Rides my 8 year old shouldn't miss?

[mssbass]

My daughter and I will be in the following parks in 2 weeks: MK, AK, MGM, and SeaWorld - any suggestions on what we shouldn't miss as far as rides? She's a daredevil; but I hate jerky rides - She loves scary....

 

[jacksmom]

Hi! I just replied to your dining post also! I have a ds almost 8! He is not really a dare devil, but some of his faves are: Haunted Mansoin, Buzz, Indy speedway,Tom Sawyers Island @ MK. Kali River Rapids @AK, Star Tours and Indy Jones@ MGM, but what he loves most are the slides and raft rides at Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Quest!

 

[sunny04]

I would say definitely the Fantasyland rides! Peter Pan, Philharmagic, Winnie the Pooh, maybe Snow White (although lots of parents say their children are scared of this one, so beware), Dumbo....all the classics. They are fabulous!

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Splash Mountain?!?

I'm sort of asking this as much as I am suggesting it, because we'll be taking our 7-1/2 year old twins and are hoping they'll be O.K. on it. Mine aren't daredevils, but seem open to trying.

Oh, this is of course assuming your 8 year old is at least 40" tall. Both of mine are tall enough.

 

[lisareniff]

My 7.5 year old (at the time) LOVED splash mtn!! She went on it 5 times. She is no daredevil, that's for sure. I think it was at the right level for her, scary but not too scary. Big Thunder was closed when we were there last, so I can't report on that one. Space Mtn would have been too much.

I was suprised that she got into getting the character's autographs.

Also like Honey I Shunk the Aud.

This year she will be turning 9 while we are there. She wants to ride space mtn. I'm not too sure about that!

 

[ennazus]

Look over the maps & brochures with your child and explain the different rides to her and then listen to her thoughts, ideas & desires.

Ok... that being said If she likes animals, don't miss the Safari Ride in AK and the Kali River Rapids is a fun wet ride! (we do it last so we don't have to walk around the park all wet.)

 

[funhouse8]

Why not buy the book WDW for kids by kids. It has some great rviews of the rides and shows and would help you both get excited about the trip. My kids loved to read this on the plane or in the car if we drove. Have a wonderful time. Gina Oh and our favorite ride is TOT in MGM. Not to be missed if she is a daredevil and tall enough !

 

[Ahrizel]

Splash, Space, Big Thunder, Star Tours, ToT, RnR(if tall enough), Dinosaur, Kali-at Disney parks. At Seaworld-Journey to Atlantis and if she's quite tall(54) Kraken. Some of these are jerky, but if you're only experience to thrill rides is at non Disney parks please give some of them a try. Disney rides are often quite different from other parks rides. My niece rode all of these at 8, yes she's a daredevil. Just realize what isn't a thrill ride could scare her-she loves ToT but gets nervous on the Haunted Mansion You can never tell what may scare a kid. I second the idea of a Disney guidebook, if she likes reading about it definitely get the for kids, by kids one. But also try all the Disney classics other posters have mentioned, some of my favorite rides are the old classics, and I'm a thrill ride junkie. And at Seaworld the animals could turn out to be some of her favorite things, the same niece is also an animal fanatic and has to pulled away from the tanks.

 

[mssbass]

What are Star Tours, ToT, RnR(if tall enough), ?

 

[charabby]

What are Star Tours, ToT, RnR(if tall enough), ?

Star Tours is at MGM

ToT = Tower of Terror also at MGM

RnR = Rockin Rollercoaster also at MGM

We went last year when my older dd turned 8. She loved RnR , Jungle Cruise (at MK), It's a Small World, Kali River Rapids, Kilamanjaro Safari, Test Track, Peter Pan's Flight, Astro Orbiter, and Mad Tea Party. She actually didn't like Splash Mountain, but my 6yo did and I think most 8 yo probably enjoy it. Oh, she also liked the Buzz Lightyear ride. HTH

 

[sanibelover]

My kids favorite is Test Track.

 

[mssbass]

Thank you guys - only a couple of more weeks - I went ahead and ordered that book - she and I will read it on the plane. Thanks again

 

[aec]

A brave 8 yo can ride everything at WDW. We just got back and my 7 yo rode everything except tower of terror. She was tall enough, just not quite brave enough.

A parent who does not like jerky rides should avoid big thunder mountain railroad, space mountain, dinosaur, startours. I can't think of anything else off hand that would be a problem at the WDW parks you listed. For more info on seaworld, check out the orlando attractions board.