Have you had a child freak out during a ride?

[BensWife]

This will by my 4 year old son's second time at Disney (we went to WDW last summer). When we went to WDW last summer, he wasn't tall enough for the scary rides, but now he is a year and a half older so more mature and taller. I don't want to force him on any rides, but at the same time I don't want him to miss out on them because he is afraid and not willing to even try it. I am never into forcing a child on a ride or to see a character or anything like that. I used to be a clown (yes, a real paint your face and make balloon animals clown) and I used to hate it when parents would shove kids in my arms for a picture when they were clearly afraid of clowns and didn't even want to be near me. I felt so bad for those kids. Anyway, I told myself I would never do that to my kids. However, that being said, do you try to talk your kids into a ride? Have you ever had them freak out during a ride? How did you calm them down? My 4 year old can be very sensitive, so I am a little nervous about a few rides, but you don't know until you try it, right? Any info or advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Girimama33]

My daughter does not freak out. If she is scared, she will just put her head down or on my arm. She isn't a fan of really dark rides like Space and Matterhorn, but she is ok with the FL rides POTC, etc. She gets a little scared on RSR during the inside part...especially when Frank makes an appearance.
My niece, on the other hand, does freak out. She is 6 months younger than my DD. We took them for their first trip when DD was 3.5 and DN was just turning 3. We started with the castle walk through. DD loved it because she loves SB, but DN was not thrilled. We went on Snow White, and after that DN would not go on anything indoors. Later in the day, we met up with my other brother and his kids that are older. They wanted to go on POTC and DN was fine, but after the first drop, she really freaked out...screaming, hitting my brother, etc. Poor thing. I think she still avoids some of the rides to this day.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

This will by my 4 year old son's second time at Disney (we went to WDW last summer). When we went to WDW last summer, he wasn't tall enough for the scary rides, but now he is a year and a half older so more mature and taller. I don't want to force him on any rides, but at the same time I don't want him to miss out on them because he is afraid and not willing to even try it. I am never into forcing a child on a ride or to see a character or anything like that. I used to be a clown (yes, a real paint your face and make balloon animals clown) and I used to hate it when parents would shove kids in my arms for a picture when they were clearly afraid of clowns and didn't even want to be near me. I felt so bad for those kids. Anyway, I told myself I would never do that to my kids. However, that being said, do you try to talk your kids into a ride? Have you ever had them freak out during a ride? How did you calm them down? My 4 year old can be very sensitive, so I am a little nervous about a few rides, but you don't know until you try it, right? Any info or advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

We used to talk our kids into rides when they were younger (mainly for the HM). They did not want any part of it. We made them try it out, even if they kept their eyes closed we told them that was good enough! Now my kids never showed a real fear of going on anything except for one DD who hates heights. She did not want to go on soarin and I didnt force her. She has a true fear of heights and it would be mean to make her ride.
We had one freak out on a dark ride. I can't even remember which one. We had her hold onto her dad and close her eyes. She was fine when it was over.
Show him YouTube videos of rides. It will ease him into things!

 

[YukonMommy]

I don't think you ever know until you actually do it. In my family we have a rule you have to try it if your tall enough, if you really do not like it you do not have to ride again. Funny thing is even if the ride is not their favorite we find they will come on it again (and again) because they do not want to miss out.

Have a magical time!

 

[2tinkerbell]

I had my DD get on Space Mountain once (about 9 years old) and when it started she yelled, "Mom, stop this thing!" I was sitting in back of her and put my hands on her shoulders and said, "Just hang on, close your eyes and it will be over in a couple of minutes." She avoids that ride! A couple of years ago she was peer pressured into going on it again. We were on the ride when it stopped and they had to turn on the lights. She looked around and said, "Oh, there is a track that we go on."

I just am not one to force a child to do anything. I look at it as there are plenty of things to enjoy at the Disney Parks that it doesn't matter to me. What matters is making positive memories. That said, I do let my daughter read and watch YouTube videos so she can make the decision ahead of time. I have had to walk her out the "chicken" exit a few times when she was younger.

 

[nicolispicoli]

I took my little nephew who had just become tall enough on space mountain. Obviously I couldn't see his face or how afraid he was, but after it was over and freaked yelling at me "how could you do that to me!?". I felt bad, but also couldn't stop laughing. Honestly though, it probably freaked me out more than him to take him on there. I know he was big enough and it's completely safe, but I felt like I needed to keep a death grip on him the entire time, like he was going to fly out into the dark. He's 9 now and still talks about it, but he loves it now.

