Big Thunder Railroad for a 4 year old?

[jpin_4477]

Hi,
Taking my 4 year old daughter to Disney for the first time, and though I've been before, it was never with kids and I've not been for over 10 years. Since it's a last minute trip, I only have Fast Pass options for a few attractions. Big Thunder Railroad is one of them. Is it too scary of a coaster for a 4 year old? She has only ridden coasters in kiddie lands before (not an adult coaster).

Thanks.

 

[Jedimike]

When my kids were 4 years old, they LOVED it. It really isn't a scary coaster at all.. No really big peaks, no inversions...just turns and some small hills. My girls both loved it at that age (and continue to love it)....

 

[jpin_4477]

Great, thank you so much! I was wondering about Space Mountain too -- I know that one is in the dark and might be scarier for little ones.

 

[Chitownpeeps91]

My peeps liked at 4. You might want to try Thunder first. Is she ok in dark rides?

 

[jpin_4477]

Yes, she's ok with dark rides in general but most have been pretty tame in terms of the actual movement on the ride. I appreciate the info, though. I think we'll give it a try.

 

[RJstanis]

My DS4 was a few days shy of 4 when he rode BTMR for the first time at Disneyland (better than DW version) and couldn't ride it enough. A few months later at Disneyworld same thing again! He's to short for SM at Disneyworld (so far) so he hasn't ridden it yet, but he loved Tower of Terror surprisingly on our Disneyworld trip

 

[SPSRAS]

My DD love it at 4! Couldn't ride enough! Only brave enough to try SM this year at 6 though. She doesn't like the fact that she will have to sit alone on SM.

 

[scoobydooby]

My DD loved BTM when just 5 on her first trip. She couldn't do Space until she was 8. It passes. At 13 The Hulk is now her new favourite coaster!!!!!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Why not start with Barnstormer and work up to BTMRR? Barnstormer is like BTMRR Jr. My DS started riding BTMRR when he was 5 and he loves it. He just started riding Space Mountain this year - he is now 7 - and it's his favorite ride. It's pitch black and very jerky. I, personally, would not have taken him on it at 4 years old

 

[kmb584]

My daughter loved BTMRR when she was 4 (6 now and it's still her favorite)! It'll probably be another year or so though before I take her on Space. It's rough and jerky for me, can't imagine what it'll feel like to her.

 

[mshanson3121]

No to hijack, but how many people can sit together on BTMR? Will I be able to sit with my two children? I'm quite slim and my daughter (5) is tiny for her age and my son (8) is also on the smaller side? I don't think my son will be brave enough to sit alone.

 

[karly05]

I'm not 4, but I am kind of a coaster wimp and I like BTMRR - to me, the biggest thing that makes it "not scary" is the structure of the tracks on the "mountain" - you're not up in the air on some skinny piece of metal, you've got "ground" and scenery all around you. And You Tube is your friend! Watch some videos with your DD and she'll have an idea of what to expect.

 

[Barnabas T Bullion]

Agree with everyone. My almost 4yo rode it 18 times one trip. Just wanted to keep going on over and over.

 

[DisneyDoc5]

It depends on how adventurous she is, but all 3 of my kids loved it at 4 years old. We always bought them a corresponding pin for each time they rode a rollercoaster the first time as a little incentive to try it, with the understanding if they didn't like it of course they wouldn't have to go again, but that never happened except with ToT.

 

[mj512]

I think it is worth a shot if she's willing. The only thing that came to mind (simply because my daughter is sensitive to loud noises) is that towards the start while you are going up it is a little loud in the cave.

 

[thisismyusername]

No to hijack, but how many people can sit together on BTMR? Will I be able to sit with my two children? I'm quite slim and my daughter (5) is tiny for her age and my son (8) is also on the smaller side? I don't think my son will be brave enough to sit alone.

All three of you can likely sit in one seat. We have with our 12 year old son when asked by the CM if we wanted to be loaded that way (we are all normal sized people). Just keep in mind that since you'll be the biggest person, the lap bar will be loose on them, so they'll be sliding around in the seat around the turns.

 

[PixieJenna]

My DD loved it when she was 3 and loves it even more now that she is 4. We have not tried Space Mountain yet. I think it is worth a shot! I hold onto my daughter during the ride so they turns are not too sharp!

 

[sharonabe]

Yes, she's ok with dark rides in general but most have been pretty tame in terms of the actual movement on the ride. I appreciate the info, though. I think we'll give it a try.

Just one word of caution. If she doesn't like loud noises, when the coaster starts to go up, have her cover her ears. That track pulling the car up is VERY LOUD! I even cover my ears.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

My daughter was 3 when she rode Space Mtn and Big Thunder for the first time. She loved both rides.

 

[Flynnismine]

My DD Loved Loved Loved it at 4 and we road it back to back to back one morning. She's 6 now and that's the first thing she wants to ride on our first day in MK in Oct. She watches you tube videos of it and talks about how much fun it was.