EE or SM as first "big" coaster for 4 year old

[SpringSprite]

He'll be turning 4 in July - we go in October. He already loves smaller coasters and will be fine on BTMRR and Barnstormer etc. Which of these two 44"'ers do you think would be best to try first? He is not scared of the dark...

(I'd like to avoid scaring him away from trying more, I've never been on EE but LOVED SM as an older kid)

Thanks!

 

[FLchick415]

Personally I'd say EE since you'd be able to sit beside him instead of behind him in a different seat in case he DOES get scared.

 

[Retro Magic]

I vote for EE as well.
While EE may be more thrilling, I find SM "scarier" as it's less comfortable and tosses you around a lot. Also at every drop I feel like the track above me is going to take my head off!

 

[tinktinktink]

What about the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

 

[tinktinktink]

What about big thunder mountain railroad leading up to these.

 

[AppleSister1]

I'm going to say SM. IHMO, much less scary. If he already likes Big Thunder, I don't think the jerks on SM are going to freak him out too much. I think it's actually less comfortable for an adult than a kid! EE, for our mileage, is much scarier. But that's just us.

 

[FancyNancy]

I would pick Splash Mountain.

 

[SpringSprite]

Personally I'd say EE since you'd be able to sit beside him instead of behind him in a different seat in case he DOES get scared.

Is my memory faulty, or did SM used to be one BIG seat, with the biggest sitting in the back, to smallest sitting between the one behind's legs?

We are definitely going to do BTM first, probably FP it for first day (travel day) - he's done very similar things at local amusement parks, so I'm thinking he'll be fine on that one - those local coasters jerk you around like nobody's business.

 

[robinb]

He'll be turning 4 in July - we go in October. He already loves smaller coasters and will be fine on BTMRR and Barnstormer etc. Which of these two 44"'ers do you think would be best to try first? He is not scared of the dark...

(I'd like to avoid scaring him away from trying more, I've never been on EE but LOVED SM as an older kid)

Thanks!

This is his first time at WDW? He's only 4-years old so I would take it slow with Barnstormer first and then Big Thunder Mountain and see how it goes. I would also wait and see how he is with dark rides as Space Mountain is all in the dark and Everest is in the dark about 25% of the ride. I have been avoiding the Mine Train reviews so I'll be surprised but that would work too.

Of the two, I would do Everest first and save SM for later.

 

[eyehartdisney]

I found everest to be the tamer ride. It went backwards, but if he has a hard time, just tell him to close his eyes until it's over.

 

[FLchick415]

Is my memory faulty, or did SM used to be one BIG seat, with the biggest sitting in the back, to smallest sitting between the one behind's legs?

We are definitely going to do BTM first, probably FP it for first day (travel day) - he's done very similar things at local amusement parks, so I'm thinking he'll be fine on that one - those local coasters jerk you around like nobody's business.

It's possible, but for as long as I've been riding it, the seats have been separate.

 

[PeanutButterMom]

We worked our way up from Barnstormer to EE - the only coaster we didn't do was RnRC because Jelly wasn't talk enough and threw a fit so PB didn't get to try it. She says her #1 favorite is EE

 

[CarolynFH]

Re Space Mountain seats: yes, they were originally one big seat like a toboggan, and each rider sat between the legs of the rider behind. (I rode it in 1976 when it was pretty new, and it was awkward sharing a seat with strangers!) But it's been individual seats (still one behind the other) for many years now.

 

[tinktinktink]

Eww I can't imagine sitting between a strangers legs lol

 

[TinkSassy]

I think you would be fine starting on either just prepare him that on EE you will go backwards at one time. I have an adult in party that was scared by that. Once she knew she wanted to go again. I'd talk to him about the theming and see which one excites more.

 

[Simba07]

My DD5 almost 6 is normally good with coasters (loved BTMRR at barely 4) but was terrified on SM (no one next to her, not being able to see ahead). She didn't love EE either but was a lot better with it. So I'd go with EE first, but agree with others on talking about the backwards and preparing for the Yeti. Those are scarier than the rest.

 

[prudence64]

I don't think either is appropriate for a 4 year old, but I come from a long line of chickens.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I probably wouldn't take a 4 year old on either, as well, but if I had to pick, it would be EE. As others have mentioned, Space can be crazy scary because it's pitch black and it's a single seater so your child wouldn't be sitting by you. I took my daughter on Space when she was 6 on our first day and it nearly ruined the ride portion of our trip. She wouldn't set foot on EE after that and also refused to ride BTMRR even though she'd ridden it the year before. It was even a struggle to get her onto Splash. And nothing makes you feel like MOTY like realizing you just terrified your kid on accident.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Its going to depend on your child....


My daughter, at age four, rode Tower of Terror FIVE times in a row... almost running to get on it again while passing full-grown women in tears...

Guess we have a bit of a daredevil on our hands! Excited that she is now seven and old enough to RnRR & EE, should be a fun trip!

Disclaimer, we love one hour from BG Williamsburg and she has been riding the biggest coasters she can get on. She gets upset everytime because they wont let her ride them all

 

[Iowajes]

I'd do Big Thunder Mountain Railroad before either of SM or EE.