Dinasour too scary for 6 almost 7 year old ?

[tduda]

Dinasour at Animal kindgom-Would a very resilient 6 almost 7 year old be scared on dinasour? He is pretty fearless -perfectly ok at 5 on haunted mansion/honey i shrunk the audience etc.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Hmmmmm.....this is a tougher question to answer than one might think......

Here is my take on the Dinosaur ride:

As background, our DD (almost 4) LOVES dinosaurs and especially loves the Dinosaur movie. She had been looking forward to the Dinosaur ride for almost 6 months. She knew she had to grow to be the right height and really worked at it. When we got to AK, she was tall enough and decided to go on it.

The first part of the ride is pretty non eventful. Your Time Rover bumps past some dinosaurs and just kind of rides along.

However, during the second part, it doesn't get so much scary as it becomes a "sensory overload". For example, there is one part of the ride where the rover totally stops moving and it is pitch dark. Then, out of nowhere, a giant carnotaur lunges at you while strobe lights are going off and there is a loud ROAR. IMO, this would be disconcerting for a young one even if they were using Elmo instead of a dinosaur. That is, it's not so much the Carnotuar that is scary but that it comes out of nowhere with the flashing lights and noises.

Luckily, it's over quickly. In our case, we were totally prepared and I had covered our DD ears and eyes so she kind of doesn't remember it at all.

That being said, a seven year old might handle it just fine. I would equate this to a local "haunted house" experience. Some people like to go through "haunted houses" and have that "BOO!" effect where someone startles you and others don't.

I wouldn't equate this to the Haunted Mansion simply because the HM has very few "BOO!" effects and even those they do have are telegraphed in advance (i.e. you can see the coffin coming rather then it being pitch black).

I hope all this rambling makes sense. Please feel free to ask for any clarification or more information.

 

[CamColt]

Definitely depends on the kid. We went last summer when my DS and his friend were both 6 1/2. They both love dinosaurs. I asked DS if he wanted to go on it and he said no so I didnt force it. I pretty much thought he would freak out, but gave him the option. His friend on the other hand went on it and loved it. Of course he kept his eyes shut the whole time, but he loved it.

 

[kbkids]

My daughter sounds alot like your son. She is afraid of nothing!! Does not even really particularly care for Fantasyland because "it's so boring!" She just turned 6. She rode Dinosaur in February - she was 5. She was excited about riding it. I rode it once without her and decided she'd be okay. I kept telling her over and over before we got on the ride that it was only pretend, they looked very real, but don't forget it's only make believe. She did okay. But instead of squealing like she usually does, she was VERY quiet. I asked her when it stopped if she was okay, and she said yes. But when asked if she wanted to ride again, she said no.

We're going back next week, and we were talking about the trip the other day. She's excited because she will finally be tall enough for Space Mountain. She asked if she could ride Tower of Terror again, and then when I asked her about Dinosaur, she said, "Well, if Daddy wants to, I will."

So, in a nut shell, I think it got to her more than any other ride ever has, but she still did okay. Comparing it to Haunted Mansion or Honey I Shrunk the Audience, it's way more intense!! Not even in the same category. It does go quickly, but it's pretty scary. I would ride it first without him and just see for yourself.

 

[Melynny]

I rode last year with our 7 year old grand daughter.. she was finally tall enough to ride. Here reply was.."was that it".. She was not scared at all and almost let down after the ride.. I guess it depends on the child...

 

[Kallison]

My boys freaked out on our first trip in 99, they were 9 and 7. They are now 13 and 11 and still talk about how much they hated it.

 

[blanq]

My DS did finally try this ride when he was 7, and it scared the bejeebers out of him! He likes most all of the other thrill rides at WDW, such as RNR, Space Mountain, etc. He is now 10, and he still won't give Dinosaur another try. The ride was too jerky and too loud for him. It was just plain overwhelming for him. He spent the entire ride with his eyes closed, asking me when it would be over. I, on the other hand, love this ride!

 

[Terry S]

I agree that this is a tough question. To tell you the truth I am 36 and this ride scares the heck out of me. I usually close my eyes about 30 seconds into the ride (right after the triceatops) and don't open them until the end. I am pretty sure that my 6 and 7 year old do the same thing and have been doing it since they were 4 and 5, but they continue to ask to go on this ride evey time we are there, so it hasn't scared them for life or anything. I would just prepare the child, let them know that pretend dinosaurs are going to be growling at them and that it is dark and loud, but nothing can touch them or hurt them.

