How can I determine if my 5 yo boy is ready for Big Thunder?

[Northernlites]

I was planning on FP+ for this ride.

 

[Dis703]

My ODS started riding this at age 4. We went on Barnstormer first and he LOVED it, so we tried BTMRR. It's still his favorite ride 2 years later.

 

[Candleshoe]

I think on some rides you just give it a try. My DD went on ToT when she was 3, but then it was a few years before she did it again. Same thing with Space (She was repeating 'this ride's too fast for me!' the whole time.)

We let her decide what she would do or not.

BTMRR is still one of her favorites.

 

[SeilerBird]

It is a very mellow roller coaster. I see lots of kids around age 5 trying it and loving it. What you don't want to do is take him on It's a Bugs Life just yet. Little kids are screaming in terror every time I go there. Yes many kids can handle it but many kids can't.

 

[Laketravis]

"How can I determine if my 5 yo boy is ready for Big Thunder?"

Take him to Walmart, put him in a cart, and push the cart down an empty aisle as fast as you can.

If he screams with delight and asks you to do it again, he's ready.

 

[msmama]

I would say if he shows interest then he is ready.

That said, my son HATED it. He now will not go on anything even remotely fast.

 

[Frozen2014]

My 5 year old loved it, but every kid is different.

If you do ride it, sit near the front as it'll be a bit slower (due to not gaining momentum until the back of the train reaches the top).

 

[Dis703]

It is a very mellow roller coaster. I see lots of kids around age 5 trying it and loving it. What you don't want to do is take him on It's a Bugs Life just yet. Little kids are screaming in terror every time I go there. Yes many kids can handle it but many kids can't.

Really? I've never heard the screaming. My kids love it but I have read some reports of kids being scared.

 

[SeilerBird]

Really? I've never heard the screaming. My kids love it but I have read some reports of kids being scared.

I was just there this morning and there were plenty of kids screaming. It becomes really intense once the room turns all black and the spiders drop from the ceiling. There was a kid behind me that sounded like he was going to explode.

 

[leahlefler]

If he's interested, I'd definitely let him try it. We took our kids to Disneyland and to Seaworld in California when my younger one was four, almost five. He *just* cleared the height limit for the big kid rides, and he LOVED them. I was always timid as a child, so he cracks me up with his need for speed.

You can always try the mine train first as a gauge.

 

[HatboxHaint]

I was planning on FP+ for this ride.

My son loved it at 3!

 

[butterfly71076]

You could show him a video of the ride, and then ask him if he wants to try it.

 

[Kimosabe]

Assuming you have the patience, time and FastPass(es), the general theory is that the Magic Kingdom coaster progression starts with Barnstormer, then 7 Dwarfs (ergo, the need for a FP), then Big Thunder, then Space Mountain. If your kid enjoys an earlier one, chances are he or she will also enjoy the next one...with a possible exception of Space Mountain (but you've got the benefit of not being able to see this one until it's too late!).

If that approach or the grocery cart/YouTube video approaches don't work, although both are good ideas...there's always bribery. When our girls were 7 and 10, we agreed to go to the MK under their promise to ride the Mountains (our older one was turning 10 and was willing to come up with any possible justification for our taking them back). They changed their minds after we got there. That was in April of whatever year it was (2012, if my math is correct). We went again in August with a similar promise, and they finally did them, along with RnR, ToT and EE. RnR immediately became their favorite ride, so their progression was rather swift once they tried Big Thunder and loved it. As for the bribery, we agreed to buy them a pin for each of the "big" coasters they agreed to ride. The possibility of a new pin was enough to get them started on Big Thunder, and we probably could have stopped there, had we not made the promise already!

 

[Barnabas T Bullion]

I was just there this morning and there were plenty of kids screaming. It becomes really intense once the room turns all black and the spiders drop from the ceiling. There was a kid behind me that sounded like he was going to explode.

That is a great point it can be scary to a smaller kid at that part. My little guy was not even 4 yet and rode it 18 times back in the day but he loves trains and is a thrill seeker so he just put his fingers in his ears and I had my arm around him and he was fine in the part with the bats.

Generally YouTube video beforehand are a great way to prep kids for rides.

 

[lroger01]

The Walmart cart is a good suggestion, but you probably already have an idea if he's up to it already. At the playground does he want to do the tall crazy slides? On the swings, does he want to go higher and higher? When younger, did he like you pushing the stroller fast and crazy? Or swing him around, or toss him in the air?

All of these things indicate that he finds an adrenaline rush "fun". If he DOESN'T like these things, then don't take him on fast rides. He might grow into it later, but likely isn't ready for the rush just yet. Taking him on those rides too soon might make him not trust your judgement on any other ride.

If you do ride it and he get's off a little "wobbly" have him sit for a bit. This feeling along with rubbery legs is a sign of too much adrenalin. If this doesn't freak him out, then you have the makings of an adrenalin junky on your hands!

 

[kayli2299]

This ride is awesome for everyone. My sister rode it for the first time when she was 4 and she LOVED it! I guess it all depends on what your child likes. Have fun!

 

[mom2rtk]

All you can do is try.

Not sure if you should hope he likes it though, since a repeat ride could require a long wait.

 

[minniemous]

I think showing the video sounded like a good idea. It will give him time to think about it instead of being confronted with the ride and knowing nothing about it.

 

[staceyeileen]

You could just ask him if he wants to ride it?

We pretty much just use the height requirements as a guide. My son first rode it at 3, as soon as he was tall enough. He is getting close to riding Space Mountain now at 5, not quite there yet though.

 

[delmar411]

We go by height. My middle 2 were tall enough at age 2 and my youngest just after he turned 3. It is a great ride.