Rock n rollercoaster age appropriate?

[stephk1981]

I've never been on Rock n Rollercoaster, and am wondering if it would actually be appropriate for my son. He's 5, and while he does reach the height requirement (48 inches), I'm worried it may scare him. He loves things like Test Track and space mountain...so do you think he'd like RNR? or how old were other's children when they started riding it? Thanks for all responses!

 

[DLBDS]

This is just my opinion but I think that if he likes SM he would be fine with RNR. That said, they are completely different. SM is just a typical roller coaster but it's in complete darkness... which to me would be scarier to a young kid. RNR is all lit up but its fast launch could be overwhelming to ANYONE not prepared for it. You know your son best. Only you (or he) can make the call ultimately.

 

[taterheads]

I've never been on Rock n Rollercoaster, and am wondering if it would actually be appropriate for my son. He's 5, and while he does reach the height requirement (48 inches), I'm worried it may scare him. He loves things like Test Track and space mountain...so do you think he'd like RNR? or how old were other's children when they started riding it? Thanks for all responses!

It's not scary just LOUD and fast. It is the only roller coaster that goes upside down too. My take is that if he loves Space Mtn he'll like RNR. I'm sure there is video of it on YouTube. You could always show him a video and let him see what he thinks.

 

[Rose23]

Not for certain a five-year old is old enough for RNR especially with the loops. It is very disorienting, unsettles your stomach (especially after a meal) and may be too much for your little one. It's rough enough on a grown adult. My son did not ride it until he was early teens (11 years old maybe). It is much more aggressive and faster than Space Mountain.

Mission Space at Epcot is another one where the little ones should not ride the full version.

 

[ucfknight]

Just from personal experience, my (just turned) 7 year old daughter absolutely loves Space Mountain (it is her favorite ride). However, she absolutely hated Rock 'n Rollercoaster and said she never wants to ride it again. She said the ride itself and the launch were both OK, but it was just way too loud for her. So it wasn't necessarily the ride she didn't like, it was the noise. If your son likes coasters and doesn't mind excessively loud noise he might be OK.

 

[morethananyonex]

RnRC is the most intense Disney coaster IMO, but compared to other amusement park coasters it's fairly tame. If you think your son can handle the launch (I'm sure you can find Youtube videos people take from the line), loudness (music loudness, not scary noises) and going upside down he should be fine with the rest of the ride.

You know your son best. Let him watch the launch, there's nothing too unusual about the rest of the coaster. If he's a fairly brave kid finding out other DISers kids didn't like it might be irrelevant to you anyways.

 

[Kellykins1218]

My son was 5 and loved it!

 

[jbish]

My (just turned) 7 yr old loves RnRC. She went on SM for the first time this past trip and was bitten by the coaster bug. But she just made the height requirements for RnRC so that is certainly a factor.

As others have said, it is VERY loud. And DH got whiplash the first time he went on it because he was too busy looking around and didn't pay any attention to the sign that says "Hold your head back". It is a very jarring ride in that I often walk away with headaches now (I'm getting old - fact). But that is not unlike SM even, so he may be okay with that.

On a side note, I love that DD knows Aerosmith songs now - I heard her humming one after coming back.

 

[ptisme]

When my son was 5, he was very unsure of roller coasters. I didn't tell him about ToT at DL and he didn't like the pre-show but loved the actual ride part. So I knew he would like the roller coaster if I could just get him to try one! We had to bribe him to get him on his first one and he loved it! That said and knowing my child, he was 9 when we when to WDW the first time. I didn't tell him that RRC had a loop (he would have refused to try if I had told him!) He didn't find out till right before launch!!! He loves this ride, he wishes we could go more often and ride it more. I think you know your son best. I also think it is one of the smoothest roller coasters out there. We make our son try all rides at least once, then if he doesn't like them, he can sit out the next time. But I know my son's personality and know that 9 times out of 10 if I can just get him to try it, he will like it! Go with what you know about your son and his personality.

Have fun!

 

[MomToPirate&Princess]

It totally depends on the child. My kids are very different when it comes to coasters.

DS11 first rode it when he was 5 and loved it, but he loves all things fast and wild. There is no coaster he won't try. Since he was small, he has always ridden everything he was tall enough to get on (much to my worry sometimes).

DD9 still won't even try it. She liked SM and BTM her first try at 7, but hated Everest. After 2 more trips, she now loves Everest. She rode TOT once and will NEVER ride it again. So as you see she is much more skittish about rides. We're hoping this spring that she'll give it a try.

If he rides it, my advice would be to have him hold his head back against the seat for takeoff. It seems to make the blastoff less scary and keeps your head secure. I think there are probably signs advising you to keep your head back.

