Rides and 2 year olds

[laceemouse]

Well now that it's mentioned - do most people NOT take their kids who are under 3? (I've never been with kids so I have never paid attention before - been SOOOO long since I've been to DW!) Am I nuts for going with a 2 yr old? (She'll be 2 1/2)

I have taken a 5 month old on all of those. I don't do tea cups, YUK!
A 2 year old will probably be LESS scared of the HM than an older kid, but it depends on the kid.

We LOVE SSE, it is very educational (the history of communication) and there is a LOT to look at. It was my son's favorite ride for many years, it is even better with the re-hab. For young kids it is like a slow, gentle, coaster

 

[drgsjh]

DD went the first time at 2. DS went at 21 months. Rode most of those except didn't go to EPCOT. Kids love the teacups. Spinning is good for your kids' brains (why do they spin themselves around?). We took DD on HM when she was 3 but I didn't on the last trip when she was 6. She was fine at 3, would have been scared at 6. That depends on your kid. My DH rode Toy Story with DS (didn't have it for DD) and he enjoyed it. He didn't shoot but liked looking at it. We didn't have any trouble with either kids riding things at 2. They love it!

 

[Going Broke]

I brought my dd on the tea cups when she was 1-1/2. We did not spin the tea cup and just enjoyed the ride! She really had a blast but every child is different! If I knew how to attach pics I would show proof. I would definitely ask your daughter if she wants to try the tea cups!

 

[cmusschoot]

We love Disney for little ones because they CAN ride A LOT of the rides.

I have 2 kids 2 and 4 they have been to Disney ever since they were 15 months old.

My daughter LOVES ALL of the rides (she is 2) her favorite is the "tea-pups" she could ride them all day!!!!

Both kids have been on the Haunted Mansion and did oaky, my son (4) now is too scared to ride it, but he was fine when he was younger.

Spaceship Earth is fun too...dark and a tad scary. My kids were thrilled that they were "riding Epcot" as they think the "ball" (spaceship earth) IS Epcot...

Have a great time and ENJOY all you can!!!

 

[abouley]

My DD has been on the tea cups since she was 8 months old and loves it! I let my DS now 5 control the spinning and he does manage some but not a ton!

All the others are fine. HM is the one that MIGHT be scary but at 2 my kids were ok with it. Closer to 3 was scary!

Spaceship Earth was fine for both my kids. My 5 year old actually LOVED it. One of his favorite rides on our last trip.

A lot will depend on your child's personality but my 2 year old rides everything she is tall enough for! The only thing that really has scared her is barnstormer.

 

[lillykat]

We took DD#1 to disney last fall when she was 15 months old. She went on everything in the MK that didn't have a height restriction (except for the tea cups b.c I just found out I was pregnant and didn't think I could do the cups and DH gets very sick on it). She LOVED haunted mansion, buzz, and POTC go figure. The only thing that would inhibit your DC from going at 2 is if they are scared.

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

My dd rode every one of those rides multiple times when she was 2, loved the tea cups the most , which u control the speed of turns. She also loved goofybarnstormer rollercoaster and Kali rapids at AK. Just use the height rest. For a guide.

 

[PistonsFan]

My son did HM and the teacups when he was 2 - we never made it to Buzz Lightyear that year. When he was 3 he cried on Buzz because of the dark, and even cried on that Tommorowland Transporter ride when it went through tunnles but like I said was not afraid at HM when he was 2, which is also dark. I guess it just depends on the kid and whether they are going through an "afraid of the dark" phase. Also, when he was 3 he was not afraid of Spaceship Earth which was also dark if I recall, so maybe he was just tired when we did Buzz, that plays a role too.
I don't think 2 year olds know yet what ghosts are or that they should be afraid of them, so maybe that is why HM is not as scary. Buzz light year is dark but also very stimulating at times.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Disney is very concerned about safety so if he meets the height requirement he should be fine. DGS (2) will hit 40 inches before he is three and we plan to allow him on everything mentioned as well as splash & thunder mountain and test track.
I think he might have a few fears of haunted mansion just because of the darkness and mood of the ride. He does not know what ghost are nor is he afraid of grave yards as we visit our church one where my dad is often and he loves to play there.

He will react to your concerns so present every ride with the idea he will love it and he most likely will!!!

 

[that's nice]

I have read up on the rides and height restrictions for kids and am shocked by what my 2 year old CAN ride!

My question is for the following rides:

Haunted Mansion Took my DD2 on this and she hated it.. she was terrified. I felt like an idiot after I did. It took a few minutes to calm her down.

Buzz Lightyear/ Toy Story Mania DD loves this ride. I put her inbetween my DW and I. It is a little jerky around the corners but DD loves it!

Spaceship Earth This is great! DD loved the top when you can see all the stars!!!

Mad Tea Party(highly doubt I would let him on this one!) This is one of DD favorite rides. The nice thing about it is you control how fast you spin. DD can't spin fast enough. She helps spin it and always wants to go faster!!!!

Have you or would you let your 2 year old on these rides?

Any opinion is appreciated! Thanks

One thing she she hated was Goofy's barnstormer. She wanted to go on it. It is very jerky and was knocking her around. She didn't like it too much!

Couple pics on the teacups!

