First Ride for Timid 2 year old? And being preggo at DL?

[Disneyland Mommy]

Hi everyone!

I'll be heading out to the DLR for 5 days starting 3-21.

On 3-25, some friends of mine will being joining us, along with their just turned 2 year old DD. Apparently, she won't even ride a slow moving train ride at a local outdoor shopping mall in their area. So, her parents are concerned they'll have trouble getting her to ride anything at all!

I was thinking maybe It's a Small World would be a good first ride for her. It's slow, and there's a lot to look at. But, I wanted to get everyone's opinion! This is her first time at DLR, and I want her and her parents to have a great time! She's easily traumatized, I guess

Also, I've been to DLR many, many times, and have even been their pregnant before, but never this pregnant! I'll be 33 weeks....Any advice there?

 

[coaches24]

The carosel was my DDs favorite along with the adventures of Winnie the pooh. Small world is also a good choice. My DD was 2 when we went. She can be timid at times though when we first got there she was so excited to be there she would have agreed to go in anything. POC was actually her first ride. She was a little scared at first but liked it and went on it several more times during our trip.

She loved dumbo but hated the astro orbitor. Don't know why since they are basically the same thing.

 

[PigletSeeker]

I'd say Small World...just doesn't get any tamer.

 

[jennabennabofenna]

Aww poor thing. i remember my DD was like that around that age too. took till she was 3 to want to ride any rides.

There are plenty of rides that are gentle enough for her, but a lot have dark tunnels and loud music that might startle her, especially if she is already easily scared. I would definitely suggest It's a Small World, and the Casey Jr. Circus Train. & if she is okay with those, then mabye Dumbo.

But if she isnt okay with those rides then she probably just isnt ready for rides yet. Which is okay. There is still lots for her to do/see/explore. She can meet characters, go inside minnie & mickeys house, watch the parade, etc.

As far as you being pregnant, id just just take it easy, lol. Have fun but don't overdo it. Not sure about rides i believe DL has warnings on a lot of rides for women who are pregnant. Don't go on any "big" rides. You would be fine to go on most of them though.

 

[martikus]

We went with a timid 5 year old and without a doubt It's A Small World.

You will be surprised what is considered "scary" to a true timid child. "ride" became a 4 letter word for us!

Winnie the Pooh was TOO scary.

Carasoul, dumbo, turtle talk with crush, treehouse - those were all VERY safe.

We rode IASW at least 10 times.

 

[disneychrista]

On 3-25, some friends of mine will being joining us, along with their just turned 2 year old DD . . . She's easily traumatized, I guess

I would suggest that you have them show her videos or clips of park rides. See if they can find the video "Sing Along Songs - Disneyland Fun" Walmart had it a couple of weeks ago. But they may also be able to rent it from a video store. YouTube is also great for clips.

I'll be 33 weeks....Any advice there?

Take is slow & easy. Stay hydrated. Take lots of breaks, watch shows, take the train around the park a couple times, the monorail, etc.

 

[coaches24]

Story tellers canal boats is another good one for little ones. And someone else mentioned Casey jr train and that is a great ride as well for little ones.

 

[Disneyland Mommy]

Aww poor thing. i remember my DD was like that around that age too. took till she was 3 to want to ride any rides.

There are plenty of rides that are gentle enough for her, but a lot have dark tunnels and loud music that might startle her, especially if she is already easily scared. I would definitely suggest It's a Small World, and the Casey Jr. Circus Train. & if she is okay with those, then mabye Dumbo.

But if she isnt okay with those rides then she probably just isnt ready for rides yet. Which is okay. There is still lots for her to do/see/explore. She can meet characters, go inside minnie & mickeys house, watch the parade, etc.

As far as you being pregnant, id just just take it easy, lol. Have fun but don't overdo it. Not sure about rides i believe DL has warnings on a lot of rides for women who are pregnant. Don't go on any "big" rides. You would be fine to go on most of them though.

Apparently, meeting characters are out for her too,lol. Her dad told me she's afraid of the large mylar Mickey balloons at the grocery store, so I think they're going to try to avoid the characters

What can this poor child do if she's too scared for rides & characters? I know there's a toddler play area in toon town....anything else like that?

Also, I'm pretty familar with what rides I can't ride. However, my 4 year old DD, will be just 40" (I think) when we go, so it will be her first time for a lot of the bigger rides. Do you think I could go on Soarin' with her? I don't have a big belly, so I'm not worried about the seat belt fitting. What do you think?

 

[Disneyland Mommy]

I would suggest that you have them show her videos or clips of park rides. See if they can find the video "Sing Along Songs - Disneyland Fun" Walmart had it a couple of weeks ago. But they may also be able to rent it from a video store. YouTube is also great for clips.


Take is slow & easy. Stay hydrated. Take lots of breaks, watch shows, take the train around the park a couple times, the monorail, etc.

Great advice about watching videos on You Tube, I'll definitely suggest that to them.

Also, I was thinking Tom Sawyer's Island(or whatever it's called these days) would be a good place for her to burn off steam, IF they can get her on the raft!

 

[Cagirl767]

I have two very timid kids. DD wouldn't go on the carousel for years, Casey Jr. was out too, it was too bumpy, no Autopia either, too bumpy.

Storybook would be my first choice, then IASW. They like the Main Street cars and large train, also candy store and ice cream parlor. They're ok with Peter Pan at that age and Heimlich's Chew Chew. Buzz is still a favorite. Walk thru the castle. Face painting is fun. Mark Twain was ok too and Monorail is still a favorite, last time we rode with the pilot. Winnie the Pooh has thescary bees at the end, so we'd try to distract dd. They didn't like characters either.

