My 2 year old HATES rides..help!

[NY Disney fan]

My 2 year old is deathly afraid of rides...any ride! I can't put her on a carousel, I can' t put her on the horsey in front of the grocery store for 25 cents. Nothing. We took her on the baby rides at Six Flags and she begs me to get off. She sees the other little kids/babies get on rides and she smiles. I ask her if she wants to get on and she says YES! When I put her on the ride, she cries for me to get her off.

I am planning a trip to Disney this year, should I pretty much plan on skipping the rides and just walking around the park with her? Any tips? Thanks.

 

[PinkRhombus]

Are you on these rides with her? Maybe start with the Small World ride. More like a slow boat ride...you could hold her.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Are you on these rides with her? Maybe start with the Small World ride. More like a slow boat ride...you could hold her.

Yes. I am on some of the rides with her and she cries. If I cannot get on a ride, I try to just say by her side. I'm hoping something like a Small World ride can calm her down. My mother was able to ride with her on a "dumbo" type ride at six flags but it was a struggle. I know it can be done but I wonder whether or not I should force it.

 

[Nissan_Rogue_Squad]

sounds almost like my little P-Nut. She don't like more small rides where she is not near us or another grown up family member.

Once she was able to get on rides like small world and Peter Pan's Flight and Pooh she was alright with those rides, but still doesn't like smaller rides like the coin-op rides. She also does have a little scared reaction at first on the caroussel, but once I talk to her she then starts to have fun and enjoy the right.

Our first trip to WDW with her we took her on the Tea Cups... that wasn't such a good idea, but it was funny watching her get scared. I'm such a mean daddy

So I'd again just plan for rides that you and your DD are able to sit next to each other. Even if the ride is for their size/age don't assume the child will like it. our DD did NOT like Toy Story, and she is a big Buzz and Woody fan. So please try to take it slow and read the reactions of your kids that's the best way. many people may have their own experiences, but you'll be the best to know how your children react to the attractions.

HTH
Jason

 

[eagillinois]

My DS is very cautious by nature, we waited to take him to WDW until this year (he will be 6 YO). Before planning Disney, I took him twice in the summer to a local amusement park and he was able to ride most rides because he understood that he would not get hurt and could see the other people leaving the ride were OK also. I know at 2,3 or 4 he would have freaked out! He stayed at Grandmas for our last two trips.
I know this probably isnt a popular response (to wait a few years) but for us it was the best choice.

 

[wdw71]

Here at home my son is the same as your daughter, nothing that goes in circles even when I am with him. We have a carousel at our mall that my 4 year old loves to ride but not my baby, he cries the whole time. But go figure- he was 18 months old his first trip to WDW this past April and he loved all the rides there, even the carousel and dumbo. Back at home we are back to crying. That place really is magic! So there may be hope for you

 

[mcraige]

Are there any characters that your DD really likes? For example, if she likes Pooh, you could ride the Pooh ride, and make an adventure of looking for Pooh (rather than riding a ride). Same for Peter Pan.

 

[codenamejack]

..

 

[djs113]

if the rides don't work

you can buy an autograph book and go hunting for all the characters all over the parks to get their autographs and take pictures with them

you can also buy her a pin lanyard and some pins and you can go up to all the cast members in all the paks and trade pins with them

these are some initial thoughts if the rides don't work

 

[mckinley]

My dd8 is still afraid of some rides for instance the splash mountain she won't go near it. So of course what she doesn't ride we don't ride which it makes a okay since we go for her anyway. We are going back again in about 5 months so maybe this time she will be better.

 

[kristytru]

We found with my son, it was that initial "jerk" at the beginning of the ride that would set him off. Can't think of many rides that don't have that except for the continuous loading ones like Peter Pan and, of course, the shows like Philharmagic and Carousel of Progress.
I like the pin idea. Maybe you could show her the ride pins "that you can earn someday when you choose to ride it". good luck.

 

[merfsko]

I wouldn't force anything, but try to ease into the rides instead.
Like mentioned, something like Small World might be a good starting point. Or even the train around Magic Kingdom, as it's simple and quiet.

Still, there's plenty to do in the parks without going on the rides. As already mentioned, character hunting, pin trading, looking for Hidden Mickeys, watching parades, catching all of the shows, spening time in ToonTown at MK, going around the world and hitting the KidCot stops at EPCOT...

And maybe, while doing all of that, she might show some interest in some of the rides. The only park I've been to other then Disney is Canada's Wonderland, but I found that Disney's rides were way more interesting, magical and story-like, which makes them less frightening.

Good Luck, and hope you have an incredible trip!

PS- If this is your first trip, I would suggest Birnbaum's For Kids by Kids Disney Guide. It rates all the rides, and give you warning if it's considered Dark, Scary, Wet, Rough or Loud, and gives a fairly good description on the pros and cons of the rides (as decicided on by kids). This might be helpful in deciding which rides to try and which to definately skip.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

My DS 4 would not ride any rides. Well, he did carousel and Small Worls, but only cause we knew he had nothing to freak over.
He, however, had an awesome time. At MK, the tree house was his favorite. At Epcot, we had a blast at the water squirting thing (Sorry; forget what it's called). HE climbed all over the park. He loved the shows. He liked seeing the characters, even if he did not want them to look at him.
The monorail was great fun, as were the character meals, etc.

Remember that it is way too overwhelming for little kids anyway. I am sure you guys will have a great experience!

 

[EHakkinen]

Oh - I hear that! My ds was almost three when we went last - a few weeks before we left, he "developed" a fear of any characters, deriving from the mascot at the basketball games we always go to. He is also wary of rides. However, we managed to get on more than we planned on - avoiding those that would be dark (even Small World made him nervous - although I guess I can see with all those puppets dancing around...) He loved the jumping water type places, and so we spent a lot of time there. He also loved the train ride, and everything at Animal Kingdom. Even though he was not willing to go near the characters, he would wave to them ,and was more than willing to hug the princesses! So, all in all - we had an awesome time, and he is totally psyched to go back in a couple of months. I'm looking forward to him going on more rides this time!

 

[bianca]

For your sake, I hope she outgrows not liking the rides. We have a 15 yo. that we adopted at age 7. She has refused to go on rides ever since she's been in the family, and in fact, won't even go into attractions like "Tough to be a Bug" or "Muppets 3-D". In spite of 12 trips to WDW with our family, reasoning, bribes and lot of dollars, we have not been able to convince her that WDW is fun. We have now sworn off WDW until she is 18 and is no longer living with us ..... it is just too sad for the remainder of the family. I would certainly cut a 2 yo some slack, as they will undoubtedly outgrow it. Give it time. Sadly in our case, time never helped