Height Requirements vs. Age/Maturity

[DisneyMom2000000]

I have a tall 3 year old who will be going to Disney for the second time. She was two when she went before and the only ride that really scared her was the Barnstormer. I don't plan to put her on any "coaster" type rides, so I'm thinking 7DMT is out, but I've never ridden it. If you could tell me your experience with small children on these rides, that would be great. I know all kids have different fears and maturity levels, but how did your little ones do with these? I do not want to scare the Disney love out of her.

These are the rides I'm unsure about putting her on...

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: Height Requirement 38 inches (97cm) or taller
• Splash Mountain Height Requirement 40 inches (102 cm) or taller

• Soarin' Height Requirement 40 inches (102 cm) or taller

• Star Tours Height Requirement 40" inches (102 cm) or taller

• Kali River Rapids Height Requirement 38" inches (95 cm) or taller

 

[mjmgsssp]

If the barnstormer wasn't a great experience for her, here are my thoughts:

7DMT - no
Splash - I would let her take a look at the final drop, since you can see it from the walkway
Soarin - ride itself is mellow; but how does she do with heights?
Star tours - ride is jerky, but okay
Kali - ok

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

If the barnstormer wasn't a great experience for her, here are my thoughts:

7DMT - no
Splash - I would let her take a look at the final drop, since you can see it from the walkway
Soarin - ride itself is mellow; but how does she do with heights?
Star tours - ride is jerky, but okay
Kali - ok

Ok yeah, we will watch Splash M and see what she thinks.

I'm just not sure about Soarin. She never seems to have a major issue with heights but the video on Soarin will make her think she's higher than she is! maybe we will skip it.

 

[nj disney family]

my DD6 was tall at 3 also and loved all these rides, but she had lots of experience with rides at other places. the only ride she would only do once a trip was tower of terror, until our trip last week where she rode that several times. she's now tall enough for RNR and loved it.

 

[Atilley]

We went 2 years ago with a tall three year old. He rode most everything once. Splash mountain he said he liked but wouldn't get back on a second time. SDMT he hid his face the entire time but we are headed back October and that is all he has talked about riding. My advice would be if she's willing to try it let her try it but I wouldn't push. I think this is the perfect age to try some of the bigger rides without permenantly scaring them.

 

[kwdw]

Depends on the kid, that's for sure. I'd suggest asking her about Barnstormer when there - but don't pressure her. It is the smallest coaster - and she MAY want to give it another try. At three - she will be old enough that you can get an opinion out of her.

But - given that - I would not plan 7DMT or Splash or Kali. If she seems to maybe be enjoying the drops more than expected - maybe you change plans - but judge during the trip.

Star Tours - has she ridden any other simulator rides? I would have skipped this with my niece at that age (who was also tall enough) - but that's partially because it makes me sick and she didn't know anything about Star Wars at 3.

Soarin - my niece loved this at 3, but she is not afraid of heights. This was her first simulator ride.

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

Depends on the kid, that's for sure. I'd suggest asking her about Barnstormer when there - but don't pressure her. It is the smallest coaster - and she MAY want to give it another try. At three - she will be old enough that you can get an opinion out of her.

But - given that - I would not plan 7DMT or Splash or Kali. If she seems to maybe be enjoying the drops more than expected - maybe you change plans - but judge during the trip.

Star Tours - has she ridden any other simulator rides? I would have skipped this with my niece at that age (who was also tall enough) - but that's partially because it makes me sick and she didn't know anything about Star Wars at 3.

Soarin - my niece loved this at 3, but she is not afraid of heights. This was her first simulator ride.

No, she's never done a simulator. Thanks for bringing that up because I think we have a simulator ride near where we live... so maybe we should test her out on that!

I really hope she likes Soarin'. I think she'll be fine with heights but not sure about the feet dangling.

 

[scrapquitler]

Have her watch the ride videos on you tube

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

Have her watch the ride videos on you tube

yes!!

