5 year old on space mountain/TOT

[tiggersthebest]

My five year old daughter last went to Disney when she was three (we skipped last year being busy with a newborn!!) She loved splash mountain and big thunder mountain and still talks about them. However I am unsure about whether or not to take her on space mountain and tower of terror because of the dark. Can anyone tell me their overall experience taking children this age on those two rides? I understand each child is different and I would NEVER take her on if she was hesitant, but I also won't let her on, even if she begs, if I think it is too much for her. (By the way my first time was back when I was six and they use seatbelts!!!) Thanks for the help

Mom of two princesses 5 1

 

[kbkids]

My DD rode TOT at age 4 with no problems. She rode Space Mountain when she was 5. Basically, as soon as she hit the height requirement, she rode them. Bear in mind, she is a total daredevil, afraid of nothing, which totally scares Mommy to death.


TOT, I would think she'd do fine with - unless she frightens easily. The environment is kinda creepy.

Space Mountain was scarier for me than it was my daughter. Just the fact that I couldn't hold her made me so nervous - still does. She's in her own seat, but I could reach her shoulders. Her first ride, I held onto her shoulders the whole time so she would know I was still there. We got off, and she turned to me and said, "Can we go again? But this time, don't touch me!!"

Right outside of Space Mountain, the store at the end, they've got a replica of the cars. Maybe show her that first so she'll understand that she will be sitting by herself.

Without knowing your child, it's hard to say. My DD is now almost 8, and she's got friends that I wouldn't recommend for them to ride. It really honestly depends on the child.

 

[Pocahontas1]

DS (5 in three weeks) rode both Space Mountain and Tower of Terror when we were there in early June. It was his choice. I told him if he changed his mind, he didn't have to ride.

He loved Space Mountain and rode it a second time with his Omi. He was more hesitant on ToT - we took the chicken elevator down one time. Then he decided he wanted to try. A very nice CM let us check out an empty car after everyone had gotten off and DS got to sit in the seat. After he saw there was nothing to be scared of, he got right on upstairs. He also rode it again with his Omi, so he must have enjoyed it. He said his favorite part was when his behind came out of the seat.

The only thing he wouldn't ride was Dinosaur. Made it all the way through the line, ready to get in the car and he said no. Not a big deal, we just left.

I'd give it a try, but give her the chance to back out if she wants. It may have made a difference that we rode Splash Mountain and BTMRR before Space Mountain. Also ToT was our last day in the park and we had worked up to it.

 

[ReggieB]

My DS4 is a bit of a daredevil too, however because of the single seat set up of Space Mountain, we are holding off on that one. Really just a question of us not feeling 100% about him being okay with it. I think he would be a bit unsettled not being sat next to one of us. Plus the dark and noise is a factor. As for ToT, I have a pretty bad fear of elevators (I had one fall a floor with me in it several years back), this ride is so not for me (I have tried it and was petrified) I think my son would be too concerned about me not wanting to ride to enjoy it...kind of "well if Mummy wont ride it, it's got to be bad!!" The fact that it is an 'elevator' set up blends the reality/fantasy a bit too much for my DS4 to cope with. I can see him in the elevators in Target going "argh we are going to crash!" freaking me out no end!!!

Show your DD the planning DVD/video's, I think they have some of the ride in there. If she knows enough about it, she can voice her opinion! Also remember that there are chicken exits at both these rides (for sure at ToT) so if she changes her mind while you are in the queue you can escape!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

My five year old daughter last went to Disney when she was three (we skipped last year being busy with a newborn!!) She loved splash mountain and big thunder mountain and still talks about them. However I am unsure about whether or not to take her on space mountain and tower of terror because of the dark. Can anyone tell me their overall experience taking children this age on those two rides? I understand each child is different and I would NEVER take her on if she was hesitant, but I also won't let her on, even if she begs, if I think it is too much for her. (By the way my first time was back when I was six and they use seatbelts!!!) Thanks for the help

Mom of two princesses 5 1



I already know from experience at Mall of America, we are going to be doing a lot of child swapping at WDW with my 5yo who is VERY SMALL for her age, actually she went down the waterslide at the local swimming pool the other day by herself, met the height requirement HOWEVER she weighs about 30 pounds and I didn't think about it, she hit her head several times on the slide because she is so light the water just flung her around everywhere...poor think even has a goose egg from the experience. She does not do high things or fast things very well...she hated the log ride I kinda made her go on, I thought HONESTLY she would like it if she did it once, NOPE so now I won't pressure her into any rides, this makes it more easy for me that WDW has child swap, one of dh arguments was that dd5 wouldn't ride anything and we'd be split up all day, phew!! that is solved...now my 7 and 9 yo will ride anything and the 7 yo will REALLLLY ride anything!!! The 9 yo wil do upside down things once but the 7 yo will go on it over and over again!!

 

[fanofmickey]

When my twins were younger and rode ToT (I've forgotten at what age), the thing that scared them was not the drops, or the environment in general, but the total darkness that you are immersed in for a short time. I had forgotten about it getting so dark, and so had left that part out of the ride description that I gave them.

 

[kidd_freeper]

Took my 5 year old (and 1 month) on both last October.

