Questions from a paranoid Mom...

[Adam&Alex's Mom]

Ok so my 2 boys are six and we are planning our second trip to DL this June! Woohoooo! The last time we went there was no issue about the "bigger rides" as they were too short - but alas no more. They are both over 4 ft tall and wanting to try the bigger rides - hence the paranoid Mom - me!



What has been your experience with little ones and big rides? Matterhorn, BTMRR, Space Mountain? Here is our situation - we will have 2 adults and 2 six year olds. I'll be nice and saymy husband is "fluffy" and I am "fufflier" - are these rides fluf friendly?? I had read that BTMRR only has one lap bar so maybe not fluff friendly while sitting with small kids...?

Any info would be helpful!

TIA! Adam and Alex's Mom!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

What has been your experience with little ones and big rides? Matterhorn, BTMRR, Space Mountain? Here is our situation - we will have 2 adults and 2 six year olds. I'll be nice and saymy husband is "fluffy" and I am "fufflier" - are these rides fluf friendly?? I had read that BTMRR only has one lap bar so maybe not fluff friendly while sitting with small kids...?
Any info would be helpful!
TIA! Adam and Alex's Mom!

I hope I'm understanding what you mean by fluffy, and please, no offense is intended if I read this wrong.
My mom is pooh sized. When she rode a ride with my very skinny, small for his age son, they had these extra pieces of foam (or something) that they fit over the lap bars where he was sitting to fill in the space so the kiddo wouldn't go flying out of the ride. HTH!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Oh yeah and my mom rode with DS on SM and BTMRR. Matterhorn will probably have enough room. They ride between your legs and slightly in front of you. Ther have lap belts that can and should be tightened around them individually on that ride.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Easy solution: Have the kids sit together and you and your DH sit together, but in the car with them.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

As far as just the rides. My ODD went on at the age of 4 when she was tall enough (40" for Space Mt, Splash Mt, Matthrn and 42" for BTMRR). She'll be tall enough for Indy this yr-46". She's over 4 ft. now too.

BTMRR has a lap bar and I'm not sure about size differences in riders but my DH went with my 5 yo and he's a good size guy. There was not problem. SM has shoulder harnesses so size won't be an issue.

 

[bumbershoot]

I believe the age to ride alone is 7, so I'm not sure your kids will be able to ride in a car by themselves.

Space has individual lap bars.

Matterhorn...the height for that is only 35", so they could have gone on that LONG ago. If the age of 7 is correct they'll each need to sit with a parent...there are two separate seat belts, one around the adult, one around the child sitting between the adult's legs.

BTMRR is the only one that I can think of (in the thrill ride category) that has just one bar, but at 6 they are big enough to hold on tighter.

Indy has seatbelts (for you and hubby, pull the seatbelts ALL the way out BEFORE sitting down, it makes things infinitely easier, I promise you).

Screamin', since they are over 48", has shoulder harnesses.

 

[pixiewings71]

Our first DL trip was when DD9 was DD6. She rode EVERYthing, even things I didn't ride. She and her sister sit together and DBF and I sit behind them. Even when DBF hasn't been around it's been the 2 girls and me behind them. I'm not Pooh size but that's what works best for us.

 

[mechurchlady]

Easy solution: Have the kids sit together and you and your DH sit together, but in the car with them.

I agree with this. The kids would be in the same ride vehicle each time but in front of the parent who could knock some sense into the kids, lol, just joking but you get the idea. I can only think of Mullhulland Madness that since the beginning had the foam over the bar thing for riders of different sizes and Big Thunder which you can put the kids in front of you.

I am Pooh sized.

 

[Adam&Alex's Mom]

Matterhorn...the height for that is only 35", so they could have gone on that LONG ago.

That is where the paranoia comes into play they DEF want to get on the rides and I know I am just WAY conservative when it comes to that - I know I know - I need to let them give it a whirl - maybe we will start with the "tamest"...? Matterhorn? BTMRR?

Thanks to everyone for thier input!! It is MUCH appreciated!

A&A's mom!

