First coasters and big kid rides?

[leannak]

Our 6-year-old wants to try some slightly bigger rides this trip and is “kind of” interested in doing a roller coaster. She grew a lot and is 45” so can do most of the rides now. We will be going to Animal Kingdom and Epcot and Hollywood studios first. She tried 7 dwarfs mine train 2 years ago and hated it. She still remembers it and is a little gun-shy this time around, although she’s much older and I think will love the rides if we try them in the right order! What are your suggestions for first rides & coasters in AK, HS and Epcot? Is Slinky Dog scarier than 7dwarfs? Maybe we would go on Mickey & Minnie’s railway and then slinky? I can’t think of much for coaster type rides in these parks... maybe Test Track in Epcot? Expedition Everest is likely too scary, right? Not even sure if she’s tall enough for Pandora FP but that one is probably intense for a young kid, right?

 

[Shellyred8]

What did she not like about 7 Dwarfs Mine Train? That is actually the one I was going to recommend because it's so smooth and pretty short. Knowing what she didn't like about it might help in figuring out what to recommend.

 

[GBRforWDW]

Our 6-year-old wants to try some slightly bigger rides this trip and is “kind of” interested in doing a roller coaster. She grew a lot and is 45” so can do most of the rides now. We will be going to Animal Kingdom and Epcot and Hollywood studios first. She tried 7 dwarfs mine train 2 years ago and hated it. She still remembers it and is a little gun-shy this time around, although she’s much older and I think will love the rides if we try them in the right order! What are your suggestions for first rides & coasters in AK, HS and Epcot? Is Slinky Dog scarier than 7dwarfs? Maybe we would go on Mickey & Minnie’s railway and then slinky? I can’t think of much for coaster type rides in these parks... maybe Test Track in Epcot? Expedition Everest is likely too scary, right? Not even sure if she’s tall enough for Pandora FP but that one is probably intense for a young kid, right?

We did MMRR and SDD back to back with our 6 year old in January. Mmrr isn't really a roller coaster, more of a dark ride with a small drop. SDD imo is more intense than 7 dwarfs. I think 7dmt is better because of the land aspect around the track, but she didn't do 7dmt when we were there 2 years ago and none of us did it this time.

That being said, on SDD, she was freaked out the entire way and hated it while on it. She was really excited for it too, so that was sad. She says today she wants to go again though.

There's really not many coasters. Most of the rides are dark rides, which can be fun and less intense while some have mild thrills. Frozen, RotR, MMRR, dinosaurs all have some minor intense spots in the parks you mention. Maybe start with those and work your way up.

 

[leannak]

What did she not like about 7 Dwarfs Mine Train? That is actually the one I was going to recommend because it's so smooth and pretty short. Knowing what she didn't like about it might help in figuring out what to recommend.

I think it was just too fast/intense. She hadn’t been on anything more than the carousel or Pooh before that. But she was barely 4 years old at the time so I’m hoping she loves it this time around. We have the other parks to contend with first, though.

 

[lnR_Texas]

I had assumed that she had been on Barnstormer, but you didn’t mention that. I think that coaster is perfectly suited for a first timer to gauge how they might like bigger coasters. After that, 7DMT is the next step up. In fact, 7DMT is too tame for my family, we rode it once and don’t need to ride it again.

 

[leannak]

She never tried barnstormer because her older siblings had tried that one at Disneyland and hated it - and they like roller coasters! They said it jerked them around too much and gave one a headache. I had heard 7DMT was smoother so that was the one we went with and it seems that was the wrong choice. Or we should have just waited until she was older...

 

[Speri337]

We don’t like Barnstormer for the same reason. I think you should give 7DMT another try. It’s the easiest of the bunch. SDD is a step up. We’ve done all the coasters as soon as my kids were tall enough to ride and my son was a little scared of SDD. He is not a roller coaster person, but he loves 7DMT.

 

[leannak]

Thanks for all the help!

How is Slinky Dog compared to 7 dwarfs? Is it much more intense? Since we won’t be in magic kingdom until after all these I’m wondering if we get through maybe Mickey & Minnie’s runaway railway we could try slinky. Or maybe if we do Epcot first and she handles test track & soarin’ that might be enough to prep her for slinky dog.

 

[Marthasor]

Thanks for all the help!

How is Slinky Dog compared to 7 dwarfs? Is it much more intense? Since we won’t be in magic kingdom until after all these I’m wondering if we get through maybe Mickey & Minnie’s runaway railway we could try slinky. Or maybe if we do Epcot first and she handles test track & soarin’ that might be enough to prep her for slinky dog.

