Appropriate Age for Thrill Rides?

[SweetTee76]

I am taking my children (DS8 and DS5) on their first trip to WDW in November and am looking for some input on suitable ages for thrill rides. I know every child is different and I think my boys will wanna go on everything, but I would really appreciate some input. Do you think a 5 year old can handle RnR and ToT?

 

[tonilea]

I don't think there is an "age". IMO, it just depends on the child. You know your children better than anyone, just trust in your instincts.

My DS is pretty much fearless and at three will ride anything he is tall enough to ride.

 

[Aneille]

It really is what the child is comfortable with.

My DD rode TOT in December. She had just turned 5. She was tall enough our trip before December but she wasn't mentally ready for it. She was very proud for riding it in December but she will not ride it again. I have never seen her so frightened. But is all smiles when talking about it.

She is not tall enough for RnR or Primevil Spin but if she is when we go in October I will let her ride it. She isn't sure about RnR but really wants to ride Primevil Spin. I think what scares her most of RnR is that she knows it goes upside down but its an inside ride so she has never seen it.

She has ridden every other ride in the parks and has liked them all except ToT.

 

[Ariel8676]

My older 2 girls are 5 1/2 and 4 1/2 and we just got back form WDW and the girls rode...Splash mountain(5x), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad(5x), Dinosaur (they said they would never do this one again), TOT(2x), and my 5 1/2 rode Expedition Everest (2x)..my 4 yo was upset that she was JUST under the height requirement...I never would have thought that they would go on these rides, let alone LOVE them..lol
I do think it depends on the child though....

 

[disney6family]

Our kids have gone on every ride there as soon as they were tall enough (which for DD has been since she was 4 as she is tall). My DS12 is not crazy about ToT but our policy is to ride everything at least once every trip (unless everyone agrees not to) and this time he loved it. The younger ones have always loved it. And they all love all of the coasters - those are on our must do twice list.
They also as a group don't like Dinosaur because of the dark/loud, but we do it and I noticed this trip everyone was more able to cover eyes/ears when they wanted.

 

[karliebug]

My 8 year old has gone all the thrill rides since she was 5. She was very tall and went on rockn roller coaster at age 4. That is her favorite. She doesn't like ToT though and mission space made her kinda sick to her stomach so now we do the less intense version and she likes that much better. The first time she did space mountain she said "That was really scary. I don't think I liked it. Can we do it again?" LOL

 

[DawnM]

Disney's thrill rides are much more tame than our recent trip to Dollywood. Those roller coasters are scary!

My kids have gone on everything they are tall enough to go on since they became tall enough to go on them. Sometimes they don't want to go again and they often tell me TofT is a "one time each trip" ride. But they LOVE Rockin' Rollercoaster, go figure.

My 9 year old doesn't like EE because it goes backwards in one spot, so it really depends on the kid.

Dawn

 

[PrincessHeart]

I would start with the less scary rides and work your way up -Thunder Mountain Railroad before space mountain. If they handle the smaller ride then just keep bumping them up. The UG rates each ride and you could use that as a guide. My kids were terrified of Dinosuar. They still say they will never ride it again.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Last time we went my kids were 9, 5, 4 and 3. My three year old wasn't tall enough to ride any of the "thrill" rides. My other kids rode everything. They loved it! Tot was the 4 year old's favorite ride, and still is. The only thing she wasn't tall enough to ride last time we were there was Space Mountain and she cried and cried because here brother and sister got to ride it and she didn't. This time everyone is big enough to ride everyting (except RnR, but it's closed anyway, bummer). Can't wait for the "thrills" to begin!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I think it depends on the child. My daughter was 7 on our last trip. Her older sister was 11. Both kids went on Expedition Everest, Space Mountain, Dinosaur, River Rapids, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder. But the younger one did not go on Tot or Rock 'n Roller Coaster -- the older 1 did those two with dad. DH said he was glad she didn't do Rock 'n Roller Coaster because the force at launch was intense and you had to be prepared for it.

It wasn't the younger one's first time for some of the attractions -- she had done Splash, Big Thunder, and Dinosaur during past trips.

Also, the two girls did Expedition Everest without us. We walked them up to the "chicken exit" and then met them at the exit to the attraction. They knew to stay together getting on and off the attraction.

 

[SweetTee76]

Thanks for the replies! I feel better about taking my youngest son on the thrill rides now after hearing about the experience from others.

Last time we went my kids were 9, 5, 4 and 3. My three year old wasn't tall enough to ride any of the "thrill" rides. My other kids rode everything. They loved it! Tot was the 4 year old's favorite ride, and still is. The only thing she wasn't tall enough to ride last time we were there was Space Mountain and she cried and cried because here brother and sister got to ride it and she didn't. This time everyone is big enough to ride everyting (except RnR, but it's closed anyway, bummer). Can't wait for the "thrills" to begin!

We actually had a similar experience at Carowinds last summer. My DS5 (only 4 at the time) cried and cried because he wanted to go on Drop Zone with his uncle but wasnt tall enough. His experience on thrill rides has been pretty limited thus far. Runaway Reptar at Carowinds was tops. But I think I might have a daredevil in the making.

I would start with the less scary rides and work your way up -Thunder Mountain Railroad before space mountain. If they handle the smaller ride then just keep bumping them up. The UG rates each ride and you could use that as a guide. My kids were terrified of Dinosuar. They still say they will never ride it again.

I was considering starting with the less scarey rides. The only problem is that our schedule is arranged so that we hit Disney Studios first. Do they even have any less scarey rides? Maybe I should change our schedule?

Thanks again for the input. This was my first thread on the DISboards and I am luvin all the advice and ideas.

 

[PrincessHeart]

I'm not an expert by far but you might try TOT, star tours and then RnR. If you have ADR's they might be hard to change, so I don't want to advise you to change your park schedule. Anyone have a better order or another ride to add?

 

[Cruz91]

As other posters have said - start slow and build up. DD actually went on ToT when she had just turned 4 and loved it. She's an absolute thrill junky. The only ride I wouldn't take her on is Space Mountain because I can't sit right by her and ease her fears if she starts to freak out. I doubt she would - but don't want to risk it. Last trip (she was still 4) she rode everything she was tall enough to ride, which includes ToT, BTMR, and EE (her new favorite). Now she's all geared up to do RnR on our next trip. I can't wait!

 

[vicceja]

I guess you know your child best. My youngest just turned 6 and he has no interest in going on ToT and I don't think I would let him in yet - heck my 2 oldest will not get on it either. My youngest was so excited that he was able to get on Expedition Everest. I was a little hesitent at first but he loved it and went on a couple of more times. He also got on Mission Space but I would not let him go on the Red Team which my other boys have been on... As for RnR - he is not tall enough.....

 

[HappyMommy2]

Well, I'm in my mid 30s and don't consider myself old enough to go on ToT yet. I don't think I ever will! I love RnRC though.
On the other hand, both our kids went on ToT at age 3 (both are very tall) and loved it.

Just see how your kids take the less adventurous rides and go from there.
There's no reason to push the "big" rides. If they skip some this time around, it'll be all the more fun for them to try them on a future trip.

 

[BlueJeansGirl]

My DD12 rides EVERYTHING and has for years...My DS5 is now "ready" for ToT, but I am still hesitating on RnRc & MS...it is so hard! I haven't let him ride ToT before because I was afraid he would never want to get on an elevator again!