First 'mountain' for a 3yr old

[Denton]

At my son's 3 year wellness check, I was pleasantly surprised to find out he was 40 inches tall. I immediately thought of all the rides that would be available to him.

So which mountain was your child's first?

Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain

I'm leaning towards Splash Mt since it's not as rough as the other two. When my son rode the Matterhorn last year, he said it was "too bumpy".

 

[Babybears]

I personally think Splash is the best first one (after Matterhorn). The reason I like it is that when my youngest was finally tall enough to go on it, we could ride side-by-side in the back seat, which made her not so nervous. Most of the ride being a singing dark type ride, really appealed to her and the big drop, which she was nervous about, was over so quick and then it was back to more singing animatronics. Couldn't keep her off it once she saw it was not that scary.

I think the next best in Big Thunder. The only thing with that is that it is a loud ride, but you are able to probably ride three across (making a nice sandwich of sorts) which may make the little one feel more secure. We tried Space last as that one worried me the most as far as fright potential, but it turned out she loved it and had her hands up the whole time. We were like, "darn, if we would've known she would do good on it, think of all the time we could've save on the ride-share stuff". LOL

Whatever you decide, I'm sure will work perfect! Have a great time!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

My 8 year old still says BTMRR is too bumpy with Space a close 2nd... but she loves Matterhorn and Splash... and will finally be tall enough for Screamin this year!

 

[mrswh]

At 5 and 7 (just turned 7), my kids did BTMRR first and LOVED it. Then they tried Space - not so much! They weren't traumatized, but have no plans to go again. We have not yet tried Splash - they *love* GRR, though, and it's a lot easier to go up and change at the GCH from GRR than from Splash!

Obviously all kids are different, but I feel like Space would be too intense for a 3 year old. Heck, it's pretty intense for me!

 

[everwondering]

I took my then just-turned 3yo and 7 1/2 year old on Space Mountain back in 2006, convinced they were going to love it. Needless to say, I kinda sorta maybe traumatized them.

I even bought the ride picture to commemorate the event. The eldest has her eyes glued shut and a pained expression on her face, and all you can see of the youngest is the top of her hair since she had her head buried in my side.

Afterward, it didn't seem to bother the youngest as much as the eldest, who burst into tears as soon as we were out of the building and then pretty much was terrified to ride almost anything after that.

Sigh. Not my best mommy moment.

Of course, now that they're 12 and 8, that's one of the rides that's at the top of their lists for our trip next month, and they think the picture from 2006 is funny.

 

[jennabennabofenna]

I was recently wondering the same thing. I just measured my 3 1/2 year old daughter and she is at 39 1/2". We are going mid June so im hoping she will grow another 1/2 inch by then, lol.

We are going to let Splash be her first big ride We feel its the most "gentle".

 

[coaches24]

I have been trying to figure out this as well. My DD is 3 as well and with shoes on she is just over 40 in (not quite big enough for GRR darn it) but she hasn't been much of a daredevil thus far. Last summer she went on the small Kiddie roller coaster at the state fair and was crying about half way through the because she wanted off.

We are thinking we will try the toon town roller coaster first on our trip in May and see how she does. Splash is also a possibility because she does fine on POC (we went last year when she was 2). I doubt we will take her on space as she doesn't like it that dark usually. I show her the rides on YouTube all the time and sometimes she says she wants to do the roller coasters and sometimes she says they are too fast and she doesn't want to do them so we will see what mood she's in on our trip.

I'm excited she is tall enough for Soarin and star wars.

 

[Butterfly123]

Just like Everwondering I traumatized my kids on their first trip to Disneyland. Space Mountain was our second ride, and we walked right on. I didn't remember it being so intense (my bad), and when the kids got off at least two of them wanted to leave Disneyland. We bee-lined it over to Small World, and the trip was saved! They still remember the event, and laugh about it!

 

[wonderfuller]

My parents took me on thunder mountain when I was 5 or 6, telling me it was a nice gentle little train ride. I screamed bloody murder the whole ride, had a meltdown afterwards, and didn't set foot on another rollercoaster 'til I was 12. But now thunder is one of my favorite rides, go figure.

