Little kids on scary rides....!!!

[lindaso]

This is a very interesting discussion. I agree that you have to know your own kid. My 6 year old DD is pretty daring roller coaster wise but I won't let her on Dinosaur b/c I know she'll freak out. I'm still undecided about Test Track (the truck thing) and Space Mountain (can't sit next to her). I'm leaning towards trying them cause I don't think it will ruin the day if she doesn't like them.

Now my DS (almost 4) is scared of everything! We went to Sesame Place this past summer and he cried on the lazy river!! He was in DH's lap and we promised him a million times that daddy was going to steer the tube so he wouldn't get splashed (DH did some expert steering, let me tell ya!!). I have to admit, we did laugh about him being afraid of the lazy river!! I guess we did force him on though. This trip, he says he's only riding Buzz and the train and that's it. I'm showing him the pictures of him on the rides at almost 2 so hopefully he'll go on some more!!

 

[xplor]

I just have to share our Dinosaur experience. I had ridden it, so I knew what to expect. We were there with all 4 kids- at the time they were 8, almost 6, just turned 4 and just turned 3. We did parent swap for most things, but for some reason the 4yo wanted to go on Dinosaur with me. Daddy had gone first, and we were sitting in the gift area waiting to swap. Daddy comes out and says how much fun it was, so little guy and I hop back in line. He does fine, until we are "next" to load up. He says "Mommy, I think I changed my mind". I told him it was a little late, we were getting on right then. He was OK with that, and we climbed into a row with another mother with a boy his age. We put both boys in the middle. He was OK until we saw (his words) "the big dinosaur eating the baby one". He leaned behind me. I didn't hear a peep from him the whole time. When the ride was over, we got off and walk over to see our picture. Me and the other mom could not find our picture to save our lives. We finally found it- we had been looking for the two of us with two little boys, when in reality it was just two of us! The two little boys had completely folded themselves in half and were shoved completely behind our butts!LOL We got back to where Daddy was waiting and he asked little man if he had fun. He said it was "a little bit of fun". Asked if he would go again.... a very calm "no".

He was great this past weekend at Universal also. (He is now 6) He wasn never quite sure he didn't want to go. Although we did abandon ship on Spiderman as we were loading into the car. The littlest one refused to ride ANYTHING after we talked him into Back To the Future- and I was able to "bribe" the 6 year old to ride several things with me. He was a real champ! He would ride, and then when we got off say "OK Mommy, I didn't like it- we will never ride it again!". We had tried to convince them all to at least "try" the rides, and if they didn't like it they didn't have to ride again ever.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

The one incident that I can recall happened in ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (RIP). I had taken my 10yr old DS on, we fully explained the story before hand and he said he wanted to try it. Across the room from us was a boy around DS's age, maybe younger, screaming and crying. He was in hysterics, begging to be let out. Trying to get out of the chair. His parents didn't try and comfort him, which really bothered me.
I kept my hand on my son's leg the whole time, which I usually do just to let him know I am still there. My son did fine, he liked the show, but all in my party of five felt terrible for the other boy.

If we know a ride may be questionable, we always explain as best we can without giving away everything, what will happen. I bought a little squeeze light shaped like Tigger at Kmart for DD4, it gives off just enough light but won't disturb anyone around us. We always have an arm around our kids or a hand on their knee or arm to comfort. And they are told it is okay to close their eyes and cover their ears if they want. Of course, they are welcome to bury their faces in mommy or daddy too.
Last trip in August, DD4 loved Peter Pan, tackled Snow White with the help of her Tigger light (she also said "Go away witch!" it gave her a sense of empowerment), loved Haunted Mansion safely snuggled between mommy and daddy (best part was having a hitchhiking ghost sit on her lap!), loved Barnstormer (arms in the air both times!), giggled twice through BTMMRR, didn't care for Splash Mountain (she doesn't like getting her face wet and was scared through the whole ride that it would happen.), scared away Pirates of the Caribbean with her Tigger light twice, tackled TOT and giggled through the whole ride (twice), was nervous on Maelstrom (but her trusty Tigger light saved the day).
DS10 did well on everything except the Haunted Mansion. He rode with his Uncles and kept his eyes shut and ears covered the whole time.
Definately pay attention to your childs signals, and take a little squeeze light. It can help make them feel more in control.
Oh, before I forget. The characters can be intimidating too. Don't push your children toward a character if they are afraid. Not a pretty picture. Let them admire from afar. We did this with several characters that my daughter found scary, such as Clopin and Philoctetes.

 

[frannn]

I did not expect her to, at this age. DH was very hesitant to let her go on HM with us, but I explained that she was not old enough to be scared of the ghosts, etc. The only thing that might phase her is the darkness or loud noises. I wanted to try it, and if she had a problem, no more dark/scary ride. She rode through 3 times like a champion, unfazed by any of the ride at all. We put her between us and held her little hands just in case, though. I also gave her a Tinkerbell light spinner and Princess light up mini fan. She didn't need them. She did not have a problem with any of the rides, even the tea cups. I expect that to change as she becomes more aware, and will let her decide in the future if she wants to skip something. That's why I'm glad DH and I have "been there, done that" a handful of times before, and I have motion sickness, so I don't like most of the "thrill" rides anyway. BTW, she loved all the characters, so we probably did more meals than rides!

 

[Goofmeister]

Ok, I know this is an old tip, but it worked great for us. My daughter was 3 almost 4 at the time. Anytime we went on a "dark" ride we would give her a little squeeze flashlight keychain. That way whenever she got scared she could turn on a little light and shine it inside the car. Later I found a little Cinderella necklace that lights up. She put this on, and wasn't scared at all.

