Screamin' - how young is too young?

[starshine514]

My DD6 is going through a growth spurt (shot up 2" since our May trip) and is currently 47" tall. So, i figure sometime w/n this year (while we have APs), she's going to be tall enough to ride Screamin'. She loves roller coasters and the only rides she's been on that she refuses to ride again are ToT and Dinosaur (at AK). Since Screamin' isn't dark and their aren't any ghosts or dinosaurs jumping out at her, she should be fine, right? The harnesses will be sized appropriately for her thin little shoulders?

 

[helenb]

My son went on Screamin' at age 5 and *scraping* 47" in shoes. He was actually pulled out of the ride, measured on the platform, and finally allowed to re-board. That's how close he was to the height limit. He's also extremely skinny, and has to wear 'slim' sizes in pants and such. He had no problem whatsoever on the ride and loved it. In fact, he must have ridden Screamin' 4 or 5 times that trip. The bar was appropriately sized to keep him in, and I had no worries about him.

IMHO, the bigger concern is whether or not the child will enjoy it. It sounds like you've taken this into consideration and have made a reasonable judgement on this, so I say, go for it!

FYI, there are a couple of loops on the ride (through the Mickey ears) and of course there is the 'anticipation' when you go up the big hill at first before the initial drop. Both of these have the potential for scaring kids, so make sure your little one will be okay with this before you get on. You can easily see these aspects of the ride just by standing on the boardwalk, so you'll have a chance for a last minute discussion before committing to ride.

 

[abouley]

My son rode it the weekend he turned 7. He's a big kid and was tall enough before but the loop scared him. He finally went on it and LOVED it. It's one of his favorite rides now!

 

[DangerMouse]

My son rode on his 6th birthday. He loved it and it has been a favorite of his since. But he refuses to ride ToT ever again. He says the story creeps him out.

 

[sonnyjane]

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FYI, there are a couple of loops on the ride (through the Mickey ears) and of course there is the 'anticipation' when you go up the big hill at first before the initial drop. Both of these have the potential for scaring kids, so make sure your little one will be okay with this before you get on. You can easily see these aspects of the ride just by standing on the boardwalk, so you'll have a chance for a last minute discussion before committing to ride.

Sounds like you're "misremembering" just a teeny bit.

There is just one loop, and it's not bad at all. The most "thrilling" part is the launch. Unlike traditional coasters where you slowly go up a hill for the first drop, on Screamin' you are launched quite fast from a dead stop up a hill and then continue on. They do a countdown on the speakers so you know when you will launch, so at least that parts not a surprise. Just make sure she keeps her head back as they instruct over the speakers.

 

[helenb]

There is just one loop, and it's not bad at all. The most "thrilling" part is the launch. Unlike traditional coasters where you slowly go up a hill for the first drop, on Screamin' you are launched quite fast from a dead stop up a hill and then continue on. They do a countdown on the speakers so you know when you will launch, so at least that parts not a surprise. Just make sure she keeps her head back as they instruct over the speakers.

Oops, sounds like you're right! I get so confused with all of these coasters... can you tell my family is full of coaster enthusiasts? Sigh... sorry...

 

[Eeee-va]

Sometime after the launch, there is a short lift hill that I THINK takes you to the highest point? If you're not enjoying the ride, it's kind of intimidating, though at least it goes by quickly. Nothing like a standard long ratcheting lift hill, though.

You know your child, and if she doesn't mind drops in general, I imagine she'll be fine on Screamin'. I don't really like drops at all, so my answer to the question "how young is too young?" was going to be "something over 30."

 

[sonnyjane]

I don't really like drops at all, so my answer to the question "how young is too young?" was going to be "something over 30."

And my mom would say "something over 60" lol! I am taking her to Disneyland in two weeks...she hasn't been since 1992!!! I can't even convince her to give Soarin' a try

I, however, love Screamin'! Great coaster - not too scary and a lot of fun.

 

[starshine514]

Thanks guys! I'll let her make the call and not worry about her falling out!

 

[metta4]

Great question..I was wondering the same thing last night. My 7 yr old is the coaster crazy one...I was wondering if he could do this,...sounds like it!

 

[thelittletiffany]

I agree with the others who have said that you know your daughter best so if you think she's ready, she probably is. I'm fairly scared of Screamin' and I'm 25 - I'll go on it, but I don't usually opt to ride it unless someone else wants to. I always feel like I'm going to fly out from under the lap bar!

I think you should warn her about the fast launch, it might come as a surprise since the music is all calm at first and then it goes really quick. My cousin (who is younger than me) warned me about that so I was pretty prepared when I rode it for the first time, I probably would've been freaked out otherwise.

 

[Bunnyfeather]

Height and fearlessness are not always age-correlated. I say any kid who wants to go and is tall enough is old enough.

My DD is one inch too short at age 5, and that inch is all that kept her off it because she thought it looked "awesome". My son, 3, is 6 inches too short, and if he was 6 inches taller he would have been on it and begging to do it again. He cried when he found he wouldn't be allowed on. In 6 more inches, however long that is, we'll go back and let him have his turn!

 

[Dostert9]

I can't go on alot of those rides I have extreme motion sickness and end up leaving the park early with nausea and migraines that knock me out from 2-6 hours so I have to take it slow and biggest ones I can do is Indy and Tower of Terror. But I am ok with that....can't wait to see all my kids enjoy the other rides.

 

[disneychrista]

To me the launch is the worst part of the ride, once it is zipping arround then it is great.

 

[Dobie]

How young is too young?

...47

 

[SpaceMania]

I have a couple questions since i am hoping (as long as i dont chicken out) to ride screamin for the first time in a few weeks. (19 is too young, in my case)

1. Where in the actual coaster is the 'least intense'? I was thinking the front? or maybe the middle? Probably not the back right?!

2. Why do you have to 'keep your head back, face forward'? I always thought that this was just part of the spiel on the ride, but from what I have been reading you really should listen to it!?

 

[Scribble Kitty]

In any rollercoaster with a back head rest its a good idea to use it. Its supposed to keep your head from knocking around too much and that way you can actually hear whats played over the speakers instead of just wind rushing past.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have a couple questions since i am hoping (as long as i dont chicken out) to ride screamin for the first time in a few weeks. (19 is too young, in my case)

1. Where in the actual coaster is the 'least intense'? I was thinking the front? or maybe the middle? Probably not the back right?!

2. Why do you have to 'keep your head back, face forward'? I always thought that this was just part of the spiel on the ride, but from what I have been reading you really should listen to it!?

The front was difficult for me when I rode during the day, because I didn't like seeing what was about to happen. I liked it when I rode more towards the middle, because I didn't know as much what was going on.

Yes, keep your head back. If it's forward, it can sort of get stuck up there (you'd think it would slam back, but that isn't what always happens), and if you were turning your head to see what was going on (like if the countdown doesn't work and you are wondering what's happening) when it takes off, that's not a good way to get your head stuck. And if it's forward, it can get slammed side to side into the tall harness pads. Ouch.

Best to just have your head back and facing forward.

 

[Disney Dreams]

How young is too young?

...47

My thought EXACTLY!

 

[thelittletiffany]

2. Why do you have to 'keep your head back, face forward'? I always thought that this was just part of the spiel on the ride, but from what I have been reading you really should listen to it!?

For me, it was best to keep my head against the cushion/seat thing so my head wouldn't snap backward during the launch. I think I failed to listen to it once and my head kind of slammed backward into the seat in the beginning. Maybe it's a precaution so people don't get whiplash.