DD Doesn't Want to go on Rides

[miprender]

We have the opposite problem DS3 won't go on any rides and DD5 can't wait to go to Disney. She keeps measuring her height to see if she can ride the RRC.

But we won't push DS3 to ride, we will let him go at his own pace and I know my brother was the same way until he was a teenager, he was afraid of everything. But he outgrew it.

I wouldn't let it get to you. You are in Disney and just being there is half the fun

 

[Rylee]

Try not using the word "rides."

For the rides/attractions you think she could handle, perhaps if you say...
"Let's go see Pooh." (Pooh Ride)
"Ooh, let's play a game... I bet you can beat me." (Buzz attraction)
"In here is where all the pretty dolls are," (Small World) etc.,
maybe she'll be more willing to experience some of the attractions.

 

[jenseib]

Try not using the word "rides."

For the rides/attractions you think she could handle, perhaps if you say...
"Let's go see Pooh." (Pooh Ride)
"Ooh, let's play a game... I bet you can beat me." (Buzz attraction)
"In here is where all the pretty dolls are," (Small World) etc.,
maybe she'll be more willing to experience some of the attractions.

Great advice!

 

[momof2cutegirls]

My youngest daughter is five as well, and I have a tough time selling her on the rides. She loves It's a Small Wolrd and some of the other basics, but I can't get her to think about Peter Pan. She likes to scope out the rides before getting on, and at WDW, many are inside and she isn't able to see them before committing. She has always been cautious and observant.

When she was six months old, she went on The Haunted Mansion and I always tell her that, but she has no interest now. When she was three, she went on the Goofy rollercoaster, but wouldn't the next year. I tell her she has gone on these before, but she doesn't remember and doesn't think she has.

I have shown her youtube videos of rides to get her to loosen up. Last year she stood in line for Soarin, but changed her mind once we were ready to get seated. So this year I suggested that she just choose one new ride to go one. She says it will be Soarin, so we'll see.

So you are not alone! It's easy to get frustrated and upset, but then I remind myself and my husband, that it's no big deal! If she wants to ride It's a Small World all day...that's my fav so that's fine with me!

 

[lunapnp]

But to the OP, I feel your "pain". DD puts a spin on the term "vacation".

I understand your pain all too well! My oldest DD, 12, has a fear of the dark. It, at one point, was a phobia! She is much better (thanks to some great medication!), but still gets a little nervous with completely dark situations, etc. We've had some very "memorable" experiences at DW due to her previous phobia! Some I laugh at...some give me chills! Anyway...it is much better.

However, a friend of mine has a motto that I have adopted, too! In regards to vacations: "When you go WITH your kids...it's a CHANGE OF LOCATION! WITHOUT your kids...a VACATION!"

 

[momof2cutegirls]

I understand your pain all too well! My oldest DD, 12, has a fear of the dark. It, at one point, was a phobia! She is much better (thanks to some great medication!), but still gets a little nervous with completely dark situations, etc. We've had some very "memorable" experiences at DW due to her previous phobia! Some I laugh at...some give me chills! Anyway...it is much better.

However, a friend of mine has a motto that I have adopted, too! In regards to vacations: "When you go WITH your kids...it's a CHANGE OF LOCATION! WITHOUT your kids...a VACATION!"

Love, love, love your motto! I couldn't agree with you more!

 

[lunapnp]

Before someone gets offended with my motto...I love my kids and love spending time with my kids! However, my life is not centered around my kids. I am a better parent when I take some time away from my girls! DH and I usually try and take a VACATION at least once a year! Our DDs are usually not thrilled with it...but they get over it! We all need some time away!

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

hey, i forced my DD cuz i know she'll love it. even Everest..lol. She's fine. Hey, we spend tons of money at Disney, and she is SO over dramatic.

 

[dweitzel0]

I've got a nervous 6 year old and I can't count the number of times I've waited for an hour for a ride only to have her freak out and have to get out of line and wait for mom and the little sister to ride.

