorth]

I will not pushi him in any way (my Mom actully dragged me onto a ride kicking and screaming ), I would never do that. However I do really want him to try them. He thinks he is spider man but is kinda wimpy at some stuff (bugs & frogs!) so who knows. Thanks for the book advice that will help a great deal!!!

 

[nanlou]

Start off on Goofy's Barnstormer. If your child enjoys that, graduate to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Splash Mountain is great for younger kids, too, and I recommend emphasizing that the log "goes down a big slide" rather than "drops." Kids are familiar with slides at playgrounds and think they are lots of fun - but being dropped is not any fun at all!

If you've got a daredevil, then go on Space Mountain. But be sure your child doesn't mind the dark, and be aware that it is a bumpier ride than many others.

Based on your child's reactions to these rides at MK, you should have a good idea of what to try at the other parks. Test Track is a good one - I think a lot of kids like that, especially if they do well with the coasters. My DS4 loves all the coasters but isn't especially fond of Soarin (not so much a fear as boredom?). My DS8, who also loved all the coasters and thrill rides from a young age, never liked the "psychological" scary rides - to the point that he couldn't/wouldn't even tolerate Haunted Mansion. As a result, he did NOT like Tower of Terror (because of the pre-show).

 

[klmorg]

Brady has always been in the 90+ percentile since he was born. He turned 3 in January and is 43 inches and about 60 pounds. He is a put together little boy. He carries a football or baseball where ever he goes. I call him my retirement plan.

My DD just turned 4 in January. She is also in the 90 percentile in height, but only in the 20 percentile with her weight! She is 42 inches tall but only 37 pounds. She is super excited to be able to ride all the 'big' kid rides!! Hopefully she won't bounce out of anything ...Just kidding...I am sure she will be fine!

Here's to all of our pint sized cuties having the BEST time ever!!

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

My son (same stats as yours) loved Splash Mountain, Test Track, Tower of Terror and BTMRR this last time. We decided against Dinosaur for him... heck, I scream like crazy on that one. He rode Star Tours three times too.

Space Mountain is 44" so he's convinced himself that he'll be "big enough" for that one in September. It's a good way to get him to eat his vegetables.

 

[brockash]

We went to WDW for the first time with my DS when he was turning 4. Basically he rode everything, but RNR, Space Mountain and TOT- although he was tall enough, but I didn't feel comfortable with it. He love Big Thunder, Splash and Soarin. It's a great age, have fun!

 

[jodeeb]

You really dont know how they will react. Kids are all different. When my dd was 3 she was 42"+. Yes, she is a tall one too. But even though it is tough on them when they are too small and a CM turns them away, its worse when the CM doesnt catch it when they are too short.

We were on our first family trip to Disneyland. We got in early and the crowd was light so the first place we went was Space Mountain. Excited that we could run thru the turnstyle and get on a big ride with no waiting we grabbed dd and ran to catch up with a train that was half full and just about to leave. I had dd in my arms when we ran up jumped on and within seconds of getting in the bars came down(that was before they referbished it, when you sat side by side with only a lap bar to hold you in) . DD was beside me and the lapbar came down to the level of my lap, but was loose on hers. We took off very quickly and very quickly I realized that I must have misread the height requirement of the ride. She loosely slid around in the seat. I held tight to her but was sure she would slip loose. After getting off the ride and looking at the height it was at that time 48" not 42". I do take responsibility, but I do wish one of the CMs were doing their job and would have measured her.

That said, the scary ride on Space Mountain just wet DDs appetite for wild rides. But funny thing is, she was scared to death of the dark rides. Now 11 still doesnt like a couple, especially Snow White and Mr Toads Wild Ride, but loves everything else.

Other DD(6), when she was younger, would go on a coaster or thrill ride (even Splash Mountain) and come off screaming, crying and telling us never to make her do that again. Five minutes later she would be laughing and giggling and begging to do it again. Now she will go on everything and luckily she is just 48".

Those of you that have childeren that very close, dd(6) was really close on one of our trips to DL. A fraction of an inch doesnt probably doesnt matter.

 

[disnut8]

This is VERY important. At Disney World, you can leave an attraction right up to the minute before you board (and even sometimes after you board and your child is still upset). It's not a big deal and it's easily done. So if your son gets all the way through the queue line and then sees something that makes him question his bravery, just tell the seating Cast Member you want out. Simple as that. You can do this at ANY attraction, not just the ones with height requirements, ANY attraction, even Dumbo.

Disney World is very prepared for last minute bailouts and can easily handle it. Much better than forcing a crying child onto something he doesn't want to do. And it gives him a chance to maybe do it if he wants.

 

[moparop]

My son was all about the attractions when he was 40 inches and 3.5. We went again when he was 4 and had no interest in the big rides. You just never know what's going to happen!

 

[amynorth]

You really dont know how they will react. Kids are all different. When my dd was 3 she was 42"+. Yes, she is a tall one too. But even though it is tough on them when they are too small and a CM turns them away, its worse when the CM doesnt catch it when they are too short.

We were on our first family trip to Disneyland. We got in early and the crowd was light so the first place we went was Space Mountain. Excited that we could run thru the turnstyle and get on a big ride with no waiting we grabbed dd and ran to catch up with a train that was half full and just about to leave. I had dd in my arms when we ran up jumped on and within seconds of getting in the bars came down(that was before they referbished it, when you sat side by side with only a lap bar to hold you in) . DD was beside me and the lapbar came down to the level of my lap, but was loose on hers. We took off very quickly and very quickly I realized that I must have misread the height requirement of the ride. She loosely slid around in the seat. I held tight to her but was sure she would slip loose. After getting off the ride and looking at the height it was at that time 48" not 42". I do take responsibility, but I do wish one of the CMs were doing their job and would have measured her.

That said, the scary ride on Space Mountain just wet DDs appetite for wild rides. But funny thing is, she was scared to death of the dark rides. Now 11 still doesnt like a couple, especially Snow White and Mr Toads Wild Ride, but loves everything else.

Other DD(6), when she was younger, would go on a coaster or thrill ride (even Splash Mountain) and come off screaming, crying and telling us never to make her do that again. Five minutes later she would be laughing and giggling and begging to do it again. Now she will go on everything and luckily she is just 48".

Those of you that have childeren that very close, dd(6) was really close on one of our trips to DL. A fraction of an inch doesnt probably doesnt matter.

OMG how terribly that must have been! Glad she was ok.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

If he is afraid of bugs and frogs....skip Tough to be a Bug at AK.

 

[fairestoneofall]

I agree with the PP that said it depends on the child. DS was just over 40" on our last trip (and had just turned four). He rode everything he could and was not afraid of anything. DD, however, was a completely different story when she was almost five (and WELL over 40"). She can be intimidated by things. She will ride most everything NOW, but at age five was a totally different story.