 

[perpetualplanner]

My older DS went on HM at 3 and loved it at 7 REFUSED to get near it. Their imaginations are running RAMPANT at this age. He wanted to go on Dinosaur but even now 6 mos later refuses to ever do it again. My 4 yr old DS wasn't affected by it. ALSO - dinorsaur and space mountain almost ruined our trip. He insisted on doing both (not same day) but then freaked on every ride/show afterwards the rest of the trip. If it had a queue and he couldn't see the ride he freaked but BTMR saved us - his new fav. I did a lot of chicken exits with him last trip while dad and younger DS rode.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

well...I'm 27 and I freak out on Dinosaur, but go on it anyway because I think its a great ride.

The Carnotaur scares me.

My 4 year old DN on the other hand...she loved it. The Carnotaur didnt scare her at all...

 

[magsmom]

We brought our 6 1/2 year old daughter on Dinosaur. We sat in the second row, behind a pair of 13-14 year old girls. In the picture at the end of the ride the girls in front of us were crouched down in thier seats in terror! My daughter was laughing, with a huge smile on her face. Priceless!

 

[patsal]

I'm with Terry S on this one--I still have not seen this ride except for an occasional peek through my fingers which are placed firmly over my eyes! LOL DD 8 made a bet with her brother that she'd keep her eyes open for the whole ride for a quarter--like maybe for 250 more DVC points but not for a quarter!--he actually gave her enough for a pressed penny because he said she was so brave! Gotta love big brothers! As for me I guess I'll be riding with my eyes placed behind my firmly cupped hands next summer since DH hasn't made the DVC points bet!

 

[jacksonsmom]

It really varies with each child.

My son was 3.5 years old last June when he went on it & he LOVED it!!! He can't wait to go back on it in a few weeks!!

We did prepare him of the loud, dark sounds & we told them it would be bumpy & that the dinosaurs looks scary but we reminded him that it is all pretend.

On the flip side when we were waiting in line to ride the Dinosaur, a car pulled up & in it was a girl looked to be around 6 or 7 years old, she was in TEARS!!!!!

So it really varies with each child.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

Originally posted by CarnotaurDad
However, during the second part, it doesn't get so much scary as it becomes a "sensory overload". For example, there is one part of the ride where the rover totally stops moving and it is pitch dark. Then, out of nowhere, a giant carnotaur lunges at you while strobe lights are going off and there is a loud ROAR. IMO, this would be disconcerting for a young one even if they were using Elmo instead of a dinosaur. That is, it's not so much the Carnotuar that is scary but that it comes out of nowhere with the flashing lights and noises.

yeah sensory overload. My daughtr did not like the ride much. SHe was 6 and 3 months at the time. Her one comment was "TOO LOUD" as the dinosaur lunging at you is extremely loud. She thought it ate me. When we got out she was not crying or freaking out. SHe just did not like the ride and first thing out of her mouth was "THAT is too loud!!!!"

 

[jeankeri]

At what point in the ride do they take the picture?

 

[tjmw2727]

This was one of those that my dd loved at 4 and 5 - then got totally freaked out at 6 and now at 7 has decided she will ride again. My youngest rode TOT on her 5th birthday, rode dinasour and liked it but then by 6 while she still loved TOT she refused to ride Dinasour. I would ride it first if you can or just leave it up to the child if he/she is willing to ride. Its pretty fun but there are some intense moments!!

TJ

 

[nataliesdaddy]

Originally posted by jeankeri
At what point in the ride do they take the picture?

if I remembr right they take the picture as the dinosaur is lunging at the ride car. So everyone is screaming

 

[KathyFP]

DD (5) really liked it when she was 4. Last year she liked it, but said that once is enough.

 

[cinder1]

I have 3 kids, ages 8, 6, and almost 4. When the older 2 were 6 and almost 5, the 6 yr old loved Dinosaur and the younger one did not. That theme has totally continued. At 7 and 6, the younger one refused to go on it and the older one loved it and as an 8 yr old will ride again in Jan. But she also has always loved Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, etc. It just depends on the child. My 6 yr old doesn't like anything scary; the 8 yr old has always loved the scary rides.

 

[2tinksmom]

My DD(6) has been on Dinosaur many times...but has never seen the whole thing! She loves the idea of being "scared" and insists on riding, but about 1/3 into it, her head is in my armpit, lol!! When we get off, she's talkin' about how great it is, etc. and can't wait to go again, lol!! When she's about 15 she'll be too tall for the armpit, then we'll see how she likes it!!!