 

[asktriplets]

if kids are worried about rides,i would be cautious of is telling them that, "it'll be fine", or "you'll have a great time, i promise", or "there is nothing scary about the ride", etc...

my 3 went through random phases of being scared of certain things. 3 things that seemed to help the anxiety:

1) ear muffs to lessen the constant, incredibly loud noise on some rides (ear plugs would work for a 5 y.o., i would think)

2) small glow stick to hold and look at if they start to feel uncomfortable in the dark

3) and this one was key, i think...tell them what the ride entails...there are SO many attractions that are loud, have things jump out at you, have water splashing at you, have the seats move unexpectedly. i can understand why little ones are apprehensive about what is to come:

Pooh ride: tigger jumping up and dropping down, the honey pot starting to bounce, the sudden thunder and lightening in the storm scene

Buzz: lights, loud, the seats spinnning unexpectedly (my kids hated that part near the end where the seats spin around and we were in that long, blackened tunnel with the crazy bright light at the end!)

THe Little Mermaid show: water splashing on your face

J. into Imagination ride: VERY loud , sudden sound (and bright light?)

etc, etc, etc

Teacups, Carousel, and Small World are great starter rides because they aren't crazy loud and there is NOTHING surprising.

If kids are apprehensive and you don't remember the details of the ride, you can always ride it first, then you can promise them that you'll tell them what is coming next (we always whisper our way through Maelstrom and pirates with 2 of our 3, just so they know what is coming!)

Hope you have a great time,

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I have this dilemma and had it last trip. DS was afraid of most of the rides. But after riding them he was ecstatic!!! LOVED them! It's just getting him over the initial fear.

For this next trip I am bribing him. Yup good old fashion bribery. I'm going to tell him that he can dessert and a snack anytime he wants if he just TRIES the rides. Little does he know is that we are in the DDP.

But like I said my son LOVED every ride he went on. He was so happy and told us they were awesome!

 

[Rylee]

I also tell my kids...

Ya know how your favorite ride seems very short, it's never long enough... well, none of the rides are very long. If you don't like something, close your eyes and hang on, it will be over in a minute!

 

[eyckmans]

When my daughter was 7 I bribed her onto ToT and Splash Mountain by telling her I would buy her the ride T.shirt if she went on. After she did them she dared to go on everything.

 

[lisaradz]

if kids are worried about rides,i would be cautious of is telling them that, "it'll be fine", or "you'll have a great time, i promise", or "there is nothing scary about the ride", etc...

my 3 went through random phases of being scared of certain things. 3 things that seemed to help the anxiety:

1) ear muffs to lessen the constant, incredibly loud noise on some rides (ear plugs would work for a 5 y.o., i would think)

2) small glow stick to hold and look at if they start to feel uncomfortable in the dark

3) and this one was key, i think...tell them what the ride entails...there are SO many attractions that are loud, have things jump out at you, have water splashing at you, have the seats move unexpectedly. i can understand why little ones are apprehensive about what is to come:

Pooh ride: tigger jumping up and dropping down, the honey pot starting to bounce, the sudden thunder and lightening in the storm scene

Buzz: lights, loud, the seats spinnning unexpectedly (my kids hated that part near the end where the seats spin around and we were in that long, blackened tunnel with the crazy bright light at the end!)

THe Little Mermaid show: water splashing on your face

J. into Imagination ride: VERY loud , sudden sound (and bright light?)

etc, etc, etc

Teacups, Carousel, and Small World are great starter rides because they aren't crazy loud and there is NOTHING surprising.

If kids are apprehensive and you don't remember the details of the ride, you can always ride it first, then you can promise them that you'll tell them what is coming next (we always whisper our way through Maelstrom and pirates with 2 of our 3, just so they know what is coming!)

Hope you have a great time,

Fabulous suggestions! I just wanted to add we also talked to DS about the fact that at any time he could close his eyes and just feel the movement. DS is very sensitive to sound so the ear plugs worked like a charm too.

