"brave" 3 yr old & rides

[jacksonsmom]

My son is 3, almost 4 & is tall for his age. He is 42.5 inches so he meets the requirement on most rides.

He is a dare devil & tells me he wants to go on Splash Mountain (I have shown him pictures of it).
He also says he wants to go on the Dinosaur ride & ToT.
I have explained these rides to him (dark, scary, etc) and he said he still wants to go on them.

Do I let him try them? I am worried he might freak out when he is on the ride.

We have been to our local state fair & he is a dare devil, every ride he can go on, he does & has no problems.

He is mad that he won't be able to go on Space Mountain. He keeps telling me he will get taller by then & then go on Space Mountain! LOL

Should I let him try any ride he wants to go on, as long as he meets the requirements?? (I know NOT to let him on Alien Encounter though, even if he meets the requirements)

 

[beattyfamily]

my DD went on ToT at 4 1/2 and she was fine except for the ghosts so I'll bet your son will do even better...

She also goes on Splash but doesn't like to get wet so she always ducks and I look like I rode it alone when we go look at the photo they took!

She just did Space for the first time this past October at 6 years old and was a little scared at first but went on it 4 times and now loves it!

Her next goal is RnR...1/2 inch to go by November!

Sounds like he will be fine...

 

[MikeWazowski]

If he is tall enough to go on I don't see a major problem, especially if he wants to go. But, the only one you may not want to take him on is Dinosaur. You may know this already that it is extremely loud and dark. I've seen kids as old as 10 year's old crying after getting off this ride. I always wonder why WDW would have such a scary ride.

 

[AZKathy]

My DD2 was three when she did Splash Mountain for the first time and she loved it. The second time she did the ride, she put her hands up like big brother and sister on the drop! Do Splash Mountain first over the other two and judge his response from this.

If your DS is wanting to do Dinosaur or TOT, keep reminding him that is is very scarey. My DD1 was almost five when she insisted on doing Dinosaur and we kept telling her that it is scarey. She responded, "I know, Mom, they are anim-o-tronics!" I waited out with little sister and she came out white as a ghost. It really scared her (she is kind of a scardy-cat anyway). The good things is that you are able to sit right next to him on these rides to snuggle if things get to scarey for him.

 

[Rodrigo]

Originally posted by MikeWazowski
.. But, the only one you may not want to take him on is Dinosaur...

If you can go to Epcot before you go to AK, try to ride the Universe of Energy ride. They have moving dinosaurs that are not as agressive as in Dinosaur. If your kid can handle this, then go to Dinosaur.

 

[DrCool]

My 4 year old nephew was in Orlando earlier this year and he did every ride he was big enough for. He didn't quite make the height for Space Mountain but he would have been on it if he was tall enough. He rode Spiderman over at IOA 4 times with no problems.

I would say if he is tall enough let him go on whatever he wants. If he gets scared on a couple of the rides he will probably back off a bit but it sounds like he will be up for anything Disney has to offer.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Prepare him well for each ride and then let him decide and resect his wish. If he does not like something praise him for being brave and trying it(no i told you so) and encourage him to try something else. His height makes it safe for him and that is the big issue.


jordan's mom

 

[KathyFP]

I have a DD that is a daredevil. She rode everything that she is tall enough for. I say go with your gut. You know him well enough to know if he likes dark scary things or adventurous things.

Use your best mother's intuition.

 

[dmonroe]

Our ds was 3.5 last trip, and tall--close to 42 in. Anyway, he talked big before we went; but once we were there and he saw the rides, we had to talk him into a few of them.

With a little encouragement (not force!) he happily rode TT, SpM and BTMR. We did not even want him on TOT or Dinosaur. I felt like either one of those were just too much for him.

 

[antkim]

My "brave" 3 year old wanted to go on EVERYTHING before we got there.When we got there everything changed.One day he wouldn't even go on Dumbo!LOL He was over tired that day and was overwhelmed!He did however go on Splash and cried the whole time because he was anticipating the big drop.After we went down he said "Was that it?" and started singing Zippity doo da!!!Although to this day he says he will never go on it again!LOL He's only 4 now so hopefully by the time he is 7/8 he will be ready for it.He is VERY timid now about what rides he will go on so be sure yours "really" wants to!Although I think my DS is a little on the whimpy side!!!!LOL Someday he'll get over it!!!!!
Kim

 

[jacksonsmom]

Thanks for all the wonderful responses.

I am prepared once my son sees the rides he may change his mind and that is OK. My mom is coming with us & she does not like thrill rides so he can stay with her if he decides not too brave the rides.

I honestly don't think he will 'chicken' out. He watches the Sing A Long video "Disneyland Fun" and everytime he sees the big drop on Splash Mountain he gets excited & says he can't wait to go on that.
He is a daredevil. But I loved thrill rides when I was younger so I guess it is in the blood

The only thing I am questioning a lot is he does have a little fear of the dark. It isn't bad but the rides that are really dark (Like Dinosaur) I am worried he is going to freak.
I have told him it is very dark & he says "It's OK. I will just sit by you & hold your hand"

I suppose if he really wants to try the rides & if he meets the requirement I will let him try it out. Maybe he will like all of them, who knows.

I am also a little worried about ToT. He has been on drop type rides before & really enjoys them but they have mainly been 'kid' rides, still drops but not as much of a drop as ToT!

I can see when my child gets older he will be one of these Roller Coaster nuts! LOL!

 

[pigby]

My DD's first trip was at 6 - she stood crying at the entrance of RNRC - only because she didnt quite meet the height requirement. The following year she tried it and now it's her favorite ride. This was the only thing she didn't try at 6-except Alien Encounter - I hate that myself. She only went on Dinosaur the once and wouldn't try it again - can't see her going on this again in fact - that's the trouble with kids riding too young - can put them off for the future.

I say with a young child - start off with Splash and work up to more scary rides gradually - doesn't always work - my DD loved Tot, Space and Splash yet was scared on Haunted Mansion. (OK now )

 

[sha_lyn]

DD was 4 1/2 and loved TOT, dinosaur, kali river rapids and SplM. She was looking forward to BTMRR, but we didn't make it over to it until lat on our 7th day. She was worn out and wouldn't even look at it. Now of course she blames me and when watching her DL singalong, will say that I woudln't let her ride it.

 

[erinch]

I would try Splash Mountain first, as the "non thematically scary" ride; if he takes that in stride then work up to the others.

My DD rode them all at barely age 5 (a 48" tall daredevil!).
She, however, had her doubts about dinosaur because it is extremely jerky and she banged her knee.