Can my 4 year old ride Splash Mountain?

[brie182]

my daughter went on when she was 4. She had no safety problems. She didn't like the drop though and wouldn't go on again. She wasn't crying or anything she just said she didn't want to go again. She loved Thunder mountain though

 

[Tomh]

DS4 LOVED Splash Mountain last summer. Dad (that would be me), not so much, DW, and DD13 not at all. I guess that means that Dad gets the honor of going on with him again this summer.

No worry of the little ones falling out, it doesn't work that way. However, DW was so scared, she had a death grip on the hand rail, and managed to pull herself off the seat, down into the foot well on the way down the big drop.

 

[1001 Ghosts]

You shouldn't have any problems. As to getting wet, let's just say that there are no guarantees in life!

 

[hollierae]

My DS came with my husband and me in October when he was 5 and was 43 inches (he weighs about 45 pounds). We sat up front and he sat on the side and did fine. I did not even hold him on the drop. We both held on to the front and he leaned into me on the big drop.

 

[twokids0204]

My son is 4 1/2 and 35 lbs.

I am not worried about him at all, he is anxious and exicted to go on it.

My wife on the other hand is a nervous wreck, and having nightmares about the drop already, she doesn't do thrill rides well, should I let her on it?

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Here is my 2.5 year old (about 32 lbs. at the time) on the one in DL. As you can see he enjoyed it.

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

My 4 year old daughter weighs 37 pounds and is just at the 42 inches tall (with her tennis shoes on) so I know they will let her on the ride...she wants to ride it...I am just curious if it will be safe for her? Have any of you had your little ones on? I don't want her to 'fall out'!! She rode Goofy's Barnstormer in 2007 and LOVED IT!!

41 days till we head to Disney POR 2009

It should be safe for your 4-year old. As others have said, the 'physics' are not such that someone would fly out of the log(unless they're doing something completely stupid). If it was, then there would be lap bars, like on Expedition Everest or BTMRR. Even though I don't have a child, I have taken a bag on Splash & set it next to me. Even though I wasn't hanging on to it during the drops, it didn't fly out. If she gets scared that she will fly out, there is a handle in front of her that she can hold on to.

I have heard that the middle to the back of the log gets you the least wet. In 2007 the kids got me in the front of the log and I can assure you will get wet there!!...

There is also a little 'luck' involved as to whether you will get wet on Splash. At the beginning of the ride, there are some water jets that can soak you if you are at the right place when another log is coming down the drop. The entire log can get soaked, no one gets soaked, or the back rows get soaked. It all depends on where your log is when another log comes down the big drop.


Hope your daughter enjoys Splash Mountain! IMO, it is the best attraction in all of WDW & the experience is worth any waiting or getting wet.

 

[DisneySweetheart]

Your little one should be just fine. DH wanted our son to ride so bad he stuffed his shoes with napkins so that he would be tall enough. He was still in the "iffy" area and the CMs were not going to let him on. A group of people behind us started sayin' "awww, c'mon! Let 'em ride!" He rode it and loved it. We put him between us and held on. He did very well.

 

[klmorg]

She is getting so excited! I cannot even explain how awesome it will be this trip to have her be able to ride SM and BTMR with us.

Thanks again for all the great posts!

 

[U2_rocks!]

My DD was about the same size when she rode, and she did go airborne. Not to the point where she would have come right out, but enough that DH realized what was happening and garbbed her, and she did know that she flew out of her seat because that's all she would talk about afterwards (she enjoyed "flying"!). At that size I'd put an arm over her lap, just to make the drop more comfortable for her, in case she doesn't like going airbourne, or in case she lands a little hard back in her seat.

 

[1hero2princesses]

Splash Mountain was my DD3's favorite ride this last September. She calls it the bunny ride. The first time we rode I had my arm around her and one around DS5 but the 5th time we rode I just sat there! They were fine.

 

[Shelton123]

Here is my 2.5 year old (about 32 lbs. at the time) on the one in DL. As you can see he enjoyed it.

He looks scared to death, but so happy at the same time

 

[Hardy]

My daughter was 4 and about the same size when she rode, although more like 35 lbs....she rode in the front seat with me, and had her hands up for the big drop....she didn't go anywhere, but i was ready to grab her just in case! (she insisted i didn't hold on to her) I really think they put the height limits well into the safety zone, I know years ago my mother took me on a similar ride when I was 9 months old! of course they don't allow that anymore

 

[summermac]

Do it!! Splash and BTMR are pretty tame rollercoasters honestly. You could maybe try her out on Barnstormer (that's the name, right?) first and see how she does and then do Splash and BTMR. FUN!!!

 

[klmorg]

Oh we definetly will go for it now! After reading all these great posts!! She is all excited and so are we! She rode Barstormer in 2007 and also POTC which she also loved!
This is her with Cinderella in 2007
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I would have put the picture we have of her riding Barnstormer in here if I could figure out how to get a picture in here...lol

Thanks everyone!! LOVE all the stories!!

 

[summermac]

Wow, that is one TALL 2.5 year old. My son is 4.5 and just at 40 inches. LOL