Rides for a thrill seeking 2 yr old?

[Disney Enthusiast]

Hi there. We are going to Disney in 2 wks...... Yippee! And I am bringing my DS (2 3/4 - will be 3 early April) and DD (4 mo.) and I was wondering what you think about some of the rides for him mainly. He went on Dumbo at 8 mos. and loved it and we live near Hersheypark PA and he's been on all the cutesy cars and such which go around in a circle and they are "boring" for him now. He's been on a "Mousetrap" rollercoaster, which whips you around and seems much worse than Thunder Mountain would be. He is BIG for 2 yrs old at over 40 inches. I saw a post about 3 yr olds and these rides (and everyone thought they'd be fine for adventurous 3 yr olds), but was wondering about almost 3 yr olds. If he is a thrill seeker and can definitely handle these rides mentally, can he handle these rides physically? I don't like bumper cars or rides like that because I'm afraid of him getting whiplash or hurting his neck. But he loves things like the Himalaya and Scrambler which are smooth and fast. He adores Buzz Lightyear and the faster and higher he goes, the more he feels like a Space Ranger. Should I wait til he turns 3 or can I take him on:

Thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
Goofy's Barnstormer
Test Track
Tower of Terror (this theme might be a bit too scary)

Thanks for your advice ahead of time.

 

[TiffJ]

We took my son when he was 2 1/2. He is also a thrill seeker. As long as he meets the height requirements, I think he will love BTMRR. My son wasnt big enough for it yet, but I rode it several times with my 4yo. However my 2yo LOVED the Goofy's Barnstormer. There is also a roller coaster he rode at IOA called the flying Unicorn. It is a much bigger deal than Barnstormer and he loved it. We were there when it was slow & rode it 3 times in a row. BTMRR is a little jerky, but not too bad.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Thank you TiffJ. I have been getting that impression and that is why I am asking the question. I don't want him to miss out on these wonderful rides if he can handle them physically. And he loves "Choo Choo's" so much. I appreciate you posting me back to let me know what you think.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

As long as he's tall enough give them a try. You'll see by his reaction what he wants to repeat.

My 4yo hasn't been to WDW since he was 20 months old, but we've been to Universal a couple of times. He was very adventerous when he was a toddler at Universal, but wasn't tall enough to do anything too big. We went last year when he was 3yo and he'd developed more fears and was scared my a lot more than he would have been scared at the previous visit. I'm hoping that now, at 4yo, he will be better.

I'm bringing him next month (only him, the rest of the family is staying home) and will do anything he is tall enough for at WDW and Universal. He may not like ToT, but I have to go at least once!

T&B

 

[cleo]

If he meets height requirements he should be ok, as others have said. I personally would heistate at taking a 2 year old on Tower of Terror, not only due to the dark themeing, but also because of the effects of the drop on a little person's body. It is extremely intense, with huge 'shifts' in your blood supply, so to speak. Tender little bodies aren't quite ready for that sort of thing, in my opinion. Besides, it will give him something to look forward to in a couple of years!

If he's a thrill seeker, he will probably love the rides you have mentioned. You'll probably find yourself hanging on to him for dear life on BTMRR and Splash Mt., though! It's sort of a 'Mom thing'.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Thanks Tigger&Belle and Cleo for your insights. You brought up several good points. I very much appreciate your time.

 

[jacksonsmom]

My son went to WDW for the first time when he was 3 yo. He also was tall for his age & a thrill seeker.
I let him basically decide on what rides he wants to try.
He went on all the rides you mentioned & did fine on all of them, except Tower of Terror. He was fine during the ride, but when we got off & I asked him if he wanted to do it again he said "No, I did not like the drops"

I think all your other rides you mentioned should be OK as long as your son wants to try them

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Thanks Jacksonsmom. I will let him lead the way by showing him the rides ahead of time and letting him decide. Tower of Terror is out for this year. I appreciate your input.

Have a great day everyone!!!

 

[Cindy B]

my son is the original thrill seeker.. At 3, he went on Tower of Terror (he met the height requirement)... and he didn't really like it. He was still 3, and he went on Rock n Roller Coaster... (yes, again he met the height requirement)... and HE LOVED IT!

