6 year old loves rides and we don't - Please advise!

[brbenoit]

I have to agree with the people saying that you need to suck it up and ride the rides.

If she is 6 and can survive the rides, why can't an adult???

Our daughter is the same way, on a slow day we did TOT 5 times in a row. She cannot wait this year because it is the first time that she can go on Rockin' Roller Coaster.

 

[makinorlando]

Mom and I are taking my six year old back to Disney. We just went this past May and she road everything with my husband - Tower (4 itmes), Space Mountain (at least 4 times) and Everest.

Now we are taking her and Mom and I are terrified of those rides, but I know she will want to go on them. Any advice? Someone suggested to me that I go to a Cast Member at each of these rides and they could take her and we would wait right outside the area where they exit, but I don't know if I'm comfortable with that.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

Thanks - DianeDisney

LOL - call me- My DD9 will ride with her ( ETA - but yes - the rule is under 7 has to be with an adult). I hate those rides as well and DD loves them. She is at the point that she will ride some things alone - BTMRR, Primevil Whirl (Hurl for me), Barnstormer, the Magic Carpets, Teacups and the carousel - are all things that come to mind. I get very motion sick on most rides.

 

[TheZeppo]

The rides won't kill you.

 

[makinorlando]

The rides won't kill you.

Maybe not - but in some cases it can ruin the rest of the day for those with motion sickness issues!!!

 

[toocooltobeMom]

You might be lucky enough to meet other nice family w/kids to accompany your 6 yrs old. We would. Unfortunately we came back from WDW Sunday already.
You need to stay w/ her until she get in the ride. If there's not a family(make sure they are nice people) around, go on the ride w/her. Only thing I would do the Orange team Mission:Space. I got serious motion sickness from that ride. Any other rides were not that bad. For MS, I strongly suggest the Green Team, so you can go on w/her. Lots of luck and have fun.

 

[Cool-Beans]

You could wait in line with her and let her ride alone...or with someone else. They fill in empty seats whenever they can. Everest and Test Track have single rider lines, so you can get through pretty quickly.

And you might want to give it a shot. Most "Thrill" rides at WDW aren't really thrill rides. Compared to Dumbo they are, but compared to real amusement park thrills, they're wussie rides.

 

[tiki23]

Our last trip to Disneyland, we met up with two different families several times on different rides, they both had a child the same age as my oldest son and they rode together often. They even went back and rode POC and HM alone while the other parents and ourselves watched the younger kids climb through the Treehouse.

Maybe you'll meet up with a nice family, too. If not, maybe you can give the rides a try and get your laugh-scream on.

 

[pickles]

Well, it is clearly listed on the park maps - children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. It is also listed on the Official site, I will find it later if you like.

Lastly I know this for sure because my dd's wanted to ride together in a seat on the Barnstormer with me in a seat behind them. Since my youngest was 6 they were not allowed. I had to ride with both or let my then 8yo ride alone so we just squished.

TJ

I dont have maps handy and don't have kids that young so wouldn't read that section anyway..was just curious where you heard that as I thought it was based more on height than age

The next question would have to be how did the CM know your kid was under 7?

 

[Cool-Beans]

Well, it is clearly listed on the park maps - children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. It is also listed on the Official site, I will find it later if you like.

Lastly I know this for sure because my dd's wanted to ride together in a seat on the Barnstormer with me in a seat behind them. Since my youngest was 6 they were not allowed. I had to ride with both or let my then 8yo ride alone so we just squished.

TJ

I just looked at a map, too. I don't see it. Where is it?

 

[Robmom]

I'm a chicken too. But the last time we went, I got on most of the rides with my DD. I even said that I would get on TOT with her. Thankfully, SHE chickened out. I would just try and get on if I were you. I was even screaming on Barnstormer, but after a bit, I was fine. A little embarrassed, but fine!

 

[tjmw2727]

I dont have maps handy and don't have kids that young so wouldn't read that section anyway..was just curious where you heard that as I thought it was based more on height than age

The next question would have to be how did the CM know your kid was under 7?

Wow, ok I am not going to argue about it but I am sure that a child has to be 7 at WDW to ride alone as well as meet the height requirement. I don't have time now but I may try and find the link to the information on the official site later today.

Anyway, I posted my personal experience to help the OP. Why question my personal experience? FWIW the CM at Barnstormer asked my dd how old she was and my dd said 6 at which point she said my dd would need to ride with me.

To the OP - your dd won't be able to ride alone until she is 7 so its up to you how to handle the situation. You can have her skip the rides you don't want to ride or you can ride with her. I just didn't want you to make plans based on her riding alone only to find out last minute she can't.

