Rollercoaster for 9 year old - not crazy

[Frozen2014]

Ok, I'm starting to go through the rides. My 9 year old son is just starting to get into rollercoasters, but nothing crazy. What are good ones at DW that are fun but not crazy scary (i.e. no loops, 90 degree angles, etc etc)

I think Space Mountain is ok? What else? I can't really tell from the names.

PS - And any that a 5 year old could go on too?

 

[karly05]

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (aka BTMRR) at Magic Kingdom! I'm kind of a coaster chicken and even I like this one. It's a "runaway mine train" sort of ride; you're not high in the air, no inversions or anything extreme, just a fun ride. Check out some You Tube videos to get an idea of it.

 

[surferdave]

I think the only one might exceed your criteria is Rock N Roller Coaster. It has a rapid takeoff and some inversions, but many guests say they don't notice them in the dark.

I'd take them on the smaller ones first and then on any that they're tall enough for if they're ready for more.

 

[Lavitz]

Ok, I'm starting to go through the rides. My 9 year old son is just starting to get into rollercoasters, but nothing crazy. What are good ones at DW that are fun but not crazy scary (i.e. no loops, 90 degree angles, etc etc)

I think Space Mountain is ok? What else? I can't really tell from the names.

PS - And any that a 5 year old could go on too?

I'm probably in the minority here, but I wouldn't take my 9 year old on Space Mountain. I went in Nov and tried Space Mountain before taking my 9 year old daughter. Good idea. My head was whipping from side to side since it was pitch black and I couldn't see the turns coming and prepare myself for it. I knew based on that she would HATE it.

It's a good thing too. I took her on her first "adult" coaster at the park close to my home about two weeks ago. She didn't mind the drop (too much ) but complained that her head was banging around and kept hitting the restraint the whole ride, and her ears were hurting for 10 minutes. This on a regular coaster with what I deem to be very little chance of her banging her head around. She would have died on Space Mountain.

Definitely do Thunder Mountain, although not a roller coaster really it is fun and is my daughter's favourite ride at DW.

 

[kmb584]

I think the only one might exceed your criteria is Rock N Roller Coaster. It has a rapid takeoff and some inversions, but many guests say they don't notice them in the dark.

I'd take them on the smaller ones first and then on any that they're tall enough for if they're ready for more.

That's what convinced me to finally ride it last year. I definitely felt those inversions! And they can have their launch back too.

OP, I think BTMRR is a good place to start. It was DD's first coaster and she loves it. She starts with this infectious belly laugh the minute the train car moves, hands up in the air, and just flat out loves it. I wouldn't start with Space. There aren't any big drops but since it's in the dark I don't think it's a good starter coaster.

 

[brielise]

Yeah, I would definitely avoid Rock n Roller Coaster. BTMRR is a safe bet. The only issue I have is DH is a fair amount larger than me so I'm constantly flying out of my seat since the lapbar doesn't come anywhere near me.

As for Space Mountain, sometimes I'm fine and other times it seems really jerky. My head gets pretty banged around as well. There's one side that seems better but I can never remember which it is.

 

[ttintagel]

Big Thunder is great - all the descents go around curves, so you don't get those big, sickening drops. Just lots of whee!

Space Mountain CAN get pretty jerky, as other have said.

Your nine-year-old will probably find the Barnstormer tame, but your five-year-old will probably love it, and the older one may ride it for the younger one's sake.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

My oldest daughter was 4 when she reached the height limit for Space. We rode it over and over, then she cried when the park closed and they wouldn't let her back in.

Good memories.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

My opinion of course, but I think Space is harder on adults than it is children. I used to be able to ride and ride with no problems. Now I find it jerky. Or maybe I'm just getting old. =( I'm taking my niece and nephews in Oct. My plan is start with Barnstormer, 7DMT, and then Big Thunder. Figure I'd start them off small and work up to Space instead of going right for that one off the bat.

 

[Melissa8905]

Ok, I'm starting to go through the rides. My 9 year old son is just starting to get into rollercoasters, but nothing crazy. What are good ones at DW that are fun but not crazy scary (i.e. no loops, 90 degree angles, etc etc)

I think Space Mountain is ok? What else? I can't really tell from the names.

PS - And any that a 5 year old could go on too?

For the ages you mentioned: The Barnstormer in Fantasyland, MK, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland, MK and if it's open when you go: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland, MK (I saw video a CM took and seems very fun but tame). Stick with these and both your 9 year old and 5 year old will have a fun time.

 

[DbleTheFun]

My kids love rockin roller coaster and all other coasters in the world EXCEPT space mountain. It's two jerky for them. They could ride all but rockin roller coaster when they were 5... But it wasn't until last years trip when they were 6, that they were finally tall enough for rockin. It's on their must do- list for this upcoming holiday.

Try showing YouTube videos of the ride to give your child a sense of what it will be like: every kid is different.

 

[moriaw76]

My girls (10 & 8 )love all of the rides! Last year Rockin Roller Coaster was my then 7 year olds favorite ride. BTMRR is great for both!

