how to convince kids who refuse to try a ride

[Happy 2 B Me]

There are HM ride videos on u-tube. Try watching one of those together. Talk with him about the ride and what his fears might be. You never know maybe a child at school told him stuff that was not accurate about the attraction. I would certainly talk to a CM and skip the elevator part at the beginning of the ride. So many people scream LOL and act like idiots which could end up undoing any good work you might have done with watching the video and talking about ride.

Good luck--

Please do not push him to ride HM there is a reason he is worried. Oh one more thing there is a movie about the HM -- sort of funny actually. This might make him a bit curious. OK again Good Luck

 

[GovieMom]

I pushed one of my children to ride HM before she was ready and she got on the ride without a fuss. And couldn't bring herself to get on it again for 15 years! I felt like the worst mother in the entire world. From the voice of experience- do not do what I did.

You are not alone; I got my young daughter to go on a log flume ride with us years ago, knowing she didn't want to. BIG mistake, with negative consequences for years after. She is 21 now, and still won't go on a coaster (or Splash Mtn., etc.). How many times I've read a parent saying they "know" their child will love it. Well they don't know that for sure, so best not to take a chance.

 

[Peter Fan]

Well, you are the only one that know your son. I always said to my son that he need to tried one time an see if he like it or no. Example in California they have the Matterhorn , I went on it first by myself and saw that it doesn't droop you and the monster isn't scary , he refuse but I was sure he would love it, he went on it guess what 3 times he rode that thing. But on the other hand I know he would hate TOT so he have never done that and I said to him you do it when you want it.

Same here. My son has tried every ride once. If he didn't like it he is not pressured to go again by anyone.

 

[DeaverTex]

If someone -- adult or child -- doesn't want to ride a particular attraction, for whatever reason, I don't see the point in tricking or forcing or bribing or shaming them into riding it. Either the person will decide to ride the attraction eventually, or not. What's the difference? Are you afraid that they'll miss some sort of life-altering experience that they might not have otherwise? That they can't possibly have fun unless they participate in something that you want them to?

And I'm not so certain that even a parent can say that "I'm sure my child will love this!" Just because your child or friend or spouse loves something that, to you, is very similar, doesn't mean that they will see it that way. It may be VERY different to them.

I'm absolutely certain that the friends and parents who insist on dragging an unwilling participant into something believe that they are doing that person a favor. But I'm not so certain that they're necessarily right. The situation is as likely to explode in your face as it is to result in an epiphany of enthusiasm. Go with the flow. There are other things to do, both at WDW and in life.

 

[Peter Fan]

If someone -- adult or child -- doesn't want to ride a particular attraction, for whatever reason, I don't see the point in tricking or forcing or bribing or shaming them into riding it. Either the person will decide to ride the attraction eventually, or not. What's the difference? Are you afraid that they'll miss some sort of life-altering experience that they might not have otherwise? That they can't possibly have fun unless they participate in something that you want them to?

And I'm not so certain that even a parent can say that "I'm sure my child will love this!" Just because your child or friend or spouse loves something that, to you, is very similar, doesn't mean that they will see it that way. It may be VERY different to them.

I'm absolutely certain that the friends and parents who insist on dragging an unwilling participant into something believe that they are doing that person a favor. But I'm not so certain that they're necessarily right. The situation is as likely to explode in your face as it is to result in an epiphany of enthusiasm. Go with the flow. There are other things to do, both at WDW and in life.

It's not that they are going to miss a life experience it's just, in my situation any way, if my ds didn't go none of us could go.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We let our boys make their own decisions regarding rides. There are certain things in life that they have to do. Going on rides is not one of them. Whether they're scared or the ride just doesn't appeal to them, it's fine with me if they sit it out. Heck, there are some rides I don't like and I would hate for anyone to try to pressure me to go on them.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

It's not that they are going to miss a life experience it's just, in my situation any way, if my ds didn't go none of us could go.

You can always split up. When our boys were younger, DH and would frequently take turns going on rides alone. Now we might split up and each take a boy on different rides. We still do plenty of things all together, so it's not a problem to mix things up a few times a day.

 

[JessB320]

I'm with you. I've got. 9.5 year old who is scared to death of it. Even though he's been on it like 5 or 6 times. He actually refers to it as the terror ride. I usually go with bribery. If that doesn't work he rides the "white bench ride" outside the HM while we ride.

I source of my irritation is because we allow him to play scary video games like black ops and resident evil and he doesn't blink an eye. But put a 50 year old musty robot in his face and he poops his pants.

The visual on this was great, you just gave me quite the laugh

 

[AshleeH]

Leave it alone. My 9 year old is scared of it too and he loves all the thrill rides.

We made a deal last year that if we stood at the entrance and he saw three people who were younger than him go in, he would try it. Three young kids passed us, we went in and got to the stretching room, he nearly started having a panic attack and tearing up. I immediately found a CM and we were led out of the exit.

He did start crying then because he thought I was disappointed in him - I hugged him and told him I would never force him to do anything that scared him. I like the ride and I hope he tries it someday, but is a ride worth forcing my child to do something that may stick with him in a very bad way for years to come? Absolutely not. He apologized to me several times (which was unnecessary) apologized to DH when we got back to him (again, we told him it wasn't a big deal) and then we went to Big Thunder Mountain where he had a great time.

