Can/Should a 6 year old ride Expedition Everest?

[mom2willnash]

My 6 year old son has never really been on a roller coaster. He begs to go on one daily. He was 3yr on our last Disney trip so doesn't remember Disney at all. We went to Busch Gardens last year and he loved the Log Ride and Escape from Pompeii (another water ride with a steep drop). I have never been on EE. Is it completely out of the question for a 6 yr old? Should we try Space Mountain first and if he loves that try EE?

 

[CleveRocks]

My 6 year old just did Expedition Everest 3 months ago. The Yeti scared him (but not horribly so) more than the ride itself did. He loved the ride. He also loved Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, etc.

 

[Juliegirl1]

My son loved EE and Space Mountain but he has ridden roller coasters before. I would start with Barnstormer - if he likes that then move to Space Mountain and then go to EE. There are a few scary parts in EE and you might want to warn him so you aren't stuck with a meltdown on the ride. Go to You-Tube and see if you can find a video of EE first to see if you think he can handle it.

 

[Nasus]

My six year old son rode Space Mtn and Big Thunder Mtn when he was four. He rode EE last year at five. He is tall for his age and a bit of a dare devil. Let him try Goofy's BS, then Space and Big Thunder first as earlier suggested. If he is excited about riding EE and tall enough, he should be fine.
Susan

 

[iradi8]

Last Oct. when my dd was 4y.o. and my ds was 6y.o. we rode EE for the first time. They both wanted to do it again so we did. We did it a couple of more times before the end of our trip. They love it!!!

 

[MelanieRI]

My DD was 7 when she rode it last year. She liked it and can't wait to ride it again this year. However, we watched a lot of the promotional videos of it and it was totally up to her whether or not she did it. It wasn't "jerky" which she feels Thunder Mountain is like and thus doesn't like that ride. But every kid is different. This girl rode Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror at 5, but refused to ride Haunted Mansion until she was 7. We watch the Disney videos w/ the rides and she picks what she wants to do. I just let her know what she's tall enough to do.

 

[hvivona]

My now 6yo rode space mtn & thunder mtn last year when she was 5 and had a blast!! This year she is finally tall enough to ride EE and we are super excited! Now, my 8 yo will not go near a roller coaster! You have to go by how your child feels. If he is excited, go for it. But if he's a little scared, don't push.

 

[lillygator]

My 4 year old is dying to ride...she can handle Thunder and Splash but I am not so sure she is ready for the big drop. Not sure how it really compares to Splash. She is plenty tall enough and this next trip I am pretty sure she'll go on it.

 

[KimKamMom]

My DD rode Tower of Terror at 3
Space Mountain at 4
Expediton Everest at 5
She loved them all.

 

[MALE*RN*777]

My 7 year old loved it so much he rode it twice. I was really happy at all the rides he got on that I thought he wouldn't go anywhere near.

 

[Pixie Dust Luver]

My 7 year old loved it so much he rode it twice. I was really happy at all the rides he got on that I thought he wouldn't go anywhere near.

My grandson went on it at the age of 6. He loved it as well as ThunderMountain, and Tower of Terror. and Splash Mountain.

 

[fitzperry]

FWIW, my 7yo adores BTMRR, Splash and Space Mountain, but EE scared the heck out of her. It is definitely more intense.

 

[bear22]

My 6 yr old rode all the coasters twice and loved them. I was a bit nervous at first but I got over it.

 

[NZMUM]

My just turned 7yo rode it and then wanted to keep going back again and again. He hadn't been on a roller coaster before. He also went on the Tower of Terror but covered his ears and hid his face for the "scary" story. Loved the ride though.

 

[alicenwonder99]

My ds6 rode EE last September (he just turned 6 right before that trip). The only other big rides he had ridden prior was Splash and the Goofy Barnstormer.

I thought for sure it was going to be too scary for him, but he loved it!

On our next trip to DL this summer, ds is planning on riding BTMRR, Matterhorn, Space Mt., and hopefully I can get him on the Indiana Jones ride (my favorite).

HTH

 

[Minnie824]

My DD was 5 last Nov and went on it twice. She loved it! She definitely likes the thrill rides. I would say go for it, as long as the height requirement is met.

 

[PlutosFriend]

My dd turned 6 last April, and she road EE in May. She did fine and loved it. My dh and I each sit next to one of our kids on the scarier thrill rides. If need be, we put our arms behind their head for support or to hold on to them a bit

 

[billcsho]

My daughter is 6y4m but is still an inch short of the 44" requirement. She really wants to take this ride. I guess I'll get her a high heel sandal to see if the CM allows her to be on that ride.

 

[TinkerTracy]

Yeah I'd start him out on space mountain or something of that nature. If he loves it, go right ahead! As long as he meets the height requirements he should be fine. It's an absolutely amazing ride.
Good luck!

 

[mom2willnash]

Thanks for all your responses! He really excited about going on a rollercoaster but doesn't truly know what to expect. Visually scary things don't bother him..he's always loved the scarier kids movies and will watch them over and over. And he went on the log ride type rides at Busch Gardens over and over again and the big drop didn't bother him a bit (last year when he was 5). He's definitely tall enough but I was nervous about taking him. I will take your advice and hit the MK on the first day and have him try out Space Mountain to see how he likes it before hitting the AK.

Thanks again for all your responses!!