Help, my daughter hates rides!

[shruley]

Well, it's offical, we're going to Disney in 9 days and my 2 year old hates rides. We took her to Camp Snoopy (indoor park) in Sept. and she hated it. Well, she had a horrible week that time we tried in Sept, teeth hurt, etc., so we figured it was a fluke. She loves to go on big slides, etc. So we lately had been trying her on a caurosel and back to Camp Snoopy, etc. Nope, she seems to be scared of them all. I even started a little car that is outside the grocery store the other day (you know, the ones that move about 2 inches) and she freaked. Any ideas?

Last Sat. we took her on 2 rides, basically a Dumbo type ride and some car that go around in a circle. She didn't like them but she doesn't freak out, she just kind of wines a bit. Dad was able to distract her by looking at stuff and then she is fine. But when she gets off she is SO excited, she runs over to me and tells me "Mommy, I rode the BLUE CAR!!" and thinks it's great. Now, she does dearly love all things Disney. Pooh, Mickey, and Princesses are her life, so we're hoping that the themeing on the rides will have her forgetting she's in something moving

Any ideas or tips from anyone whose been there???

 

[gr8ful4Him]

ahhhh...sounds like my dd at that age!
I wouldn't be too concerned if she doesn't like rides, there are plenty of things to do at Disney besides rides She may even like something like "It's a Small World", being that it's slow, there's alot of scenery, and you all can sit right next to each other.
I recommend maybe trying a ride or too, but don't stress too much on it if it's just going to be upsetting.

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

My dd is 5 and doesn't love the rides. She's old enough that she doesn't throw a full blown fit. I had to force her on Winnie the Pooh, It's a Small World, Peter Pan b/c she couldn't see the ride and was afraid after the darkness of Spaceship Earth.

We're able to ride the Dumbo type rides without any problem. She loves the Teacups!! Mostly we go for the character experiences and the parades and shows. She enjoys Kidcot Funstops at Epcot...gets a mask in one counrty to decorate. Gets stamps and dye-cuts in other countries. Gets a poster at the end. Animal Kingdom has something similar, just don't remember the name.

There is plenty to do without rides. Hopefully these ride-phobias will be short-lived!

 

[horsegirl]

My Ds6, DD5, DS3 are daredevils and love all rides. I mean TOT, Splash,you name it. But we have going to theme parks, fairs, etc, with out DN5 since he was a baby and he avoided rides at 2 also. By three he would maybe go on like a car or mortocycle that went around in a circle. Nothing up and down, asolutely nothing in the air, or dark. He didn't even like slides. We and my DB and DSIL, never pushed him, encouraged him or even tried to distract him. He slowly began mastering one ride after another and now pretty much goes on anything. I am sure you want her to have a good time, but don't put your desires on her. You don't want her to go just to please you, right? She'll go on the rides when she is ready. Offer and if she says no, drop it. I would not try to distract her or con her. Do the switchoff where each of the adults rides, while the other one waits with her somewhere fun like Tom Sawyer Island or the castle. There are things like the train and safari at AKL which I am guessing she would go on with you. Two is really such a young age. Enjoy all the sights, characters, and shows. Letting go of the rides this time might help you not feel like you have to do it all, like so many people do when they go to WDW. I have even read that some kids are afraid of the Tiki Room, so just respect her fears and let her discover adventure at her own pace. That is my best recommendation for you. My DN went on the Goofy rollercoaster at MK last winter. He was nearly 5. Now he loves the rides, and before you know it, your little sweetie will too.

 

[isla bonita]

I have 2 older sons who do it all! My daughter wanted to go home when on Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh. She was ok with Dumbo if we did not raise the car. She loves the horses "Cinderellas" merr go round. She loved when Bell read to her in the garden. Did not want to meet her and she does not like the characters. It is a challenge but what ever she wants to do we do. I think some day it will be her oyster but for now we take it very slow. We really smell the roses. LOL

 

[dianemb]

My son was 5 the first time we went and He did not go on a single ride. Got in line a couple times and chickened out. We spent time at the pool and the water park although it will probably be too cool for that for you. My best advice to to go with the idea that you might not get her on rides and just enjoy the atmosphere. See shows, enjoy EPCOT and relax. The other thing is if you try to take her on a ride make sure it is outside and open. We tried to go to IT"S A BUG"S LIFE and my son freaked out. Even 2 years ago He was sort of reluctant to go and see it. We are going in 13 days and at 10 He says he's going on everything at MK. We'll see.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!!!!!!!!!

 

[crisi]

Camp Snoopy rides (my kids have APs) and Disney rides are VERY different. I wouldn't worry about it. Most Disney rides for that age are more "ride through diaromas" than rides. And there are plenty of characters, shows, etc. for her to enjoy.

 

[ahutton]

My now 5 year old is sensitive to many rides, and they are not the "expected" ones. We've found on past trips we tell her we are going to wait in line as a family, and then if she is truly afraid and doesn't want to go on one of us will take her aside and wait and then switch off. By doing this a couple times she decided she really does want to experience things, she just gets herself worked up about the unfamiliar and is afraid. After that waiting time she will decide it isn't so bad and that she does want to experience it. We also go through the effort of pointing out the things to look at in line, and anything about the ride we can. For example, on Peter Pan, we showed her that the speed of the boats in the boarding area is as fast as they go. Same for Buzz Lightyear. She rode both and loved them.

 

[shruley]

Thanks. My husband also pointed out that Camp Snoopy rides and Disney rides are very different. I guess we'll try a few and see how it goes. Like I said, she's excited and happy when she gets off so I don't feel like I'm traumatizing her.

