Question For Disney Parents

[badblackpug]

I belong to another discussion board on pregnancy and parenting. One of the posters just returned from the world and she poted this question for discussion:

Would you make your child go on a ride that he/she was afraid of?

There were a variety of opinions...I'd like to know what the Dissers think?

 

[Patsfan7]

I did. It was a little difficult to have her be scared.... but the two times I have done it (POTC and HM) she has LOVED the ride and wanted to go on again and again after, even on different trips. I just held her and re-assured her that mommy wouldn't let anything bad happen.

Edited to add: Being the first to reply I did not make a distinction between aprehensive and scared. I would call my daughter more aprehensive, actually, clingy is more accurate. Was she screaming, "no... no.... no mommy don't make me do it?" No! She was clinging onto me. So, encouragement and reassuance is what was needed. Hope this better describes our scene.

 

[KrazyKowboy]

Absolutely not, period !

It baffles me how some parents get so wrapped up in themselves that they lose sight of the main purpose in going to WDW. Isn't it supposed to be fun for your kids ? The greatest joy I get out of our vacation is hearing all the oohs and ahhhs from my daughter.
It tears me up seeing some parents grabbing their kids, jerking them around and fussing, becasue they aren't moving at the parents pace.
If you're traveling with kids, make it a vacation that they will always remember as the best they ever had. If it's going to stress you out to miss a ride or two, then leave them with Grandpa and go by yourself.
Egads, give me a flippin break !!

 

[fromscratchmom]

I was thinking something along of "Never! Who would do such a thing?" But I was picturing some awful person with a terrified child. Then when I read your first reply, I could completely imagine that with my third child's personality she might be excited and then get scared all of a sudden right before getting on (at her first ride or at the HM) and then be really glad once I had encouraged her to get on. So I guess it all depends on your child's personality and how in tune you are with them. Hopefully, I won't have to be witness to any of those bizarre folks that would be putting their child through sheer torture just to get to ride and move on!

We are planning on starting out our first day at Magic Kingdom riding all of the most mild rides and meeting characters. We'll ride the barnstormer and see if our youngest wants to ride it a second time. That is an idea I think I read in a guide book. I think it will ease her into it nicely and it will definitely show us what is going on if she turns out to not do well with coasters. She thinks that she wants to ride everything. But I just want to be on the safe side. She's still pretty young for it, but is just now tall enough for almost everything.

 

[LISAVWL]

I think it depends on your child's personality. My DD4 is a daredevil and really not afraid of much so we never had a problem with her. My DS3 on the other hand is afraid of anything dark and loud, that pretty much rules out most of the rides. We talked about all the rides, watched the planning videos and the MK tour DVD before our vacation and he thought maybe he'd try some. Once we got there he refused. We would never force him on anything for fear of making things much worse than they already are! I think you can do more harm forcing the issue than taking it at your child's pace. BTW -- He did love the Barnstormer and Speedway rides!

 

[tripplanner]

Never! My parents did that to me when I was young. I was so scared that I actually passed out on the ride. Of course, my parents were so upset that they never did that again. They were good parents. They just thought I would like it if I tried it. It kept me from riding a lot of rides until I got to be a teenager and decided to give it a try. I now love most rides.

I have two kids. One's the daredevil and loves everything. The other is more cautious. I never say a word (and don't let his sibling make fun of him either) when my cautious child doesn't want to ride. We just make it a fun time by having an ice cream or browsing in a store while waiting while everyone else rides.

So, my advice is don't make your child do it. It's certainly not going to hurt them not to ride, it may traumatize them if you make them ride.

 

[noodleknitter]

Concerned about a ride- yes
a bit fearful- strongly encourage
terrified- no way in hell

 

[LaraK]

Concerned about a ride- yes
a bit fearful- strongly encourage
terrified- no way in hell

That sounds about right to me. My oldest actually forces herself on many rides. The Witch in Snow White is her re-occuring nightmare (there's a really scary picture in Bernbaum's Disney for Kids so she hadn't even been on the ride). She made us take her on it three times.

On the other hand, she bulked at test track at the last minute the last time we went. I pushed her to go on and she cried during the ride....I'll never push her again.

DS, however, is a little bit of a scardy cat...I push him more because, if you don't push, he will not try anything new. He's fine once things start (as long as he's holding on to mommy). Then he loves it. Last time we went, he was a little frightened of Buzz at first. By the time it ended, he refused to get off and started crying. The CM asked if he was ok and if something happened. I said no, he just doesn't want the ride to end. She said "then it shouldn't" and sent the whole family around for another ride.

 

[dbmarie]

We were in disney in may and my dd8 but dd5 did, she didn't want to ride dinosaur (not because she was scared, as she had already ridden 4 times that day alone) but because she wanted to get to expedition everest. In line she was crying and yelling I ignored her as she does this more if she gets a reaction and I knew she would stop in a minute. A man in line with no childern preceded to say that I was horrible forcing a scared child on a ride. As I tried to explain the situation my dd8 picked up on this and started with I'm scared now she does this on anything she doesn't want to do. Ugh kids can be so smart. I'm sure the guy meant well but I couldn't help but be so angry something that would have passed lasted our entire trip on any ride dd5 wanted to ride but dd8 didn't.

 

[Hannathy]

Apprehensive yes, afraid no.

 

[minkydog]

No, absolutley not. Even if they are apprehensive. There is no developmental reason for making my child go on any ride that scares them. We have been to a couple rides and one show which scared our youngest--we didn't know he would be scared and now that we do, we avoid them.

