Big Rides for little kids

[ndgqccmiller]

What is the youngest you have taken your child on
Big Thunder Mtn
Space Mtn
Soarin
Fast Track
Expedition Everest
Splash Mtn
We are going to Disney in May we were planning on going in Oct but part of our decision to change is that our younger one would be a little older (almost 5). I have never taken one that age on those kind of rides. She is already tall enough and shes a little dare devil.

In June my sons ball team was at a tournament we were staying at a pool with a 70 ft waterslide. She got right on and went down by herself. Of course about 5 of the boys were waiting on her at the bottom. They rotated catching her the whole weekend. I just don't want to scare her to early bc we are a amusement ride family. Just a note I had no idea about the waterslide till after it was my husband and the boys idea sometimes I think she has 10 big brothers.

Just let me know your experiences with this Thanks in advance

 

[Avery's mom]

My DD who is 44 inches in her "good shoes" will be riding EE, TT and all the others in Dec. She first went on the others, BTMRR, TOT, Space and Splash last year when she was 4.5. She was just barely tall enough for the 40" rides then, thus the reason for the trip. She had been to DL and WDW before she turned 40 inches and we told her she couldn't come back to either until she ate enough fruits and vegetables to reach 40".

Once she was tall enough, we took her back to DL, as we are in CA, and she rode them all! No crying, no fussin, just, "Mama, can we go again?" So, I would say, don't worry....you know your dd best.

 

[*BTMRR*]

My kids first went on all of the rides on your list (except Everest which wasn't open yet when we were last at AK, and Space Mountain which I think has a higher height restriction) at age just-turned-3 and have been on them many times since.
They also enjoyed Tower of Terror at age 3 which I myself will not go on.

You'll probably just have to go and start her out on milder rides (Pirates of the Caribbean, Soarin', Star Tours) and see if she feels ready for the bigger ones. It really depends on the kid.

 

[Ellester]

At 2y9m, my son enjoyed Soarin' and Test Track. He did not like ToT at all. Splash was closed while we were there, we didn't take him on any of the mountains. My younger daughter was 5y5m and loved everything. ToT is still her favorite ride. She loved EE and Space Mountain, thought Big Thunder was boring! Rockin' Rollercoaster was also closed while we were there, but I don't think she would have been tall enough. She is my little daredevil as well, she will ride ANYTHING! I agree that it all depends on the child.

 

[ndgqccmiller]

I think I will try everything that she is tall enough for. I will just explain in a not so scary way what the ride will do. Last time we went she was 2 so she only did the rides I could put her in my lap for. But none of them bothered her. There are five of us and we always have to split up and do baby swap so it will be great this time to experience everything all together. But if I know my dh he will try to steal all the glory of sitting with her on alot of them.

 

[mjkacmom]

The only regret I have is taking my youngest on Dinosaur at 4 - he claimed he liked it, but refused many rides afterwards.

 

[scottish mum]

My DD was 2 months short of 3 when she went on Splash, thunder mountain soaring, test track. She has never done ToT maybe because older brother hates it and has made her fear it too. We always try a ride once and if they really don't like it they don't go back on it, but usually they love it

 

[ndgqccmiller]

I really liked dinosaur, but the last time we went my then 10 year old didn't like it bc it was to loud so I don't think dd would. We will probably have to split up for this ride.

 

[imthatgirl]

as soon as they were tall enough. my son was the youngest at almost 4. my daughter was 4.

 

[puffkin]

We are measuring my son at 40.5 inches at home, so hopefully we can get him on most of the 40 inch rides in your list. He is 2 1/2 and LOVEs rides. He has been on a real rollercoaster at our local amusement park with no problems.

 

[nessz79]

My youngest was 3 when he went on Splash Mt. and BTMR. He didn't like Splash, but that's because he was going through a major water phobia at the time.

 

[mamaprincess]

My I have 10 year old twin dd's and so my youngest dd naturally imitates and wants to do everything they do so she was 4 years old when she went on:

Tower of Terror (insisted and then went on 3 more times after that. We had to drag her away from it kicking and screaming).

Soarin' (Loved it!)

Big Thunder Railroad Mountain (Loved it!)

Splash Mountain (Loved it!)

The only reason she didn't do Test track is because I was under the false impression that she was to short. The twins were so mad when they came out because I had taken her for autographs instead and they had seen the height and found out she could go on. She'll do it for sure on our next trip.

We didn't go to AK on our last trip so no Everest yet and I'm not sure of the height but if she's tall enough, she'll go on and of course she'll love it.

Now Dinosaur is another thing all together. She's scared of monsters and stuff so I'm not sure if that will be her cup of tea for a while. She's a thrill junkie.

The twins were tall enough to go on Rockin Rollercoaster when they were six.
All of my girls are maniac thrill junkies.

 

[ndgqccmiller]

Thanks guys! I love that I can ask any question that I have about Disney and someone or many will answer!

 

[tassma]

My son is 44" inches in shoes at home - does anyone know if Disney uses a true measurement?

Thanks

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I am pretty sure Disney sticks the sign at exactly 40" or whatever off the ground. So, shoes count towards the height. I've heard of parents putting small lifts in their kids shoes if they don't quite meet the height (although I certainly don't recommend it).

 

[jujashmom]

Both my kids rode all those rides as soon as they were tall enough.