Am I just being a crazy, paranoid mama?

[gigem_aggies]

Thanks everyone! Glad I'm not alone, but I totally realize that it's perfectly safe. We will definitely play it by ear and see if she's gung ho to ride it when we go or if she wants to wait it out.

 

[Pigletpal40]

My middle daughter just turned 5 a few weeks ago. I just measured her today and she's right at 44 inches--just barely. We've got another month before our trip, so I'm assuming she'll grow a little before we leave. But...I can't even imagine her on Space Mountain. I can't imagine her not sitting right next to me. I'm not that worried about her being scared because she's a dare devil. But, I AM scared that she won't be safe. Am I being crazy? Our youngest is too short to ride, so I can do a rider swap without an issue. I'm just wondering if 5 and barely tall enough really is too short or I'm being a worry wart for nothing.

When my youngest DS was finally tall enough to ride, Mom was extremely worried. I told her he'd be fine, if he's tall enough he can ride. He sat in front of me and after the first turn I never saw his head again the rest of the ride. I was scared! When the ride ended, I got up and went up to help him get out and he had a smile from ear to ear.

 

[DisneyLove2015]

My son was 5 when he first rode it (had just turned 5 that week). This is how his dad rode with him since I was a little uneasy about him not having someone next to him, too. He was perfectly fine . You can lean forward like this if it makes you feel better! Not sure how comfortable it was for my husband though.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I don't think being concerned about it makes you crazy or paranoid. You're being a good mom! I didn't want my 5 year old to ride anything wilder than BTMRR even though she's tall enough. Nothing wrong with being protective

 

[BabiesDaddy]

I had the same fears as you, except I was a paranoid DAD. When she road, I reached both my arms over and held down both her shoulders. She loved the ride. I was extremely sore for 2 days afterward.

Was it necessary? From a purely logical perspective, no. For my sanity as a parent? Yes. She's bigger now and I don't feel like I have to do that any longer, but turn back the clock, and I would do the same thing again.

This is me to the letter As the father to two toddler girls, i dont know what i'll do when they ride by themselves,lol.

 

[disneyseniors]

We had a similar issue with my granddaughter at WWOHP, Forbidden Journey! It was newly open and we had heard that it was intense. That set ME off right away She had to be measured 3 times and it was always a close call. By that time, I was ready to turn back and not ride it. But we made it through. You have to sit alone on that ride too, so that was another issue.
Well, I spent all my time looking down the row at her to see if she was okay, (and at my soninlaw who got sick on motion rides), so I really don't remember what was on that ride. I just knew it was too extreme for me.
My DGD made it just fine, no problems.
But grandmother was a nervous wreck!
So, No, I don't think you are crazy, just cautious. I usually go with my first impression on these matters. And if I was worried, I wouldn't do it.

 

[luvmyfam444]

well, I have felt your pain, though not on Space. I road with dd on Goofy, I can't remember her age -but I think around 5...the age wasn't the issue - it was the fact that I put her beside me - plus sized & she was sooo tiny (still is) and she slid all around that seat because the bar only came down as far as the fattest person (ME!) so there literally was nothing holding her in. That was the worst ride of my life, I really thought I was going to lose her in one of the turns. I held on tight but have never let her ride with me again.

 

[bumbershoot]

Honestly, if there was a force strong enough to throw a child from Space Mountain, your hands being on their shoulders would not make one iota of difference in terms of keeping them in the seat.

Of course not. I don't think any one of us who did it thought we could do anything about it, LOL. It's just a mental peace thing.


In my family we ARE allowed to say "no" for fear* reasons. And that means if I'm going to be freaking out b/c of something DS wants to ride, I do actually have the right to ask him to not ride. No one wants the other family members to be scared to death. (and it's not like there have NEVER been accidents on Disney rides...come on now) In our family, someone's 30 seconds of fun doesn't trump someone else's relative sanity. (especially when the scared ones are the ones paying for the trip!)

*physical, realistic fear mainly. fear of small world dolls or being hit by fake lightning on TOT or the "ghosts" in HM aren't as high priority as (DLR?) BTMRR accident in 2003 sorts of fears, or getting stuck on EE for an hour at the top and being rescued sorts of fears.

 

[bumbershoot]

You have to sit alone on that ride too, so that was another issue.

You are on a bench with 3 other people on FJ. It's just that the seats have lips going forward so you FEEL alone. You can easily hold hands or touch a knee, though.

It was newly open and we had heard that it was intense.

Mainly intense because of the visual effects.

Well, I spent all my time looking down the row ...so I really don't remember what was on that ride. I just knew it was too extreme for me.

Because of the effects in the ride and some of the physical parts of it, you looking to the side is a big reason it felt so extreme to you. If you ever feel like checking it out again, ride (when well hydrated and properly fed...neither one too long ago or too recently...so your stomach doesn't have much to fight against) and simply pay attention to the ride. No turning your head to the side or leaning forward. Those likely made you feel worse than you would have otherwise. So just ride the ride and don't pay attention to the others with you, and see if it feels less extreme.