 

[DahliaRW]

The only reason I wouldn't do IASW is if she has a fear of water.

 

[nikkislaght]

I would try for the Bugs life rides first...

Heimlich' s chew chew ride is so slow and scare free, and not a long ride if she gets scared.

Although Its a small world is tame, its very stimulating , and its long. so if she is not having a great time of it , you are stuck....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXWBm0ULKEM

 

[llump41]

We took 2.5 y/o grandson last Sat. IASW was by far his favorite. Although no melt down, the Fantasyland dark rides were scary to him and he covered his eyes during them. Tiki Room is another good ride for him as was the parade. He loved Casey but since he's into trains that is a no-brainer.

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

Many years ago when my kids were two...they were afraid of the characters! I have pictures of them hiding under the tables a the character Breakfeast.

With the rides I brought their favorite blankets on with us and if they were scared they just buried their face and would peak out at times and by the end of the trip loved the rides.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would start in DCA.

All of the rides in a bug's land (not the attraction "it's tough to be a bug"!) are outdoors and almost completely visible from the outside of the ride. It's bright and shiny and happy in there, and Heimlich burps at the end of that ride.

There's also the Triton carousel with sea creatures you ride on, over in the Pier area.


Fantasyland isn't peaches and cream, no matter how much it's billed towards kids. Dark queues, two, no, three, SCARY rides (Pinocchio, Snow White, and Mr Toad), going through the mouth of a gigantic whale (storybookland canal boats).... Apart from the tea party and the carousel, there's nothing really benign there to a bitty kid who hasn't found her brave side yet. And even those involve being dizzy, which isn't fun for some people. Oh and let's not forget freaky Alice in Wonderland! Casey Jr is fun, but it feels FAST, which might scare her as well.


DCA all the way. Queues and rides totally outdoors, no dark lines, etc.

 

[PigletSeeker]

How about meeting the Princesses and Fairies? They're not as scary as the non-talking characters.

 

[94bruin]

I have two very timid kids. DD wouldn't go on the carousel for years, Casey Jr. was out too, it was too bumpy, no Autopia either, too bumpy.

My youngest one still doesn't like to go on the horses on the carousel. She will sit on the bench, however.

She's not a fan of the dark Fantasyland rides, though we usually all try go on Peter Pan first. If she refuses to go on PP, then I take her to sit on the bench at the Carousel.

She does love Dumbo and Teacups. She likes IASW as well.

 

[NiceOneSimba]

My somewhat timid almost-three year old daughter LOVED:
Teacups (we must have ridden them 15 times.)
Small World
Alice in Wonderland (I have no idea why this one was okay and the other Fantasyland dark rides weren't. She wanted to go on this one again and again.)
Casey Jr.
Carousels (in DCA and DL)
Mickey's Fun Wheel (NON-SWINGING)
Little Mermaid
Gadget's Go Coaster

She HATED (and I mean really, really, REALLY hated. To the point that she still talks about them being scary six months later):

Pinnocchio
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Matterhorn
The dinosaurs in the tunnel on the Disneyland Railroad
Storybook Land (she really was freaked out by going through Monstro. He has pretty big teeth for a whale who should probalby have baleen instead of teeth.)

The rest I would say she tolerated. Didn't hate them, didn't love them, didn't really want to do them again.

Unfortunately, it's hard to tell what will freak a kid out. We thought we were fine on the matterhorn after she rode the Go Coaster three times in a row. Not so much. And the dinosaurs on the train? I still can't figure that one out.

My DD seemed to be the best with the rides she could see, and could see kids having fun on. We'd stop and watch, and then get her on it. We always asked "Do you want to do that again?" If the answer was no, then we didn't do it again.

 

[2disneyland]

Hi everyone!

I'll be heading out to the DLR for 5 days starting 3-21.

On 3-25, some friends of mine will being joining us, along with their just turned 2 year old DD. Apparently, she won't even ride a slow moving train ride at a local outdoor shopping mall in their area. So, her parents are concerned they'll have trouble getting her to ride anything at all!

I was thinking maybe It's a Small World would be a good first ride for her. It's slow, and there's a lot to look at. But, I wanted to get everyone's opinion! This is her first time at DLR, and I want her and her parents to have a great time! She's easily traumatized, I guess

Also, I've been to DLR many, many times, and have even been their pregnant before, but never this pregnant! I'll be 33 weeks....Any advice there?

For the 2 year old, how about the horse carriage up Main Street? Her parents can hold her and she can pet the horses if she wants, to get to know them....let the driver know her situation and watch the CM work their magic. Getting a ride on a horse carriage and that first glimpse of the Castle....well, that should work some pixie dust.

Or...if she really is that timid....I wouldn't push her to ride anything. There is still lots to see and experience without having to ride on anything. And pushing her may be traumatic to her and for the future of her adventures in Disney you don't want to work that reverse pixie dust!!

As for being pregnant......memorize the location of bathrooms......take lots of sit down breaks......and realize that most rides are out for you, so maybe you can stay with the 2 year old and just gaze upon the beauty of Disney while her parents get to ride things that they daughter won't let them. Drink lots and lots of water too....it's not horribly hot but you can get dehydrated quite easily and that's extra bad when preggers.

 

[pixiepowers]

I would vote for short rides that are out in the open - carousel, Dumbo, Bugs Life rides. I took my 2-year-old daughter on Alice (bad idea), and she was terrified. After a couple of hours, we figured there was no way she would be afraid of Small World - she cried the entire time. That is honestly the longest ride to be stuck on with a miserable child. She was also terrified of the characters, but I have a really cute picture of her snuggling up to a giant Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal in the store near Critter Country, so I know she still had a great time! Enjoy - every age is different - a year later she walked up to every character and rode every ride she could!