Parents of tweens....is SDD a one-and-done or multiple rides?

[CapnJacksGirl]

I need advice from the parents of tweens, especially boys. We have DSs, almost 14 and 12. We haven't been since Toy Story Land opened and I'm wondering about SDD. Obviously we want to ride once for sure, but I'm looking for advice from parents of kids of similar ages. Was it a one-and-done for your kids or did they want to ride multiple times? From what I'm reading and watching, it's a cute ride but short. I'm thinking of trying to ride it just before closing one night, to avoid having to FP it, to avoid having to RD it in the stampede, AND to avoid the lack of shade. I'm curious what other similar age kids' thoughts were about the ride. Anyone have input?

 

[ktlm]

My DD was 12 last fall when we went. She would have done it multiple times-- it is better than we thought it was going to be. But, with the crazy lines and with only one FP+, we only rode it once. Also, I don't know if it has changed, but last fall the stampede to it was wild. I imagine it will be different once Galaxy's Edge opens. I'm sure that will split the crowd.

She was not upset by just doing it once, but if the lines had been shorter, she definitely would have done it again. I would put it at somewhere between 7DMT and BTMRR in terms of intensity. Now the Alien Swirling Saucers was definitely a one and done for her and for the rest of us. If you have ever been to Disneyland it is basically the Mater ride.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

My DD was 12 last fall when we went. She would have done it multiple times-- it is better than we thought it was going to be. But, with the crazy lines and with only one FP+, we only rode it once. Also, I don't know if it has changed yet, but last fall the stampede to it was wild. She was not upset by that, but if the lines had been shorter, she definitely would have done it again. I would put it at somewhere between 7DMT and BTMRR in terms of intensity. Now the Alien Swirling Saucers was definitely a one and done for her and for the rest of us. If you have ever been to Disneyland it is basically the Mater ride.

Thanks for the input! That is very helpful! I may stick with my ride-at-closing plan so I can focus on other FPs. I have zero interest in that RD stampede since it seems to be way worse than the TSMM RD had been. That was just about my limit! We are getting ParkHoppers this time which will be new for us. If they want to do SDD twice, we'll hop over at closing a second time.

Thanks for the AS2 info also. I had heard somewhere that it was basically the Mater ride, which we really enjoyed, but yes, a one-and-done for sure.

 

[epcotobsessed]

One of the most overrated rides in the World. My 14yo and 12yo, 13 and 10 when we went last year, couldn't believe we waited so long for "THAT." We all agree there are many better coaster options in the parks and that SDD isn't even in the top 3 of rides in HS.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Mine is 16 (15 when we first rode). It’s a once a trip ride for us (FP or at close only). RnRC is the over and over again for him.

HTH!

 

[ErinsMommy]

DD then almost age 12 LOVED SDD and wanted to ride it multiple times. AS on the other hand was a one and done.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Mine is 16 (15 when we first rode). It’s a once a trip ride for us (FP or at close only). RnRC is the over and over again for him.

HTH!

I think this is where my kids are too. I think what I'll plan to do is SDD at closing on our arrival night. I'll FP RnRC, ToT, and TSMM then too. (We'll just sneak in before those infernal tier changes.) The morning we go to HS, we're going to RD RnRC (well, they will. I'll be at Starbucks!) and maybe they can ride twice then do ToT. We'll see what the AS2 line looks like at that point then I'm planning for FP for TSMM, Star Tours, and another go on RnRC. We'll be on our way to the pool by mid-afternoon then on to Epcot.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I think this is where my kids are too. I think what I'll plan to do is SDD at closing on our arrival night. I'll FP RnRC, ToT, and TSMM then too. (We'll just sneak in before those infernal tier changes.) The morning we go to HS, we're going to RD RnRC (well, they will. I'll be at Starbucks!) and maybe they can ride twice then do ToT. We'll see what the AS2 line looks like at that point then I'm planning for FP for TSMM, Star Tours, and another go on RnRC. We'll be on our way to the pool by mid-afternoon then on to Epcot.

Sounds perfect to me! (Except AS2. It’s awful)

 

[Klayfish]

This will purely depend on your kids. Mine all love RnR, as someone else above said we'll do it over and over. However, since we are just all around WDW fans, SDD definitely isn't a one and done for us. We can't wait to do it again. It's not a thrill ride, but it's cool.

 

[marcais]

There were 5 of us who went last year, Me, my wife, our niece (15), our daughter (11), and our son (7). We booked 5 FPs even though we knew our son wouldn't get on.

My wife went on with the two girls while I waited with our son. Then our daughter took his MagicBand and she and I went on together. So the only one who went twice was our daughter. She enjoyed it and was happy enough to go on it a second time, but there was no mad rush on her part to go on it again. Whereas every time we had a bit of a gap between things at HS she wanted to go to RnRC and use single rider to go on that again.

 

[Disneylover99]

My kids love all the coasters. They are 15 and 12. They love SDD. We’d never line up for it, but it’s a definitely must do fp.

 

[bryanb]

It's a cute ride and everything, but the only reason it's so popular right now is because it's new. With the test of time, I think it will rank as a solid second tier attraction but not something that needs to be experienced at the expense of the headliners.

Unless you have to ride the latest attractions again and again (because you have the gift of lots of time on your vacation, or you're a local with an AP), or unless you already know this is your favorite roller coaster (hey, it's someone's favorite!), my personal opinion is that there are many other better things to plan on doing at WDW.

 

[DavidNYC]

You have to know your kids. It's simple and cute but fun coaster. If they're looking for thrills - it's one time. If they love Disney rides - they'll likely want more than once. I'm an adult and I still ride fantasyland dark rides multiple times. I don't think it'll be worth over an hour wait to ride a second time but if can get a FP or go at drop or end of the day you may want to do it again.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I checked the evening wait times on Slinky just a few days ago. The actual wait about a half hour before closing was down to 16 minutes and it probably got even shorter after that. You could likely ride 2 or 3 times with very short waits if you plan it right. You can't do that in the morning no matter how early you arrive.

Just keep in mind that the posted waits are intentionally exaggerated at night to discourage late riders.

 

[DLgal]

My boys at 14 and 12 last year would have ridden it over and over and over again all day long. They LOVED it. They aren't super high thrill junkies though. Everest is their limit as far as thrills go. They love that, but HATE Space Mountain and won't even consider RnR.

 

[AngiTN]

My 11 1/2 yo DGD would vote repeat ride

 

[NickC]

My kids are 9 and 11, so, younger than yours. We enjoyed SDD and would do it multiple times IF there was no wait. But, quite frankly, my kids both like ToT and RnRC much better. We did SDD because it was something new and fresh, and I would recommend doing it at least once, but I could live with doing it once per trip.

 

[gharter]

It varies on the kids.
Do it at least once. It is much more fun near the back of the ride. Seems much more tame in the front.
Really fun at night with all the lights.

 

[skullsplitter]

My 12 yo boy loves it, but we don't the stampede for it or any other ride. We have FP for it on 2 different days on our upcoming trip.

 

[Dis Dragon]

Agree with the night riding, it makes it different - we like it better and it's easier to get FP that way so it's perfect. Is it me or with AS2 vs Mater in DCA - I don't remember Mater's going so rough at the transitions, is that just us?