My 6yo DS is TERRIFIED of rides!! Can we still have fun?

[kermittheturtle]

Hi !

My youngest son does not like rides at all!! He started to cry when I told him we were going to WDW! He thinks WDW is just rides but I have reassured him that there's more to do then rides. My two older DD and DS LOVE rides. They keep talking about all the COOL rides at WDW and my youngest has a complete meltdown until I calm him down again. I would never make him go on a ride he wasn't comfortable with... but we do have to make it through a 5 hr plane ride that he says he's not going on!
Can someone give me some advice for calming his fears?

Thanks ~ Kermit

 

[kerri0616]

As a parent of a timid child, I feel your pain!! To answer your question, yes, your son can have a wonderful time and never get on a ride. Does he like characters? If so, you could practically plan your entire vacation around meeting and greeting the many, many characters. (By the way, my son only likes the "furry" characters, he is scared of the "face" characters. Apparently, there's a difference to the little guys.)

The shows are spectacular. My timid son was 4 when we first saw the Lion King show at AK. Loved it! The parades are wonderful also. Just find a comfortable spot, have a nice snack ready, and I'm sure he'll love it.

He may be happy to ride the train around MK a few times. Maybe he'll gain some confidence and be willing to try something easy like Small World.

In each park you will find many, many, many non-ride activities. I must admit making the mistake of forcing my young son to go on Buzz Lightyear and Splash Mountain. What an idiot I was. I learned my lesson--go at their pace and everyone is happy!

Have an awesome time!

Kerri

 

[mmeb144]

The boneyard at AK. Honey I shrunk the kids playground at MGM. Also, my dd, who is 9, loves the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. You just ride around in the open in a big circle around Tomorrowland at MK. At first, I thought, how boring! But she converted me. I love this ride! Always the same goofy phrases!

Marie

 

[kermittheturtle]

Thank you Kerri0616!!!


I plan to try to do as many shows w/ him as possible. I don't think he would be afraid of the characters (could be wrong) there's just something about rides that totally freak him out!! I'm hoping he'll at least try a mellow ride and like it so much he'll get brave enough to try other rides too!! The rest of our family LOVES to go on rides so we'll see how this trip turns out ..... Thanks again

Kermit

 

[tjmw2727]

I wonder if its the "phrase" ride that is scaring him. If he has a specific experience or fear perhaps you can assure him. Lots of the ads show splash mtn or space mtn and lately mission space -maybe he thinks all the rides will be like that??

Be assured that even if he just enjoys the shows, parades, fireworks and playgrounds - oh and of course the pool that's still a great vacation. If you are going to try a ride perhaps start with its a small world or even the carosel since he can see it?. I would never lie or mislead a child but in the case of small world perhaps telling him its a boat trip show rather than a ride would get him to give it a try. Of course you know what he can handle and why he is scared but that's were I would start. Then move slow and maybe try peter pan or pooh but definately skip snow white.

Try the video "Disneyland Fun" its a kiddie video that a 6yo may not normally view but it will show him excactly what to expect from the rides. Our local blockbuster has copies for rent, you can also get one on AK, I can't remember the title but it has something about a "Flik Adventure!".

Use the child swap option so that the others in the party can ride without waiting and not make the 6yo feel bad. Actually depending on the # in your party the other kids may get to ride twice!

Have fun and take it slow - you never know with kids.

TJ

 

[kermittheturtle]

Thank you so much for the replies. Can someone tell me more about this child swap thing? We are bringing along my MIL to help w/ going on rides... but she likes rides too maybe we will all be able to ride. Just not sure if he will tolerate standing in the lines w/ us.

What is It's a small world? (remember I'm a newbie) I realize it's a ride but what does it do?
Thanks again

~Kermit~

 

[Rodrigo]

Here is a baby swap info link.

 

[jann1033]

nothing, you float in a boat through an eternity of dolls who are singing "it's a small world after all" most of it that I can recall( it blurs after the first few mins!) is well lit so probably a good one for him unless he is afraid of water. since he is probably thnking of amusement park rides ( if you have never been to wdw)maybe ifyou do not call them that but say "lets go see pooh" or what ever that will help and definitly don't do any of the scarey dark ones like pirates, snow white , mexico, Norway,unless he becomes an" attraction Maniac"

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I agree that it's the "ride" thing that might have him so upset. Most of the rides at WDW are so different than other places that he might be ok with a lot of them. I think that using the term boat ride, or train ride or go on the cars, might help. The tape mentioned is great. If he is quite timid, you might want to avoid the 3-D shows. They can be quite intense.There are a lot of shows that would be great as well as the playgrounds and just taking in the sites. I would encourage at least a very tame ride such as pooh or IASW, but I too agree, don't force. Bet he will cave to the fun.


Good luck,
Jordans' mom

 

[sha_lyn]

Pick up a copy of WDW for kids by kids. It give great insight on the rides, a scare factor etc. Also if you have the travel channel, check to see when some of the WDW shows are on. The one with ToT on it helped my then 5 DD get the nerve up to try it.

DD also has the Disneyland singalong tape. She 6 and still loves it.

 

[funhouse8]

get him the book walt disney world for kids by kids
The birnbaum's guide

When my son was younger he was scared of the rides too. This book explains all the rides and shows with pictures and ratings telling them if the ride is scarey dark or loud. My son seemed to like the idea he was in control of which rides he would try. The book even talked about the shows. We brought the book with us into the park so he would know which rides to try. You will be surpised if you don't force him on them he might decide on his own to try a few. If he doesn't that's o.k. as he gets older he will try them. My son is now 13 and went on every ride at cedar point this summer. Have a wonderful vacation. Gina

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Be careful of Honey I shrunk the kids playground. It eats kids!

