Intensity of 7DMT vs Barnstormer?

[dawnball]

I have an almost-3 year old. He's kind of coming around to coasters, and will ride the kiddie coaster at the local zoo, which is essentially barnstormer's track layout, but with separate restraints and twice around the track. He rides with his face hidden in my side, clutching my arm. Then he always says it was great, and will ride again about 50% of the time.

Do y'all think 7DMT is a good fit, or maybe we should wait until he's a little bigger?

 

[flexoidar]

I have an almost-3 year old. He's kind of coming around to coasters, and will ride the kiddie coaster at the local zoo, which is essentially barnstormer's track layout, but with separate restraints and twice around the track. He rides with his face hidden in my side, clutching my arm. Then he always says it was great, and will ride again about 50% of the time.

Do y'all think 7DMT is a good fit, or maybe we should wait until he's a little bigger?

I am assuming he meets the 38 inch height requirement for SDMT. Show him some ride videos and let him decide. You never know with kids that age, but that's been the best approach for my kids.

 

[gharter]

if he can do Barnstormer, he's probably ok on this as well. The drop is not really that intense or steep.
But every child react differently.
I agree I would have him watch the videos and watch the ride a few times and let him decide.
The character inside the mine are great.

 

[dawnball]

I am assuming he meets the 38 inch height requirement for SDMT. Show him some ride videos and let him decide. You never know with kids that age, but that's been the best approach for my kids.

He does meet the height requirements, otherwise it would be a moot point. He's seen the video and says it looks fun, but isn't capable of extrapolating what it would feel like. He thinks Incredicoaster looks fun too!

I rode SDMT on my last visit, but the queue gave me a panic attack so I have no recollection of the ride. Getting him through the queue will be a pretty big investment of coping skills for me, so I wanted to see how people thought the two compared.

 

[supercarrie]

I find SDMT to be a fair bit more intense than Barnstormer. My son is 3.5, and will do Gadget's Go Coaster at DL (which is very similar to Barnstormer), but I don't think he is quite ready for SDMT. With the seat design, he'd have a hard time hiding in my shoulder should he get scared on SDMT, so we are waiting just a bit longer.

I agree with showing the ride video, and seeing how he is "on the day."

 

[dawnball]

I find SDMT to be a fair bit more intense than Barnstormer. My son is 3.5, and will do Gadget's Go Coaster at DL (which is very similar to Barnstormer), but I don't think he is quite ready for SDMT. With the seat design, he'd have a hard time hiding in my shoulder should he get scared on SDMT, so we are waiting just a bit longer.

What is it about the seat design you find limiting? I've been looking at pictures and trying to visualize!

 

[Alesia]

I think it's the least intense kiddie coaster that I've ever been on. I think it's less intense than barnstormer

 

[ZZBane]

I have a fairly large 2 1/2 year old, but I was somehow surprised that he was more than of height to ride barnstormer. I figured it’s a kiddie coaster, how bad could it be? Idk if it’s because he’s my first kid or I’m really getting that old, but holy hell, I had a death grip on him! It just felt like he was gonna slip right under the lap bar, especially because I have a lot of extra fluff in my stomach area, so it didn’t seem very secure on him. I just was not expecting it. That was also the first coaster I had been on in several years.
My son loved it and it was fun, but I wasn’t expecting a ride like that. Then again, I wasn’t expecting to ride it at all.

 

[twinmom13]

I think it depends on your definition of intense.

I find SDMT simultaneously less intense and more exciting that Barnstormer. Barnstormer has a much rougher ride and gives me the perception of insecurity, like a coaster at a local fair -- I feel like it is about to break at any moment, even though I know with my brain it is not really. For that reason, and the terrible toll the rough ride takes on my back, I do not like Barnstormer. SDMT is super smooth and makes me feel much more secure. I get the impression that it is a bigger/faster coaster, but I am able to enjoy it because I feel safe.

I think it all depends on your kid and his likes/dislikes. I would give it a try.

Given your panic attack in the queue last time, have you looked into DAS?