 

[SweetAlex]

We've always found it hard with our kids as they are both the type to initially freak out but love it after they try it. For us, it's a LOT of coaxing and prodding because we know they will have fun and enjoy it, once they get past the initial fear. For some kids, this doesn't work out well, but for us, it almost always does. It really depends and each parent knows their kid best... I try to remember this when I see parents "forcing" their kids on rides... maybe they know that the kid will love it and be glad they did it but need that push to get on it the first try.

But alas, this did backfire on us once. My oldest (10 at the time) totally freaked out on Splash last time. We thought she would love it. She loved other similar rides so we assumed this would be the same. Well, after much convincing, she agreed, not too willingly, to try it. She did fine until we approached the final drop... which is when she decided she did NOT want to go any further and she STOOD UP to get out . Thank God I was able to grab her shirt and pull her back down before we crested. I do not ever think about what could have happened if she stood up a few seconds later or I wasn't behind her with lightening reflexes.... needless to say, she looks back on that now and shakes her head at her thoughtlessness (maturity will do that to you) but we learned a lesson that day for sure.

Even if our kids tried it and didn't like it, we're okay with that. We always commend them for trying it and if they don't want to do it again, that's cool with us.

 

[ddwlms]

The rule in our family is: you try it once, if you don't like it you don't have to ride it again (for one year, and then you have to try it again because you may be old enough to change your mind).

This worked out well for the first 3 kids, who 100% of the time decided they were glad mom made them try a ride they didn't think they wanted to ride.

Our youngest is more ride timid. Her sisters all complain when someone has to sit out with her because mom won't enforce the family rule, but as the parent, I understand that she is truly afraid, not just slightly intimidated. Pushing her does not have a positive affect, so I don't.

So, you'll have to push lightly, and try to discern when such "encouragement" is no longer a good idea.

 

[disney world dreamer]

well you know your son better than we do so you should know whether he is likely to freak out or not.

my family has always just not made a huge deal out of "scary" rides so we never found them to be that scary.
and in fact we would love in haunted mansion when my dad would knock on the back of our doom buggy.
and we couldn't wait to do extraterrorestrial alien encounter.
and our favorite part of tower of terror was when you'd be completely in the dark and suddenly drop.

when my niece was 3yrs4mos old she was tall enough to ride tower of terror but we certainly were not suggesting it.
then when we were leaving her with my mom she insisted on going on. we explained what it did and she still wanted to go.
she was perfectly fine the first time although she had a look of concern the entire time lol.
then she said she wanted to go on it again but once in line she did start crying so my sister went out the chicken exit.
thats pretty much the extent of "freaking out" that any one in my family has done.

i guess i would just ask if he wants to go on and as chill as possible explain the ride.
if he starts freaking out in line then leave.
if he starts freaking out during the ride then just try to comfort him and especially in rides like the haunted mansion try to quiet him down as to not ruin the atmosphere for everyone else.

 

[crystal1313]

On our last trip in July, we got DS4 to ride Space Mtn and Splash Mtn for the first time. He also rode BTMR again, but he didn't remember the previous time he had been on it, so it was brand new to him.

We use bribes a lot. LOL. DS4 will just about do anything for a sucker, especially a mickey head sucker! For Splash Mtn we used a bribe and the fact that Brer Rabbit is in the ride. He LOVES bunnies right now. I had shown him a video on youtube before as well. I was very positive and told him how much fun he would have and how neat it was to see Brer Rabbit, etc. I made sure we sat in the very back so we could sit together. He was so proud of himself after the big drop!! And we made a HUGE deal about how he was such a big boy and that we were so proud of him, etc, etc. My dad somehow talked him into Space Mtn. He grabbed onto me for dear life, but no tears! And said he liked it. For BTMR we rode 3 in a car, so he didn't slide around a lot and he really liked that one. He requested to ride it again.

We also got him to go on POTC (which he's been on before but didn't like the drops) and he loves Goofy's Sky School.

He did however freak out and not want to ride RSR which he has been on TONS of times. I don't know why. He was acting odd the first day though. He's hit or miss and I never know what he's going to do sometimes! Although I do have to say, having a FP for the bigger rides was great because he didn't really have too much time to think of the ride and talk himself out of it. Oh and we couldn't get him on Star Tours (another one he has been on multiple times) because he truly believes we go into space. LOL. It's so cute and he is so adamant that he doesn't want to leave the Earth!! So we didn't push.

You know your child best. Maybe start out small and see how he does. We make a rule that they need to try at least one new attraction each trip and give him a choice. This trip he was a bit more brave.

