Favorites with a physically cautious four year old?

[Crl1817]

We are planning a December trip. Ds will be eleven. Dd will be four. Dh is coming so we can split up as necessary, though we'd like to spend a fair bit of time together. I have only been to Disneyworld once.

Dd is an extrovert and will love the characters (she loved them on our last trip when she was just seven months old!). She's also not easily scared by television shows (loves Scooby Doo for example). She's got a decent attention span and can sit still for a decent amount of time. But she is physically pretty cautious. For example, she can't ride a two wheeled scooter, wants to hold my hand to walk on balance beams, etc. She's 41 inches now, so she should be over 42 by December.

We will do some character meals and definitely some meet and greets. What rides would you suggest? We are planning on one day at AK (I have never been to AK so I don't have any experience with the rides there), one day at Epcot and most likely two at MK. I'm thinking yes to Soarin, no to Test Track? I think she'd like Buzzlight Year. When we went before ds was a tall and fairly adventurous seven year old and we mostly didn't do the little kid stuff.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Infamousmare]

Our first trip to WDW was when my little guy (who is also on the spectrum) was 3.5 years old. He, too, was a cautious little guy. We started out slowly - on the People Mover, to be exact. He did really well on the Buzz Lightyear ride (he loves Buzz), Small World, Peter Pan, etc. The Dumbo ride was NOT a hit; however, at that time, he was afraid of heights. Additionally, the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean and even Goofy's Barnstormer were okay with him (I think now it's just called the Barnstormer). Figment is fun, as is the Three Caballeros ride, the Nemo ride and Ariel's Undersea Adventure (or whatever the Ariel ride is called!)

I will tell you that Soarin' scared both of my kids the first time they went on it because it feels really high up; however, if she's not afraid of heights or is comforted by being able to hold your hand, it's a really relaxing ride.

Now we have no problems with any rides and I think it's because we started slowly and let the kids guide us. We never push them and it turns out to be an enjoyable time for everyone.

 

[Crl1817]

Thank you! I definitely don't want to scare her so I'd rather err on the side of skipping things.

I think Soarin would be okay because I think she would understand if I explain that it's like being in a movie. She will be 4 years and 8 months by then and is already pretty good at explanations (unlike her brother at that age).

Can you watch Barnstormer from the outside? Maybe that would be one to take her to see and then ask her if she wants to get on.

There is a nearby county fair next month. It might be worth taking her to see what rides she wants to get on. It would be well before we could get fast passes.

 

[tinktinktink]

DD was 3 her 1st trip we went in sept and she turned 4 in January to give you an idea. She was 41 inches tall begged to ride tower of terror with my mom and DH. We explained to her what the ride did and asked her if she was sure and she said yes so at 3 years old she did it. This is a child who is normally very cautious about everything so I was shocked. That same trip she rode splash mountain, soarin, big thunder mountain, barn stormer and she seemed most afraid of soarin. I think not making a big deal out of it and explaining what the ride is going to do and that you'll be right there and that they are safe helps.

 

[usagibuffy]

We do Disneyland regularly with my very cautious 4yo. She loves Soarin', but that's about the only 40"+ ride she likes. She doesn't like any of the roller coasters, Splash mountain, our Test Track-like ride, Pirates (too dark for her). She loves Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Small World. I'm pretty sure she'd hate Dinosaur (at AK). I'm actually really hoping she matures some before our trip in Feb., as she'll be our only kid big enough to ride all the fun stuff.