I was a TOTAL weenie as a kid, though.....

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

My parents took me on thunder mountain when I was 5 or 6, telling me it was a nice gentle little train ride. I screamed bloody murder the whole ride, had a meltdown afterwards, and didn't set foot on another rollercoaster 'til I was 12. But now thunder is one of my favorite rides, go figure.

I was a TOTAL weenie as a kid, though.....

I have friends that did the same thing to their 6 year old... they had never been on it themselves, and they did it for the 1st ride... needless to say the rest of the trip was very limited on rides... their dd didn't trust them at all and refused to ride most everything.

 

[Liat]

My 4 year old love love loves Splash. The last trip I think we went on it at least twice, often 4 or 5 times every day because he loved it so much. One evening it was dead and we were the only ones on the log and they just let us ride it twice in a row. He didn't much like Thunder Mountain because it was too loud for him. He wanted to try it again and then baulked when we got to the front of the line so we'll try again next trip.

My 3 year old wasn't quite tall enough for most of the mountains and she was only 2 when were were there, but she loved the Matterhorn. Gadgets Go Coaster scared the bejeezus out of her though.

 

[GatorMommy2007]

I remember riding Space Mountain when I was five, and it completely traumatized me! I didn't ride it again until I was 21, and all I could think about was my 5 year old self riding it. I've pretty much talked myself out of ever riding it again. I might be that one in a million.

 

[disneymum58]

I thought it might to be good to point out that sometimes measurements vary depending on where they are taken, at DL or at the doctor's office. My own son measured just 40" (so got to ride) for some rides and then didn't at others.
Personally, my DS9 will only go on Matterhorn of all the "mountains". Can't quite figure that one out?

 

[Mommy26]

Splash.

My husband has a tradition. He tells them that the long drop is for another ride next door and this is just animatronics. Then he buys the picture.

I think its cruel, but all three of my kids loved it.

 

[Mommy26]

My parents took me on thunder mountain when I was 5 or 6, telling me it was a nice gentle little train ride. I screamed bloody murder the whole ride, had a meltdown afterwards, and didn't set foot on another rollercoaster 'til I was 12. But now thunder is one of my favorite rides, go figure.

I was a TOTAL weenie as a kid, though.....

Okay, how on earth did MommytoPrincessAbby quote Wonderfuller at 8:22 if the message didn't post until 8:25??

 

[wonderfuller]

Okay, how on earth did MommytoPrincessAbby quote Wonderfuller at 8:22 if the message didn't post until 8:25??

Good question. I do know that the board hiccoughed when I tried to post and then I got an error message....so maybe that somehow explains it. I was surprised to see it posted at all!

 

[DharmaLou]

I remember riding Space Mountain when I was five, and it completely traumatized me! I didn't ride it again until I was 21, and all I could think about was my 5 year old self riding it. I've pretty much talked myself out of ever riding it again. I might be that one in a million.

This was me with Matterhorn when I was 5! I didn't ride it again until I was 15, I think! But now it's my favorite ride besides Dumbo

 

[coaches24]

Question about splash. If my DD (3) goes on it does she have to have her own seat or can she sit in my lap? She might be more inclined to ride it of she can sit with me or my DW. How does it work with young children who are just big enough to ride?

 

[Mommy26]

Good question. I do know that the board hiccoughed when I tried to post and then I got an error message....so maybe that somehow explains it. I was surprised to see it posted at all!

I thought I was in the twilight zone. I fully expect a fantastic elevator ride now.

 

[Babybears]

Question about splash. If my DD (3) goes on it does she have to have her own seat or can she sit in my lap? She might be more inclined to ride it of she can sit with me or my DW. How does it work with young children who are just big enough to ride?

The very back seat on the log can fit two people. The CM reccommended that to me when my daughter was just big enough to ride. That way you can ride side by side and your child will probably feel more secure. Otherwise, it is one to a seat.