TOT scared him. He was mad at me for taking him on it. He still is.

He barely met the height requirement for SM. Seemed to like it, wasn't scared, but it wasn't his favorite ride (Buzz Lightyear was).

 

[HookdonWDW]

DS is usually pretty cautious, but for some reason, thrill rides just don't get to him. He rode both of these rides when he was 5, and enjoyed them. As a matter of fact, when TOT finished, he looked at the screaming adults behind us and said, "Is that it? Why are they scared??" It really didn't phase him at all.

 

[tiggersthebest]

Thanks for your advice! It was very helpful, especially checking out the planning video- wouldn't have thought of that.

Mom of two princesses 5 1

 

[lorli]

I'm looking forward to taking dd (4) on tot this year, she has been watching it on disney.com and is all hyped up. This has helped convince me she will probably love it.

 

[lovethattink]

Each car of Space MT has 3 seats. Do not let her sit in the last seat. It is made for a bigger person. I'm 4' 11'' and I had a heck of a time staying in my seat. I have never had any trouble in the 1st or 2nd seats.

As for TOT, I'm very hesitant about allowing young children to ride. It's not because of the drop, but because of the "ghosts". We had friends who took their 6 year old on TOT. She couldn't differentiate between real and fantasy. It was the worst experience of her trip. She had nightmares for months.

 

[SamanthaL]

My 6 year old DD will FINALLY tall enough for SM and she is dying to go. I have already told her that she will have to sit in front of me and she is fine with it. She is quite a daredevil too so I know she will be fine. I don't think the dark is THAT dark either. There are flashing lights which may be just enough light.

As far as TOT, DD is so mad that I am hesitant about letting her go on. She won't be scared of the ghosts and she won't mind the dark but I just think the drop is too much. She did Splash several times already and loved it but I just think this drop is too intense. We shall see!

 

[opal]

Use your child as a guide. Never encourage them to go on something if they are reluctant. They will get there on their own. DD hated space mtn when she was eight, now she make me go on it!!!!

 

[zippehsmom]

My dd rode ToT, Splash, Big THunder MTn last year when she was 4, and she was fine. She really wanted to ride Space, but was not tall enough.

MY DH made me promise not to let her ride Space when we go in August. He wants her to ride when we all go in December so that he can ride with her. He's terrified of her sitting by herself.

If she was fine with the other coasters and she really wants to ride, I would let her.

zippehsmom

 

[nuzmom]

In Sept/Dec last year, my DS3 rode TOT several times. He LOVES splash moutain and BTMRR, so I think the drop was "ok". But, he did need a break after the first time - didn't ride the next few times we went on, but rode multiple times after that (not all in one day, over both trips).

However, I did the "you know ghosts aren't real" talk beforehand, and even had DS8 join in with it. Also, while riding, kept whispering to him "wow, those ghosts look better than haunted mansion, but you know they still aren't real, wonder how they made them like that?"

I also explained that the ride would get a little dark sometimes and "reminded" him at the top of the ride (ok, it is going to get a little dark, but I'm right here, feel my hand, etc).

Honestly, I may have added to his nervousness, but I just couldn't believe that he REALLY wanted to ride it. I thought that he just wanted to do it because DS8 was going to.

Oh, something else, I prepared him for me screaming Seriously, I thought that might scare him and I KNEW that I would scream. Ok, DS3 did NOT scream, I did!!!! "We" still get a good laugh out of it.

No one has mentioned it yet, but do NOT do the stitch "ride" if your child is ANY bit afraid of the dark. (besides, it's not a good ride anyway).

Back to your post - DS3 was too short for space mountain, but when he's tall enough, I will let him. He'll be ok with the dark and it's a fun ride.

I 100% agree - let your child be the guide and decide AFTER you're there. There's nothing quite like hearing all the screams coming from the ride!!!!!

 

[lomillerin]

Edit

 

[roscodog]

My daughter was 5 when she went on the TOT. She did not enjoy it, not because of the drops but because of the theming. The darkness scared her and she had a little trouble discerning between real and make-believe. She refused to go on it last year when she was 6 and I would never force her to if she did not want to. I think that it might take a while before she would want to face it again.

 

[fam4jc]

I have two dd's one just turned 6 and one just 8. They are very different from each other.

My dd6 cried the entire time on TOT. I felt like such a lowsy mom. It was a horrid experience for the both of us! It is very dark and the ghosts frightened her. On the oposite side, my dd8 rode it the first time at age 6 BY HERSELF. It's her favorite ride.

As for Space Mountain, it is a cool ride but pretty "hurky-jerky". DD8 and I rode will DD6 waited for us with a cm. My dd8 didn't like it.

M:S just isn't appropriate for small children imho. It is a great ride but you need to be able to follow the cm's instructions exactly to minimize the risks of getting ill effects. My dd8 rides this one with her daddy. I rode one time and that was enough for me. I won't put my dd6 on this one. She just isn't up to it.

If you are uncomfortable putting her on a ride, just save it for another trip. Unless you are going for an extended period of time or when the parks will be practically empty, you won't be able to do everything anyway. What we always say to our girls is "Disney isn't going any where and we will be back".