Kids with Ride Anxiety

[rascooby]

We are planning a trip in November. My 8 year old does not love rollercoasters or "scary" rides. Her younger sister, who is 7, is a little braver, but still not super brave. On our last trip they were 5 and 4. They went on Big Thunder Mtn and Splash Mtn. Neither liked BTM. My 5 year old (at the time) cried when we got off Splash, but later said that it was her favorite ride and asked me to take her on it again, which I did.

This trip I would really like them to try again. It would be nice if we could do most rides together (we have a 12 year old who likes them all), at least once. If they don't like it, I won't make them do it again. One of their complaints is getting jostled around or hurting their backs. I was thinking that since it's November, maybe we could bring puffy coats or something like that to cushion them a little. Has anyone tried anything like that?

We are watching YouTube videos and they are talking about trying most things. We have season passes to Six Flags, so I think we'll try some of the smaller roller coasters and see how they do.

I won't ask them to do EE or Rock N Roller Coaster, but I hope I can figure out a way to get them to try others. I really think they would like them if they would just relax!

 

[pa. dad]

Kids can be hard to predict. My guys when they were young hated Test Trak but loved it a few years later. They always liked Space Mt and Thunder Mt.
My niece was scared of Pirates when she was young but liked the faster rides that weren't in the dark. So every kid is different and what scares them isn't always easy to predict.
I do think that EE may be less scary than the aerosmith coaster.
One story I'll share- when my guys were younger, they were reluctant to try Splash Mt. because of the very visible big drop. So I told them that I really liked it because its a 10 or 12 minute ride with a lot of characters and singing and stuff. And that it had 3 little drops that were nothing and the one big drop that is over before you know it and it may get you wet. Getting wet was a big plus to them. So rather than force them to ride anything, I reasoned with them and then they loved it.
As far as coasters, I'd start with a 7d mine train and hope they like that. Then tell them them that Thunder Mt is only a little bit faster than that (which is true). Then tell them that space mt is about that speed except its in space in the dark not out in the sunshine like the others. That kind of logic may not get you to EE but hopefully it'll get you partway there anyway. If they can take some steps this trip, thats pretty good.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I use bribery. Works every time, and the kids always end up loving the ride, lol.

 

[Pesky]

I agree with starting small and going from there. Also realize that placement can impact the kind of ride you have. Generally, I've found the closer you are to the front, the less jostling. In the back, you'll get thrown all over the place. So don't hesitate to ask to wait for the front if you are getting on a ride like BTMRR. Maybe have them come up with their own rating system (maybe noting it in a kids' guide beside the ride) and tell them they are the investigators. Like 1 = carousel; mild, 5= bit bumpy but no worse than a drive to school, 10 = OMG, call the ambulance because I can't get up! Remind them that as they grow, how their bodies handle the rides will be different so the next visit might be a test again and they can see how it changes through the years. As a kid/teen, I loved the tea cups. Me and the spinning = not so bueno now. Maybe by approaching it as a scientific kind of study -- they experiment, note their findings, and make a decision based on that -- might help. And bribery does too. Gotta agree with mousemommy1 on that one.

 

[kohlby]

We don't force the issue. I have a child with sensory issues though and forcing him on a ride would not go well. Trying a ride and then not having to do it again sounds nice. But it would really be trying a ride and then refusing to do anything else due to fear of not liking the other rides too.

We let the kids have the control. That can be part of the issue - they don't have control on the rides, so having control of making the decision is important. However, deciding whether to do it or not doesn't impact the rest of the family much. We stop at the rides we want to do and if they don't want to do it, then they wait.

Since it's been 3 years, you may be happily surprised.

Also, start small and build up. And don't give up. My youngest refused to do ANY rides at Disney when he was 5 years old for the first 5 days. Then we went to Legoland and he suddenly was willing. We went back to Disney for 3 more days after that and he was willing to do quite a few. He's 7 now and there's still no way he's ready for Space Mountain. I'm not even sure if he's ready for Test Track, though it was my other two kids' favorite ride at 3 years old. Getting a single splash is a huge no for him too so we stay away from rides that will splash him as one would think acid was touching his skin by the reaction. Also, have a parent next to each child. That way, you can comfort the child if they do freak out.

As for puffy coats, I've been several times in November and it would have been way too warm for a warm jacket. I don't remember needing a jacket at all in November on any trip, even a lightweight one.

*He did like 7 Dwarfs and BTMRR but wasn't willing to try them until the second half of the trip.

 

[littlbugmom]

My son doesn't like a lot of the rides his sister and dad enjoy. I get car sick very easily and my back is a bit fragile so I don't ride big stuff, either. He was 8 during our last trip and was very specific about not liking the "drop belly" feeling of coasters and the stuff that threw him around. He said something along the lines of he and I making a perfect vacation team because Dad and sister liked big rides but he and I liked all the other stuff.

He's 11 now and willing to try some of the stuff he didn't like the last time but he's still content to like the stuff he likes and he will not be talked into anything. LoL!