 

[#1DopeyFan]

My 8yo DS absolutely HATES Space Mountain, but will tolerate RnRC. He first rode both last year shortly after turning 7yo and got off SM crying...it threw him around so much, he was like a bobblehead. The going upside down on RnRC doesn't bother him, in fact, he didn't even know it went upside down until after we got off the ride and we were talking about it.

 

[Mousemommy1]

My oldest daughter first rode it when she was 5 and it is her favorite ride!

 

[disnut8]

I've never been on Rock n Rollercoaster, and am wondering if it would actually be appropriate for my son. He's 5, and while he does reach the height requirement (48 inches), I'm worried it may scare him. He loves things like Test Track and space mountain...so do you think he'd like RNR? or how old were other's children when they started riding it? Thanks for all responses!

I would suggest you watch a youtube video of the attraction and since you know your son better than anyone (except himself), you can make that determination.

Another suggestion is for you to go on the attraction in the single riders line (assuming you have another adult with you) and then judge after your solo ride.

My grandkids didn't ride this when they were five (both visited at that age but we are height challenged) but the granddaughter rode later (age seven) and was OK. Grandson needs his second trip back. If I had to predict, the granddaughter would have freaked out since she hated fire, wind, darkness and a whole bunch of other things at the age of five. Grandson was spooked by Soarin' but was OK on other attractions. We probably would have taken him on it if he was height available. And yes, the parents were there during all of the trips so it wasn't just grandma and grandpa thinking.

 

[stephk1981]

Thank you so much for all of the replies! I at least now know what to expect on the ride! I won't have another adult with us this trip, but I've found the youtube video of it, and he says it looks fun (he did ask me to turn down the sound though...lol). He hates loud things, but we're going to give it a try ! Thanks again.

 

[taterheads]

Thank you so much for all of the replies! I at least now know what to expect on the ride! I won't have another adult with us this trip, but I've found the youtube video of it, and he says it looks fun (he did ask me to turn down the sound though...lol). He hates loud things, but we're going to give it a try ! Thanks again.

Great! It is a very loud ride. If that is something that bothers him you might take some ear plugs or a couple pieces of cotton you can stick in his ears during the ride. Also, head back against the head rest at take off!!!

 

[WantToGoNow]

My dd10 has been riding it and loving it since she was 5. It disorients me so I don't ride it - my adult dd usually rides with her but her health has deteriorated greatly over the past few years (4 different heart issues) so she can no longer ride it either. She was 9 when we went in October and since her options were to ride it alone or not ride at all, I went through the FP line with her and she rode alone. My ds12 and dh have not been on it and probably never will.

 

[EvilQueenT]

my granddaughter was 6 before she was tall enough to ride but with that said as she hit each height requirement she eagerly rode each new ride starting with splash and tot at 3. her 1st ride on space she asked the cm to put her in the back seat so when she became tall enough to ride rnrc i made sure she knew she could opt out if she wanted. i made sure she watched the take off and made sure she understood the need to sit with her head back during take off. i was so worried about her with the take off...she didn't think it was any big deal and then kept saying to me...'we went upside down!...lets do it again". only you know your child

 

[DLBDS]

He hates loud things, but we're going to give it a try ! Thanks again.

Throw some earplugs in your bag when you go! I pulled some out the other day so I wouldn't forget them for my trip at the end of March (gotta do it now or I might forget!). I have an issue with the Dinosaur ride at AK. That's just insanely L-O-U-D! I'm hitting that thing prepared this time. I LOVE the ride but I swear it'll damage your hearing. You can find them at Walmart in the Pharmacy section. I THINK they're located where the Bandaids and such are. Can't remember exactly. Haven't bought them in awhile as I buy a couple of boxes each time I go and they last me a couple of yrs. They're the soft kind you roll between your fingers, push into the ear canal and then they expand to block out the sound. Hope he likes RnRC!!

 

[Pizzalover46]

I've never been on Rock n Rollercoaster, and am wondering if it would actually be appropriate for my son. He's 5, and while he does reach the height requirement (48 inches), I'm worried it may scare him. He loves things like Test Track and space mountain...so do you think he'd like RNR? or how old were other's children when they started riding it? Thanks for all responses!

If your son can do test track (the fastest ride at Disney), he can do RNR.

 

[suemom2kay]

I think it is a crap shoot. But then, I'm sure Space Mountain was a crap shoot first time he rode it. My DD HATES Space Mountain, but LOVES RnR. RnR is really smooth and although the ride is dark, it has lots of glow in the dark/neon signage to keep you oriented. I would leave it up to him if he wants to try it. He sounds adventurous!