DS Tall Enough For Some Of The "Big " Rides

[samserena]

Hi all,
how did you all prepare you kids for some of the "big rides" - particularly Mission Breakout.

I think he'll be really keen because of the themeing but not sure how he'll go with the mechanics.

I was just planning explaining what happens on the ride and seeing how he feels about it but just wondering if you had any tips or stories to share?

TIA

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Watch some ride through videos on YouTube (make sure the videos are from DLR, not WDW or other Disney Parks). Watch together and talk about what he likes and dislikes. This can really help get him excited for the rides because he'll know what to expect. It can build the fun factor while lessening any fear. Rewards can help, too. For big milestone rides (e.g. finally conquering a fear of something like Splash Mt., we promised a Splash t-shirt after the ride -- which youngest totally needed since he was soaked!), you can ask him if he would like something to commemorate the occasion if he does ride. And if he doesn't want to ride when you get there, don't make a big deal about it. You never know when he'll change his mind -- it'll happen at some point! With GOTG, the good thing is that you can go through the queue without actually riding, so it will be okay if he changes his mind at the last minute.

 

[Laur0406]

Maybe I'm a mean mom, but my son is very tall for his age and we took him on Hyperspace Mountain when he was 3 1/2. We just told him we were going on a fun star wars ride and that was it. The ride photo we got had him covering his eyes with his hands and peeking one eye out from behind his fingers But after he said he liked it and we reminded him that scary rides are also fun! We also took him on Haunted Mansion and he hated it.

 

[Winnowill]

I hadn't been on Splash Mountain in forever when we went on it for the first time with DD, then not-quite-five. I forgot entirely about the drop at the end and didn't warn her. The look of sheer, unadulterated terror on her face in the picture was priceless, and she was SO upset afterwards. Crying and shuddering, and "I never want to ride that again!" We took her on Pooh, and then, getting off that, she wanted to try Splash again. That picture showed some trepidation, still. But she rode it again, and it became a favorite.

 

[crystal1313]

I always talk the ride up with all positives: This is going to be SO fun! You are such a brave boy! I am so proud of you. Etc. Then, reassure him if he doesn't like it, he won't have to go on it again. We would usually reward the kids for trying a ride for the first time too with some kind of a treat. Have fun!

 

[Going2DisneyAZ]

We started with Matterhorn. That way my boys could see it in action. If they liked it we moved on to try others. I recall waiting in line for screamin' with my younger son. He got all the way through and as we waited to board next started crying unstoppable. The CM at load told me "you can't take that child if he's crying like that ". Of course I didn't argue. I tell that story now to my boy and he says I should have told the CM that he is my son and he needs to suck it up.

 

[Pickles2000]

For my 5 year old, I just compared to what he was used to. He had been on kid coasters, so I told him Space Mountain was the next level up. I made sure he knew it doesn’t go upside down or anything but goes fast and down hills. Once he did that I had a good comparison point for the other Mountain Rides. Plus, he knew he could handle what Disney has to offer once he had done a couple of their most thrilling rides. I also made sure he knew it was a good time to be brave as we don’t get to go to Disneyland all the time. For him, that helped. He’s pretty logical for his age.

 

[Pickles2000]

Oh, also we did Star Tours as first ride to show how rewarding a little bit of thrill can be at Disneyland.

 

[Malcon10t]

My granddaughter was tall enough for 40" by 2.5, and for 42 before her 3rd birthday. I simply told her I thought she'd like the ride and I would never force her to ride. She did not ride Tower of Terror until she was 4+. She wasn't ready to try, but when she was tall enough for Screamin', we simply said she needed to try Tower once, and if she hated it, she didn't have to go again. Once she tried it, she liked it. But I don't force or bribe. My grandson is tall enough to ride all the 40 and 42 in rides, but he isn't ready. He can handle what we call "show rides" like Star Tours and Rise and Smugglers, but can't handle SPace or BTMRR. He loves the Swings, hates the ferris wheel. When he is ready, he will ride.

 

[DizMe]

Every kid is different. My oldest hated roller coasters and fast rides until he was a teen. My second loved EVERYTHING, the scarier the better, as did her sister that followed, who would ask to sit in the front of Splash at age 4 (before they changed the rule about that) and would ride multiple times. The youngest 2 (twin girls) were somewhere in between. My grandson is 3 and is afraid of dark rides and characters but loves trains and boats, which I think is fairly typical for his age.