Rise of the Resistance with Little Kids

[dischris11]

We really want to go on ROTR. I have three kids-3, 5, and 8. I’m not concerned about the 8 year old but how intense is the ride for the 3 and 5 year old? They both meet the height requirement.

 

[CravesDisney]

My 4 year old girl was wide eyed during the ride but when it was over she busted out in tears. The 4 yo initially later almost backed out on Smugglers Run (still spooked from RoR) but we got her on and she was fine. For perspective, Huanted Mansion spooked the 4 yo too. Every other ride was no problems.

My 8 year old was okay on RoR and even trolled an imperial cast member, though she never identified RoR as one of her favorites.

It is an intense ride. I wouldn't say it is inappropriate for a 4 yo, but it could spook them.

 

[123okgo]

I took my 4.5 yr old on ROTR at Disneyland 3 weeks ago. We watched a YouTube video of it prior and any time he got nervous we would whisper to each other that we knew we were getting rescued. He liked it, but we only rode it once due to availability with the virtual que and how much more he wanted to ride web slingers each day.

 

[ElenaRN]

Our now 7 year old rode RoR at 5 and loved it. I think it really depends on the child.

 

[Sjm9911]

Our now 7 year old rode RoR at 5 and loved it. I think it really depends on the child.

This!
All depends on the kid. My daughter backed out of haunted mansion and space mt, at 8 yo. No way she would do rise. But if the ride was outdoors, like thunder mt. she was fine with it. So , the cue and the indoor part spooked her. Worst part is getting them un spooked. Maybe show them a video of the ride and let them decide.

 

[sponica]

My 5 year old was all gung ho until she saw a clip on some special and was like, I don't want to ride that ride, there's a bad guy.

So it probably depends on the kiddo...

 

[Sjm9911]

Oh, another thought, and not sure if it changed. The cast members do not break character. A little girl ran up to the storm troopers when it first opened, they told her to halt. She didn't, shes a kid, so they basicly told her she was under arrest or something to that effect, scaring her. Some kids see the cartoon star wars, and figure thats what its like, but it wasnt a magical moment. Kid started crying. Not fun. And atually made me a bit mad.

 

[PinkPixel]

There’s a 40” height requirement so I waited outside with my 2.5 and 5 year old while my husband went on. I should have done rider switch but I didn’t think about the 5 year old going on with him. I would like to do the Starcruiser this spring but reality has hit that it might terrifying for both my kids now 3 and 6. Six year olds says she loves Stars Wars, but is still too afraid to ride Haunted Mansion. Was nervous for Pirates but then had fun. The artwork for the Starcruiser that’s been everywhere shows a family with two small children so I’m interested how it will work out.

 

[KPeterso]

I think it totally depends on the kid. And probably also how much they know about Star Wars (many young ones have seen the movies since their parents love them, many others not).

For perspective, my nephew was gung ho to ride Pirates when he was not quite 3. In hindsight, he was picturing Jake and the Neverland Pirates. To say Pirates scared and spooked him would be an understatement. Even at 6, he was fighting us still to go on it, but adults overrule sometimes and ride what they want. He also hated Big Thunder after we took him on the first time at night. His only complaint was how dark it was. Big oops on the adults part that time and we never did convince him to try again (they let their passes go a few years ago).

 

[Tri-Delta4Life]

Our barely 40" 4yo did RoR with DH a few weeks ago while I stayed with the 2yo. She enjoyed it!

 

[MamaMermaid]

My almost 4 year old has done RoR 2x and LOVES it!!

 

[kicker30]

Totally depends in the kid. We were there for the week spanning our sons 4th birthday and he liked it except for the getting shot at part and that was enough that he doesn't want to ride it again. He also insisted on riding Tower of Terror and same there, liked it and had fun but it'll be a few years before he will get back on it because the drop was worse than he thought it would be. Same with Pirates of the Caribbean, loved 99% of it but the cannon fight scared him some.

 

[nancipants]

Oh, another thought, and not sure if it changed. The cast members do not break character. A little girl ran up to the storm troopers when it first opened, they told her to halt. She didn't, shes a kid, so they basicly told her she was under arrest or something to that effect, scaring her. Some kids see the cartoon star wars, and figure thats what its like, but it wasnt a magical moment. Kid started crying. Not fun. And atually made me a bit mad.