 

[xipotec]

7DMT is way less intense then barnstormer.
The cars are more safe feeling for little ones, the swinging action can actually mute the turns if you work against it.

its smoother , the turns are broadcasted well in advance as well (you see them coming)

ride in the middle cars.

 

[dawnball]

I think it depends on your definition of intense.

I find SDMT simultaneously less intense and more exciting that Barnstormer. Barnstormer has a much rougher ride and gives me the perception of insecurity, like a coaster at a local fair -- I feel like it is about to break at any moment, even though I know with my brain it is not really. For that reason, and the terrible toll the rough ride takes on my back, I do not like Barnstormer. SDMT is super smooth and makes me feel much more secure. I get the impression that it is a bigger/faster coaster, but I am able to enjoy it because I feel safe.

Thanks, that helps!

Barnstormer/ Gadget's Go Coaster's lap bar doesn't fit the child well, and it makes my kid feel insecure. So he sticks his face in me, his legs toward the door opening and goes straight and stiff as a board. Then he slides off the seat and toward the door, so I spend the whole time frantically clinging to his pants. Split lap bars help him feel safe.

Given your panic attack in the queue last time, have you looked into DAS?

Thanks for the suggestion. That was via the FP line though, so DAS won't actually help much! There's just something about the chaos of load there. The low ceiling, dark, flashy lights, chaotic crowd noise and things moving at the periphery of my vision just sent me into a spiral. It'll be a little easier the second time, since I know what I'm getting into. And we'll plan ahead. Plenty of self-care and relaxation techniques before, distress tolerance during, and a break afterwards. If a panic attack (especially one that I can recognize) is the worst thing that happens to me at Disney - it's a pretty good day!

 

[dawnball]

7DMT is way less intense then barnstormer.
The cars are more safe feeling for little ones, the swinging action can actually mute the turns if you work against it.

its smoother , the turns are broadcasted well in advance as well (you see them coming)

ride in the middle cars.

That's reassuring. What do you mean by working against the turns?

 

[Micca]

May not matter, but 7DMT is super cute, Barnstormer is a state fair ride.

 

[Random Ninja]

Thanks for the suggestion. That was via the FP line though, so DAS won't actually help much! There's just something about the chaos of load there. The low ceiling, dark, flashy lights, chaotic crowd noise and things moving at the periphery of my vision just sent me into a spiral. It'll be a little easier the second time, since I know what I'm getting into. And we'll plan ahead. Plenty of self-care and relaxation techniques before, distress tolerance during, and a break afterwards. If a panic attack (especially one that I can recognize) is the worst thing that happens to me at Disney - it's a pretty good day!

You might want to consider headphones to block out some of the noise. Sometimes I’ll wear my music headphones but not play any music just to block out the sound but still look “normal”.

I also have a history of panic attacks on roller coasters and find that it’s easier to ride one that is“on the ground” rather than up in the air. Barnstormer is my limit for roller coasters that actually look like roller coasters and I don’t really like it very much. On the other hand, I can ride and enjoy SDMT, BTMR, Space Mountain, and Everest. My DH will never get me on Rockin’ Roller Coaster. My first time on Space Mountain almost sparked a panic attack until a friend at the back of the train started belting out It’s a Small World at the very beginning. It was such random thing that it pulled me out of the panic attack and I actually enjoyed the ride.

 

[chris benton]

7D is smooth as silk.
Barnstormer is horrific.
2 totally different types of coasters. They are both essentially kiddie coasters, but 7d is a little longer, FAR SMOOTHER, and has a little bit of speed. And if they still make a video for you? You have to do 7d - no matter what. I think he'll be 136% fine. It sounds like you have a budding coaster kid - encourage the fun.

 

[dawnball]

You might want to consider headphones to block out some of the noise. Sometimes I’ll wear my music headphones but not play any music just to block out the sound but still look “normal”.

I also have a history of panic attacks on roller coasters and find that it’s easier to ride one that is“on the ground” rather than up in the air. Barnstormer is my limit for roller coasters that actually look like roller coasters and I don’t really like it very much. On the other hand, I can ride and enjoy SDMT, BTMR, Space Mountain, and Everest. My DH will never get me on Rockin’ Roller Coaster. My first time on Space Mountain almost sparked a panic attack until a friend at the back of the train started belting out It’s a Small World at the very beginning. It was such random thing that it pulled me out of the panic attack and I actually enjoyed the ride.

