age of kids and rides?

[flminivanmama]

my three boys are 5, 5, and 4 they are all about the same height and weight - about 34-38 ish pounds and about 42ish inches? I know they are tall enough for most rides BUT are they BIG enough and OLD enough? my 4 year old is (I think) pretty immature - at least compared to other kids the same age I meet... and one of the 5 year olds is a wisp of a thing. My dh wants to take them on splash mountain, big thunder mountain, test track, etc. but I think it's not a good idea! first off - splash mountain, no seat belts, I could honestly see the skinny one flying out of the seat!
test track OK, maybe but the other stuff? I said yes to Goofy's barnstormer LOL

my theory is - we go every year, what's the big deal if we wait another year or two to start the big kid rides... am I nuts and over protective? or is he nuts and foolish? LOL

 

[flminivanmama]

i also said yes to soarin and star tours - what do you all think?

 

[ralfrick]

And only because you asked. Yes, you are being overprotective.

Cheers.

 

[Aneille]

I think if they meet the height requirement and they want to ride it, let them.

My daughter is 3.5 and rode Test Track(twice), Star Tours(twice), Soarin and Big Thunder (twice). I couldn't get her on Splash for the life of me though, something about the water

She liked them all, some better than others. But if they want to, let them go for it.

Oh and she was just 40", I know since her head just touched everytime she was measured, which was a lot! And she never fell out. BTW she is also only around 35#'s.

 

[Jules123]

My just turned 4 year old just rode Splash Mountain, BTMR, Test Track, and Soarin'. BTMR and Splash Mountain both scared him a little, but he loved Soarin'. When we got off Test Track, he cried to ride it again,but with a 45 minute stand by line, we couldn't.

 

[MelodyMack]

It's so HARD being the mommy sometimes...

My hunny always says, "You can't wrap them in cotton sweetie...." My DD4 will be tall enough to go on some of the big rides in August, and anything she gets excited about we're going to do.

Just a side note: our DD4 was a tad under the height requirement for Splash Mountain our last trip in March, but the CM's didn't check her, (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT FLAMING ME- YES YOU- THE ONE RIGHT NOW WHO'S PLANNING A WHOLE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS SAFETY LECTURE), and because the ride doesn't require a seat belt, we went for it (DH held her on his lap, or firmly around the waist for all the falls). DD4 loved it, and we must have ridden it 5 times!

Your boys are going to have a great time....no worries!
Mel

 

[gonemousin']

I agree...let them go on whatever suits their fancy. My DD is very tall for her age (5 yrs) so she met the height requirements for all the big rides. We couldn't keep her off space mountatin...I think we did that one at least 15 times. And she loved splash mountain (as did I!!!). No, it doesn't have seatbelts, but there's only one part of the ride where you'd think to need them (going down the big drop), but the g-forces actually keep you back in the seat. I never felt we were unsafe, and we rode that one about 8 times. JMO!!

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[flminivanmama]

thanks! for the advice and commiseration

I did not even think of holding him on our lap for splash mountain! good idea...

yeah maybe I should see what they get excited about when we are there....

 

[tiggersthebest]

We took my DD that is now five when she was three and she barely met the height requirement (and I think she only met it because of the type of shoes she was wearing). Because we were so caught up in the excitement we took her on Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain- She loved them both and still talks about Splash Mountain. I know which will be her first ride in August!!! I would say you know your children best.

Mom of two princesses 1 and 5

 

[magicmato]

We took our 3.6 year old daughter to MK last January for her first ever time at the park. She wanted to ride everything she could. She HATED the Haunted Mansion (still talks about how scary it was) and had to hide her face the whole time we were inside. She also HATED the Pooh ride. I think it was just too much all at once. It is very visually overloading, very chaotic. We may try it again as she has tentatively said she may want to ride it.

That being said, she absolutely LOVED Splash and Big Thunder Mountain! She did not like the dark sections of the ride, but was thrilled to have riden them when we were done. She even is making plans on who will ride what with her when we go again in November!

In the end, I think you just have to listen to your child. Let them make their own decisions... (even though she wanted to do haunted mansion until half way through and by then it was too late! But a snuggle against our side made it bearable.)