 

[teatime]

Ok so my 2 boys are six and we are planning our second trip to DL this June! Woohoooo! The last time we went there was no issue about the "bigger rides" as they were too short - but alas no more. They are both over 4 ft tall and wanting to try the bigger rides - hence the paranoid Mom - me!



What has been your experience with little ones and big rides? Matterhorn, BTMRR, Space Mountain? Here is our situation - we will have 2 adults and 2 six year olds. I'll be nice and saymy husband is "fluffy" and I am "fufflier" - are these rides fluf friendly?? I had read that BTMRR only has one lap bar so maybe not fluff friendly while sitting with small kids...?

Any info would be helpful!

TIA! Adam and Alex's Mom!

Sweetie, the rides are made for fluffy people ! you will have a ball and you will not have to worry about 1 ride. your kids will be fine to and they will have a great time. the rides will fit everyone and the bigger rides really are not scary :0 trusrt me, Im fluffy and have been doing disneyland a long time!
Take a deep breath and just know all will be well. I expect a full trip report as to how fun you had it, and you will have fun!

 

[pixiewings71]

That is where the paranoia comes into play they DEF want to get on the rides and I know I am just WAY conservative when it comes to that - I know I know - I need to let them give it a whirl - maybe we will start with the "tamest"...? Matterhorn? BTMRR?

Thanks to everyone for thier input!! It is MUCH appreciated!

A&A's mom!

Don't even worry. As I mentioned previously DDthen6 wanted to ride EVERYthing so we did. lol The one she did that I didn't was Tower of Terror, she loved it......still does! lol If the height restriction allows them on they will be the right size, no worries.

 

[bumbershoot]

You know your kids. And they are older than my guy. But my guy wasn't the biggest fan of Matterhorn b/c it's so rattly and it throws you around a bit. Then again, he REFUSES to go on BTMRR, and honestly, I'm fine with that. Sure I go on it, but it's not my fave.

If the kids don't mind the dark, and if they like Star Wars type things (it's not star wars, but it's close enough to a kid, or at least to me and my brother!), I might go for Space Mountain! But if they don't like the dark, that's a no go.

And honestly, IMO the smoothest, silkiest coaster is Screamin'. The take-off is rough, I won't lie, but then I have a tendency towards asthma so I don't like the chest-pressing feeling it gives. But after the take-off, it's a great coaster, and I'll go on a million loops rather than the "is my head going to be lopped off" feeling that Big Thunder gives me! (the answer to that question is NO, especially b/c I'm sitting and I'm only 5'3", LOL) For me, loops are a breeze, and actually feel better than drops.

But you could always insist on starting off with the Go Gadget coaster in ToonTown, it's maybe a minute long; sort of a starter coaster. You could just say no coasters for the first day, let the kids see the things they can see, so you are SURE you know what they are getting into. And sure you know THEY know.

Indy of course isn't a coaster, but it's a crazy, rocky, bumpy ride. Many people really brace themselves during the ride, but I do better when I let myself be loosey goosey on it. I plant my feet, put my hands on my lap, sit up (rather than hunching), and just go with the ride. I always feel very good, spinally, after the ride.


I worry about my son being scared on rides...and because of that I've been OK with him not wanting to go on BTMRR and Space...so I get the paranoia, but they're physically big enough and they are mentally wanting to go, so really try to figure out a strategy that lets you be comfy with them having the fun they want to have.

Someone mentioned TOT, great ride! My guy loved the ups and downs (he went on his 4th birthday) but was afraid of the effect even before the drops start, where it seems you disappear. He hated that! But your guys are 2 years older than he was, and I'm sure that won't bug them unless they are very sensitive (which is FINE if they are!!!).



One last thing, youtube has videos from all the rides I've looked for. Very helpful. In case they want to see, or if you want to watch it to relax yourself a bit more.

 

[nannyz]

I wish DL would take a kid's weight into consideration along with the height.
The first time I took my daughter on Thunder Mountain, she was tall enough but she was a real light-weight, and I was terrified the whole time because I literally had to hold her down in the seat or she would have flown off the ride. So my advice is, if your child has just made the height requirement but is light in weight, keep him off Thunder Mountain until he gets heavier.