He also went on Space Mountain and Big Thunder... at 3! (yes, met that height requirement as well)

LOVED IT!

Now, at 9 he goes on all "big" coaster, including the highest, fastest in the US! (420 feet!)... he isn't afraid of anything!

(And yes, he was HUGE for his age until about 6, and then he finally evened out!)

I would just guage it. My thrill seeker wanted to ride everything he could, and he DID and LOVED IT (with the exception of Tower of Terror)

 

[pwcarlson]

He would really like Peter Pan I bet. You ride in a boat that soars over London and continues to NeverNeverLand. The teacups were a big hit with my DD who thought the rides never went fast enough at that age. She got a big kick out of ET at Universal too.
Buzz Lightyear doesn't go fast but you are busy shooting at the bad guys to notice. I love Buzz and try to go at least 2 times each time we are at MK.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Cindy B - Thanks so much for posting. My son seems a lot like your son. Just loves that stuff. I'm surprised about your DS and Rock-n-Rollercoaster. That one is FAST and I was afraid it would snap his neck or something. It is my favorite ride at WDW and I am sure it will be his. Makes me feel better that a 3 yr old can handle it. I am surprised that Disney allows it. They gave me such a hard time at Hershey w/ a silly "Mouse Trap" roller coaster, but I guess that one did whip him around a bit. The coaster at MGM doesn't whip around as much. We are going again in Dec 04 and I will try it then when I'm a few months older and can handle the stress of taking him. Ha Ha. And I will definitely stay off ToT. I'll take your son's advice on that one. It was nice to know what other thrill seeking 3 yr olds like. Thanks so much.

pwcarlson - I also appreciate greatly your advice on the rides. I am looking very forward to going on Peter Pan and Small World and Pooh and the Tea cups w/ my DS because I am positive he will enjoy them so and I can also take my DD on all but the tea cups. I can't wait to see his face light up when he goes on those rides. And he will adore Buzz because Buzz and Woody are his ultimate heroes right now. So they are on my must see list. Thank you for making sure I knew about those wonderful attractions. Those are ones not to miss.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

You'll have a blast with your son. I have 4 kids and all are different about what they liked when they were young (well, one is still young). My first wasn't daring at all (no upside down roller coasters), but by the time she was in middle school started trying bigger rides and at 16yo rides anything. My second was like your son and has always at least tried something once. He loves (and so does my daughter now) Rock and Roller coaster and especially Dueling Dragons at Islands of Adventure). He went on Matterhorn at DL when he was barely 3yo and any of the other rides that he was tall enough for. My third child is more like his sister and I'm hoping will try more rides when he is older (he's 9yo). My 4yo is not very daring and was scared last April at Spiderman at IoA because he thought he was really falling. He doesn't even like the kiddy coasters. I think a lot of it is in his head and I think understands more about pretend and make-believe now and will hopefully try and like more when I bring just him next month. I will bring him on anything he is tall enough for at least once, but he may not want to go back on some of those rides.

We'll be going back as a family in April to Universal and in a year (hopefully) to WDW so I can go on the big rides then. I can wait. I think.

T&B

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Thank you Tigger&Belle. If anyone would have some good advice, you certainly would w/ all of your children w/ different opinions on the rides. You must be a very busy Mommy. Ever since September, I feel I am a perpetual diaper changing, nose wiping, feeding machine. It's so hectic around here and yet I feel I get nothing done. I am learning to prioritize. Well, I appreciate the time you took to respond because I know you must have so little of it. Hope you have a great time in April.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

LOL on the perpetual diaper changing, nose wiping, feeding machine. Been there, done that.