 

[GatorChris]

I did have my son get scared right before we went on Tower of Terror. Of course, he was only 3. But about an hour later he wanted to go on it and he had fun. Now that he's older, he's scared of it again. But then again, a lot of people are.

My youngest does tend to close her eyes and squeeze her mom on dark rides like Pirates or Snow White. But overall, no complete freak outs.

 

[bcla]

King Arthur's Carousel is about it. Kid used to be a huge merry-go-round fan, but recently it's a freak out once it starts moving. These days we find a chair if we can and there's no panic. Loves merry-go-rounds, but hates sitting on the wooden horses. I can't figure out what switch got flipped.

 

[Dukland]

It just depends on the kid and the ride. My oldest went on even the big roller coaster at DCA six years ago, but now, at 13, I doubt she'll go on it. She's afraid of heights. We won't force her.

For something like HM or POTC, I talk them through it. I let them know the scariest part of HM is people screaming in the elevator. It's easier when they know what to expect. For POTC, the only one who has expressed fear is my youngest. He is scared of skeletons. He went on the ride, and loved it, when he was 1 1/2 years old. In preparation for our trip next month, I watched a YouTube video of the ride with him. He is reluctant but will go.

 

[goooof1]

I was going on RSR as a single rider and was put into a car with a family with 2 kids. The little boy was in total melt down and as we were loading up he was screaming and trying to crawl out. His mom, who was sitting in the middle, kept trying to talk to him as she buckled him in. I started to tell him some things about the ride and how fun it was. When the car started moving he listened a little more and then calmed down. He stopped crying and started looking around. By the end of the ride he told his mom that he wanted to go again! Some kids need strong encouragement! This mom and dad knew their DS would like the ride and he did!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

DS (now 6.5yrs) has been to DLR at 1, 2, 3.5, and 5 yrs. He loved some things at 1 and 2 that he didn't like at 3.5 and 5. He LOVED POTC and all the dark rides when he was little. At 3.5 we headed into Peter Pan and he freaked out in the dark. Totally different reaction! At 5 he did not want to go on any dark rides but was very excited to try Splash and any roller coasters he was tall enough for (he barely made it on Splash and RSR).

Before each trip we would talk about all of the rides, and we'd watch videos on youtube to see what they were like. I always encouraged him to take a risk, just like I have encouraged him to take risks to try new things at home and school, too. I tell him that I will be right with him, I will hold his hand, and he can always close his eyes and have me cover his ears if he's really scared. I also gave him glow sticks for the dark rides, and when he did get up the courage to try something he was unsure of, and always told him that I was glad he tried it, and it was okay to not like it.

Our friends' DD used to hate all thrill rides, but has slowly come to like some of them as she's gotten older. She's 9 now, and says HM is her favorite, even though it used to terrify her. She always tells DS that he should try things again when he's a little older because people change their minds. We also remind him that he used to hate broccoli, but now it's his favorite vegetable, so sometimes the rides are a little like that - he might not have liked it at age 3, but maybe now he's 6 he would like it.

 

[bumbershoot]

IMO, the best way to start Disneyland is to go to California Adventure, and head straight to bug's land. Ride the Chew Chew Train. As many times as they wish. Before getting on it, watch it! You can see almost the whole thing from the outside, and see that there's nothing scary. After they are done, see about Flik's Flyers. If they kids are the right height and a parent can fit into the car with them, ride the "bumper cars" (almost no one bumps). Maybe do the ladybug boogie.

That way they can see what lines are, what rides are, how FUN they are, etc.

Do NOT see "tough to be a bug", just pass that on by!


Then you can start on other rides.


What you don't want to do is go straight to Fantasyland and hit Snow White (SCARY is in the name!), Pinocchio, and even Peter Pan. PP is a great ride, but the line can get dark and close and claustrophobic, and for a newbie they have no idea what's waiting for them.

Dumbo is good, again, because you can see everything, same with tea cups. Casey Jr is also fabulous IMO, though I prefer the forward facing seats not the circus cars. We had to work up to Alice; let's face it, that is a weird ride based on a weird book, and there's no need to take a little kid on it.


Then continue on from there! Small World is awesome for littles (and me).


Some parents get lucky with their kdis and have kids who pay attention to "their" adults and believe them. My son looks at the two of us vs the 50 other people in the "stretching room" on Haunted Mansion, and believes the 50 screaming people. There is obviously something very very wrong happening in that room, and we are weird because we don't notice it. If we don't notice it, how can we protect him from it? HM is not a good ride for us, unless Nightmare Before Christmas overlay is on it. He's 10 now and still dislikes it, even with earplugs. Sigh.

