Coasters with 5 year old

[jcw2]

We are going in Nov with my 5 yr old twins. The more "adventurous" one wants to ride the coasters. She's only 40 in so the bigger ones are out anyway, but she could do SM, Matterhorn and BTMR and of course the gadget coaster. For those who have ridden them, what is the safest order to do these in? We'll start with the gadget, but what's the next least scary?
THanks
J

 

[DangerMouse]

I'd rank them in this order:

Gadget
Matterhorn (warn her about Harold the friendly Yeti -- he's just growling "hello")
BTMRR
Space

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

I might be concerned about the Yeti. You can show her the ride on Youtube and see what she thinks about him. You can also show her BTMRR.

Other than that I agree with DangerMouse

 

[WannaseePooh]

We took my guys to Disney for the first time when my youngest was 5. We started with Gadgets coaster, which he loved. we went to BTMR next, once again a big hit. I hate coasters, but I found big thunder fun . He is really tall, so he went on all the coasters. To this day if you ask him what his favorite ride is at Disneyland, he will tell you California Screaming. So just work your way up and see what happens.

 

[ballarinamom]

We took DD on Matterhorn on our first trip to DL. She was soooo terrified of the Yeti. Even today, 5 years later- she loves Space Mountain and even Everest at WDW- she HATES the Matterhorn. She has only ridden it one other time (last year) and she did not like it.
So word to the wise, fill you little one in on the Yeti and put them at ease WAYYYYYY before you go on it

 

[kylieh]

DD had just turned 6 last year. She was fine with all of them except Space Mountain, just too much. I told her she was a little too short for Screamin - she wasn't but DD believed me... She was pretty sure about going on that but after her Space Mountain fear I didn't want to make it worse for her.

When we go back next year she can't wait for Screamin.

But I fully agree with the order given, and You Tube is great for ride previews, even for some of the dark rides.

 

[rangermom]

My DD has been riding rides at DL and WDW since she was 3 yr old. She is very tall and ahs been 40 inches since she was 3 1/2. She loves them and can't wait to ride Screamin and the Rock n Roller Coaster at WDW. That is all she talks about. It depends on the child. Let her decide and set the pace.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I might be concerned about the Yeti. You can show her the ride on Youtube and see what she thinks about him. You can also show her BTMRR.

Other than that I agree with DangerMouse

This definitely helps alleviate the fear!

 

[jcw2]

Thanks for all of the posts and for the order to take it. I really like the youtube idea to let her see how the yeti looks and understand it's not real...it would be a shame for her to love the coaster but not the "props". Luckily she's too short (only 40 inches and turns 5 next week) for Screamin so we have a few years to think about that one!

 

[jory29]

I fully agree with DangerMouse, and DorkyDisneyMom has the right idea about youtube vids. on the rides, make sure to type in your search 'ridethrough' as it will give them the same perspective.

If they LOVE the coasters and so happen to be tall enough for california screamin' after they've tried the other coasters, that will be fun for them too.

I actually find CS to be less intense than BTMR! I do always try to turn into the banked turns, etc. and find on CS it is easier to do so, plus, with the music, and having watched the ride on youtube, and having ridden it a few times I have come to know what to expect.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

The smoothness of the rides matter to the kids a lot. My girls rode the Matterhorn at 3 and 5, it was ok. When they were 4 and 6 and tried BTMRR they were hooked. It is smoother and longer, they love that. You can't beat the FP after they are hooked and want to ride it again and again.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thanks for all of the posts and for the order to take it. I really like the youtube idea to let her see how the yeti looks and understand it's not real...it would be a shame for her to love the coaster but not the "props". Luckily she's too short (only 40 inches and turns 5 next week) for Screamin so we have a few years to think about that one!

My mom told my kids he was the "bumble" from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!! He was just grouchy because he has a toothache!!!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

My DD's (now 6) favorite ride is Splash Mtn. ~ she also enjoys Thunder & Space Mtn(s) & Matterhorn. She's still not tall enough for Screamin' ~ she isn't even tall enough for Indy (but rode Dinosaur earlier this month???)

 

[marcemc]

What about Star Tours? It's not a roller coaster but it's a thrill ride and your daughter is able to ride since she is already 40 inches.

My 3 year old loved it. He says he feels like such a big boy going out to space.