Dinosaur with a 4.5 yr old???

[ArielSRL]

Has anyone done this? How did they do?

I'm worried it's too scary. And I don't have much background to go on. The last time he went to WDW, he was 9.5 months old so, of course, didn't ride it. We've gone to the fair every year but he's never done any ride that's comparable. It won't be on our first day (4th day in the parks) so I would have some time to judge his reactions to other MK, DHS, and Epcot attractions but if we plan to do it, I would probably FP it. Leaning toward skipping it and using the FP for something else we can all do together (I've read that it worth it for Nemo).

 

[aaarcher86]

Has anyone done this? How did they do?

I'm worried it's too scary. And I don't have much background to go on. The last time he went to WDW, he was 9.5 months old so, of course, didn't ride it. We've gone to the fair every year but he's never done any ride that's comparable. It won't be on our first day (4th day in the parks) so I would have some time to judge his reactions to other MK, DHS, and Epcot attractions but if we plan to do it, I would probably FP it. Leaning toward skipping it and using the FP for something else we can all do together (I've read that it worth it for Nemo).

Ours were scared at that age. It gets pitch black.

We still make them do it though because the pictures are hilarious :-/

 

[juliekzp]

If he loves dinosaurs and does well on scary/loud rides earlier in the trip, go for it. Otherwise, I'd skip it. It's very loud and frantic. My fearless 5-year-old will ride it but doesn't particularly like it.

 

[TXStormtrooper]

DD was terrified of Dinosaur until she was a few years older than that. DS was a little scared at that age, but still wanted to ride it several times. He just wanted me to cover his eyes at the part where the big dinosaur comes right at you.

 

[dachsie]

I would not do it. It could set the tone for him not to ride other things. THat happened with my niece who got scared on her first ride.

 

[bumbershoot]

I wouldn't do it. He *might* be one of the few little kids who are OK with it. He probably won't be. The ride is just NOT that good to risk him not wanting to do any other rides on the trip.

DH was trying to force DS on it on our first trip when DS was 6. Even in the line DS could sense that this was not the ride for him. I finally went against grumpy-hubby's tantrum-y wishes for DS to ride and took him out. And when DH came off the ride he was soooo glad I had made that decision. I think we've only gone on it once with DS since he's been older, and he wasn't that pleased with it.

 

[ArielSRL]

Thanks for all the replies! I think we will schedule the FP for something else and keep our options open on that day, though most likely skipping it.

 

[JennyMP03]

I really enjoy Dinosaur, but it's a pretty wild ride. It's dark and loud enough to be disorienting, and it's designed to convey a sense of panic. I've read many accounts of young children being upset by Dinosaur, some to the extent that they're wary of any subsequent rides.

I do recommend tricking adults who have no clue about it into riding, though, and make sure they sit on the outside of the vehicle. My 20-year-old cousin kept leaning away from the dinosaurs on the perimeter and saying, "What the heck...!"

 

[mjkacmom]

Don't do it. My ds was close to 5 when he begged to go on it. He didn't go on any more rides that day (including test track, that he would have loved). He's a fearless kid, loves huge coasters, but he was terrified.

 

[TsLoveMickey]

I love Dinosaur and my 4.5 year old GIRL wanted to ride it. She is a total daredevil - Splash Mountain was her favorite at a week before she turned 3 (she is tall). She was a little scared after it, but she rode it again with my mom using rider swap. She was a little scared the second time too, but she would ride it again with me on the next trip. So, to sum it up, if my daredevil was a little scared, a more timid child might be really scared.

 

[ArielSRL]

Thanks, again, for all the opinions!!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

my outgoing but not brave rider was scared at 7 and still didn't like it when we tried It again when she was 14! I recommend waiting

 

[BubblyTrip]

Big fat never again from my adventurous kid. He did EE and Space with glee this year, but he's still traumatized from Dinosaur last year.

 

[Kat913]

Forget the 4 1/2 yr old- I STILL cover my eyes when that Carnotaurus roars in my face! Seriously though, I teach pre k and most children that age would be frightened on this ride- though you kñow your child best. We took my son on when he was 5- and he wouldn't talk to us the rest of the day. Lol. My daughter on the other hand loved it at 7. It's a good decision to skip it or if you want to ride child swap it or if possible and time and lines allow experience it yourself first and then make the decision.
Have a good trip.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

guess I have the odd ball for one of my grandsons. at 4 years old this was his second favorite ride of the trip had to do it twice. his favorite ride of the trip was Tower of Terror. but that a side yes it can scare young kids

 

[Dug720]

Heck, I'm 44 and that darn Carnataur terrifies me. I look like I'm about 5 in all the ride pictures. (I always think "I'll be ok. I can do it," when I'm there... And then I am sooooooooo sorry!!

 

[ArielSRL]

Forget the 4 1/2 yr old- I STILL cover my eyes when that Carnotaurus roars in my face! Seriously though, I teach pre k and most children that age would be frightened on this ride- though you kñow your child best. We took my son on when he was 5- and he wouldn't talk to us the rest of the day. Lol. My daughter on the other hand loved it at 7. It's a good decision to skip it or if you want to ride child swap it or if possible and time and lines allow experience it yourself first and then make the decision.
Have a good trip.

We've done it before so I'm ok with totally skipping it. I need to check with my dad to see if he's ok skipping it or not. It's my mom, my dad, my 2 yr old, my 4.5 yr old, and myself. Mom wouldn't ride it and the 2 yr old, either. So dad and I could do it but we will probably already leave mom with the 2 boys once when we ride EE so I'm not sure I want to take advantage again. We could utilize rider swap bc of the 2 yr old but not sure it's worth all that park time, especially without a FP. I think we will use the FP for Nemo instead and change it to ROL if a dining pkg doesn't work out (and they don't go to tiering).

Btw, I'm a teacher, too. 1st grade currently, though I've done anywhere from pre-k to 3rd in my 18 years as a teacher! I have always leaned to no with Dinosaur but just wanted to get everyone's opinions. I'm gonna try him on everything else he makes height-wise but we are starting with 2 days of MK so that should give me an idea for the other parks.

Thanks!

 

[ArielSRL]

Big fat never again from my adventurous kid. He did EE and Space with glee this year, but he's still traumatized from Dinosaur last year.

Yeh, I'm gonna try him on most everything else he makes height-wise (too short for space and EE this year). We will start out with 2 days of MK so that will be my judge for some of the other thrill rides at the other parks. Thanks!

 

[rhondag508]

When we went in October, my 10 year old never said she was scared, never screamed, and never told me it was bad afterward. I had even warned her that things jump out at you, and she said she was fine with it. When we got the Photopass pictures, I felt bad. She looked horrified.

 

[WDWRook]

Good thing I read this. We have a fastpass for Dino for our 9 and 5 yr olds. Other threads suggested space mt, Everest, test track, tower of terror all would be ok (well EE height restrictions prevent our 5 yo).

How do you all rate these for little kids as being the worst to the least problematic?