Snow White - scared at first. Not crying just concerned. We ended up riding this several times.

Haunted Mansion was a terrible disaster. No tears, but she was really freaked out on the ride. She was excited to ride it in the line, but after the first few minutes wanted nothing to do with it. We were really nervous about taking her. But she wanted to try it. Should've gone with our gut feeling.

Did great in Its Tough to be a Bug. I think she and her Mommy were playing a trick on me. I was totally unprepared for the ending. They thought it was really funny. She did sit on her Mother's lap the whole time....

I found the attempts to rate the rides to be deceiving. Ride it yourself first if you can. A bad experience on one ride will temper the rest of them, not matter how tame they may be.

 

[Gretchen]

One more:
DD not afraid of anything at 18 mos, 2 1/2 afraid of almost everything! She is afraid of anything that is high, dark and loud, so most of WDW. I did however make her go on Peter Pan when she was 4. She really liked the ride, and said that it wasn't scary, but didn't want to go on it again. I would never ever force her to go on roller coaster rides or anything remotely scary. I don't even like HM (I know, let the kidding begin) it just gives me the creeps. I know it would totaly freak DD out. So, its more IASW for us!

there was a post above on how to deal with others in your party that insist you take your child on something....Stand your ground, don't be a whimp....your child is your child, you know what's best! Ok, I feel better...
Gretchen

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by KAH
Speaking of scary rides, any opinions on the following:

Snow White
Haunted Mansion
Test Track
Honey I Shrunk the Audience
Star Tours

I've been wondering if my kids will be up for these? I think the 5 year old will be fine, maybe not the 4 year old. I definitely wouldn't ever force my child to go on a ride like those parents you described. That is awful.

My four year old loved Test Track, we went on it three times!! He also liked Star Tours, but hated Snow White and the Haunted Mansion. He said they were "scary" so I didn't make him go on them again. I really wanted to do the HM again but I couldn't make him. He seemed to like Splash Mountain when we were on it, but wouldn't go on it again. Maybe he didn't like getting wet on it.

 

[FreshTressa]

My kids 4 and 6 rode everything they could except TOT. I thought it was a little too intense for them. They LOVED test track and HM is DS's favorite ride.

I had to bribe DS 6 to ride splash mountain but once he rode it, he wanted to go again. So, I guess I wasn't forcing him, and he wasn't crying, but he said he didn't want to ride until we bribed him with ice cream.

Now I am wondering why it was so important to me that he ride it when he didn't want to?

 

[sha_lyn]

We just went through this this weekend at Wild Adventures. They have an inverted family caoster called Swamp thing. It might be a little more intense than Goofy's barnstormer. I would compare it to Flying Unicorn at IOA. DD loves coasters as long as they aren't rough. Well all she knew of inverted coasters is that the ones she's seen in the past have loops. I made her walk through the line with everyone with the promise she didn't have to ride. Well the guy tried to measure her and she freaked. We had to walk though the coaster to get to the "off ramp" and she freaked. I did make her stay right there at the unloading area so she could watch the coaster. After she saw it I tried to bribe her to ride (would buy her one of those light up pacifier necklaces that are so popular now). Still couldn't get her on it. Next AM she decided to ride it (seeing it in the day light helped). Well she was hesitant but got on. She screamed the first time through (it goes around 2 times) and laughed the 2nd. Wanted to ride it again later, but then freaked while getting on. I insisted she ride. she loved it and later on that day was upset that the line was too long to ride when we were leaving the park.

 

[DemoBri1]

Originally posted by Planogirl

Another attraction to consider is It's Tough To Be A Bug. My son was always OK with this one but I saw a lot of kids getting upset.

I'll agree with this one. When the fog descends down upon everyone and the insect sound is buzzing all around, I heard alot of upset children.

Adults who are clausterphobic or asthmatic should stay away from this as well. It could cause them to panic IMO.

Brian

 

[marcyinPA]

When we went two years ago, my ds who was 3 went on everything he was tall enough for (which wasn't much because he's tiny!) and my ds who was 7 was afraid to go on everything (he was nervous about anything in the dark, Pooh included. We made him go on it!). We convinced him to try Thunder Mountain RR and Splash Mtn, and he loved both of them (it took a little encouragement, but no kicking and screaming!) We also "encouraged" him to do ToT...which we probably should have just let him sit it out. He was ok, but a little shaken at the end. He said he liked it, but when my dh asked him to go on it again, he said "NO WAY".

We are going again in May of 04, and my older ds will be 9. I'm hoping that he gets a more adventurous and goes on a few more things this time around.

What's funny is now my younger ds (he'll be 5 when we go) says he won't go on Pirates of Carribean, Tough to be a Bug, or any other 3D movie....and he went on all of that two years ago. Hmmmm...we'll have to see if he changes his mind!

We don't force, we just explain and encourage. If they don't change their minds, then we let it be.

 

[sln88]

I had a funny experience with a frightened child last week. We went on COP during the MNSSHP. I was pretty excited about this because it is usually not open. There is this little girl around 4 in there who starts talking loudly through the ride. I was pretty irritated because her parents made no attempt to shush her and it was hard to hear what was being said.

We get to the 3rd scene, and this girl goes into hysterics! She was screaming and crying that they had to leave NOW! I am not sure what in that scene set her off. Almost made me wonder if she could see something that I could not. Her parents tried to leave with her, but there was no way out. She screamed through the whole scene, and then when we came to #4, she magically calmed down and started chattering again.

I guess you never know what will set your kids off!

I am lucky in that most things don't scare my kids. The only thing that did was the snorkeling at TL. I was disappointed that they would not be able to experience that, but did not force them to go.