4yr old and Roller Coasters

[ahamel918]

Hi Alll -

I'm going to WDW in April. I just measure my DD who will be 4-1/2 when we go. She's not afraid of anything and is 41" tall which means she can ride things like Splash Mountain, BTMR, Stitch, Tower of Terror, Soarin' and more. Seems like those are all too much roller coasters for a 4 year old? I'm shocked she's technically big enough to ride these. I've never been to WDW so I don't really know the scope of these rides. Has anybody taken there preschooler on any of these rides? I know she would go on them if we asked her if she wanted to but I don't know that I feel comfortable about it. My DH and I are pretty laid back parents but I'm really unsure about this one.

TIA
Ali

 

[smsnorthup]

My DD4 has been on BTMR, Spash Mtn, Goofy's Barnstormer, Stitch, Soarin', & Test Track and loved them all except for Stitch. Even though she's tall enough we didn't put her on Tower of Terror because I think it would be too much for her. If your at all concerned with any of the rollercoasters, Goofy's Barnstormer is a good one to start with. It was my daughter first rollercoaster experience and she still loves it!! Have Fun!!

 

[scubamouse]

we were there last month. My DD is 3.5 and 41 inches and not afraid of anything! she did

test track 5x
BTRR 7x
splash 2x
soarin 4x
barmstormer 1x

and ...

TOT twice

she loved them all. she is utterly fearless and doesn't want to go back until she's tall enough for space mtn.

 

[disneyfan581]

I think Tower of Terror is a big much for a 4 year old. But then again my sister has been riding all of these rides since she was tall enough, and since she is a very tall girl for her age and being tall for her age years ago she was doing all of those rides. My parents didn't seem to care becasue either my dad or myself would be with her of course, but i still think some of those rides may be too scary for a 4 year old. Just my opinion.

 

[scrapbookworm]

I would skip ToT with a 4 year old. It is VERY intense (and intense on the parent freaking out right beside her, LOL). DD rode Splash at age 3, although I think that no one measured her. She also left a nice warm, wet surprise for DH in the seat. Very, very funny, in hindsight. I didn't ride them- just had back surgery 3 months prior.

 

[riggins]

We were there in September and December w/my 41" 4 year old and she rode everything she could get on. Loved TOT, BTTM, and SM the best. She still talks about wanting to do them all again. 2 years ago, she was scared of the Pooh ride, so its hard to believe she's the same kid. Like others have suggested, I'd start with the Barnstormer, then work your way up from there. If your child isn't likely to be afraid, I say go for it and have fun. Good luck!

 

[Going Broke]

Last summer when we were at WDW my 4 & 5 year old DDs went on everything they could, including ToT. They LOVED everything, except ToT. We asked our 4 year old if she liked it. She didn't say a word. Then we asked her if she wanted to go on it again. She shook her head NO and stuck her thumb in her mouth! We definately will not push that one again! We do however encourage our kids to try everything once (not forcefully). We are all excited to try Exp. Everest this fall when we go back!!

 

[Minnie824]

Our DD was 4 in Nov when we went...she went on Splash and BTMRR (2x each), Test Track, Kali River Rapids, Dinosaur (DH said she wouldn't let him hold on to her). We skipped ToT...too much with the scare stuff for her I think, and she skipped Soarin, only because DH & I took turns going to the park when they napped. She kept asking for everything to go faster and more drops. Kindof surprised me. And she wanted to go on Space Mtn, but not tall enough.

 

[Wendy31]

Last year, our DD was 5 1/2, & our DS was 3 (1 1/2 months from being 4). Both are small/petite.

We started out w/ Goofy's Barnstormer which they both enjoyed - DS more than DD. We rode this one several times. So, then we tried Thunder Mountain - DS was just barely tall enough. He LOVED it, but DD didn't like it at all. We only rode this once.

We didn't try Mission Space (or any of the other simulator rides either), Test Track, Dinosaur, ToT, RnR, Space Mtn, or even Splash Mountain. This year, we plan to try Splash Mountain & Test Track.

I think DS might have enjoyed Dinosaur, but they were both a little frightened on Haunted Mansion. And I KNOW my DD would HATE Dinosaur, so we didn't ride it. We also didn't ride Snow White's Scary Adventure or Stitch's Great Escape. After reading all the reports of children leaving these rides in tears, we didn't bother.

This year, we're contemplating the It's Tough to be a Bug show. Both DD & DS love bugs, so, one hand, I think they might really like this show. However, on the other hand, I've also read several reports of hysterical kids in this show as well. Additionally, DD gets frightened easily. Our town recently showed "Polar Express" at our IMAX theater, and parts of it scared her. So, we're still not sure about ITTBAB.

We rode Soarin' on our very last day. (I hadn't realized that DS was tall enough.) They both LOVED it. It's not scary or intense at all. I highly recommend this ride!!

I think it really depends on the child (as long as he/she meets the height requirements) as to what rides are okay for him/her.

 

[Got Quattro?]

My 4 year old nephew loves T of T but will not do Slpash Mtn or test Track.....each kid is deifferent.

 

[druiser]

It really depends on the kid. My oldest DS was riding things as soon as he was tall enough. Just before his 3rd birthday, he rode Star Tours, Dinosaur and things like that, but was too short for many of the others.

Went again at 4 (and 9 moths), and he would've ridden everything if he'd had the time (we were only there a couple days before a cruise). He rode The Mountains, all the simlators, and even Mission Space (didn't have time for TOT before Fantasmic, though).

Now, his little brother was just short of his 3rd birthday, and had a ball on most rides AFTER we could talk him into going on them. We dared not get him on anything wild and freak him out - would've taken hours to get him on anything else.

If your DD is a daredevil, and is ok with your description of the ride (and she's tall enough), I say go for it! And have a blast!

 

[RC Fan]

If she wants to ride I would let her go. Compared to the big coasters at other parks, none of those rides are very intense, including ToT.