First 'mountain' for a 3yr old

[coaches24]

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.

Good to know thank you. If we can talk her into going on it I will certainly ask to be in the back so she can sit with me.

 

[Mommy26]

I thought the seats were single file, one in front of the other.

 

[coaches24]

I thought the seats were single file, one in front of the other.

They are which is why I asked my question. But apparently the back seat can hold 2.

 

[MotoWifey185]

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".

I don't have a child but I was there when my sister was finally tall enough, and her first mountain was Big Thunder. I remember how heart warming it was when she put her hands up like me and was just laughing the whole time. It is so fun to see DL through a kids eyes!

 

[lcasa]

40" is also Star Tours height - you might even want to try that first since it's coaster-ish but feels safer.
Also - what about Gadget's Go-Coaster as a break-in ride?
My oldest was 5 for his first Space ride and came off very unhappy...

 

[coaches24]

40" is also Star Tours height - you might even want to try that first since it's coaster-ish but feels safer.
Also - what about Gadget's Go-Coaster as a break-in ride?
My oldest was 5 for his first Space ride and came off very unhappy...

That's my plan. Gadgets first and then if she's willing we will take her on Spalsh. I doubt we try space or btmrr with her though.

 

[Mama Who]

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?

That's the only mountain my 14 year old won't go on. (He doesn't like the yeti.)

I don't know that I'd put a 3 year old on any of the mountains. Every kid is different but it seems like many (most?) would be distressed by them. To me BTMRR is the least intense but it also feels least secure. Having been traumatized at 2 by the Haunted Mansion (the trees still give me the willies) and at 7 by Space Mt. (which I begged not to go on) I tend to take it a little slower with my kids and big rides.

Of course, my oldest is kind of a wuss and my younger is not quite 2. She may totally change how I do things.

 

[coaches24]

That's the only mountain my 14 year old won't go on. (He doesn't like the yeti.)

I don't know that I'd put a 3 year old on any of the mountains. Every kid is different but it seems like many (most?) would be distressed by them. To me BTMRR is the least intense but it also feels least secure. Having been traumatized at 2 by the Haunted Mansion (the trees still give me the willies) and at 7 by Space Mt. (which I begged not to go on) I tend to take it a little slower with my kids and big rides.

Of course, my oldest is kind of a wuss and my younger is not quite 2. She may totally change how I do things.

Yea that's what I don't want to do. I won't force my DD on a ride, esspecially a roller coaster type ride. I will take her if she wants to try it but she has to want to. I show her all of them online so she can get an idea of what would happen if she rides it.

 

[kailuagirl]

My DD4 loves space mountain and the matterhorn and Goofy's Sky School, was just okay with Splash (but she's only been on it once) and hated and I mean hated Big Thunder. That is the only ride she doesn't like and refuses to ride in Disneyland. I still haven't figured out why. She only rode it once and was inbetween DH and I and it didn't seem that bad, she loved the Dino bones, but hated that ride. I don't know when and if I'll ever get her on it again.

So it's really hard to say which one first, but probably splash it is the less intense as it is so fast once you actually get going and then it's over before you know it (the scary part).

Have fun and let us know what the best one was

 

[Babybears]

They are which is why I asked my question. But apparently the back seat can hold 2.

Yes, the back seat definitely can hold two. It is a bench seat that spans the log from side to side. All the other seats are one to a seat.

 

[nannyz]

Parents beware...just because your child is TALL enough for a ride does not mean that he is HEAVY enough! When my daughter was a little one, I took her on BTMRR because she was tall enough. But she was a tiny little thing (weighed 87 lbs in high school) and I spent the entire ride in horror as I tried to hold her down so she did not fly off the ride. It was one of the scariest times of my life.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

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.