Just wanted to add that this is typical Stormtrooper interaction, lots of times kids play off them or deliberately disobey, so they probably thought that was what was going on. The Imperial cast members on Rise of the Resistance do not interact with kids who are obviously scared or nervous. (Just like cast members on Tower of Terror or Haunted Mansion.) If the kids are playing off them, then yes, they'll interact, and it's usually quite hilarious. Nothing better than a five year old telling off the First Order. I've noticed they typically zero in on the people who are playing along.

 

[Lsyves]

Just wanted to add that this is typical Stormtrooper interaction, lots of times kids play off them or deliberately disobey, so they probably thought that was what was going on. The Imperial cast members on Rise of the Resistance do not interact with kids who are obviously scared or nervous. (Just like cast members on Tower of Terror or Haunted Mansion.) If the kids are playing off them, then yes, they'll interact, and it's usually quite hilarious. Nothing better than a five year old telling off the First Order. I've noticed they typically zero in on the people who are playing along.

My son kept touching walls or props to get them to interact w him. Worked every time!

 

[julie-o]

I agree it depends on the kid. My 7 yo was REALLY scared. Like he thought we weren’t going to get out alive. We survived but I felt bad. The last time I rode it a 4/5 year old was screaming and wailing in terror the whole time. But I’m sure some kids think it’s fun, get that it’s pretend, etc.

 

[MsVanderquack]

We really want to go on ROTR. I have three kids-3, 5, and 8. I’m not concerned about the 8 year old but how intense is the ride for the 3 and 5 year old? They both meet the height requirement.

Firstly, good for you for considering this. Kids react differently to different rides. Some really young kids love the show and some kids who are even a bit older get stressed out. ROTR is very immersive and has a lot of action and a bit of thrill. Have you watched a video or are you trying to avoid spoilers? If at all possible I would check it out ahead of time. You can't get off the ride after a certain point. I saw one kid leave with his mom before the point of no return and not much scary had happened yet.

 

[Tilnar]

It totally depends on the kid. Our 4-y-o daughter did it and liked it -- though it wasn't her favourite. That said, she made us do Everest like 4 times, so... she may not be normal... (though we're pretty pleased about it).

 

[the8ball]

I was considering this question, and a friend of mind gave me what I thought was pretty good advice: if it's a young kid where you're not sure if they'll be anxious and you are more concerned about that than "spoilers", you can let them sit through a walkthrough on YouTube with a grown-up and ask questions, while the grown-up watches their reaction to see if it makes them nervous. If it's a kid that you think might be scared, seeing a video ahead of time is not just a good test, but also a way to expose them to some of the things that might be surprising in a terrifying way, and you can prepare them for it in a way that allows them to enjoy it. They can internalize ahead of time that it's not real danger, that it has a happy ending, and that it's fun. For some kids, that might make for a better experience.

 

[LaynahD]

I agree with most of the above. It depends on a few factors. My kiddo was ready to ride it at 3 (he was close to height requirement so we prepped for it) but COVID kept us away until he was 4. When we rode, he loved it and we rode it twice. That being said, he is a Star Wars fan and turned out to love rides and roller coasters. We prepped him by letting him watch a YouTube video and explaining what would happen (if you’re ok with spoilers). I also let him know that the people working there would be playing a game where they had to act like they were mean and part of the First Order and that they wouldn’t be like the rest of the people you meet around Disney. He loves pretend games so he got this but you’d have to gauge your kids on that. They can be a little intimidating - but fun if you’re ready for it.

 

[julie-o]

I was considering this question, and a friend of mind gave me what I thought was pretty good advice: if it's a young kind where you're not sure if they'll be anxious and you are more concerned about that than "spoilers", you can let them sit through a walkthrough on YouTube with a grown-up and ask questions, while the grown-up watches their reaction to see if it makes them nervous. If it's a kid that you think might be scared, seeing a video ahead of time is not just a good test, but also a way to expose them to some of the things that might be surprising in a terrifying way, and you can prepare them for it in a way that allows them to enjoy it. They can internalize ahead of time that it's not real danger, that it has a happy ending, and that it's fun. For some kids, that might make for a better experience.

This is great advice. I really wish I’d done that for my kiddo who was 7/8 the first time we rode it. He was genuinely terrified. Like he asked me if everyone was going to get murdered. And I knew nothing about the ride so although I kept reassuring him it was pretend, we were at Disney World, etc, nothing I said helped much. We stayed on the ride and he rode it again the next year but I wish I’d some more prepping for him.