Rides for a 5 year old

[Tbella]

Hello everyone! I know this gets talked about alot but I don't see a recent thread. I took my than 3 1/2 year old dd to disney in Jan. 2005. She wasn't quite 40" but got on BTM and SP in MK (must have been the pony tail). She LOVED IT! We are going back to Disney in October and she will be 5 than and able to get on the 44" height requirement rides. She is brave but does sometimes need some talking into to do some scarier rides. I'll admit I sometimes make her go onto rides when she doesn't want to but she never ever regrets it and always wants to go on again. Would all the rides that she is tall enough for be ok for a 5 year old? Such as Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Test Track, and Mount Everest (if she is tall enough for that, I don't know the height requirement for that).
Thanks before hand for all your responses!

 

[DisDarling]

Dont take her on anything she doesnt want to go on first off, she will just get upset, which will get YOU upset, NOT a happy vacation than

I say take her to Fantasyland, Buzz Lightyear, the TTA, Haunted Mansion is a toss up, Pirates also- our 5 year old went on these this past Dec and last May and did fine The key is on those QUESTIONABLE rides, DO NOT tell her what it is like, we didnt tell ours about the drop at Pirates and she did just fine with it! Good Luck!

 

[WDWNicole]

We just came back with our 5 year old DS who is also 44 inches. He went on: Splash Mtn., BTMRR, Space Mtn. (didn't care for it), Test Track, Soarin, and Star Tours (loved it). He did not want to go on Tower of Terror or Expedition Everest. We did not let him go on Mission Space.

 

[Kick Save]

At the time, my 5 year old wasn't tall enough for some of the rides, but he did get to ride BTMRR and ToT...he loved BT, didn't like ToT. (Well, he rode it then calmly said, "Dad, I don't want to ride that again.") He also rode Test Track...about 6 times.

However, now he's tall enough for almost everything, and is already talking about getting to ride Everest and Space Mountain. He's also considering ToT again.

 

[123SA]

My 5 yr old's main goal last May was to ride the Tower of Terror. Her older friends had gone on it earlier in the year and told her how great it was, and basically dared her. She loved it, loved it, loved it. We are headed back in December and she can't decide what she wants to do first Test Track or ToT. She was not tall enough for Space Mountain, RR coaster, & Mission Space & Primeaval Whirl last time, but she did just about every other ride. She was really frightened by Dinosaur (I forgot to warn her about the big dinosaur) but she wants to try it again.

 

[Tbella]

I will NOT take her on Mission Space. It's not a risk I am willing to take until more information comes out on it. I went on it 3 times and was fine (even though I have inner and middle ear issues, I get vertigo and ear infections at times). My husband who has no such issues went on it once and it took him half the day to stop feeling sick. But I do have to say that all kids are different and like I said when I force her to go on things she doesn't fight me too much and than ends up loving it and begging for more. Now my son is the type who you can only force to a point before he has a meltdown so I leave him alone. I guess it's just a matter of knowing your child's point. My daughter did do the Haunted Mansion at 3 years old and that was one of the rides I forced (maybe a better word is "coaxed") her on and it is now her favorite ride. But I am skeptical about Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, and Expedition Everest. I would love to here if any other parents took their little ones of these.
Thanks for the replies!

 

[kaysmommie]

My dd just turned 6 she is only 42 inches and 40 lbs. we will stick to BTMRR and Test Track and some of the others. She hates POC but we do make her go on that anyway. I have seen alot of little kids on Space Mtn. Splash Mtn. and Tower of terror one of the girls on the ride with our group was 4 and she was fine. My DD is too scared of that one. It just depends on the kid and if they like thrill rides or not. I agree I would never let my kids on MS no matter how old.

 

[micknpluto]

My 5 year old niece

Star Tours (LOVED IT)

Goofys Barnstormer

BTMR

Haunted Mansion

Soarin'


HATED TOT

Wouldnt let her do Mission space or Space Moutain.

 

[lindakmonty]

We just got back Saturday w/my ds5. If I was unsure I rode it by myself first to see if it would be ok. He's only 42" but loved Soarin, Test track, Splash mountain, haunted mansion... Goofy's barnstormer he said was ok but didn't want to do again... he didn't want to do TOT.. I didn't make him do anything but talked him through and explained the ride so he wouldn't be scared and we had a great time. Good luck

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Out of all the rides, the only ones I won't encourage my 5 yr. old to go on are Mission:Space and Space Mountain. She has asked to ride Splash first and says she wants to go on ToT so I will let her. I have told her it is scary so she wants to go with Daddy (who hates the ride, but will do it for her. )

 

[Tbella]

Thanks for the replies. I am questioning Space Mountain. I do really want her to do TOT because it is my favorite and she really likes HM and I thought she would really get a kick out of the hallograms on TOT. The girls just loves to get spooked even though she has the occasional nightmare.

 

[micknpluto]

Thanks for the replies. I am questioning Space Mountain. I do really want her to do TOT because it is my favorite and she really likes HM and I thought she would really get a kick out of the hallograms on TOT. The girls just loves to get spooked even though she has the occasional nightmare.

The only concern I have with Space Mountain is they have to ride by themselves. even though you are either right behind or in front of them. they still sit by themselves. Its not like splash or BTMR where you sit side by side.
just my opinion. I would do whatever you are most comfortable with.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

My Sister took my 4.5 yr. old nephew on Space Mountain last December. She sat behind him and kept her hand on his shoulder the whole ride. She said she didn't get to enjoy the ride, but she felt better with her hand on his shoulder.

The single seat is the reason I am not going to mention SM to DD.

 

[nzdisneyfan]

DD was 5 when we did ToT at DL. Can only assume the ride is the same at WDW, but she loved it. I was more freaked out than her and she went and did it again with her dad and then her big brother.
I guess it all depends on the kid. I would of thought mine would have hated it, so go figure

Only 8 more sleeps until I get to see if WDW ToT is the same as DL's

 

[tink1978]

Let her ride whatever she wants to ride that she meets requirements for and you are comfortable with. My son just turned seven and he has been riding pretty much everything for two years. I will not let him ride MS, but he loves everything else.

 

[dpuck1998]

I have a similar situation with my, now 7, but 5 when we startinng going. He is very tall for his age and was able to ride Dueling Dragons and the Hulk at age 6. He has to be coaxed into going on rides...and sometimes even on rides he loves will get nervous and scared before going on them. Every time he goes on and LOVES it. My best example is with the Mummy ride. He didn't want to go after riding 3 times on a previous trip. I talked him into it and he LOVED it. However, he was "coaxed" into going on ToT and didn't care for it. He went on Space Moutain and doesn't like it. He LOVES LOVES LOVES Misson Space and RnR. Splash is a close second behind MS. Sorry I'm so scattered ;-) Anyway, each child is different and only thier parents know how far to push them. My oldest can be coaxed, my middle child can not be and won't go on many rides yet. He just turned 5 though. To each his own and have fun either way. Lots of GREAT rides to go on regardless!!

 

[nursetigger]

My son was about 4 and a half last trip. He couldn't wait to ride Space Mountin and it was as great as he hoped. He had one thing to say as we got off the ride AGAIN. He also can not wait to ride EXpedition Everest in a few days and he is now 5. He is also daring and has no fear. I hope you enjoy the rides.

 

[Tbella]

Nursetigger please let us know how your son likes expedition everest.