 

[mrsltg]

Apprehensive yes, afraid no.

ITA. My dd was apprehensive about Splash Mountain but had talked about it over and over and over before we went to WDW. She talked about it when we were approaching it. Then, she saw the drop and wasn't so sure. I explained that everyone is fine and we watched all the people (non of whom flew out of the boat!) having fun. She still wasn't positive but decided to give it a try. She was a little trepidatious getting on the ride and at the drop. Then she insisted we do it again. And, again.

If a child is truly afraid then no, I wouldn't do it.

 

[GrumpyCAdad]

I have 3 kids, ages 8, 6 and 4. On our last trip, my oldest was the most apprehensive about rides. My middle was bummed he was too short to ride the bigger, more scary rides. Took oldest son on ToT, along with the daredevil middle child. Oldest hated it, younger one LOVED it! He went on 2 more times. Took older son on Rock and Roller Coaster. Liked it but said he would not ride it ever again! My DD who is only 4 now can not wait to ride the bigger rides either. She constantly wants us to measure her so she knows how tall she is so she can go on ToT!

Never would I force one of my children on a ride if they did not want to. I always encourage them though to try it once.

 

[stczt]

I did one time, I took my friends kids 11&12 to 6 flags and they wanted to ride a kiddi coaster 3 year olds ride it. His parents dont force the issue on anything he has so many fears. fireworks to bugs you name it and he scared. They just baby him, everuthime we go see the fireworks with them he sits in the van watching a movie crying. He was nervous but he rode it and like it. Actually I did'nt force him I convinced him to give it a try, if he really freaked I would not have made him ride. But let me say I knew him and his limits. I would never make a child do something, this past Sunday I walked out of one of the fright fest shows with my 8 y.o. she was in tears. I could have forced the issue. actually I was'nt into the show.

 

[Lady V]

no way

 

[fanofthemouse]

We just got back from 10 days in Disney, we encouraged our daughter (4.5 years old) to try rides that we knew she would like....there were a few she wanted to go on (she met the height requirement) but we wouldn't let her. She was apprehensive about POTC but wanted to return over and over. She refuses to go on the Winnie the Pooh ride because she is scared of the Huffalumps...go figure, she loves test track.

 

[tmarquez]

I wouldn't FORCE her to go...what fun would that be for either of us? But there are a couple of rides she is afraid to go on...but she goes anyway. Sometimes I say I don't feel like going on them just so we don't go...it bothers me to see her afraid.

 

[lazydazy8]

I think it ALL depends on YOUR kid and YOU know best to make the right decision! I would NEVER judge a parent for their decision on any of the non-thrill attractions. We ARE the parents and WE DO know best!

I do not do coasters. DH does. I will not force my kids onto any of the fast thrill rides, but I will be for attractions like the Haunted Mansion or the storybook rides. Neither of them are freaked out by what they'll see on those and to avoid anything that might stress them out, they can close their eyes (I will be ready for Snow White's witch)! I know they're going to love them, but I think that they will be somewhat apprehensive for almost everything since this will be their first time.

We foster adventurous behavior. I don't want my kids to be wreckless, but I don't want them to avoid things that could possibly give them great joy just because it makes them nervous. I was one of those scaredy cat kids growing up (I first tried Body Wars on my honeymoon 8 years ago! I was too afraid while I was a kid!)

Again, live and let live. All kids are different. As long as it can't make your kids sick, I would strongly encourage them to participate with you! We're all allowed to our opinions. It's interesting to see how passionately we all feel about our different sides!

 

[pooh4evr]

noodle has it right= DD was nervous about HM, pirates but we asured her it was OK and held her hand or she hid behind us with her eyes closed - now she WANTED to do TOT but decided not to once we were in the pre show area that was fine we took the safe elevator out and we were all fine with that! She was 4 at the time!

 

[DisneyPhD]

We just got back from 10 days in Disney, we encouraged our daughter (4.5 years old) to try rides that we knew she would like....there were a few she wanted to go on (she met the height requirement) but we wouldn't let her. She was apprehensive about POTC but wanted to return over and over. She refuses to go on the Winnie the Pooh ride because she is scared of the Huffalumps...go figure, she loves test track.

I think this is very important. Also never belittle your child's fears (but do offer support, encouragement, explain it just make believe etc..) Encourage them to talk about their fears and listen (in all cases, not just rides.)

Also I think it is best to know the rides themselves and prepare the child. Bring a light up toy on dark ones if they is what will bother them (or even their blanket to hide behind, that is what my DD did when she was younger.) If you know what is going to happen next they can be prepared. Work your way up too.

Right now my 5 year old wants to ride Dino. I know her and know that this ride will scare the pants off her. I don't want her to ride it. However by the next trip she will be almost 6 years old and if she really wants to can. However I do want her to be prepared for it (and ride it with daddy, her daddy gives her strength and makes her feel safe.) I want her to see the preview of it on the DVD and explain that very big Dinosaur surprise you and come out of the dark and it is very loud.

If it is ride I know she will like, but is just unsure I really encourage it and sometimes even add incentives, if you ride it you can have a mickey bar.

My niece who is now 15 was terrified of roller costars. She needed her own time to work her way up and encouragement and support. She even had a panic attack while we were aboutto board one when (a minor one at bush gardens) when she was 10. We of course got out of line and I realized it was the sound that freaked her out. Once she realized that herself she felt better about it. She now LOVES most roller coasters. RRC is her favorite.

Besides we go so often it is fun to save things for later trips too. My now 5 year old DD wants to try something new each time.