height requirements & head slamming

[jeancbpugh]

I'm taking my very brave 5 year old to the parks next week. Last visit, when he was 3 3/4, he was just tall enough for Splash Mt, Test Track, Thunder Mt., and Star Tours. He loved them all. I however hated the way his head would get banged around during the rides, especially Test Track.

Now he is 44" tall, so he can add Space Mountain to his repetoire. Am I the only parent that wonders if all the head slamming is such a good idea?

 

[paigevz]

Hi, I agree with you. I have a very tall two year old, and I will not let him ride fast or abrupt rides whether he's tall enough or not because of the way I've seen other little kids' heads whip around. Actually, though, I think your son would be okay on this trip. At 3, he still should have had the bigger toddler head and weaker neck muscles, and less ability to balance..........now, at 5, he should have a smaller proportionate head, better muscle tone, and better balance.....to keep himself from bouncing around so much..........also, especially on space mountain, he can rest his head on the back and that will help, too.

Just my opinion.........I am not a medical professional........just telling you if I had a 44 inch 5 year old, I'd take him on the rides he's tall enough for.

 

[Tbella]

I am going in January with my 3 year old. I think she will be just tall enough to go on the 40" height restriciton rides. She is pretty brave and we are going with her 5 year old friend who will definitely be going on all the rides that she can pass for height. I think that my dd will want to go on all the rides as well but I am a little concerned because of what is stated above with the head banging around and because I am just scared because she has never done a big drop ride like ToT and Splash Mountain. When I find clips of these rides I show her and she says she wants to go and insists she will not be scared and is looking forward to the "screaming". I would like to get advice from others on whether or not they would take a 3 year old on some of the scarier rides. If anyone is wondering I want to do all the major attractions and am willing to do child swap (although that might make my dd a little mad).

 

[HollyJoy]

My youngest is also 44 inches tall and didn't have a problem with any of these. Thank goodness though that Rockin Rollercoaster has a higher height restriction.. that one is definately a head slammer! He should be fine.

 

[jeancbpugh]

Hi, I agree with you. I have a very tall two year old, and I will not let him ride fast or abrupt rides whether he's tall enough or not because of the way I've seen other little kids' heads whip around. Actually, though, I think your son would be okay on this trip. At 3, he still should have had the bigger toddler head and weaker neck muscles, and less ability to balance..........now, at 5, he should have a smaller proportionate head, better muscle tone, and better balance.....to keep himself from bouncing around so much..........also, especially on space mountain, he can rest his head on the back and that will help, too.

Just my opinion.........I am not a medical professional........just telling you if I had a 44 inch 5 year old, I'd take him on the rides he's tall enough for.

Yes, I'm sure I'll take him on them all. I'll be secretly hating it, but I'll take him. You can't wrap them in cotton wool, no matter how much you'd like to.

 

[chesirekate]

I don't think most of the rides you mentioned are very hard on the head at all, especially if your child is tall enough. However, as mentioned by HollyJoy, R'nRollercoaster batters your brain. I came off it with a bit of a headache. Then I went right back on and got an even bigger headache. It went away fast though and I don't think there's any long term damage.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Our son is small for his age (8), but he is tall enough to ride everything. In the past when we have taken him on rides where his head bangs around DH or I sit beside him and keep one hand behind his head. Depending on the way the rides are designed this may not always be possible, but it's a thought. Have fun!!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

Wow, I dont have kids yet, but really good to know. I distinctly remember RnR as a bride with that darn white hat nailed, I mean pinned to my head and was VERY aware of the way the ride whipped m head into the sides of the headrest.

I will remember to tell parents I meet who are bringing little ones. I dont think I would let a 3 year old ride the scary rides though...just my opinion, I'm not a Mom, so my vote probably doesn't count for much.

 

[PolyAddict]

I'm taking my very brave 5 year old to the parks next week. Last visit, when he was 3 3/4, he was just tall enough for Splash Mt, Test Track, Thunder Mt., and Star Tours. He loved them all. I however hated the way his head would get banged around during the rides, especially Test Track.

Now he is 44" tall, so he can add Space Mountain to his repetoire. Am I the only parent that wonders if all the head slamming is such a good idea?

When dd was 3 she was right below the 40 inch height requirement and I saw a lot of people pushing it with kids her size or smaller. I personally don't like my dd's 11 and 13 heads flying around let alone a toddler. It's all about how you feel they will handle it. She is 4 now and i'm sure I'll take her on those rides next year. She seems alot less fragile to me now!!!

michele

 

[Synonymous]

My DD has gone on pretty much everything she could since the moment she was tall enough, including RnR. No brain damage evident yet. Lots of screaming and laughing, though, and lots of begging to go back and do it again.

 

[Drizzo67]

My DD will be 6 when we return in February and is trying her hardest to grow one more inch before then (only 43 inches) so that she can go on Space Mountain too.

Having been on the ride as a 13 year old and having ridden it again last year I don't believe its too much of a head banger. Hope it helps.

 

[Golf4283]

I'm 19 and have ridden every ride i could since i was tall enough. I never brained my damage. . Seriousely though the rides in Disney are nothing compared to the headslammers that you can ride at six flags and other parks.