5 yr old wants to try rollercoasters.......

[Kelly5538]

This is my second trip coming up with DD5. Last year we didn't do any roller coasters as I thought she may get scared. Did Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Carribean no problems.....
She tells me that this year she wants to try roller coasters..... any suggestions on a good "starter" coaster (not the toon town one, she's done ones like that before no problem)?????

 

[jeancbpugh]

This is my second trip coming up with DD5. Last year we didn't do any roller coasters as I thought she may get scared. Did Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Carribean no problems.....
She tells me that this year she wants to try roller coasters..... any suggestions on a good "starter" coaster (not the toon town one, she's done ones like that before no problem)?????

In December we took my DS who is 5 1/2 to MK two days. The first day he fell in love with Space Mountain. The second day, ALL he wanted to do was Space Mountain. He went on it eight times that day!

When we went on Thunder Mountain he said, "Is that it??" He thought it was fun but not a big deal.

 

[tammyandtommy]

I would say you need to guage your child, my daughter now 6 wants to go on all of them and as long as shes the right height I say ok, I just tell her if she gets scared to close her eyes and squeeze my hand, and many times I have had a sore hand, but she keeps wanting to go back!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I would start with BTM and see how that goes. Space mountian is pretty intense for a 5 year old though some love it. The thing about it is you sit in your own seat so you can not really touch her for comfort, though I admit I "tried" holding on to my DS in front of me the first time he road it and he was a little older than you child.

Jordans' mom

 

[tae1218]

I would try BTM because your 5 year old can sit right next to you. On space mountain they have to sit by themselves. On our last trip my DD was 6. She rode Space Mountain and RNR for the first time and loved them.

 

[robinb]

I also agree that Big Thunder Mountain is the best coaster to start with. Ask to sit up front where the coaster is slower.

 

[Andy Lou & Meg]

I have to say that when we took our DD last year (who had only just turned 4) we put her on everything that she was big enough for (she is the height of a 5 year old). She absolutley loved Test Track, Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain and big thunder mountain. We also went to Universaly and IOA and she loved the big rides there (Jurassic Park, Back to the Future etc) but the one problem we did have was that she wasnt big enough for HULK. She cried her little eyes out becuase she could not go on it.

IMO its best to let each individual parent decide what they think their children can handle. As for mine our motto is that if she is big enough she goes on it.

 

[disneygoof]

Another vote for BTM.

If you can find the Disneyland Fun Sing-along video, they show that ride and she would be able to get a good idea of what to expect.

 

[FLORIDAFUNFAMILY]

I'd start with BTM and work my way up from there.!!

 

[MrsPete]

I think the child's size and (for lack of a better phrase) guts-level might be more important than the actual age.

My tiny six-year old rode in the first seat on Space Mountain with her hands in air, but she was terrified by the Haunted Mansion. She rode Twilight Zone of Terror; the drop didn't scare her, but the pictures of the people who "disappeared" terrified her. It's the STORIES that scare her; she can take the physical jolts.

 

[jehma]

I have to say that when we took our DD last year (who had only just turned 4) we put her on everything that she was big enough for (she is the height of a 5 year old). She absolutley loved Test Track, Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain and big thunder mountain. We also went to Universaly and IOA and she loved the big rides there (Jurassic Park, Back to the Future etc) but the one problem we did have was that she wasnt big enough for HULK. She cried her little eyes out becuase she could not go on it.

LOL - sounds like my little guy last year. He was 4 ot IOA and couldn't stand that he had to skip some rides. At 5, he's 46 1/2 ", so we'll let him go on whatever rides he's big enough for when we go to WDW this month.

 

[Vavasmon]

We love coasters and DD has been riding them since she can remember. Actually I remember - her father took her on the Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens Willamsburg at 3 after I told him no way stay in Land of the Dragons while I had my turn on Alpenguiest. She knew who would say yes if she kept asking

I feel there are 3 key rules for any ride she wants to try:
1) You must meet the height requirement
2) You must wants to do this (not you think we want you to do this)
3) Understand that once the ride starts you can't get off (but you can close you eyes or hold on tight to us). Also, you never need to ride a second time.

That being said she has loved every ride she has ever tried. She had just turned 6 the first time at Disney and did everything including Rock 'n Roller Coaster - yes she is tall for her age.

 

[Bella2000]

Another BTm vote. Again it depends on your child. My daughter has been riding them since she hit 40" when she was 3.5. Of course she won't go near the haunted mansion or any other dark ride. I'd be careful of Space Mountain - because it's dark - you can't see where the coaster is going which makes it more intense. Probably why it and RnR have higher heights restrictions. My 7 yr old DN (tall) went on RnR as his first coaster - not good. He loves ToT but RnR threw him for a loop. (okay until I wrote that I didn't realize it was a play on words...sorry)

 

[Lesley]

If you're really concerned start with the Barnstormer...then head to BTMRR. My 4yo loves BTMRR! She's not yet big enough for Space Mountain, but probably will be when we go back. I'm a bit more concerned about that one as they are individual seats. On BTMRR you can sit next to your child. On Space Mountain you'll need to ride behind her.

I think my son was 6 or 7 when he first rode both Space Mt. and Rock N Roller Coaster.

Have fun!

 

[Carrie772]

My daughter just loved it and it's short. She is 5 also and we rode this one many times. I didn't think it was all that jerky as others have said. Been on many Six Flags coasters that were much worse. The theming is fun and being in ToonTown may relax your child more.

 

[Carrie772]

I am sleepy and it didn't register that you meant anything other than Barnstormer! Duh.

 

[the kabuki]

Start with Test track, BTM, Splash Mountain. My 6 yo did Space Mountain, ToT, Rockin roller coaster no problems, my 11yo is still a little tense on them. Depends on the child.

 

[loribell]

My DD started riding Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad when she was 2 months shy of 4. Ablsolutely loves them both.

I still don't think she should ride Space Mountain, don't like the way the way the cars are set up on it, or Rock 'n Roller Coaster, which she is not tall enough for yet. I also will not let her ride Tower of Terror or Mission Space, not sure about the height requirements but I think they are just to much for her age. At AK Primevil Whirl is out, but she is also still to short for it.

Hope this helps,
Lori

 

[Buzz's_girl]

My DD was 5 when we were last at WDW. She went on everything she was tall enough for, and like a previous poster tended to be more scared at some of the theming than the actual rides themselves. (TOT is a good example). My DD4, loved TOT. (DIfferent personalities!!) Anyway, DD5 LOVED space mountain, btm, and splash. She went on TOT once, but said the people were too scary... She was not tall enough for RNR. She was tall enough for Mission Space, but I did keep her off that one...I was afraid it would make her feel sick...I think I will keep her off MS for awhile...

I would say if your DD can handle barnstormer, she can handle most of the other rides. If Haunted Mansion wasn't too scary for her, then Space mountain shouldn't be either. It is a roller coaster in the dark! You could always take a ride on people mover to show her ahead of time what is looks like....to prepare her. As for Spalsh, my DD kept asking when is the big drop....then she couldn't wait to do it again!!!

Good Luck, hope some of this helps!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

My nephew (5 at the time) liked BTM, but he LOVED Space Mountain. He was a little intimidated by it at first but we couldn't get him off of it afterward. He was too short for RNRC, but really wanted to try it. TOT freaked him out a bit, didn't want to do it again.

TTA goes through Space Mountain if you want to get a look at it first. It's pretty dark, but you can get an idea.