I have two saving graces. Well, maybe three depending on the day. The variable one is that my husband works at home so when my 4yo was a baby I could run to the store, etc, sometimes when he was napping (the sometimes meaning if my DH wasn't on a phone call). My oldest 3 children were all school age when Jake was born and during the day he got to basically be an only child. It would have been much harder if they had of been closely spaced. The other thing that so helps with my home organization is www.Flylady.net . If you haven't heard of it check it out. It has really helped me develop routines and my house has never been cleaner, more picked up, etc. Not that it's wonderful, but I keep my house cleaner than when I had a weekly cleaning person and have saved a lot of money doing so. Like anything else like this I pick and choose what I do and don't do that they suggest.

Boy, did I ever get off-topic. First time that's ever happened.

T&B

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

T&B: I am the one who started getting off topic so don't blame yourself. And I so enjoyed reading your post. It's nice to hear other's stories to make me feel like I am not alone. And I will check out that website. Thanks so much!

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Disney Enthusiast
Cindy B - Thanks so much for posting. My son seems a lot like your son. Just loves that stuff. I'm surprised about your DS and Rock-n-Rollercoaster. That one is FAST and I was afraid it would snap his neck or something. It is my favorite ride at WDW and I am sure it will be his. Makes me feel better that a 3 yr old can handle it. I am surprised that Disney allows it. They gave me such a hard time at Hershey w/ a silly "Mouse Trap" roller coaster, but I guess that one did whip him around a bit. The coaster at MGM doesn't whip around as much. We are going again in Dec 04 and I will try it then when I'm a few months older and can handle the stress of taking him. Ha Ha. And I will definitely stay off ToT. I'll take your son's advice on that one. It was nice to know what other thrill seeking 3 yr olds like. Thanks so much.

Disney is if you meet the height requirement, you can ride it. I am certain I had one of the bigger three year old on it... yes 48 inches at 3 years old! , but he loved it and rode I think three times in a row.. (he did get carefully measured all three times even though he had just got off). He didn't like Tower of Terror, because of the ghosts...

Space Mountain was nice and pretty tame as well for him.

As for Mouse Trap coasters, they are built differently, and set to thrill differently.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

I think I understand now Cindy B. Disney's coasters and thrill rides are smoother and don't whip you around as much as the Mouser coasters. I will stay away from the HM and ToT due to the "scare" factor. And I am avoiding the dinosaur one about extinction, and Body Wars and Star Tours cuz they really jostle you around.... I don't care for them myself. And I didn't know whether Disney wanted to know ages as well or what. So thanks for the info. That will really help in 2 wks. And 48 inches!!!!! Whew that's big. I thought mine was a bruiser. I sincerely appreciate your time.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

What about these:
Astro Orbiter
Aladin's Magic Carpet Ride
and the one dino ride in AK

They are all pretty much like Dumbo - but maybe a little higher or faster. The baby would be ok in these, too, with you and your son would feel pretty big on them, I think.

Hope that helps!

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

snowhiterabbit: Oh Yeahhhhh!!! Those are definitely on the list of to do's. Thank you for taking the time to post and make sure I knew about those. I had him on Dumbo at 8 mos and he loved it of course. Although he probably had no idea he was even on it. It was more of a Mommy excited to get her first born on Dumbo kind of thing. I rode on it when WDW first opened and I was 2. And just had to take my little one. Thank you for posting.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Disney Enthusiast
I think I understand now Cindy B. Disney's coasters and thrill rides are smoother and don't whip you around as much as the Mouser coasters. I will stay away from the HM and ToT due to the "scare" factor. And I am avoiding the dinosaur one about extinction, and Body Wars and Star Tours cuz they really jostle you around.... I don't care for them myself. And I didn't know whether Disney wanted to know ages as well or what. So thanks for the info. That will really help in 2 wks. And 48 inches!!!!! Whew that's big. I thought mine was a bruiser. I sincerely appreciate your time.

Actually at 3, my son liked HM but at 8 was afraid of it... Body Wars and Star Tours was nothing for him. In fact Star Tours is fairly tame.. he was a Star Wars nut so he liked it no matter what.

Yes, at 3 he was 48 inches... big kid. I knew I was in for it when he was born at 9 lbs 12 inches! Fortunately at 9, he is over most of the kids in his class, but not by several inches.. maybe one or two. He is skinny too, so I have a hard time finding pants for him that fit!