Do 3 year olds like Thunder Mountain and Splash?

[disney-super-mom]

When we go to WDW, our youngest DS will be a little over 3 years old.

I'm thinking that these rides might me a bit too intense/fast/scary for him, but I'm not sure.

How does your 3 year old react on these rides, or do you not take your 3 year old on them yet? Afterall, I don't want that drop on Splash to scare the poop out of him.

Thanks everyone!

 

[dixiedizfan]

See if you can get him to ride Goofy's Barnstormer coaster in Toontown first. If he enjoys that, then maybe he can try Splash. Thunder Mountain is a lot faster so don't know if he should go on that one or not, assuming he's tall enough.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I agree with dixiedizfan. Take your DS on Barnstormer first, over in Toontown. It's a very tame roller coaster aimed for the younger crowd. Big Thunder Mt. is also a tame roller coaster. It has just a few small dips, nothing major. It goes about 28mph max, which is still fast, but nothing bad. Splash Mt. has that huge drop, along with a few during the ride. I would have to say no for Splash, if he makes the height requirement. But see how he does on the others, then use your judgement.

Have fun!

 

[java]

Wow your 3 year old is tall if he is able to do those. I think they are 40 inch requirements- I don't think my 3 year old is that tall. The Barnstormer is only 35 inches- and I think that is a better first one- just like everyone else said. That Splash Mountain drop is a big one for little people- I personally wouldn't take my 3 year old on it.

 

[icecrystahl]

We went to WDW last Feb. when my little sister was just 3. We all love splash mtn. but we decided the drop would be too intense for my little sister. I think the drop is really just too intense for 3 year olds. But really the rest of the ride would be a great ride for her and I think she'd really enjoy it. I guess it also depends on the child. So I hope you find this helped and that you have a wonderful Disney vaca!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Wow your 3 year old is tall if he is able to do those. I think they are 40 inch requirements- I don't think my 3 year old is that tall. The Barnstormer is only 35 inches- and I think that is a better first one- just like everyone else said. That Splash Mountain drop is a big one for little people- I personally wouldn't take my 3 year old on it.

Yeah, actually he is tall for his age. His dad is almost 6'6" tall, so I think he's gonna be tall like his daddy.

Right now, he's a little over 2 1/2 years old, and he's 37 1/2 inches tall!

Also, he's already done the little coaster many times at Toon Town in DL, and he loved it, but it's soooooooo tame compared to Thunder Mountain. I mean, there's a BIG difference between the two. And that last big drop on Splash - aye, aye, aye!!!

3 rides that I know he'll LOVE is Soarin, Test Track, and Star Tours!

 

[tjmw2727]

If your 3yo is 40" or taller they can ride but its really your call if they should ride.

The advice to try the Barnstormer4 yo nephew loved the Barnstormer and was ok on BTMR, seemed to like it but when asked if he wanted to ride again he did not. FWIW he just made the 40" mark. My sil did not even consder taking him on Ssplash mtn, Dinasour or Tower of Terror although he was tall enough for all of them. He did however absolutely love Test Track.

I think that height requirement is just one of the factors to consider when taking younger children. Many love them and many do not - my youngest rode TOT on her 5th birthday and has loved it ever since. My oldest rode it once at 8 and still to this day won't ride it but loves other "thrill rides".

If you haven't done the attraction yourself consider riding before you decide if your child will enjoy it.

TJ

 

[disney-super-mom]

Yeah, I agree with everyone's opinion on this. I think those rides will be too scary for him. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't just being an overprotective mom.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Selket]

My son was 3.5 when he did SM, Goofy's Barnstormer and the BTMRR. I think he did SM before Goofy's - for some reason that was less scary for him than the coasters. Actually he loved the fast stuff as long as it is outside. He still won't do anything inside and dark - like Peter pan for example! LOL!

My son who was 7 when we were there was still afraid of coasters - much more so than his little brother. He finally did do both with us and loved them - but it was harder to get him on them than the 3 yr old - LOL!

I don't think Goofy's is a tame roller coaster...at least compared to BTMRR. It is high and fast but just shorter than BTMRR to me at least. It isn't like the baby roller coasters at some parks at least!

 

[mhingher]

My nephew was 3 1/2 when he 1st went to WDW in 2004. He loved BTMRR and Splash Mountain!

 

[DutchsMommy]

3 rides that I know he'll LOVE is Soarin, Test Track, and Star Tours!

Isn't there a higher height limit on TT? Can't remember but you might want to check before you get there - I'm sure someone on here will know.