And then there was the "year of being 4", when everything he previously loved freaked him out immensely. Stopped just like it started, on his birthday trip when he turned 5. (two years in a row his b'day was right over a holiday and one of those years was the "free birthday" year)

 

[disnee4mee]

Our son freaked out on the Tower of Terror. We talked him into going again with his older cousin (he was 9 at the time) and he still hated it. We laugh about it today-he's 28- but he still refuses to go on the ride. He does everything else at Disney and rides all the rides at Universal or any other amusement park, but NEVER TOT. We say we traumatized him. I regret forcing him on the 2nd time when he really didn't want to go.

Our niece and nephew freaked out on Dinosaur. We just covered their heads and ears and they were okay but didn't want to go again. We learned from the experience with our son and didn't ask them to go again. They were also a little freaked out at A Bug's Life, not the 3D but the pokes in the back puffs of stuff.

Since there are so many things to do that don't have the potential to freak out your child, don't push it, have fun on the rides or activities that he will like and take him on the bigger rides when he gets older.

I will never forget the look of wonder on my niece's face at the Electric Light Parade (I think she was either 4 or 5). She had had a long day and was really tired but she was so enthralled over the parade that it was worth the price of the ticket for just those few moments.

We asked both of them what their favorite part of Disney World was and my nephew said: "riding the bus" and my niece said, "Ice cream at the pool." We realized that all the money spent at Disney is probably more for the adults than the kids: sort of like getting them a great gift and they play with the box. We laugh about it to this day.

Have fun on your trip and do what you feel is right: you will have great memories that last a lifetime.

 

[mgrace79]

I took my daughter for the first time when she was 5. I let her watch the ride videos on you tube prior to going. She can freak out about thing when things are sprung on her and she doesn't know what to expect. After watching the videos the first ride she wanting to go on in Disneyland was Matterhorn which we did and she loved. In DCA her first pick was tower of terror and she went on it 3 times in a row-her favorite by the way. Not saying this is how every kiddo is but I know my child and had I hadn't shown them to her prior she wouldn't have even tried to go on them. Only you know your child's limits and sometimes they even surprise you good or bad you just let them set the pace. You're at Disneyland either way it's a win! Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[texandtink]

I'd say talk about the ride beforehand to mentally prepare for it. And maybe hold hands or put your arm around your child for comfort and knowing you are there. Also maybe talk about what you are seeing on the ride (Distraction)

 

[wenrob]

We've always found it hard with our kids as they are both the type to initially freak out but love it after they try it. For us, it's a LOT of coaxing and prodding because we know they will have fun and enjoy it, once they get past the initial fear. For some kids, this doesn't work out well, but for us, it almost always does. It really depends and each parent knows their kid best... I try to remember this when I see parents "forcing" their kids on rides... maybe they know that the kid will love it and be glad they did it but need that push to get on it the first try.

But alas, this did backfire on us once. My oldest (10 at the time) totally freaked out on Splash last time. We thought she would love it. She loved other similar rides so we assumed this would be the same. Well, after much convincing, she agreed, not too willingly, to try it. She did fine until we approached the final drop... which is when she decided she did NOT want to go any further and she STOOD UP to get out . Thank God I was able to grab her shirt and pull her back down before we crested. I do not ever think about what could have happened if she stood up a few seconds later or I wasn't behind her with lightening reflexes.... needless to say, she looks back on that now and shakes her head at her thoughtlessness (maturity will do that to you) but we learned a lesson that day for sure.

Even if our kids tried it and didn't like it, we're okay with that. We always commend them for trying it and if they don't want to do it again, that's cool with us.

OMG!
My kids are "runners" and this is my biggest fear. Youngest DD is the brave one and the first time I took her on Splash I requested the back so I could keep a death grip on her. She started screaming, "I want off, I want off!" I'm pretty sure I had bruises on my forearm from that fist ride, lol.

Her twin brother is not half as brave and truly hates coasters. Each trip he has gotten a little more brave. This last one he rode Indy and loved it, rode Haunted Mansion and while he didn't like it, he did not freak. We just give him his space and hopefully by the time he's 10-12 (they're 8) he'll be riding most everything. Don't ever see him a California Screamin' but I see Big Thunder in his future. (Rode once, hated it,lol)

As PP have said, you just have to feel them out. My approach has always been to ask and encourage but not push. Took me years to get my oldest (who's now 18) onto Tower of Terror. On a girls trip she finally went for it but was shaking and practically in tears. My gut knew she'd love it. I gave her multiple chances to back out and she stuck it out. Now it's a must do every trip.