DD (12) doesn't want to ride

[wilma-bride]

My youngest DD is quite nervous of fast/high rides so I know there is absolutely no way she will get on RNRC/TofT/SM and a few others. I know that WDW parks do baby swap but is there anywhere she will be able to wait (and be safe) while we ride. Or will me and DH have to take it in turns?

 

[zurgswife]

Depends on what you consider a safe spot....

My kids have indepedantly waited outside a variety of rides from about 11 on...ToT there is the shop or the benches outside. RnR there is the shop or the corral area...So there are spots but I"m sure not all people as confortable with them as I am..

 

[twoeeyy]

what we have done with our daughter who will be 13 in oct, is when we get up to the ride and it is our turn to get on we tell the cm that she does not want to ride, they usually have her 'cross thru' the ride and they have let her wait at the exit for us. that way she is still techincally inside the ride area , not outside unattended.

We have done this at WDW and last year at Universal with no problems.

 

[snowmouse]

We do it the same way as twoeeyy. That way at least our rider gets to 'experience' at least part of the attraction. My husband finds our non rider (now nearly 15) exasperrating and is always trying to change his mind. I start before we even leave for Florida whispering my mantra "his riding or not does not change YOUR enjoyment in any way" over and over. He is finally getting the message.

 

[wilma-bride]

Thanks for the hints. I must admit, I would rather she stayed with us as long as possible. That way, if she DOES change her mind about riding, then she is already there and, also, she is quite timid and I feel she may be slightly apprehensive about waiting outside the ride or wandering around on her own (not to mention the fact that I may be apprehensive about that as well).

I think I will go with the option of getting her to queue with us and see how she feels when we get to the ride.

 

[hapandpam]

I have been in a similar situation. DD 15 is afraid of most thrill rides. However, she really wants to try them, and once she does, she usually loves them (SplM, BTM, SpaceM, TT, MS, and Mummy at Universal). She has been to the front of RR 2 times, and then exited at the last minute. This year, I (being a bigger chicken than she is) went on it first with DD 13. I knew after riding it that the 15 year old would love it, so pursuaded her to at least go through the line. When we got to the front, she was ready to back out. I told her that was ok, but reassured her that she would be safe and could keep her eyes closed. She decided to get on. As they put the shoulder harness on tears started welling up in her eyes. She was terrified, but it was too late to back out. She kept her eyes closed through most, but got over her fear and went back to ride it again with her eyes open. It is now a favorite, but did I ever feel terrible sitting there seeing the fear in her eyes before we took off. I would let her go through the line with you, and then wait at the exit like the other posters suggested. That way you are only separated for a few minutes.

 

[seashoreCM]

I was at WDW close to the times Test Track (Epcot), Rock'nRoller Coaster (MGM), and Tower of Terror (MGM) opened and I chickened out of these rides for a few years each before giving each a try. I have ridden them many times since.

On the other hand, there have been recently publicized accounts of children dying on Disney's rides (previously unknown pre-existing medical conditions blamed so far), so you must never force your child to ride.

If you can trust your child to go into a rest room alone, he can wait outside a ride alone also if he does not want to go into the ride preshow area.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[wilma-bride]

seashore, I would never dream of forcing my daughter to ride if she didn't want to (either of them).

The thing is, neither of them have ever been on holiday before, let alone to America and I know she will be concerned at the thought of hanging around outside the ride, especially if the wait times are long.

 

[twinklebug]

seashore, I would never dream of forcing my daughter to ride if she didn't want to (either of them).

The thing is, neither of them have ever been on holiday before, let alone to America and I know she will be concerned at the thought of hanging around outside the ride, especially if the wait times are long.

Try to utilize FastPasses on those rides your DD won't be going on with you so the wait time is shorter for her (and less anxiety for you!). I like the idea of her waiting inside the return area, I may have my DD (11) do that as well.

If you can trust your child to go into a rest room alone, he can wait outside a ride alone also if he does not want to go into the ride preshow area.

Not to get off topic, I think it pertains, but the sad problem is these days is not that you can't trust your child to go into the bathroom alone, but can you trust OTHERS when your child goes in alone? Just around the quiet suburbs of Boston, where very little goes on I've heard many horror tales of strangers in restrooms. Leaving a child, even a 12 yo, unattended in a public place required a lot of trust on the parents part and education on the child's.