If I were you, I'd do what I can to encourage them but I wouldn't push too hard. A long time ago on a non-disney vacation, my son told me that he felt like a baby when we tried over and over to get him to try a ride he knew he wouldn't like. That really stuck with me over the years and helped me remember that it's his vacation too. I don't want him to feel bad because he isn't vacationing like others are.

The coat idea is a good one but we never needed more than a hoodie during our Oct and Nov trips.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would encourage them, but would go with the flow a little bit as well. I've had varying success over the years getting DS to try different rides. When he was little, he chose to go on Barnstormer on his own, but then getting him to "graduate" to BTMRR was difficult. As a PP mentioned, I, too, bribed DS to go on the ride! And it worked! I knew he would like it, he just needed to go on it. He then wanted to go on Splash which was really too bad, because I DIDN'T LOL! Then it came time for Space Mountain. Because it's in the dark and you can't see the track at all (unless it's down and you are on the Peoplemover!), we encouraged him and, with massive hesitation, he agreed to go on. The whole time we were riding I kept thinking, this is a BIG mistake and he is going to be REALLY upset when it ends. Well, instead, he got off the ride and said "that was AWESOME!". Different story at RnRC when DS and DH decided to exit after waiting in the line and seeing the limos take off. Can't say I blame them as I rode alone and my legs were shaking by the end! I guess my point is - encourage, but play it by ear.

 

[ktlm]

Bribery can be very effective. We used bribery. Mickey Head Ice Cream bars or other things from the ice cream cart DD wanted worked wonders. I also have to admit that if she wanted something in a store and I knew I was going to buy it for her, I was not above holding it over her head as bribery to get her on a ride. Worked like a charm. BUT, bribery can't make them like it. DD just turned 10. She hates BTMRR, hates Splash at WDW (but likes DLR's version), hates Kali, hates TOT (although she claimed she rode it when she liked it- but in the 2 years since we can't get her back on it) but she really likes TT, EE and Space Mountain. We still haven't gotten her to set foot on RNRC. No amount of bribery has worked on that one.

I try to get her to try something once a trip. She tried EE when she was 8 and did not like it at all, but she was willing to ride it again at age 9 and loved it and wanted to ride it again. She also didn't like Space Mountain at age 5, but tried it again at age 6 and really liked it. I haven't been able to get her on BTMR since she was 5- she REALLY hated that one. She was not willing to try TOT again at age 9 (rode it the first time at age 8). It is just a balance of pushing a little (because with DD she might be hesitant but may really like it once she rides it), but also knowing when to back off.

 

[buzznina]

I would encourage them, but would go with the flow a little bit as well. I've had varying success over the years getting DS to try different rides. When he was little, he chose to go on Barnstormer on his own, but then getting him to "graduate" to BTMRR was difficult. As a PP mentioned, I, too, bribed DS to go on the ride! And it worked! I knew he would like it, he just needed to go on it. He then wanted to go on Splash which was really too bad, because I DIDN'T LOL! Then it came time for Space Mountain. Because it's in the dark and you can't see the track at all (unless it's down and you are on the Peoplemover!), we encouraged him and, with massive hesitation, he agreed to go on. The whole time we were riding I kept thinking, this is a BIG mistake and he is going to be REALLY upset when it ends. Well, instead, he got off the ride and said "that was AWESOME!". Different story at RnRC when DS and DH decided to exit after waiting in the line and seeing the limos take off. Can't say I blame them as I rode alone and my legs were shaking by the end! I guess my point is - encourage, but play it by ear.

I commend your DH We have also had a number of rides when we got close to the end our DD decided she was not ready yet and we exited. But, I have seen so many parents force their kids to go because they had waited in line We tell them the truth about the ride and do not sugar coat it to try and make them go and if I do not like to be made to do something why should I make them.

 

[rascooby]

Thank you all for the advice. I have told my husband that I'm not letting their fear or anxiety ruin the trip. If they don't want to go, we just need to do Child Swap. No drama. Our middle daughter is a little anxious already and I don't want her to feel like we're going to "make" her do anything because it will just stress everyone out. This is everyone's vacation, so I really want every person to be able to do what makes them happy, even the kids.

I LOVE the idea of having them keep a notebook and be investigators rating the rides. My 8 year old will adore that. I'm also trying to remind her that she was really little last time, so she may enjoy it this time.

 

[pa. dad]

Thank you all for the advice. I have told my husband that I'm not letting their fear or anxiety ruin the trip. If they don't want to go, we just need to do Child Swap. No drama. Our middle daughter is a little anxious already and I don't want her to feel like we're going to "make" her do anything because it will just stress everyone out. This is everyone's vacation, so I really want every person to be able to do what makes them happy, even the kids.

I LOVE the idea of having them keep a notebook and be investigators rating the rides. My 8 year old will adore that. I'm also trying to remind her that she was really little last time, so she may enjoy it this time.

I do think that taking the time to explain the ride or the show can help a lot. Plus seeing other kids their age in the line looking forward to doing the ride. There will be certain things beyond their tastes just yet but they;ll move at the pace that's best for them with good attitudes.
Some never want to do certain things like a Tower of terror or a high speed coaster and there's nothing wrong with that.