 

[dawnball]

My DD at 2:

So far, we haven't noticed any ill effects. Unless you count the effect where Mom is ill from spinning so fast that the world is nothing but a vague blur.

Yes, well - my 17 month old was on that same trip, and I -have- noticed ill effects. Hours a day of spinning in circles and yelling "Look mom, I'm a ballet dancer!" Coupled with an eerie ability to not get dizzy and to read in the car for 4 hours at a stretch with no sign of car-sickness.

I think that teacups destroyed her inner ear, and she'll never be normal again!

 

[ChillyWilleys]

From my experience you can do more with a 2 year old than you can with a 3 year old. 2 year olds have no fear. Of course every kid is different, but thats my experience. When DD was 2 she did all of those (except TSM it wasn't around) and loved them. She did them again at 3 but with a lot more reservation.

 

[Connerzmom]

From my experience you can do more with a 2 year old than you can with a 3 year old. 2 year olds have no fear. Of course every kid is different, but thats my experience. When DD was 2 she did all of those (except TSM it wasn't around) and loved them. She did them again at 3 but with a lot more reservation.

I would agree with this. My son loved all those rides (except Spaceship Earth--we didn't ride it) when he was 2. However, since then he has developed some fears (dark, shadows, etc..) that I think might hinder them this year (he'll be 3). For the teacups, just hold your child if you are worried and/or don't spin them (DS loved spinning them and making mommy kind of topsy-turvy). For the Haunted mansion, just poke fun at everything and explain everything. If I remember correctly, you can "chicken" out of the first part (where the doors close and it goes dark) and an attendant will take you straight onto where they load for the ride.

 

[ppony]

If I remember correctly, you can "chicken" out of the first part (where the doors close and it goes dark) and an attendant will take you straight onto where they load for the ride.

Excellent to know. My little guy seems to get upset around a lot of people at once and then darkness. Depending on how my little man does, if we try the HM which is my oldest's FAVORITE, we'll just leave them and go ahead.

Has anyone ever heard crying kids all through a ride? I'd feel bad, but once you're committed, you're committed. There's just no way to know for sure. Our little one's surprise us so often.

 

[MSSANDRA]

If he gets scared on the ride just hold and reasure him and make the best of it. Of course in a show take him out but that's just now a reality on a ride. I remember being in stitch and overheading a child ask his mom if it was scary.

She told him no..I told her it really could be scary for a small child. I got a mean look. Well the child freaked out. She somehow got out of the harness thing and got him out and tried to get out the door but could not!!!!! So know your rides.

I also remember a child really scared on dinosaur and his mom forcing him to look up so he could see the ride!!!just mean.

 

[ppony]

If he gets scared on the ride just hold and reasure him and make the best of it. Of course in a show take him out but that's just now a reality on a ride. I remember being in stitch and overheading a child ask his mom if it was scary.

She told him no..I told her it really could be scary for a small child. I got a mean look. Well the child freaked out. She somehow got out of the harness thing and got him out and tried to get out the door but could not!!!!! So know your rides.

I also remember a child really scared on dinosaur and his mom forcing him to look up so he could see the ride!!!just mean.

Yeah, I worry about other moms thinking I'm being mean even trying to take him on the ride. I worry too much.

That poor little thing on Dinosaur. I can understand trying the ride but if the child is scared (as our oldest was was when he tried it when he was little) don't make them look. Just let them bury their face in your side. Guarantee that child will remember that for the rest of his life.

 

[MSSANDRA]

You are not mean for insiting he try some things you think he will like. One trip DS was like 8 and going through this "fear" thing. He would not have gone on hardly anything but we insited he try most things and the only thing he was not ok with was TOT. Neither was DH btw.

Peope either understand or have NO CLUE.

 

[DISNEYNV]

Just curious why not the Mad Tea Party? We have "teacups" here at our mall and my 2 yr old LOVES them. (Just turned 2 actually, a few weeks ago) Although I have to admit we don't spin it too much - but she just LOVES them! (Haven't been to Disney with her yet so can't comment on the rest! But am curious to hear what others say....)

My one and a half year old loves the Tea Cups! It is a parental decision as to what your child can handle though. You know him best I also wanted to say that DS also loved Pirates and HM. It's usually when they hit four or five that the fears start. Have fun now exposing him to different rides while you most likely can! Best of luck and have a great trip

 

[tinkerlisa]

Thanks for everyones responses. I have something to share with you all

We took our kids to Lake Compounce(its in CT) and DS(2) went on a ride that was like HM and Buzz Lightyear. He LOVED it!!!! You shoot at the ghosts with a gun. It was kinda freaky with strobe lights and he jumped once, but when we got off, he started crying because he wanted to do it again!

He also was able to do the hot air ballon ride in the kiddie ride part(more on that in a minute) it goes up in the air and you can spin it like the teacups at Disney! He loved doing that too!

Now what I don't get about THAT place is they have all these kiddie rides and the ride operators said that unless he was 36 inches he couldn't ride because their kiddie rides aren't big enough to allow the parents! DS was only able to ride 2 kiddie rides. One more reason to love Disney World!!!

As for DS(7) I think taking him on ToT when he was 4 immunized him from other rides because he went on some scary stuff at Lake Compounce and laughed at them all! He has no fear! On one of the rides, he was humming a little song the whole time!

 

[kalc12345]

When we went last year my son rode all of those rides. He loved them!!