 

[Accident]

I would recommend not using a local simulator first. I find the small "mall simulators" to be much more intense than anything at disney and I think it might have the opposite effect on a 3 year old.

I like the youtube and let her pick some rides out that she wants to try. She'll have more when your there. 3 is not 2 so I wouldn't be surprised if she likes barnstormer better.

 

[Snap Crackle Pop]

When I was tall enough for Star Tours, I went on it and I had a complete meltdown, I tried to rip off my seatbelt and I was screaming bloody murder the whole time. (I don't remember this, but I've heard stories from the people I was with.) I wasn't ready for that ride... but now I like it (I'm much older, but I definitely avoided that ride for many years when I was younger)

 

[eyeblaura]

My youngest was 3 last time and loved Barnstormer. We are heading back next week for another trip where she is now 6. She is looking forward to Barnstormer but does not want to ride Splash Mountain because of the drop (she's never ridden before), she also isn't sure she wants to ride Haunted Mansion because she thinks it will be scary even though I think we've convinced her it is fun not scary (also hasn't ridden before). We've shown her some ride videos and she has an older sister who has ridden most everything but we'll let her dictate it. I haven't ridden 7DMT yet but my guess would be if she didn't like Barnstormer she won't like that either. Soarin' I would think she would be okay with if she is okay with the swings that spin, has a similar feeling when they lift you up IMO.

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

When I was tall enough for Star Tours, I went on it and I had a complete meltdown, I tried to rip off my seatbelt and I was screaming bloody murder the whole time. (I don't remember this, but I've heard stories from the people I was with.) I wasn't ready for that ride... but now I like it (I'm much older, but I definitely avoided that ride for many years when I was younger)

Star Tours was one of my favorites as a kid, as roller coasters scared me. But, I was 7 when I first rode it. My daughter may be overwhelmed.

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

I would recommend not using a local simulator first. I find the small "mall simulators" to be much more intense than anything at disney and I think it might have the opposite effect on a 3 year old.

I like the youtube and let her pick some rides out that she wants to try. She'll have more when your there. 3 is not 2 so I wouldn't be surprised if she likes barnstormer better.

You're right, they change so quickly at this age. Thanks for the advice!!

 

[kohlby]

We let our kids choose. That way, they feel that they have control. None of them wanted to go on rides that could splash them at that age. My eldest hit 40" easily by our trip when he was barely 3. Test track was his favorite ride. He was fine on Soarin'. He loved BTMRR. He loved Star Tours. My middle child hit that height at 3.5 years old. She loved all my eldest did but she wanted to try other rides too. She even did tower of terror! She didn't like it, but she recovered easily and was willing to still try other rides. (My eldest's first theme park ride was Spider-Man at Universal and that was a bit too intense for him sensory-wise and he did need recovery time). Then there's my youngest. We went when he was 3.5 years old and he was afraid to ride everything. There was no way he was ready to try any of the rides you listed - though 7 dwarfs wasn't built yet. We went again when he was 5.5 and he refused to ride the first half of our trip but switched over to riding the second half. He loved 7 Dwarfs. He did fine on Star Tours. We decided he wasn't ready for Soarin since it was too hard to put our arm around him and we knew he didn't want to do it. We have to be careful with our youngest still as one ride he doesn't like means he won't ride for the rest of the day. So, plan carefully just in case.

 

[msmama]

My 8 year old will only ride Star tours and 7d on that list.

We did try Splash this year (his choice) and he regretted it about 1/3 of the way through - and it's a LOOOOONG ride. He'd ridden mine train several times before that, but after splash, he said he didn't enjoy it as much.

Star tours and Soarin' - she might be fine with, but she may not really get much out of it - there's not characters really (unless she's into Star Wars, so maybe there) or nothing cute and fuzzy. That said, my son was probably 4 the first time he rode ST (we skipped a trip at 3) and he LOVES it (unfortunately, mom can only handle one trip per day).

Kali - how would she do with getting wet? I refuse to ride it (and I doubt my chicken son would either, even if I would). I don't really think rides like that are necessarily scary, but you could get SOAKED.