My husband took one DD and I followed the other and within 30 seconds they were both out of sight. I place my husband by the exit while I tried to keep tabs on them. I know its Disney but I just don't like my kids out of my eyesight in a crowd.

Of course trying to remove them was impossible so we sweated it out. I hope they don't remember its there this year and we can avoid it.

 

[PieInYourEye]

Make sure the kids get to meet Mickey early in the day. Then, at the rides, remind him that this is Mickey's place and Mickey makes fun rides.

 

[whozit]

I haven't seen it, but there is the new Goofy's Dancin' Jamboree at the Diamond Horseshoe, also the Enchanted Tiki Room show, and Tom Sawyer's Island (the raft trip over is not really like a ride). Also, at Toontown you can visit Minnie's House and Mickey's House....not rides, but lots of things to look at.

At Animal Kingdom, there are a lot of paths to take to look at wildlife, and if he will take the train ride to the Conservation Station, there is a petting zoo, also displays to look at (incuding one that lets you control video cameras to look at different animals in their barns and out in the open). Also, there are several shows....Tarzan, Flights of Wonder, Lion King and Pocahontas. And look for the acrobats in Africa....they are jump rope, jump through hoops, do the limbo....they are amazing.

At Epcot, The Land boat trip is very sedate. At the Living Seas, you can spend time watching the fish (look for times when they will be feeding or when there will be special presentations). Also, at Innoventions, there are interactive video games (the kid is in the game...they put on a vest or belt that has sensors on it, then depending on the game, they do something that controls what happens in the game (if they hop from side to side, the character on the screen hops from side to side, if they jump, the character jumps). And in the World Showcase, he can do the Kidcot Stations and also there are a lot of street performers that are fun to watch.

There is lots to do....and you never know, you may get it all planned out and then he'll get there and see rides that don't look terrifying to him, and he'll want to spend all his time on them!

 

[jdads2]

I would check some sites and even some DISsers photos to find some things at WDW that he might like. Check out these photos:

At Epcot:
http://groups.msn.com/TheCostantinoHangOut/thefamily.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=3

At Downtown Disney:
http://groups.msn.com/TheCostantinoHangOut/thefamily.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=6

At Animal Kingdom:
http://groups.msn.com/TheCostantinoHangOut/thefamily.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=16

At MNSSHP:
http://groups.msn.com/TheCostantinoHangOut/thefamily.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=14

You can also try this link:
http://www.wdwpix.com/IndexMagicKingdom.htm

Lots more pics from other DISsers on the Trip Reports board: http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=18

 

[kermittheturtle]

Thank you all sooo much. I am so glad I found the disboards!!!

It looks like I'll have plenty to do w/o even going on rides!! I am so excited to show him some pictures and tell him some of the things you all mentioned!
When I tucked him in last night we talked a little bit about "rides" and I do think it's the phrase that scares him. He told me he might even try a very very slow one!! Things are looking up

Thanks again!!

Kermit

 

[Donnainnj]

I would bring a video camera into some of the timid rides and then play it back to him so he would know what to expect, and decide if he would like to go on. Hope he overcomes some of this fear on the trip.

 

[Muffy]

I bet you will be pleasantly surprised that he decides he likes the rides afterall. Show him the Indy cars and he just may try that one! Good luck!

 

[sap1227]

I would also check out the Disney.com site. It has a little "show" about each ride. Some of them are better than other. My DS will point to the computer and sing (his version) of It's a Small World so I will show it to him again. Here is the link to the Magic Kingdom site
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wa...actiongroupingindex?id=MKAttractionsAttGrping

I am sure you will have a great trip!

Christy

 

[LAinSEA]

As a former full-time childrens ski instructor, I know that kids will often "decide" that something is just "not for them". Like skiing is great fun, but riding the ski lift is not. Kinda a problem as hiking for your turns is pretty hard after a while. So it's best to figure out what's behind the not wanting to ride and find a solution to the problem.

Assuming your child has no problems with motion sickness or a phobia of being inside an enclosed space or a fear of the dark...his "just say no" to rides campaign probably can be overcome with his help.

First, it might be fun for your son to watch the WDW video just with you (a little one on one time) and you can talk about some of the things he watched and what he might want to do or not do and why. You can then gage whether his declaration of "not to ride" is based upon some fear or the need for some attention.

Second, it is important to not let his campaign ruin your family's vacation. I would have a family meeting prior to your trip and make some plans based on what everyone would like to do and see. Then put together an itinerary of rides and shows where participation is mandatory...at least throughout the wait for the ride. If you have to invoke the child swap system at the ride itself, then do it. This will be great fun for your other two children because (usually) they will get to ride twice...once with one parent and once with one who waited with the child not riding. Don't be surprised when your son sees his siblings emerge unscathed with smiles on their faces that he might make the decision himself to try a few rides now and again.

Third, a reward system for trying new things can also be helpful. It doesn't have to be fancy...like the children's "passport" at EPCOT, you can use a map of the parks and stickers for when your son experiences the attraction. It will create a both a keepsake and way for your son to look back at his adventures. You could even find a cool toy or souvenir to use as reward for experiencing so many attractions.

Good luck and have a great vacation.