We also told him in advance what the ride would be like and then gave him a job. On POTC he had to count the animals, on Alice look for the cat, etc. Once he had something to look for it changed his focus.

 

[lunapnp]

I've got a nervous 6 year old and I can't count the number of times I've waited for an hour for a ride only to have her freak out and have to get out of line and wait for mom and the little sister to ride.

Been there...done that! I'm sure there is a picture of our family posted at Splash Mountain that they will never let us on that ride again due to DD's moment of freak out when we got to the boat!

 

[mitchwebb]

I think 5 must be the age. All my DD hit that age and rides they use to go on they were not sure of. There imaginations get the best of them sometimes. I would not start with Peter Pan but start with Small world for a inside ride. A lot of time it is the dark as much as the ride. If that goes alright try Pooh not as dark inside as peter pan. Our other trick was Disney Dollars, yes we bribed. My oldest was the queen of shopping and loved her own dollars. We would give one or two Disney Dollars depending on the ride. After about the fourth ride she would just run up to a ride and ask for her dollar before she even got on

 

[Maridw]

My DD went on Alien Encounter and was scared. My sister & I had to cover her ears and eyes to get her through it. She would never do it again. There were alot of rides we were able to get her on but it took some coaxing. Still some of the bigger, faster rides she would not do, like a Universal. Since she was older, we didn't push her. When she went to Universal for her Grad night, she went on everything and is now a roller coaster junkie. She loves them all.

When she was little she wouldn't go on BTM, but as she got older and there was less sliding room, she started to go on it. She had a bad experience on a carnival ride where she was squished by the others in the car with her. We had to get the operator to stop the ride because she was in tears. We went to Busch Gardens and finally was able to try a big coaster. It was the wooden coaster and she loved it. That was one step toward her trying some of the other rides.

She still won't go on Dinosaur or Indiana Jones (DL). She doesn't like really dark or loud rides and she is 21.

 

[pddmom]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Just wondering if anyone can share experiences with children "freaking out" on the rides. My DD5 isn't always the calmest kid if she's feeling scared. I think she would get on Soarin', just not sure what the reaction will be once it starts.

Also, wondering if the CM's mind if she's wearing headphones (for noise) and has a small (really small) flashlight, just to feel safe.

 

[jenseib]

My DD went on Alien Encounter and was scared. My sister & I had to cover her ears and eyes to get her through it. She would never do it again. There were alot of rides we were able to get her on but it took some coaxing. Still some of the bigger, faster rides she would not do, like a Universal. Since she was older, we didn't push her. When she went to Universal for her Grad night, she went on everything and is now a roller coaster junkie. She loves them all.

When she was little she wouldn't go on BTM, but as she got older and there was less sliding room, she started to go on it. She had a bad experience on a carnival ride where she was squished by the others in the car with her. We had to get the operator to stop the ride because she was in tears. We went to Busch Gardens and finally was able to try a big coaster. It was the wooden coaster and she loved it. That was one step toward her trying some of the other rides.

She still won't go on Dinosaur or Indiana Jones (DL). She doesn't like really dark or loud rides and she is 21.

Holy Cow! how old was she when you took her on it? I was an adult when I rode it and I was scared out of my wits! LOL! I swear that is the scariest thing I've ever been on. Mt friends 18 year old brother was with us and he was screaming like a little girl!
It is nowthe stitch thing and supposedly tamed dwon, but I heard it's awful, so I won't take DD on it.

 

[scbeachgirl]

Look on the bright side, if your child refuses to ride something now, it will be a NEW ride on the next trip. The first trip my son made it to the door of the Haunted Mansion and then we had to ditch. The second trip, he made it in the door but freaked when the lights went out (we were shown the quick way out), it took another two trips before he would ride the ride and then his eyes were shut the whole time. We went through the same thing with PotC. He laughs about it now, but DH and I spent a lot of time waiting for the other one to ride while sitting with the kids outside. Go with the flow, push if you feel they can handle it, but go ahead and ride yourself, even if you are doing the baby swap with a 6 year old.