I thought I'd read people before talking about their kids warming up to the rides the more they went on them and that by the end of the trip realized they really liked them. Guess I'm hoping maybe that'll be us. (I can dream can't I?) Like I said, she loves big slides (way bigger than she should probably be allowed to go on!) , big swings, being spun around fast. I don't get what about the rides freaks her out.... She could also care less if she's in totally darkness watching a bunch of scary witches on TV so it's not like she's easily scared. I guess I shouldn't try to understand a 2 year old mind!

 

[Cinderella94]

ahhhh...sounds like my dd at that age!
I wouldn't be too concerned if she doesn't like rides, there are plenty of things to do at Disney besides rides She may even like something like "It's a Small World", being that it's slow, there's alot of scenery, and you all can sit right next to each other.
I recommend maybe trying a ride or too, but don't stress too much on it if it's just going to be upsetting.

Sounds like a plan.

 

[tjmw2727]

I highly recommend this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...871262?v=glance&n=130&n=507846&s=dvd&v=glance
- Disneyland Fun DVD. Its much like WDW and my dd's loved it. After watching this they were really excited to go to WDW and your dd will see kids riding the rides and singing songs and having a great time. It even made my dd's enjoy haunted mansion though I would not recommend that for your dd!!

My nephew last year at 3 was petrified of a step stool, school but, anything that moved so we were not anticipating him loving our Christmas WDW trip. We lent him the video above and he ended up riding all sorts of things and having a wonderful time.

Of course if she isn't interested there are still so many shows and parades and other things to enjoy that you will have a blast. Use fastpass to minimize the wait/anticipation time for her.

TJ

 

[crisi]

You should take some time to figure out her triggers (though hers sound unusual) and avoid doing those things first. There are many people who went on Snow White's Scary Adventures first and didn't get their toddler on another ride for the entire trip.

 

[Sabrina18]

My DS2 HATES the little train that goes around in the mall. The train has like 4 cars and the track is about the diameter of an 8 passenger van. He cried and screamed to get off.

We went to Disney and he rode Brainstormer 5 times (at his request.) We had to persuade him to get some ice cream in order to stop riding.
You just never know with kids. Have Fun!

 

[4theloveofdisney]

My son was that same way at that age. We just didn't make a big deal out of his reactions and only took him on mild rides like Winnie the Pooh and such. He didn't like the characters either but there again, we didn't force him and didn't make an issue out of it. Every year he was better and better at trying new things and he is now 8 and rode just about everything except Space Mountain on our last trip! There is hope but don't force it on them!! I know it's a bummer but what are you going to do?!

 

[shruley]

Ah yes, the Disneyland DVD! We had borrowed that a couple of times and then bought our own. The other day she watched it 4 times in a row Needless to say she loves it. She seems to especially love the Small World part of that, and my husband says "We're going to be riding that d--- ride all day aren't we!"

As for the Haunted Mansion what exactly is the ride part of it? I don't remember it too well. Does it go up and down a lot? DD actually likes ghosts and the dark and she loves the Haunted Mansion/Ghost part of that DVD. I had considered trying Haunted Mansion if other rides (Pooh, Peter, Snow White) ended up going well. (A big if).

 

[stm61]

I don't remember any up and down motion like with the honey pots in pooh. The buggy is on a track that moves thru the mansion. It does go uphill and rotate around some. Hopefully someone else has a better memory.

 

[Now Mom of 3]

Shruley, I don't have anything else to add except that the Disneyland Fun video helped my then 18 mo. old get an idea of how big the characters were before our trip to Disneyland a yr. ago. I just wanted to say Hi! since we are from the same neck of the woods! I'm assuming you are in the twin cities area since you mentioned Camp Snoopy. We are from Cottage Grove. It really is a small world after all! Have a great trip. 38 more days till our first WDW trip!

 

[DizChick05]

Basicly, with Haunted Mansion, the only part I think is that is goes in a circle around Madame'-whats-her-butt. I think some other rides she would like would be mabye Pooh. I took a 3 year old DSN and he got freaked on alot too. But the freak-out factor was low on Pooh. Fantasyland is a good place to start, and it does help if you explain what the ride does thoroughly and always say mommy and daddy are right here, and everything is all mickey's magic.

 

[skbasnett]

As for the Haunted Mansion what exactly is the ride part of it? I don't remember it too well. Does it go up and down a lot? DD actually likes ghosts and the dark and she loves the Haunted Mansion/Ghost part of that DVD. I had considered trying Haunted Mansion if other rides (Pooh, Peter, Snow White) ended up going well. (A big if).

We took DS2 in September and he LOVED the Haunted Mansion. We really were suprised. He got nervous on both Dumbo and Aladdins Magic Carpets, but he was fine once we got off. It didnt make him want to not go on anymore rides. Winnie the Pooh is alot of fun. She will probably like that. Just be sure to avoid 3-D shows. I didnt think DS would get scared but he screamed in Philharmagic for about 90% of the show. We didnt try anymore after that.

 

[skbasnett]

But the freak-out factor was low on Pooh. Fantasyland is a good place to start, and it does help if you explain what the ride does thoroughly and always say mommy and daddy are right here, and everything is all mickey's magic.

That is exactly what we did with DS. I did it all throughout Dumbo and he wound up being ok. Definately start in Fantasyland and go from there. She might even like the sport cars and even Carousel of Progress. Not to mention Tomorrowland Transit Authority.