Child that used to like a ride, now doesn't

[jacksonsmom]

This will be my son's (age 4.5 years) third WDW trip in one year (got to get the use out of those APs! LOL)
Anyway, he has been on the Dinosaur ride 4x & never had a problem on it, never cried, always said he likes it & wanted to go back.....

The other day we were talking about what rides to go on & he said to me "I don't want to go on the Dinosaur ride" I asked him why, that he has been on it before & he liked it.
He said "I know, but now I don't because it is too dark & I don't like when the dinosaurs pop out"
I reminded him that the dinosaurs are just robots & not real. He said he knew that but still didn't want to ride it.

I am OK with it, as it can just a little too jerky for me! LOL

I am just wondering if anyone else ever had a child that used to love a ride & then all of a sudden didn't like it???
I just thought it was really weird.
He is starting to get into some fears he never had before, like the dark.
Which I think he somewhat normal for his age.

But the kicker is he said he can not wait to ride the Haunted Manison again, that really is one of his favorite rides!!! Go figure
He also like the 3D shows, the only thing is he does cover his eyes in HISTA during the "Snake" part, otherwise he doesn't have a problem with any of the 3D shows.
I guess something about the Dinosaur ride he really doesn't like. Guess you think you have your child figured out & then you never know

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

That would be my !!

At 3 he LOVED the HM and POTC, I think we rode HM about 15 times and he kept running to get back in line for POTC.

At 5 we took him on his first trip to Disneyland Paris and we couldn't get him on either ride if we tried! He'd cry and dig in his feet, said they were too scary It wasn't any better on our last trip to DLP and he was just about 7!

I won't pretend to understand it - he's not a big fan of the dark, we know that much. But he hasn't been able to get the whole it's not real thing very well. His sister on the other hand wasn't quiet 2 and was digging everything!

We'll see how he does at WDW!

Good luck!! Let me know if you figure it out since it's driving me !

 

[NotUrsula]

This is REALLY common and happens to nearly all children who visit parks at regular but fairly wide-spaced intervals.

It has to do with their ability to perceive danger. When they are really little, they don't usually understand cause and effect, and they essentially don't know enough to be frightened. As they get older they learn more about being careful and become aware of the concept of danger, so they become more fearful. Eventually, most kids become braver again as they get old enough to reason out the real probability of something bad happening. (See, honey, all those people are coming out of HM, and they are laughing; don't you think they would look more scared if the ghosts really hurt people?)

 

[DeeCeeSW]

My 3 y.o. DS loved going on Dumbo & Aladdin's Carpet up until our last two trips (we have been to WDW 5 times in the last 3 years). He now refuses to go on ANY ride that lifts him in the air. I think this stems directly from his experience at Universal on the One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Fish ride. He was not expecting to be hit with water as the fish went around and he definitely did NOT like it. We try reassuring him that there will be no water, but he wants no part of it. He still goes into the Haunted Mansion, but I wouldn't be surprised if that changes soon!

 

[jacksonsmom]

Oh I am so glad my child isn't the only one!

You hit the nail on the head NotUrsula!! I could not remember what I heard some kids at this age go through but you explained it very well!!!

I guess this trip we will leave Dinosaur & Splash Mountain (another ride he says he doesn't want to go on because of the big drop) to others.

But he says he wants to go on Test Track, Haunted Manison & Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, so those will be our "thrill" rides for this trip

It is just so weird how some rides he is OK on & others he isn't. He loves Haunted Manison & he loves Big Thunder, even with the drops, but doesn't want to go on Splash Mountain again!

Of course Splash Mountain's drop is bigger then Big Thunder's

Thanks everyone, at least I am not alone!

 

[NotUrsula]

Ahem, the Magic Carpets of Aladdin *does* have water; the camels randomly spit at you. You might want to rethink that no water promise.

OFTF at IOA actually lets you easily avoid the water; all you have to do is listen carefully to the song. If you follow where the lyrics tell you to be as it goes along, you avoid the water jets.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I am so glad you told me that NotUrsula, I had no idea. My DH took my DS on it only once, in 2002. There was no mention of water by either. I guess I'll attempt to get him on Dumbo again, or not. There are plenty of other rides for him to enjoy. As far as OFTFBF goes, my DS will not get on it again, but it's good to know that the jets can be avoided. Guess I don't know as much about the rides as others do.

 

[ThwTwinsMom]

I totally agree with you NotUrsula. At around 4, they seem to start understanding danger more. As I recall, this is also the age when they really start having to deal with nightmares too. They are just becoming aware of the world and how scary it can be.

 

[zurgswife]

Splash Mountain has been a big one for us....after 2 trips of refusing after 2 trips of riding DD6 has finally gotten back on to riding it...there are a few others...we just let her choose and figure she will change her mind at some point....

 

[Kuffam]

I don't get it either. Last time we went by DD (18 mos.) loved the characters and had no trouble with them up until the time we came back (she's now 3.5 yrs). The first and last day she was fine, but throughout the middle she didn't want to go near them???