Slinky is faster and more intense than 7DMT. If you try it, perhaps ask to sit near the front as the drops won't feel as big, IMHO. IMHO, 7DMT is really the "starter" coaster at WDW (I agree that Barnstormer is too jerky). I would try Soarin' and TT first (which really don't compare to Slinky) and just see how she feels about Slinky after that. Things can change a lot in 2 years. My DS was super afraid of coasters and then, at about 7 years old, we tried BTMRR and Space Mountain and he absolutely loved them.

 

[FCDub]

The very front of BTMRR is very slow.

 

[mikeyg1479]

IMO: in order of tame to the most "wild" ride where Disney Roller Coasters are concerned

1. Seven Dwarfs
2. Thunder Mountain
3. Slinky Dog coaster
4. Barnstormer
5. Space Mountain
6. Expedition Everest
7. Rock N Roller Coaster

Sorry but "Dwarfs" is about as tame as coasters come, outside of the little caterpillar kiddy coasters at the local faire. I can understand it being daunting at 4, but at a slightly older age (6-7ish), it probably will be just fine.

 

[NashvilleMama]

I would give Barnstormer a shot - my youngest was VERY scared of anything fast/jerky and Barnstormer was the only one she enjoyed for a long, long time. After that she eased into 7DMT (too fast!) and then Splash Mountain (not a rollercoaster but the drop feels similar) and then Big Thunder Mtn. Now she loves them all, but it took awhile.

 

[tobikaye]

OP: Maybe this is one where you watch some YouTube videos to see how the kid reacts and talk about what could be issues. If anything, watch SDMT again and see if your kid can explain what still might be an issue.

Since my sister has some medical issues, I have to basically watch many ride videos to find out if I think she can even ride. Then we watch together for her to see if she sees any issues and this makes it easier when we go so she is not so anxious waiting to ride and more excited.

 

[karen4546]

Our 6-year-old wants to try some slightly bigger rides this trip and is “kind of” interested in doing a roller coaster. She grew a lot and is 45” so can do most of the rides now. We will be going to Animal Kingdom and Epcot and Hollywood studios first. She tried 7 dwarfs mine train 2 years ago and hated it. She still remembers it and is a little gun-shy this time around, although she’s much older and I think will love the rides if we try them in the right order! What are your suggestions for first rides & coasters in AK, HS and Epcot? Is Slinky Dog scarier than 7dwarfs? Maybe we would go on Mickey & Minnie’s railway and then slinky? I can’t think of much for coaster type rides in these parks... maybe Test Track in Epcot? Expedition Everest is likely too scary, right? Not even sure if she’s tall enough for Pandora FP but that one is probably intense for a young kid, right?

Pandora is definitely tame. My grandchildren ages 4-8 LOVED SDD the most. The ride is so smooth. They also like BTMR better than 7 dwarves (so do I). They are tall enough for RNRC. Exp. Ev. and Space Mountain but I did not let them ride yet. One grandchild out of 4 that rode TOT loved it - the others DID NOT.

Goofy's was the first coaster we put them on - 30 seconds of FUN They rode it 3 times in 10 minutes.

AK - no coasters to recommend.
HS-SDD for sure
MK-BTMR
EP-no coasters and I DO NOT RECOMMEND MISSION SPACE ORANGE! but maybe TESTTRACK

I personally always do ToyStory Land FIRST. You can go later in the evening and ride MMRR. But, night rides on SDD are great (same for BTMR)

enjoy!

 

[bravenyc]

My two were also a little skittish about coasters - 7DMT by far is the best starter coaster and was their favorite at age 7 (even more so than barnstormer I would say - as it is smoother) - barnstormer should be fine and after that I would say BTRRM - my youngest was 5 at the time and only liked BTRRM in the day - at night it seems faster. If she is nervous on those I would stop there. If she seems fine, then she will likely enjoy SD.

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

IMO: in order of tame to the most "wild" ride where Disney Roller Coasters are concerned

1. Seven Dwarfs
2. Thunder Mountain
3. Slinky Dog coaster
4. Barnstormer
5. Space Mountain
6. Expedition Everest
7. Rock N Roller Coaster

Sorry but "Dwarfs" is about as tame as coasters come, outside of the little caterpillar kiddy coasters at the local faire. I can understand it being daunting at 4, but at a slightly older age (6-7ish), it probably will be just fine.

Okay, I am writing this as a mid-40'something person with a lifetime fear of roller coasters. My kids are getting older and I am feeling obligated to ride with them. I rode Space Mountain under dubious pretenses as an 8-year-old and it terrified me at the time. I am gently working back up. I rode Barnstormer but chickened out of 7DMT both times we've visited MK in recent years. I was fine on Barnstormer though stomach was unsettled from the jerking around. FWIW, I also freak out a bit when I first ride Soarin' and haven't been to AK so haven't had to deal with FOP. You'd really put Barnstormer as more wild than 7DMT and SDD?

