DD is now over 40"...help please?

[tmarquez]

DD(4) has been waiting "forever" (forever in a 4yo's mind = about a year) to be 40" so she can ride the big rides. We live in FL and make quite a few day trips...she has been measuring herself religously for about 6 months now. For some reason, she's all about Splash Mountain.

Well...this morning she measured at 40" in socks. I'm afraid she has met the height requirement.

The problem? The fastest/scariest thing she's ever been on is Goofy's Barnstormer...and it terrifies her. She screams in horror the whole way. It's not pleasant...for her...me...or the other poor people within screaming distance. She doesn't cry...just screams.

That big drop on Splash Mountain is going to give her a heart attack (or she may give me one). How can I talk her out of it? Prepare her for it? What would you do?

We've watched the drop from the outside. I've told her it's really fast and scary...she still wants to go.

Any advice?

 

[Makdyn]

I say just let her try it once. You will be sitting with her so you can hold on to her if she would like you to. I told my dd 6 to hold on tight close her eyes and duck down the first time. She did and then went on three more times right after and on the last time she was putting her arms up like the rest of the people.

 

[all4fun]

My 3-1/2yr old loves SM and has ridden it 3-4 times now. If she wants to go why not let her? The drop is very quick. I think the anticipation of it is worse than the actual event. If she does it once and hates it she doesn't have to go again. I would just make sure she knows once she's on the ride, she can't get out until it's over, no matter how frightened she is.

 

[BostonRob]

My kids are still under 40 inches, so I don't have any first hand experience with kids, but here's what I think anyway. Splash Mountain is a great place for her to start. It is totally pleasant, except for the big drop at the end. And that it over in a second. So its not like she'll be stuck on some ride that's traumatizing her - if she doesn't like the big drop, she can get off right after it. I say start there and see how it goes. If she doesn't think its so bad, then try something tougher. What would be a good second step?

 

[kldmom2000]

My DD hit the 40" mark just before her Bday trip in September (she turned 4). The day of her 4th bday she said the first ride she wanted to do was Thunder Mtn..... so she did it and LOVED it-consequently rode it 12 times in 5 days! She wanted to do Splash Mtn. but it seemed as though every time we got in line, the "toopid ride was shut down again for malfunctions.... we promised her next time.... Good luck and hope she enjoys it!

 

[KJF]

DD(4) has been waiting "forever" (forever in a 4yo's mind = about a year) to be 40" so she can ride the big rides. We live in FL and make quite a few day trips...she has been measuring herself religously for about 6 months now. For some reason, she's all about Splash Mountain.

Well...this morning she measured at 40" in socks. I'm afraid she has met the height requirement.

The problem? The fastest/scariest thing she's ever been on is Goofy's Barnstormer...and it terrifies her. She screams in horror the whole way. It's not pleasant...for her...me...or the other poor people within screaming distance. She doesn't cry...just screams.

That big drop on Splash Mountain is going to give her a heart attack (or she may give me one). How can I talk her out of it? Prepare her for it? What would you do?

We've watched the drop from the outside. I've told her it's really fast and scary...she still wants to go.

Any advice?

Sorry, not much to add, but your message made me lol!! My dd did the same thing - had been dying to go on SM, that's all I heard about! When she turned 4 & went for her check-up, she was thrilled she could finally go on it w/ me. She did love it - had to go 2x's in a row. Wasn't as fond of BTMR, but does want to do it again.

 

[susykt4]

DD was 4 the first (and only) time she's been on Splash Mtn. She enjoyed the ride except for the big drop. She stated that she would not go on it again until she was 6. She's now 6 and can't wait to try it again our trip in February.

The drop scared her and she didn't want to do it again right away, but it didn't ruin her for the day or give her nightmares or anything. If your daughter is okay once she gets off Goofy's coaster, she'll probably be fine once she's off Splash even if she hates the drop.

 

[Merriwind]

DD8 first rode Splash just shy of three, when she hit 40". It wasn't the big drop that she didn't like, as much as the much smaller dark drop inside the mountain. She really did fine, didn't love it. She didn't go back on Splash that trip, but did at 3.5 and has every trip since. She has LOVED it for years.

FWIW, I think Goofy's roller coaster is a much more intense ride than Splash, even more than the drop. I think the big drop looks worse from the outside.

Good luck. Why not let her try it--she might love it! Enjoy!

 

[bartleby1]

My DD was 3-1/2 and my DS was just over 3 for their first rides on splash mtn. Both of them were fine with it and didn't realize the big drop was the big drop! They both got off the ride wondering why we didn't do the big drop that they saw outside, lol! I think because they were so short, they didn't actually see the drop, only the person's head in front of them.

HTH!

 

[fofinia]

I did not want my DD 4 to go on Splash. But I had no choice I was overruled by my DH and my Dsis. They insisted that she would love it and be fine. And the real kicker was my Dniece was ready to go. She is older than my DD and shorter and she had been eagerly anticipating going on. So DD went and liked the whole ride. Except for the drop. She didn't freak out as much as her face was kind of scary -shocked. But she went back on the same trip and now the problem is her and everyone else wants them to move on to the other rides. I'm not ready. She is only 4. Well she'll be 5 in February. But I don't want her to grow up. So in our family it's me. But I get overrruled.