Thanks, Disneymum, because I had wondered how standardized the measuring was, or even how consistently CMs make sure someone is the minimum height. My 2yo was over 36" at his well-baby visit in December, so I figure there is a chance he will be very close to 40" by Halloween when we go. I also figured I could help him with his shoes if CMs don't make the little ones take them off for measuring because of the three kids, this youngest one is the most gung-ho and daredevily, so I am convinced he will enjoy any thrill ride we can get him on. And as a train fanatic, I figure we have to try for BTM if nothing else.

 

[taaren]

BTMRR was DS5's first when he was 3. He did not like Splash after looking at the drop from the outside, and didn't want to go on Space because he was afraid of the dark.

Now he'll go on Space but doesn't really like it, he enjoyed Splash for the first time this last trip, and actually likes BTMRR. He's not afraid of the dark anymore, but being able to see everything in the sunlight allows him to relax and not worry about what might happen.

 

[jacs1234]

My five year old DD says to go on Splash mountain first. Then space is her second choice.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Splash is the tamest, other than that final drop. Space Mtn in the dark could terrify the kid, and BTMRR is fast and jerky with lots of curves.

 

[mousireid]

Is your child pretty wild for fun at home? My son is an anxious child but my daughter loves thrills and had little fear of way too many things LOL! When she was four we took her on BTMRR first because its fast and a runaway train. She wanted to try everything but that drop in Splash is pretty intense for everyone so if they LIKE little drops its a good sign. Matterhorn was always first, even Pirates has a tiny drop (and the darkness could gouge fear of teh dark for Space Mountain).

I remember taking my SD to Universal and accidentally terrorizing her with King Kong and Jaws at age 5. We spent a week afterward afraid to use the toilet in case a shark came up and bit her. Ahem. And whenever the trash truck came around she was convinced dinosaurs were walking down the steet (jurassic park) - this from a daredevil mind you!

Whatever you decide don't pick one intense ride first or you may have a problem of fear for a while or the rest of the day - try and build up to the bigger rides!

 

[bekkiz]

I showed my two videos of all the rides they were tall enough for a few weeks before the trip. They were super excited for all of them. (3 years, 4 months)

BTMRR: Huge hit, they loved it, and asked to go on over and over
Splash Mt: LIked the ride, but also did not like getting soaked, only rode once
Space Mt: Only went once on the first day, and weren't too sure about a do-over. Until we walked past it the second day and they demanded a few more rides!
Star Tours: Only went once, but that was a time issue. They talked about that ride a lot, and now want to see Star Wars (which I think they're too young for LOL )
ToT: Went once, and once was enough for them

I never asked if they were scared, in fact never even used the word. I didn't want to set up the expecation that it might be scary. I just showed them all the videos so they were familier with the rides. Then, once we were on, they could remember what parts came next.

 

[Mama Who]

Yea that's what I don't want to do. I won't force my DD on a ride, esspecially a roller coaster type ride. I will take her if she wants to try it but she has to want to. I show her all of them online so she can get an idea of what would happen if she rides it.

How about starting her with Gadget's Go Coaster and seeing what she thinks? It would give you an opportunity to see how she reacts to actually being on a ride which is sometimes very different from watching video. But have the smallest adult in the party ride with her. My 6'4" husband was *miserable* on that one!

 

[coaches24]

How about starting her with Gadget's Go Coaster and seeing what she thinks? It would give you an opportunity to see how she reacts to actually being on a ride which is sometimes very different from watching video. But have the smallest adult in the party ride with her. My 6'4" husband was *miserable* on that one!

Yea somewhere in this thread I posted that as my plan. Gadgets first since its mild and short and then possibly more after that if she likes it. Though I think she will like splash (minus the getting wet part, strange kid) because she likes POC and isn't scared of the drop on that.

 

[gigi0902]

My 4 year old loved BTMRR, Star Tours, Gadget coaster and at CA he loved the jumpin jelly fish and mickeys fun wheel....and my older kids really got our cage swaying, he had his hands up in the air, laughing and everything. I figure next time we go I'll take him on splash mountain, I think he's my little daredevil.