 

[ReneeA]

I think TT is 40" also.

My DS was 3 on our last trip and is REALLY tall for his age (almost 43" on the trip) and went on BTMRR, SM, Test Track, and Tower of Terror. He loved them all. I hesitated on SM because of the drop, but we stood outside and watched the logs dropping and he got SO excited. I couldn't tell him no. He went 5 times while we were there. He says that BTMRR is his favorite, but he's got a thing for trains. I really thought twice about ToT, but he was fine. Didn't want to talk about it at first, and wouldn't go on it again, but now claims he loved it.

I think it depends on the child, myself.



ReneeA

 

[bedgraynexl]

My three year old DD is a daredevil, and has gone on some intense rides ( for her) We have a log ride similar to Splash Mountain that she loved. She was too short to do it at MK. She also loved the Barnstormer. Each kid is different. You'll know best.

Edit: Yea, I just earned my ears!!!

 

[ntengwall]

My 3 1/2 year old (the one on top in the pic) is 44" tall and 47 lbs! His dad is 6'4 and I'm 5'8 so he gets it honest. I'll be VERY interested to see which rides he wants to go on and which ones scare him. It's hard when you have older brothers because I *know* he will want to go on a lot of the same rides as they do (and he is tall enough). I just hope his stubborness is ruled out by common sense Nothing like trying to tell a 3 year old they don't *really* want to do what they think they do!

 

[java]

Wow he IS tall! Good tall genes! My guy would love to go on test track but he isn't going to be tall enough I am afraid. If he loves coasters he should be ok on BTMR- mostly circular kind of drops vs. big drops.- And on Splash Mountain he may really like the "ride" part but that last drop is a big one. My DD hid her head the first time she went one- and hasn't been on since(and she loves Tower of Terror- go figure... ) When you get there see if he wants to do it.

 

[CAD3655]

We did the parks in December with my 3YO nephew. He rode almost everything. Test Track, Big Thunder, Splash, Soarin...He is pretty tall for his age as well...He had a BLAST...I will say what he didn't like was It's a small world, something in there made him uneasy (I couldn't agree more!)...Illuminations, but he doesn't like loud explosions so we had to get him out of there....It's tough to be a bug, COMPLETE meltdown...

 

[Ava83]

DD3 in October was just 40 inches tall, she rode

Goofy's Barnstormer
Big Thunder MT
Test Track
Soarin
Kali

She LOVED them all and still talks about them.

She wanted to get on ToT and Splash Mt, but I did not want her to go on them. Tot because I was scared (she would have loved it) and Splash cause there was no seatbelt, and she is just 40 inches.

But boy every time she saw a log come down the drop she begged to get on.

 

[youngdizluva18]

When we go to WDW, our youngest DS will be a little over 3 years old.

I'm thinking that these rides might me a bit too intense/fast/scary for him, but I'm not sure.

How does your 3 year old react on these rides, or do you not take your 3 year old on them yet? Afterall, I don't want that drop on Splash to scare the poop out of him.

Thanks everyone!

We just got back in early January and my 3yo (born Oct. 10) LOVED those rides. He is fairly tall too (I'm 6'10") but he really liked those rides. He was upset when we told him 3 straight times on TMRR was enough.

But you may want to start with Goofy's BS or something smaller first to be safe.

Good luck!

 

[bdb7607]

It depends on the child, our DS went when he was 3, had a great smile on his face after the ride, didn't want to go on it again though! Plus the picture they take on the way down was priceless - pure terror on his face, had to get it! Of course when we went back a year later he wanted to ride it again and again....

I'd do it just to get the picture! He won't be scarred for too long

Note: DW just shakes her head at me a couple of times, along with the rolling of the eyes....

 

[grimley1968]

Splash, BTMRR and Goofy are all rides where I'd worry more about the physical height requirements more than the scary aspects. My DD, now 6, has been riding all those rides since before she even turned 3. She was VERY tall for age, but her growth has slowed fortunately, and now she's at about 49", which isn't super tall for a 6 YO. Anyway, she loved all 3 of those rides immediately, since there isn't as much of a mental aspect to the scariness of those rides like with Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, Dinosaur, etc. She won't do any of those, and she hates Tough to be a Bug, but she loves Rock n Roller Coaster. I guess if the scary stuff is out in the open for them to see, like all the stuff my 6 YO likes, it's really more thrilling for them than scary.

But, really, do avoid Dinosaur until the child is, say, 30.