If the OP or anyone else questioning the minimum age wants to confirm this rule he/she could simply e-mail guest relations and ask.

TJ

eta - I would probably just take a deep breath and take her on some of her favorites. I really, really don't like TOT but I do it once each trip with my dd's because they love it and I am usually the only adult. In turn they have to "enjoy" a show or two by OffKilter with me! The only exception would be if you can't spin like my dh, there is no way he could take them on the teacups or MS as he gets major motion sick.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I agree with most of the other posters - suck it up and ride the rides. The drive to and from the park is a lot more dangerous than the rides. I'm not even sure that the scary rides are any more dangerous than the non-scary rides. I've never heard of anyone dying on TOT, but I know that people have been killed by the Carousel of Progress, the People Mover, and the Monorail.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Mom and I are taking my six year old back to Disney. We just went this past May and she road everything with my husband - Tower (4 itmes), Space Mountain (at least 4 times) and Everest.

Now we are taking her and Mom and I are terrified of those rides, but I know she will want to go on them. Any advice? Someone suggested to me that I go to a Cast Member at each of these rides and they could take her and we would wait right outside the area where they exit, but I don't know if I'm comfortable with that.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

Thanks - DianeDisney

When will you be there? My mom and I would be happy to go on those rides with her in late October.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I would at least try a couple of the rides.
Space moutain and tower of terror.

 

[44disney]

Think of childbirth, then think of going on one of the rides you are afraid of.

Kind of pales in comparison, doesn't it?

Above all, whatever you decide, just have fun! You'll be at Disney!!!

 

[pixiepower1971]

You must be 7 to ride alone. My DDs were 7 and 9 and they both were over 48". They were ahead of me and a CM stopped them at PW and asked how old the youngest was. She told her 7 and she wouldn't let her on until I was there. She wasn't the nicest of CMs and could have handled it better. But it does happen. And some will let her ride.


As for them riding with someone else, as I posted earlier-go through the line with her. Strike up a conversation. Mom with kids type of family.I have been approached in line like this with my girls numerous times...guess I look "safe" The parent would go as far as possible and the child would be a part of our "group "when we gave a # of people to ride together. At the end I would make sure the child met back up with parent. Most rides dump out into one place only so it is easy for the parent to wait.


It is a means to an end...she gets to ride, you don't have to. All are happy. Great trip.

I know my girls would hate to have to be that close to rides they love and not be able to go on them!

If you post when you are going I bet you would find a disser or some dis kids that would love to meet up with you for those rides and take her on with them!

 

[Lorelai]

Ride each and every ride with her...multiple times. Take a camera. Take photos of yourself holding on for dear life. Have your mom (grandma) take some of you staggering off the ride. Perhaps capture the lovely pasty white complexion as you exit ToT. Then, when your daughter is a teenager, and mentions something to the effect of "you don't love me" or "why don't you ever let me do anything fun?" Just whip out the album full of photos that have her sweet, beaming face - right next to your pale, colorless semi-grin, and I'll bet she remembers every moment. Then when she is in her 20's, she'll be sure to tell you what an amazing & selfless mom you are.

Plan B - make grandma go.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

okay i've go a map from EPCOT in my hands and i can't find the age thing.

But i have to agree with the other posters. This is your DD, go ahead and ride with her, just let her know you will only do it once. You wouldn't want to disappoint a child in WDW.

 

[Nienor]

I sometimes have to ride things with my DS6, that I don't particuarly care for. The best part is once you do it once or twice, it doesn't seem so scary anymore. Just take deep breaths and think of something else while you're doing it.

Fortunately, no black enclosed water-rides at Disney, so I have one week not to feel claustrophobic.

 

[Lizziejane]

I know it's no fun being terrified of rides. Our first trip, I was scared to go on many of them, but I had made a deal with myself that I was going to ride every single one of them just once, just to say I did it. I didn't want to sit on the plane on the way home regretting not having tried. In the end, I ended up doing many of them first, THEN the kids rode it, once I'd "survived" in one piece! Surprisingly though, there isn't a single ride at Disney that scares me now!!! They are relatively tame compared to the big coasters over at Universal or other parks. Trust me, if I can ride ToT (which by the way, was my very first ride and is now my absolute favorite!), I'm sure you can too! Suck it up, agree to ride each once, and you never know, you may end up absolutely loving one or two of them. Imagine how much fun your daughter would have if YOU were the one wanting to re-ride over and over!!!