How To Coach Someone Onto Thrill Rides

We are all about the bribes with our 2 kids (8 & 5)! In saying that, we only do it for rides we think they might enjoy, or at least not be as bad as they thought. The big one this year was a stationery set for BTMRR. DD8 loved it, DD5 screamed the whole way but afterwards said she screamed because that is what you do on those rides!
 
My daughter is extremely ride timid. She won't even go on Gadget's Go Coaster or Barnstormer. The two drops in Pirates are too much for her, although she'll do it. I'll have to see if any of these techniques work!
 
For my 4 kids I have a rule, you have to try it at least once (that goes for everything from rides to food!).
I am lucky that 9/10 times they want to do it (or eat it) again!
 

We make it easy for our kids. We take home video of a bunch the cool rides. Then we play them at home and talk about how fun they are. My first two were riding Tower of Terror as soon as they were 40 inches, at the age of 3 1/2. They were asking us to go on it before we could ask them. We'll see if it's worked for the third.
 
We all enjoy DLR in different ways. Some folks are all about the thrill rides; others enjoy the shows and the slower rides. We do not all have to be the same.

I have found with my grandchildren that if I just let them do their own thing, they eventually decide to try all the rides. But if they did not, that would be OK too.

One thing I love about getting old is that I am not easily persuaded or intimidated. I have never ridden Screamin' and do not plan to. Riding along on rails at a high speed just does not interest me.
 
We know what we like. DD6 and DH love thrill rides like Screamin' and ToT. I do not. I would never force DD onto a dark ride that she doesn't like and they know to not beg me to go on one of those. We all go home happy then :)
 
I will go on any ride at DCA/Disneyland, but it really takes some building up to for me for certain ones as I have panic disorder. I have a much better handle on it now than I did a few years ago, but there are still some rides that make me freak out and almost have a panic attack--very few, but one or two. California Screamin' is one of those rides. I'm not a fan of coasters, but I have gone on it twice and hated every time. xD Tower of Terror also gets me a bit anxious, but even though I get that way, it is one I want to go on that one in the end when I force myself to. I always come off loving it.

My advice? Be nice, be understanding. Don't coddle, but tell them they'll be just fine. Try not to make it sound scary and tell them you'll be right there next to them the entire time. Do try to realize that what might not be scary for you could possibly be scary for someone else. Never EVER push someone into doing something they're terrified of doing, but rather encourage them. And don't ever berate or make fun of them for not wanting to go on something. That just makes them feel even worse.
 
I once talked my DS into going on Space Mountain when he was about 10. His little sister and I loved the thrill rides but he was not into that kind of thing. He loved space stuff so I thought once he'd gone on it he'd love it.

Didn't happen. He went on and as soon as the ride stopped at the end, he looked at me and practically yelled, "YOU SAID IT WOULD BE FUN!!" Since then (and that was many years ago), I've never tried to talk anyone into going on a ride :rolleyes::rotfl:

I myself have a strange fear of ferris wheels. I can ride any roller coaster and most thrill rides, but I'm scared to death of ferris wheels. :confused3
 
You couldn't pay me enough to get on a Ferris Wheel!

I love thrill rides and we're slowly introducing my nephews, but they're not fans yet.
 


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