FOP Advice

[pschro1]

So I have a two part question. I will be traveling to Disney at the end of February with my 6 year old son. He has been struggling with anxiety issue and has problems with anything new. Overall I know he will be fine as he has been Disney several times now. But I am concerned with FOP. He has seen the Youtube videos and he says he will go on it. However, this has bit us in behind before. My plans currently have us going to Epcot before our AK day. So I was going to try getting him on Soarin so he can experience the whole "large screen" simulator (He hasn't been on Soarin either). But he has said that he would like FOP more because you "stay on the ground." Has anyone dealt with this before? I might run to AK at the end of our Epcot day just to have him sit in the test seat.

My second part is about fastpass choices. I have us going to AK on a EMH day. There seems to be mixed opinions on the boards about which fastpass to choose. My plan right now is to RD river cruise and then Fastpass FOP. Taking into account a possible issue from his anxiety do you think this is a right move?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Klayfish]

On the first part, no way to tell...every child is different in what scares them or what excites them. Yes, there are similarities in that both are big screen movies/simulators. And as you said, the difference is that Soarin' raises you high up in the air, where FoP doesn't. If being lifted high into the air scares him, then he may not like Soarin', but may love FoP. I could certainly see FoP being a bit less intimidating to a young child since it doesn't actually "move" like Soarin'. Maybe try Soarin' first??

If you're doing to rope drop AK, I'd have to agree with going right to NRJ and using a FP+ for FoP...if you can get one.

 

[hertamaniac]

FOP is pure enjoyment and, in my opinion, I would try to turn the anxiety into excitement. Of course, I'm not sure how you do that.

Even my anxious, elderly mother rode it (feel free to use that angle).

 

[JJ2017]

My 6 yo son has anxiety issues as well. He's trying it out on Thursday and if I remember I'll post back here. Each kid is different though!

 

[pschro1]

Yea I know each child is different but I am looking for ideas so I don't have an issue when the time comes.

 

[DisneyDad2015]

My plan is to RD NRJ and use a FP for FOP. I think it will help with having to be at the very front of the RD crowd like you’ll need to be if you do FOP at RD.

 

[Wubar]

My plan is to RD NRJ and use a FP for FOP. I think it will help with having to be at the very front of the RD crowd like you’ll need to be if you do FOP at RD.

Exactly my plan as well. I'm not expecting there to be any real issues (hopefully), as I'm going in mid January when crowds are lower and every crowd estimation source predicts AK to be the least crowded park for that day. Fingers still crossed though.

 

[Anabelletoronto]

I don't have an anxious child but she also isn't a daredevil. My biggest fear is that she goes on a ride that I tell her is not that bad and she gets scared and then doesn't trust me for the next 10 rides.
I plan to be honest about potential scary parts and also remind her that it's just a ride and nothing can happen to her but I still know that there will be issues after certain rides where she will be mad at me.

 

[pschro1]

I guess I have a follow up question...I have seen the ride videos, however its hard to tell what actually happens when the ride starts. Do the vehicle move forward at all when the video starts? Or does the "bike" just move in place.

 

[BrianL]

I guess I have a follow up question...I have seen the ride videos, however its hard to tell what actually happens when the ride starts. Do the vehicle move forward at all when the video starts? Or does the "bike" just move in place.

It does not move forward out into the viewing area. The floor is still very much at your feet. You can however see into the screen area and if you look to the sides you can see the other rooms of people.