Good luck!!!

 

[tmarquez]

Thank you everyone!

I will let her go. Probably this coming Wednesday will be the day.

I always tell DH that once she goes on it, she won't want to go again until she's 16. DH and I hadn't been on Splash in over 4 years and went on it in preparation for letting her go soon. DH thinks she will fall out. He's not much of a thrill ride kinda person. For example, on our first ever photo from Splash...only I'm in it...somehow he managed to scooch his whole body onto the floor...I bought it.

 

[disnutt]

My 6 yo DD has loved SM since she was tall enough to ride. I believe that screaming just makes the rides more fun. I even taught my kids to scream because I thought if they were screaming they wouldn't be freaked out by someone who was really scared and screaming. If your DD is willing to get back on Barnstormer after screaming the whole ride she must be enjoying it. Also, she's learning to conquer her fears in a controlled way. I think that riding roller coasters can be a tool to developing better self esteem!

 

[disnutt]

DH thinks she will fall out. He's not much of a thrill ride kinda person. For example, on our first ever photo from Splash...only I'm in it...somehow he managed to scooch his whole body onto the floor...I bought it.

Forgot to say something. When DD was 4 and first rode SM I was more scared for her thinking she would hate it. Well, the picture shows her screaming in joy (just like I taught her) and me scrunched down hanging onto her for dear life looking terrified. She's very lightweight and I was just sure she's fly from the car. Well, she didn't not even close and I didn't need to hold her.

You may be telling your DH a fib since my daughter now wants to ride EVERY time we go!

 

[JERSEYGIRLINSI]

No personal experience, just thought that I must be raising a future giant. My ds is 39.5 inches right now, and he's not 3 yet!

 

[littleprissboutique]

Not to be a buzz kill LOL Na. In Sept my dd measured 41 1/2" here at home and at the Dr's office -- without shoes. We were so excited that she would get to ride Soar'n. My dd is a daredevil like her daddy. We got to Disney and with her shoes she was a good 1 1/2 shorter than there posted height.

I personally think that Disney's height is off by two inches, for insurance reasons.

She was so sad. Hopefully she will meet the height for our trip next month.

 

[all4fun]

Not to be a buzz kill LOL Na. In Sept my dd measured 41 1/2" here at home and at the Dr's office -- without shoes. We were so excited that she would get to ride Soar'n. My dd is a daredevil like her daddy. We got to Disney and with her shoes she was a good 1 1/2 shorter than there posted height.

I personally think that Disney's height is off by two inches, for insurance reasons.

She was so sad. Hopefully she will meet the height for our trip next month.

I've often wondered about the actual measurements. At home, ds measures exactly 41-1/2" in stocking feet, and at WDW (we just got back last Friday) his head measures what looks like about an inch above the bottom of the stick on the 40" minimum attractions w/his shoes on, which I would say probably add at least 3/4". It is curious...

 

[KristinU]

I've often wondered about the actual measurements. At home, ds measures exactly 41-1/2" in stocking feet, and at WDW (we just got back last Friday) his head measures what looks like about an inch above the bottom of the stick on the 40" minimum attractions w/his shoes on, which I would say probably add at least 3/4". It is curious...

OT, but all4fun - you and I have crossed paths on this board several times in the past and I can't believe your DS is big enough to go on SM etc. already...boy does time fly! I feel like I just was reading your posts on traveling with a baby. I just measured my DS this morning with shoes on and he's 38"...I don't think he'll shoot up enough in the next couple of weeks to go on SM on his birthday trip...Kali is the only addition since last time and I'm not super game to get wet in January.

OP - best of luck - I agree with the other posters...give it a try. I like disnutt's idea of teaching the kids to scream for fun.

 

[tmarquez]

Actually I think I would be relieved if she didn't make it...she got past the freaking out cuz she's not tall enough after the first couple of measurements.

I know the measuring sticks are off. I went with a friend and her DS(3). He didn't meet the height requirement for Splash or Big Thunder, but alas he did make it for Stitch (all 40" rides). This was all on the same day...and all in the morning. It scared the poor little guy pretty bad.

Not to be a buzz kill LOL Na. In Sept my dd measured 41 1/2" here at home and at the Dr's office -- without shoes. We were so excited that she would get to ride Soar'n. My dd is a daredevil like her daddy. We got to Disney and with her shoes she was a good 1 1/2 shorter than there posted height.

I personally think that Disney's height is off by two inches, for insurance reasons.

She was so sad. Hopefully she will meet the height for our trip next month.

 

[MomofCKJ]

We just got back and my 4y is 41 inches. It was his first time at WDW and he rode them all: Splash, Big Thunder, Tower of Terror, Dinosaur, Test Track, if he was tall enough, he rode it, and multiple times. I say let her try it, she won't know if she likes it unless she tries and the drop is really quick. And heck I scream on the drop too, but it is so much fun!

Allyson

 

[bedgraynexl]

My DD did the exact same thing. For our first trip to WDW that was the ride she wanted to go on but was just too short. The CM's gave her a fast pass for next time. Fast forward a year and we are at DL in CA. She sees the ride and knows she meets the height requirement. Needless to say she is a daredevil and thrillseeker and had a great time.