Scary Rides for a 4.5 Year Old?

[Blue62]

Obviously the rides for which the child does not meet the height requirements are out, but I am trying to put a finger on what rides are a GO for us and which are an absolute NO. Our son is 6 and so things open up a little more for him ride-wise this time around. Now we need to figure out what 4.5 yo sis can go along on and when it will be better to split up.

From my reading these are the ones I am not clear on in regards to if they might be too scary for my 4.5 year old daughter:

1. Star Tours (MGM)
2. The MGM Backlot Tour (MGM)
3. The Great Movie Ride (MGM)

4. Kilimanjaro Safaris (AK)

5. The Haunted Mansion (MK)

Outside of those I think we are pretty clearly squared away as to what we'll avoid or not. NO Rock N Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, etc.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[swilphil]

Of the ones you have listed, I would say Great Movie Ride and the Safari should be fine. My 4 year old wasn't scared at all from it, but be prepared for the alien on Great Movie Ride. My son at age 4 went on Star Tours with his dad and did okay, but he wasn't really excited about it. At 3, my son did fine on the Haunted Mansion, but towards the end of the ride on our last visit (at age 4) he started crying. It may have had more to do with being tired, hungry and overstimulated. We rode on it right before our afternoon break after being in the park since EE. I've never been on the Backlot Tour. I was afraid he would be bored by it, and isn't it a little long.

 

[Mainebound]

Based on our trip with our 4 year old son, the Safari and Great Movie Ride should be fine. He made us take him out of both Haunted MAnsion and Star Tours after the rides started.

This is a hard questio to answer, though, because each child's triggers are so different: my son loves wild roller coasters but will NOT go on POTC due to fear of pirates!

 

[HollyJoy]

Well, let's see... we rode Star Tours several times, and while our kids didn't find it scarey, once there was a child on there crying. The Great Movie Ride can be scarey... some of the kids weren't sure what to do when Bugsy kidnapped our car and our driver disappeared. They were relieved when she returned near the end of the ride.

 

[MommytoPayton&Max]

I think a lot of it depends on your child, and only you know best. I would be more cautious and avoid rides that are questionable. We were there this past May and my daughter was 3 yrs and 2 mo. She loved everything - including TOT, so we didn't have much of a problem. We are going back in Feb. and I will be anxious to see if she will ride them again now that she knows what to expect! If she at all seems reluctant, we are going to avoid them. I say go with what you feel comfortable with for your family!

 

[jellydisney]

Of the 5 you listed, the only truly physically intense ride is Star Tours.

GMR and the HM have special effects elements that might be frightening for a child (dark, creepy crawly things, loud noises, animatronics that jump out at you).

Backlot and Safaris also have a couple of special effects. They are outside in tram-like vehicles. They are bumpy, and have bridges that 'almost' collapse as the tram goes over them. I haven't been on Backlot in a long time though. Do they still do Catastophe Canyon?

 

[popeyeohoh]

Snow White scared my 4 yr old. Tough to be a bug was pretty scary for many toddlers when I was there in April. There were many screaming children by the end.

 

[turnerx5]

IMHO, Dinosaur in AK is way too scary for a child that age, even one which loves Dinosaurs.

 

[puffkin]

IMHO, Dinosaur in AK is way too scary for a child that age, even one which loves Dinosaurs.

Totally agree. I think this ride is really scary for young children. Also, Tough to be a bug might be over the top.

 

[LLagow]

I've actually been suprised at what my DD and DS age 4 have wanted to do. Last trip (age 3 1/2) they begged to go on Haunted Mansion. We tried to talk them out of it but they really wanted to go even after we told them about it. They loved it! I asked them yesterday what was the first thing they want to get a Fastpass for next week and they both said HM. KS should be fine, they've been on it since they were 2 and loved it. We've never done the great movie ride, my sister says the alien scene is too scary. We've also never do Star tours.
LLagow
2 Days to go!!

 

[LLagow]

Oh, my two love Tough to be a bug but were terrified in Honey I shrunk the Audience when the lion and snake come out right in front of you. I was holding my DS and he was actually shaking

 

[SpaceMounatin]

Outside of those I think we are pretty clearly squared away as to what we'll avoid or not. NO Rock N Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, etc.
QUOTE]

I was 4 when I went on Space. I loved it! Don't do Stitch! Don't do Dinasour at AK!

 

[Jridou]

My 4 1/2 year old loved Haunted Mansion but left The Little Mermaid HYSTERICAL after Ursula came out.

She was fine on the Safari.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

You really never know. My three year old son rode Haunted Mansion with no problems. The first year we went dd was 41/2 and totally freaked out on Snow White. My other dd (who was 5) rode everything including Tower of Terror. I haven't taken the kids on HISTA or TTBAB because I think they might freak out a little with the snakes and mice. THey didn't have any problems with Star Tours or the Great Movie Ride. It really all depends on the child.

 

[Egadz]

As they say, mileage may vary.

When we went last May, my then barely 4 yo DD could just crack the 42" mark and was more than willing (begged and begged) to ride EVERYTHING!!! 4, yes 4 trips on Tower of Terror! She also LOVED Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Test Track. If she were tall enough, I have no doubt she would have enjoyed Space Mountain and RnR. (She giggled with her hands in the air throughout the entire ride on the Screaming Eagle at Six Flags - St. Louis this summer.)

But ... get this ... she is absolutely scared to death of any and all costumed characters!!! Face characters are fine. Some costumes from a distance, but they can't be close enough to touch her.

The only "ride" that is too scary for her is Dinosaur. Which is fine because her 7yo DB (who loves Dinosaurs) is scared of it as well.

Oh yeah, DB will not ride ToT either. Gave Space Mountain a shot, but once was enough.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It so depends on the child. This trip (just got back yesterday) my almost 5yo son rode every ride that he was tall enough for, which means almost every ride since he's now 44".

In February he did everything that he was tall enough for, also (wasn't tall enough at that point for Mission:Space or Space MT) and liked everything, except he did NOT want to repeat Dinosaur (translation...he didn't like it). This trip all he talked about was how much he wanted to ride Dinosaur and he did seem to like it this trip.

He used to be scared of 3D shows, but now likes them. He has always been fine with Haunted Mansion, but likes to hold my hand for things that are scary. He does go on Tower of Terror without issue (good thing since it's my favorite ride), but I don't know that he would ask to go on it if I wasn't already planning on going.

What I've done in past trips is to start out with the less scary rides and move up from there.

T&B