Thanks! The roller coaster itself doesn't actually bother me. Ok, that isn't true, I find big coasters terrifying and have no interest in RnR, Everest or Incredicoaster ever again. But it isn't panic, just ride weenie.

Years ago I had whooping cough. The cough lingers for months after you're not contagious. I was in the Test Track queue, held right behind FP merge and had a severe coughing fit. I had an episode of cough syncope and a "can't breathe, world is going black, going to die!" panic attack! For a very long time I couldn't go through the queues of a whole bunch of rides. Test track and BTMRR were the worst, but anything where I couldn't see a clear and obvious path to "out" were possible triggers. Even Soarin, with a giant walkway next to me was a really big deal for me. I'd go hang out on the other side of the railing. I probably know where every queue emergency exit is at WDW.

Fortunately, there's therapy for that! I have much better self-awareness and coping skills. I'd watched SDMT queue videos, but they'd been focused on the games and the cool crystals. I wasn't expecting to ride even though I had a handful of paper baby swap passes from other people riding it, but by random chance we were near it and my baby was sleeping, so I went! The sensory overload took me by surprise and I was focused on stopping the panic, not the ride.

(Yeah, that was totally off topic, but oh well.) I currently have a giant bag of tricks for avoiding and stopping panic attacks, and I'll be going in knowing that I need to use them! I'm more concerned about striking the balance between overwhelming my kid and giving him the idea that he should avoid things that might be scary.

 

[dawnball]

7D is smooth as silk.
Barnstormer is horrific.
2 totally different types of coasters. They are both essentially kiddie coasters, but 7d is a little longer, FAR SMOOTHER, and has a little bit of speed. And if they still make a video for you? You have to do 7d - no matter what. I think he'll be 136% fine. It sounds like you have a budding coaster kid - encourage the fun.

My husband would -love- a coaster kid. I'm a ride weenie and I'm both trying not to infect him and not to push him too far. I already have FP for SDD, and it sounds like that's going to be the bigger of the two rides. I'm pretty sure I can can handle the SDD queue without panicking and it sounds like if he's ok on that, then SDMT will be pretty easy.

 

[chris benton]

I think it depends on your definition of intense.

I find SDMT simultaneously less intense and more exciting that Barnstormer. Barnstormer... gives me the perception of insecurity, like a coaster at a local fair -- I feel like it is about to break at any moment, even though I know with my brain it is not really. For that reason, and ...I do not like Barnstormer. SDMT is super smooth and makes me feel much more secure. I get the impression that it is a bigger/faster coaster, but I am able to enjoy it because I feel safe.

I know I butchered your post, but you are not alone in that whole "feel safe" way of thinking.

I will do any coaster - the bigger, the better, the faster the better, the bigger the drop, the better. The scarier, the better - that's part of the fun - being scared.
But, freekin Astro Orbiter scares me to DEATH.
All of that creeking. I have to put my fears aside and just concentrate on the views. Sometimes i get spooked just walking around on the platform to find a jet to ride. LOVE the views. But that thing scares the bleep out of me.

 

[chris benton]

anything where I couldn't see a clear and obvious path to "out" were possible triggers. Even Soarin, with a giant walkway next to me was a really big deal for me. I'd go hang out on the other side of the railing. I probably know where every queue emergency exit is at WDW.

Splash immediately popped into my mind as a queue with no escape. We were stuck in that inside portion for 20 minutes once (tech difficulties.) I don't have panic attacks, but I started getting VERY antsy - dark, dank, hot.

 

[dawnball]

Splash immediately popped into my mind as a queue with no escape. We were stuck in that inside portion for 20 minutes once (tech difficulties.) I don't have panic attacks, but I started getting VERY antsy - dark, dank, hot.

Urg! Fortunately, I don't like that type of ride, so I've never been! I think I'll keep it that way.