I'm pretty committed right now to doing both 7DMT and BTMRR next visit. Hesitant to do Splash, but want to just because its days are numbered (though I'm fairly certain my parents made me go on it as a child).

 

[luv2cheer92]

We did MMRR and SDD back to back with our 6 year old in January. Mmrr isn't really a roller coaster, more of a dark ride with a small drop. SDD imo is more intense than 7 dwarfs. I think 7dmt is better because of the land aspect around the track, but she didn't do 7dmt when we were there 2 years ago and none of us did it this time.

That being said, on SDD, she was freaked out the entire way and hated it while on it. She was really excited for it too, so that was sad. She says today she wants to go again though.

There's really not many coasters. Most of the rides are dark rides, which can be fun and less intense while some have mild thrills. Frozen, RotR, MMRR, dinosaurs all have some minor intense spots in the parks you mention. Maybe start with those and work your way up.

There is no drop in MMRR, it's just a trackless dark ride.

 

[GBRforWDW]

There is no drop in MMRR, it's just a trackless dark ride.

Thanks. Felt like there was one, but guess that was just my imagination

 

[Marthasor]

Okay, I am writing this as a mid-40'something person with a lifetime fear of roller coasters. My kids are getting older and I am feeling obligated to ride with them. I rode Space Mountain under dubious pretenses as an 8-year-old and it terrified me at the time. I am gently working back up. I rode Barnstormer but chickened out of 7DMT both times we've visited MK in recent years. I was fine on Barnstormer though stomach was unsettled from the jerking around. FWIW, I also freak out a bit when I first ride Soarin' and haven't been to AK so haven't had to deal with FOP. You'd really put Barnstormer as more wild than 7DMT and SDD?

I'm pretty committed right now to doing both 7DMT and BTMRR next visit. Hesitant to do Splash, but want to just because its days are numbered (though I'm fairly certain my parents made me go on it as a child).

I'll chime in on this one as I'm a middle age parent who goes solo with DS13 a lot and I didn't want him to constantly ride alone (though he has when he decides to go on EE for the FOURTH time in a row - um, no thank you, my brain was quite addled after the third time around). I do not like roller coasters or anything with huge drops. Expedition Everest is about as far as I will go in terms of roller coasters. I would definitely put Barnstormer as more wild than 7DMT. 7DMT is all wind-up with no pay-off (pay-off being big drops and, I'd like to thank the Imagineers for keeping them out of that ride). Slinky is deceptive. It can feel really fast and intense depending on where you sit, but it is SUPER smooth. I would definitely rather do Slinky than Barnstormer - again, no huge sudden drops, woohoo! And the drops that are there are really, really smooth - no jerky Barnstormer stuff. Space Mountain, oh dear, I hate it so much. I found if you count to 100 at a fairly steady pace, the ride is over once you get to 100 - no joke, that's how I get through it. BTMRR just feels fast, but no big drops - yippee! Splash - yeah, it's lovely until the drop. I think the only good thing I have to say about that is the drop is over really fast.

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

I'll chime in on this one as I'm a middle age parent who goes solo with DS13 a lot and I didn't want him to constantly ride alone (though he has when he decides to go on EE for the FOURTH time in a row - um, no thank you, my brain was quite addled after the third time around). I do not like roller coasters or anything with huge drops. Expedition Everest is about as far as I will go in terms of roller coasters. I would definitely put Barnstormer as more wild than 7DMT. 7DMT is all wind-up with no pay-off (pay-off being big drops and, I'd like to thank the Imagineers for keeping them out of that ride). Slinky is deceptive. It can feel really fast and intense depending on where you sit, but it is SUPER smooth. I would definitely rather do Slinky than Barnstormer - again, no huge sudden drops, woohoo! And the drops that are there are really, really smooth - no jerky Barnstormer stuff. Space Mountain, oh dear, I hate it so much. I found if you count to 100 at a fairly steady pace, the ride is over once you get to 100 - no joke, that's how I get through it. BTMRR just feels fast, but no big drops - yippee! Splash - yeah, it's lovely until the drop. I think the only good thing I have to say about that is the drop is over really fast.

Thank you for this update. I have been trying to confront my fears and my mental Maginot line right now is this:

Barnstormer | Space Mtn
BTMRR | Rock n Roll
7DMT | Everest
Sp|ash

Splash is probably going to be a day-of decision. I'm partially embarrassed to share how often I've watched first-person ride videos to desensitize myself to these rides when the day comes.