How intense is RSR?

[CJLWashburn]

I will be bringing my cars obsessed almost 3 year old in a few weeks. He's very tall, 42 inches, and will be able to ride RSR but I want to make sure it won't be too intense. He won't be going on the other "big" rides but he really loves Cars. As long as there aren't huge drops or anything I want him to ride. Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

I will be bringing my cars obsessed almost 3 year old in a few weeks. He's very tall, 42 inches, and will be able to ride RSR but I want to make sure it won't be too intense. He won't be going on the other "big" rides but he really loves Cars. As long as there aren't huge drops or anything I want him to ride. Thanks!

Physically, RSR is not a very intense ride. The ride starts with a slow drive up the mountain, then you enter the "dark ride" portion, and finish with a "race". The race feels like you're going fast, but you're only going about 40 mph at the fastest point. There are a few undulations, but you can see them from the outside viewing area near Flo's V-8 Cafe. I've seen worse rises and drops on roadways.

On the other hand, when you first enter the "dark ride" portion, you do approach Mac (the big rig) head on and his lights come on and he honks. There is also a scene, just after tractor tipping, when that angry "bull" tractor appears out of bush directly ahead of you. In neither case is there really anything dangerous, but given the sounds and lights, I think that can scare some people (adults and children). I would recommend watching a YouTube video of the ride to see what you think of it and to gauge how your child will do on the ride.

 

[crystal1313]

Agree with Figment! Frank (the angry combine tractor) and Mack at the very beginning scare my DS4. I just cover his eyes for those parts. To be fair, Frank scared DS4 in the movie too Other then that, DS4 loves RSR.

I also recommend asking to sit in the front and have your nephew sit on one of the sides. The photo won't turn out the greatest (because he will be blocked by part of the windshield), but he will be able to see more. My boys have been in the front and the back and prefer the front.

 

[elaw]

... There is also a scene, just after tractor tipping, when that angry "bull" tractor appears out of bush directly ahead of you. ... I think that can scare some people (adults and children). I would recommend watching a YouTube video of the ride to see what you think of it and to gauge how your child will do on the ride.

"Frank" is the name of the "bull tractor" as mentioned and it does whip you around a little bit but it is very short lived.

 

[94bruin]

My 5 yo isn't a fan of the ride. The part she doesn't like is the race at the end. She doesn't like the speed at the end. It's too bad since I think the ride is a lot of fun, but at least it saves me the hassle of trying to get on the ride when we go.

 

[GatorChris]

If you have a Cars fan, do the ride! It's a lot of fun. It shouldn't be too much more intense than Gadget's Coaster or the drops on Pirates. The speed is more fun than it is scary/thrilling.

 

[bcla]

If your kid has seen Cars several times, I would guess that the section with Frank the combine probably won't phase him. The other movement isn't much different than many of Disney's dark rides. The final "race" section is closer to a mild roller coaster. The turns are pretty mild and no worse than you might get out of a car on a twisty highway, but the bumps do give a certain feeling of weightlessness typical of roller coaster humps.

 

[YukonMommy]

My boys are CARS obsessed and loved the ride!! When my youngest was 3 he was 41" and we took him on everything he was tall enough for and he had a blast! I will say he was not a huge fan of TOT, but refused to be left behind so kept doing it . But each child is different.

Have a magical time

 

[figment_jii]

I also recommend asking to sit in the front and have your nephew sit on one of the sides. The photo won't turn out the greatest (because he will be blocked by part of the windshield), but he will be able to see more. My boys have been in the front and the back and prefer the front.

I completely second the recommendation to sit in the front! It's a much better view for anyone that is not particularly tall. If you are in the FP or standby line, you can request a row (some CMs seems a little grumpy about it, but it's well worth it). If you're in the single rider line, you cannot request a row (well, you can, but the CM probably won't honor the request).

 

[Fantaluminishes]

I've never seen the movie, but LOVE this ride. I'm actually in the single rider line now, and will probably board after I hit the send button.

The ride is not intense at all. It's just pure fun. Kids absolutely love it. Yours will to. I have no doubt about it.

Gotta get in the car now. Have fun!!

 

[superlarz]

It is no more intense than a ride on the freeway. I would say watch a ride through on youtube, but if you dont want to be spoiled I think it will be ok to take your child on the ride. If he doesnt like it there is nothing that traumatic that it would ruin your trip. If he does like it, youll find yourself spending plenty of time in line!

 

[ktlm]

I would be absolutely fine putting a 3 year old on RSR as long as he isn't afraid of going a little fast. I think he will love it. No drops- just basically fast driving in a convertible for the race at the end- with some banking around curves and "road" type hills.

 

[figment_jii]

CJLWashburn - I think most of the posts here agree that the ride is not physically intense. So in that way, most children (unless they're afraid of riding in a car) are likely to be okay.

The point of difference comes regarding whether there are elements that can be intense in the scary sense for small children. While you may end up being "spoiled", I would highly recommend watching a YouTube video of the dark portion of the ride. I think it's better to know what is coming (and potentially prepare you little one for that), rather than be unpleasantly surprised by something.

It's just pure fun. Kids absolutely love it. Yours will to. I have no doubt about it.

If he doesnt like it there is nothing that traumatic that it would ruin your trip.

I agree that nothing about the ride should induce nightmares or trauma, but I do think you can end up with a very scared little one and have to deal with the aftermath of that for a while. Not all kids react the same way on a given ride. I think most kids love RSR, but there are going to be some that do not. And while crying for a bit is not going to ruin the entire trip, it's not a lot of fun while it's happening either.