5yo on Space Mtn, Expedition Everest?

[Minnie824]

So, I was looking on the disney website the other day and saw the height requirement for Expedition Everest is 44". I guess I had just assumed it would be 48" like RNRC, but instead, its the same as Space Mtn. My DD is 4 now and about 42"...we're going in Nov, and if she is 44" (she'll be 5), I don't know if I should take her on either of these rides. The one thing about Space Mtn, is shed have to sit alone. But for EE, has anyone been, and could you recommend whether a 5yo could go on? BTW, shes been on everything else that has the 40" restriction, and loved them, including Splash and BTMRR.

 

[noladave]

We we went this past February, my dare-devil daughter LOVED the roller coaster rides - Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, RNR, etc.. She was 5 years and 7 months old. She didn't mind the sitting seperately, as long as I was right behind her. She was estatic when she found out that she could ride ALL of the rides!

However, I think it depends on their personality - my daughter is much more of a dare-devil than my son was at her age.. You might want to look into Test Track, she loved that ride too - just not sure of the height requirement.

 

[Minnie824]

yeah, Test Track was 40" and she went on that this past Nov, after just turning 4...she asked if it went faster, so I think she should be ok. Just don't know what to expect with EE though. I think DH or I need to go first and see how it is.

 

[ryanally]

I agree with riding something first to see what you as a parent think. I would never put my children on a thrill ride that I had not ridden first. I am hesitant about letting my DS(5&1/2) ride Space MOuntain due to the single rider issue. If he gets upset, I can't comfort him from my seat. He loves BTMRR. He's afraid of HM and ghosts, so I think the Yeti is out for him this weekend!

 

[Magalex]

We were at WDW in April 2005 at the time my DS was 4 and 1/2 yrs old. He was 44 inches but decided not to do Space Mountain this time because of the seating. He loves roller coasters too. On our next planned trip he will be 7 and is all ready for Exp. Everest. I will be more comfortable by then. I think the Space Mountain bldg was timidating to him too.

 

[All Aboard]

Our daughter's first trip through Space Mountain came a month before her 5th birthday when she reached 44". It immediately became her favorite attraction. It was a very uncrowded December (2002) Sunday at MK and we rode 12 times, with a lunch break in the middle.

They haven't built an attraction that's high enough or fast enough for her yet. She's afraid of virtually nothing.

Of course, every kid is different, but that's our perspective.

 

[samano]

I agree that every kid is different. Does your DD scare easily? Just follow her cues.
Our last trip in 2004, my DS was 3 1/2....he is very tall for his age, the only thing he wasn't tall enough to ride in 4 parks was the roller coaster at MGM (the name of it escapes me). We watched the planning video over and over and hyped up all of the rides before we left. He was so excited, but I didn't believe he would actually ride Space Mountain until he jumped on! He even talked to a frightened teenager in line at behind us at Tower of Terror, assuring her it wouldn't be that scary. Our best pic from that trip is the one they snapped of us on the Dinosaur ride at AK right when the dinosaur jumps out. DD7 and I are screaming our heads off, while DS3 was actually smiling!!! LOL!!!

 

[tardin1964]

My DD was 5 1/2 years old and loved riding space mountain. She had no issue about sitting alone. When over at Epcot the same trip we took her on Test Track and she cried the whole time

With little ones you just never know.

 

[missminniemouse]

My son, who is 6 now, went on Space Mountain for the first time last year at age 5. His sister, who is 4 years older than he is had never wanted to do it before. Suddenly they both wanted to go and both loved the ride! Now we have to do it at least a couple of times each trip.

DS went on rock n roller coaster this trip for the first time. He also loved that and wanted to go again, but time wouldn't allow it. Also on this trip he experienced Mission: Space for the first time. Also loved that.

Prior to this trip his favorite ride was Big Thunder Mountain. I knew from his past history with rides that he would love all the "big kid" rides and I wouldn't hesitate for a second to take him on Expedition Everest.

 

[mommyintn]

I think it totally depends on your childs personality, my ds is 6 and more than tall enough to go on these rides but each time I talk about a ride like Dumbo he asks "is it fast?". He would freak out on any rollar coaster type ride. Also had a friend who talked her 9 year old into going on space moutain last year, big mistake she was crying hysterically. So as long as they "know" what kind of ride it is and they like it fast you should be fine.

 

[allaboard]

I agree it depends on your own child - as long as they are the correct height ... but my own children have surprised me before DURING the rides, so I make sure to never have the youngest sitting alone. My husband or I always sit beside our youngest, who is now 6. If rides can take three people, our youngest goes in the middle ... with our 10 year old on the other side, so either my husband or I can then ride with our 8 year old. I have discovered during rides that the child I thought would be just fine, was often the one scared or surprised, etc. Our 6 year old has already told us she is NOT riding Everest ... so I guess we'll be doing the "switching off" thing !!

 

[Brian Noble]

My DD at 5 would have gotten on them no problem. She loved Matterhorn (but Space was closed). At six, her favorite roller coaster is a 200ft tall monster. She rides with her hands in the air.

My DS is 5 this year, and we figure he will probably go on Space, but we're up in the air on EE. We figure it will be a last minute, up-to-him thing.

 

[doombuggy]

I can only give you my personal opinion, having ridden both rides. Now I am not a parent, so please remember that.

My answer, if it were my child, would be no. Granted, Space was not there when I was 5 (I had my first visit to the MK back in Feb. 1974 at about 6 1/2) and as much as I LOVE roller coasters, I did not ride Space until I was about 12. I think the part that "bothered" me was the "in the dark" part. If your child has issues with the dark, I would not recomend either ride, as nearly half of the EE ride is in the dark.

Some of the news stations around here did a clip about EE this week. The NBC affiliate has video on the ride, which might help you out in your decision making, although I don't think it shows the entire ride:
http://www.wesh.com/news/6372407/detail.html

No matter what you decide, have a wonderful time!