 

[Flanders]

When my 3 were 6, 8, and 10 years old, the 6 year old wouldn't touch anything more than splash mountain. The other two would give different coasters/rides a shot but were always a little chicken. Big Thunder was a fav like everyone else says, I agree that Space was easier on the 10 year old than the adults, my middle guy was too chicken to try it though. They both loved the Barnstormer and Test Track (which really doesn't have much to it).

The two that were really too much for all of them were Rockin' Roller Coaster and Everest. The ten year old did both and said she liked them but when I asked if she wanted to go again the answer was a quick no! Same for the middle guy with Everest and he wouldn't touch Rockin' Roller Coaster.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Last year my 9 year old HATED Rock n Roller Coaster, enjoyed Big Thunder Mountain and LOVED Splash Mountain.

There really aren't alot of choices in the World for coasters:
MK: Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain (not really but same premise), Goofy's Barnstormer, 7Dwarves.
DHS: Rock n Roller Coaster
Epcot:
Animal Kingdom: Expedition Everest

I'd suggest Barnstormer for your younger one.

 

[delmar411]

I suggest having them give a go at each coaster. They don't have to ride them again if they hate it.

Every kid is different and the rides go by height not age. My kiddos were happily on those coaster at age 4.

 

[pad406]

2nd the idea of looking at them on YouTube first to give them an idea. Just a note on SM, the seats are arranged in single file, i.e., you won't be able to sit beside DS.

TestTrack is also fun, though not strictly a roller coaster. It was, before the change, the fastest ride in WDW, not sure now.

 

[shadeauxe]

My son is 9 and started riding all of the rides as soon as he was tall enough. Here are his opinions of each.

Space Mountain - Too dark and bumpy. Personally, I don't like it anymore either. I liked it before they made all of the changes (when you could see the ride from the line).

Big Thunder Mountain - He LOVES this ride. We ride it many times. It's just the right amount of thrill. Even I, the cynical adult, think this is one of my favorite rides ever.

Splash Mountain - Loves this one too. I think it's ok, but I like BTMRR more.

Barnstormer - He likes this one a lot. I think it's kind of short, but it's fun.

Rock n Roller Coaster - He does not like this one yet. He is sensitive to noise and this one is super loud. It has loops also, but they are corkscrew loops, which I don't think are as bad. I bought him ear plugs and sound muffling headphones, so we'll see how he likes it next time.

Expedition Everest - He thinks this one is a little scary. We haven't ridden it in about a year though, so maybe he'll like it more now.

 

[Frozen2014]

This is great. Thanks so much for the helpful responses.

And thanks so much about the warning of Space Mountain. I had it on my list for my DS9, but will mark take it off (he can always let us know otherwise when we're there)

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (aka BTMRR) at Magic Kingdom! I'm kind of a coaster chicken and even I like this one. It's a "runaway mine train" sort of ride; you're not high in the air, no inversions or anything extreme, just a fun ride. Check out some You Tube videos to get an idea of it.

Is this a good one for our 5 year old as well? Or too much?
As a reference, we just went this past weekend to a park and she went on her first 'roller coaster'. It was just one that went in a circle with a few hills, but she loved it.

Your nine-year-old will probably find the Barnstormer tame, but your five-year-old will probably love it, and the older one may ride it for the younger one's sake.

Great....I thought this would be for my DS9 and wasn't sure if it was too much for my DD5. He would ride it with her, so will mark it as good for both.

My plan is start with Barnstormer, 7DMT, and then Big Thunder. Figure I'd start them off small and work up to Space instead of going right for that one off the bat.

So the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is good?

And Test Track is in Epcot, right? We are hitting that park one day so have noted it. (Only park we are not going to is Animal Kingdom)

 

[JessseJ]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I wouldn't take my 9 year old on Space Mountain. I went in Nov and tried Space Mountain before taking my 9 year old daughter. Good idea. My head was whipping from side to side since it was pitch black and I couldn't see the turns coming and prepare myself for it. I knew based on that she would HATE it.

It's a good thing too. I took her on her first "adult" coaster at the park close to my home about two weeks ago. She didn't mind the drop (too much ) but complained that her head was banging around and kept hitting the restraint the whole ride, and her ears were hurting for 10 minutes. This on a regular coaster with what I deem to be very little chance of her banging her head around. She would have died on Space Mountain.

Definitely do Thunder Mountain, although not a roller coaster really it is fun and is my daughter's favourite ride at DW.

I think it depends on the child. My 10-year old daughter LOVES LOVES LOVES roller coasters and has been doing Space Mounain since she was 6.

 

[Minnie824]

Anything they're tall enough for they can go on. DDs are now 12 & 10... we ride everest 4 times in a row in the mornings when we go to AK. They both went on Space, TOT, RNRC and Everest as soon as they were tall enough and loved them.

I would say depending on height your 9 & 5 year old may be able to do all w/the exception of possibly not RNRC for the 5 yr old.