 

[hakepb]

My middle daughter just turned 5 a few weeks ago. I just measured her today and she's right at 44 inches--just barely. We've got another month before our trip, so I'm assuming she'll grow a little before we leave. But...I can't even imagine her on Space Mountain. I can't imagine her not sitting right next to me. I'm not that worried about her being scared because she's a dare devil. But, I AM scared that she won't be safe. Am I being crazy? Our youngest is too short to ride, so I can do a rider swap without an issue. I'm just wondering if 5 and barely tall enough really is too short or I'm being a worry wart for nothing.

It means you need to go to Disneyland so that you can ride Space Mountain next to your daughter

 

[Klayfish]

Like others said, if it makes you feel better to put your hand on their shoulder or arm across them, then go for it. But it would make absolutely zero bit of difference if anything were to actually happen. If anything, it would only serve to break your arm. The restraints are there for a reason and designed to do a specific job that your arm could never do.

 

[Sleepy425]

Just do what I did - let dad take her . I'm not a fan of coasters to begin with, so the thought of my 4 year old going on was . I told my husband he had to do it, and I'm so glad I did that instead of just having him not ride it. He loved it so much he went a couple times!

 

[heath92681]

I was in the same boat as you last year. DD was five and right at 44 inches. Space mountain made me so nervous but of course she was just fine! I honestly didn't enjoy the ride much because all I could think about was her falling out, which I know is completely ridiculous but my brain wasn't interested in logic at that moment in time.

My brain is thinking the same way as yours

 

[blestmom]

I had the same fears as you, except I was a paranoid DAD. When she road, I reached both my arms over and held down both her shoulders. She loved the ride. I was extremely sore for 2 days afterward.

Was it necessary? From a purely logical perspective, no. For my sanity as a parent? Yes. She's bigger now and I don't feel like I have to do that any longer, but turn back the clock, and I would do the same thing again.

I did the same exact thing...except I'm a mom and it was my 5 year old son. It was his first "big ride." He loves them all now.

 

[hakepb]

Like others said, if it makes you feel better to put your hand on their shoulder or arm across them, then go for it. But it would make absolutely zero bit of difference if anything were to actually happen. If anything, it would only serve to break your arm. The restraints are there for a reason and designed to do a specific job that your arm could never do.

Bad things only tend to happen when riders actively defeat (wiggle out of) the restraints. It's probably good to make sure a young rider isn't getting out of the restraint so it does its job since not all kids act 100% logical all the time.

 

[BrianL]

Can I ask, I don't have kids, but why is sitting next to them so different than sitting right behind them? Supposing something did go awry, what

Like others said, if it makes you feel better to put your hand on their shoulder or arm across them, then go for it. But it would make absolutely zero bit of difference if anything were to actually happen. If anything, it would only serve to break your arm. The restraints are there for a reason and designed to do a specific job that your arm could never do.

That's what I've been wondering? What is it that parents really think they can do in the event of something happening? I'm not a parent, but I guess if I didn't trust Disney and the restraints on the ride, I wouldn't be riding at all.

 

[gigem_aggies]

I totally trust Disney and I fully recognized in other posts that I was being crazy and paranoid. It's totally a mental thing on MY part. But, one that other parents apparently have shared as well.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Haha, oh, OP, I did the same thing. I love the pic with the dad with the hands on his son's shoulders. That was so me when I rode it with my son. And to the poster who mentioned Rip Ride ROckit, yes! I rode it with my son (now 9 and just over 51 inches) in April and I pulled that stupid lap bar across him as far as it would go. So his computer screen was actually way off to his side instead of right in the middle. But he sure was secure! It made me crazy too, when the ride operators would just brush by us with only a perfunctory tug on our restraints. I would always yell "CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK HIM TO MAKE SURE!" as loud as I could. The CMs are better about that at Disney, I think.

 

[TDS533]

I am smiling and laughing thinking about our first space mountain ride. Our son is very tall and was tall enough to ride at 4. He really wanted to do it. My husband and I hadn't done it in years so we thought what the heck. That is until we got up to the loading area and had forgotten it was single rider with only a lap bar. Moment of panic and then trying to figure out where he should ride. Well. He wanted to ride in front, yikes! So we let him I was behind him and had my hands on on the back of his seat trying to touch him the whole time, you know just to make sure he hadn't fallen out in the dark, lol. Well we all made it through just fine, well almost. My husband got off, immediately went to the restroom to get sick from fear of loosing his only child on the ride. He comes out to our son eating a peanut butter sandwich and asking to ride again. hubbie said we could go but he couldn't. If I had to do it again I think would put him in the middle seat for his first ride with a lap bar and no seatbelt, just for our peace of mind. Let her ride and enjoy!

 

[kiramay]

I had the same fears as you, except I was a paranoid DAD. When she road, I reached both my arms over and held down both her shoulders. She loved the ride. I was extremely sore for 2 days afterward.

Was it necessary? From a purely logical perspective, no. For my sanity as a parent? Yes. She's bigger now and I don't feel like I have to do that any longer, but turn back the clock, and I would do the same thing again.

My youngest was 4 and 44.5" when he rode Space Mountain for the first time, and I was terrified. I did the same thing, reached forward and held his shoulders. I was less terrified when he was 5 and bigger.

I think it's just a parent thing.