Big Kid Rides vs. Preschool.....

[katecca]

We are finally getting around to looking at what each of my children might want to ride at MK. We looked at the disney website today and watched some of the little videos snippets they have of some of the rides. I have an almost 5 year old who is 42" tall, so she does meet alot of the big kid height requirements. She may be a little afraid though...like when I showed her the Haunted Mansion ride she was a little afraid even though she's seen the movie. Can anyone give me some guidance? I'm thinking of trying one of the big kid rides with her....which one would you do first just to see how it goes? Also, what about splash mountain for her?

 

[sjs488]

It all depends on the child. My son is 3.5, and he has gone on Splash Mountain since he was tall enough (just under 3..by days). He loves it, we saw an add or something with it on it and he commented that he wants to do it again. He has been on it on 2 seperate trips. He has been on Haunted Mansion since he was a baby. He is now getting to the point where if his room is dark at night it is "too scary" so it should be interesting to see how he does in 9/05. We have not tried thunder mountain with him, yet, but may this trip. He did do goofy's barnstormer and loved it. That may be a thought before trying splash/thunder mountain. Make sure she can handle barnstormer. If you get up to go onto the ride, there is always the chicken option...just in case!! But you will never know until you try.

 

[crisi]

First, I'd take some time to define YOUR kid. Some can handle scary themes, but not loud noises. So, what are her buttons, dark? noise? movement? spinning? theme?

Then take some time to do some research. Start with the stuff you know she will handle. Peter Pan and Buzz are good before Snow White's Scary Adventures - which is good before trying Pirates of the Carribean or Haunted Mansion. And Haunted Mansion should be done before Tower of Terror (which is much scarier in theme, plus has the thrill ride drop). Barnstomer is a good starter coaster, then try Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, then Splash, then Space Mountain.

Some three year olds ride Tower of Terror (which I will never get my husband on). Some eight year olds are still spooked by Pirates of the Carribean.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We've always let our daughter pick her rides. She is almost 5. If it is something of a questionable "fear" factor--we let her know about it. We usually try to get her to ride at least once and it has never been a big deal. But for some children--if they really don't want to ride..you will know...and it would be traumatic to continue.

The question is how to handle it without coddling: letting the tot dictate the day with tantrums as opposed to genuine fear if that makes sense. Alternating rides works best for us---tame ride, then not tame ride, then tame ride again.

Our daughter has surpassed the height requirements for Splash and similar attractions--so for her it is a right of passage to finally after 3 years to be able to ride. And every time we go, we find something new that we didn't realize had the same height restriction. Most recently Tower of Terror. Now this kid--any ride in the pitch black dark or with a fear factor--she rides....but with her eyes closed---she rides it terrified but not so much that she's actually upset. We've had many a photo taken of her with her head buried in our side. And she insists on Going on it again.

Do we force her on these rides--no we don't. She wants to go on them. Often times will ask again. She wanted to ride TOT again, but we were doing a baby swap and my sis' had no interest in riding. I'm good for one series of drops per day--so one was all she got to go on. But she has been playing TOT at home with her My Little Ponies and dolls and such and doing role play.

I know that we can get her on most any ride with most any fear level (as long as Mom or Dad can handle it) and as long as we do not hide the fact of what will happen...she comes out unscathed and wants to go on again.

Dinosaur--scares the beejeezus out of me. I ride it--but I follow my daughter's cue and when the scary part happens...I keep my eyes closed...I will NOT let that creature see me or me him. But I still love the ride and since I know when the "bad" part happens..I'm good.

My daughter LOVES these rides. Not all kids do. My brother was 14 or 15 years old before we got him on Splash Mountain...and he hyperventilated on the ride. Now it might have had something to do with his sisters being me and siking him out on every single drop.....but I digress. He just didn't like things fast and falling. Not his cup of tea---he also wouldn't walk up to a character until he was 9 or 10 years old. I think when he was 7 he actually said he was ready to go up to them...but it yielded the same result as always...him terrified of Mickey.

Start in Fantasyland (save snow white for last)--then on to Tomorrowland for Buzz and race cars--and then adventure land (dark time with the Pirates) and then save Frontier for last since that's Spalsh and Thunder Mountains. MK as the first park is totally geared towards families and the best place to work on fear inhibitions to the rides.

Test track is not scary--but fear of the unknown I have seen it keep some children from going on--the sound of the cars zooming around the track makes them fear that something is going to happen. They don't ride to see it is just like riding on the highway except no top on the car.

TOT--your child will hear everyone screaming--I just told my daughter what it was and she was fine--though I did have to carry her in line the rest of the way.

I believe that Space has a higher height req't than splash as my daughter still has about 2 or 3 inches to go before she is tall enough.

 

[rt2dz]

My son just turned 4 a couple of months ago, if just shy of 44" and the only ride that scares him is Haunted mansion--and that's more the queue. He'll ride it, he just wants his baby brothers blanket over his head while in line (including the staging area). Pirates is another line he doesn't particularly like, but it isn't something he shies away from, and he adores the ride. He loves dinosaur & especially Splash Mountain (that was a three times in a row ride this last trip). He's riden Tower of Terror with zeal and can't wait to watch It's Tough To Be A Bug. Last time he was on Test Trak, he shocked everyone around him by not being phased by it in the slightest.

I don't make my son ride anything he doesn't want to ride. If he changes his mind while in line, we simply let the CM know, and we take the chicken exit. I think he is more willing to go on things, because he knows he has the option of changing his mind.