A theme park ride is not worth making my child worry for one single minute.

 

[neptuneflame]

I'm one of those that refused to ride HM until I was an adult. One of my earliest memories is of my 3 year old sister fearlessly going on the ride while I (5 years old) and my cousin walked around the planters outside waiting. She came out with a mile-wide grin, but it didn't bother me at all. I knew my limits, and HM was my limit. Even now, the pre-show can still get me.

From the other side of the fence, when my DH and I went to WDW for our Honeymoon, we went on It's Tough to be a Bug for our first and last time. A woman dragged her kicking, screaming 4 year old into the theater insisting that he would love it. He screamed like he was being tortured the whole time, and it affected us enough WE haven't wanted to go on again! Others in the rows around us were also speaking openly about her taking her son out of the room, but she just shook her head and ignored everyone, including that poor child.

 

[alecshawn]

I let my children (in past) see certain rides on you tube....that way, they kinda know what to expect. Luckily..my kids are go getters. They love WDW/DLR and also any theme park...so..they will ride whatever. That make things nice.

 

[TJDisneymama]

dont worry, i' d never force him!

that breaks my heart thinking aboute a kid being dragged on a ride, crying.

 

[married2mm]

whether young or old,if someone doesn't want to ride,just go with it.

my son and I are both ride wimps,we have tried some rides-found out we either will return to or won't go on again- others won't touch with a bargepole!

in a water park once,dh was definitely not impressed we wouldn't go on some rides. we finally agreed,begrudgingly,to go down a flume ride. climbed the steps,but then could not go through with it,and dh stopped the pressure when he saw we were both so uncomfortable.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I have had to force ds11 to ride a few things that I knew he would like and there are still several things he hasn't dkne because I knew he wouldn't like them or I wasn't sure. With the exception of Splash Mountain I was always right - he just can't get past that drop. But I knew he would be ok at Muppets, Little Mermaid, the Figment Ride, BTMRR, Star Tours (his fav ride), Soarin and a few others. He hasn't yet ridden ToT, RnRC, EE, Primevil Whirl or Dinosaur and he probably won't be. His little sister has ridden all of those since she was 5 and he just takes the chicken exit and waits for us.

 

[RalphinSC]

Bribery worked for my DS. He really wanted an expensive set from the lego shop at DTD, so we agreed that it was his as long as he faced his misgivings and gave the ride a try.

He wasn't forced at all, but he set his own conditions and motivation to prod him into trying new things. And after being a little overly afraid the first time through, he really settled in a enjoyed it. This worked for ToT and Dinosaur as well. These were the three rides he was too scared to try on his first Disney trip and they are all now rides he will go on without hesitation.

But the key here is that you know your own kid. Mine just neededa self-prescribed nudge. MY father took me on a lot of big roller-coasters when I was a child against my will. IT took until I hit 30 for me to get over the experience and give it another try. This also was the same parenting that thought they could teach me how to swim by throwing me in the lake when I was 4. After having to be rescued from drowning, I still will not swim in water I cannot see the bottom in and didn't learn how to swim properly until I was 15.

 

[RMulieri]

Let him be.He will ride when ready.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Let him be.He will ride when ready.

I agree... When they are ready , they will be fine...what's the big deal in not riding...

 

[Peter Fan]

You can always split up. When our boys were younger, DH and would frequently take turns going on rides alone. Now we might split up and each take a boy on different rides. We still do plenty of things all together, so it's not a problem to mix things up a few times a day.

I don't think it's fair to make someone wait around for an hour while I'm enjoying myself.

 

[bwang123]

There are HM ride videos on u-tube. Try watching one of those together. Talk with him about the ride and what his fears might be. You never know maybe a child at school told him stuff that was not accurate about the attraction. I would certainly talk to a CM and skip the elevator part at the beginning of the ride. So many people scream LOL and act like idiots which could end up undoing any good work you might have done with watching the video and talking about ride.

Good luck--

Please do not push him to ride HM there is a reason he is worried. Oh one more thing there is a movie about the HM -- sort of funny actually. This might make him a bit curious. OK again Good Luck

this is what we did with my daughter (6). after she watched the ride video for Splash Mountain and BTMR, she rode both. She did not like the ToT or Dinosaur videos so we have not put her on it. We did drag her on PoTC and HM. She hates HM so we dont make her ride anymore. My wife dragged her on Star Tours in March and she ended up liking it and had no problem riding with me this December.

My 2 year old is completely different, loves HM and would probably ride everything if he was tall enough.

 

[mm1971]

it' s maddening to me that ODS (9.5) WILL not give Haunted
mansion a try. refuses! thinks it will be too scary. he goes on just about everything else and his irrational fear of HM drives me crazy. his 3.5 y.o. sister went on and that didnt even sway him. ive showed him videos of the ride but theyre mostly pretty dark which doesnt help much. how can i convince him to go on it?

They will ride everything at their own pace. Both of my children are very cautious about rides. It took my DS until 10 to ride everything and now he loves them all. DD wouldn't go on HM at all until she was 9 and her first ride was at the Halloween party when it is all done up to be even more scary and loves it now.

When he is ready he'll let you know. I wouldn't force him, that will just make him dislike it.