Soarin' for 3 1/2 y/o who meets height requirements?

[2poohbears]

We missed Soarin' at Epcot this year, but we're going back in JAN 07 and I planned on doing "switching off" since my boys will be 3 1/2 y/o. I just noticed the height requirement is 40". My sons may just make that height requirement, but I'm wondering would this ride scare them? In reading "Unofficial Guide to WDW 2007" I notice they state "may induce motion sickness", but then later they say it's a "must-experience for guests of any age who meet the height requirement. "

Could someone who has been on the ride enlighten me with your thoughts here? TIA...

 

[mommytomy3]

Theres nothing that would scare them, unless they are fearful of heights .. My DS will be exactly 3 1/2 when we go in April, and I plan on taking him on (he's already over 40 inches)
It is a beautiful ride- its my favorite!

 

[camdensmom]

Truthfully, it depends on your kids.

There is nothing "scary" about it in the sense of darkness, monsters, etc.

However, at 3 they won't have too much of a clue about what is going on and would probably feel as though it were real. This could be really cool or else could scare the cr@p out of them. Perhaps do the swap to 'preview it' and go from there. From my experience in traveling to Disney with kids it only takes one ride to lose their trust and make your trip miserable.

 

[2poohbears]

From my experience in traveling to Disney with kids it only takes one ride to lose their trust and make your trip miserable.

This is exactly my fear.

I think we'll do the switch off and then if time allows and we feel they could handle it, we'll take them on later.

 

[traviesojmt]

I agree that it always depends upon the child. My DD was 3yrs. 2 months when we rode Soarin this past Aug. She loved it. On the positive side, it is a ride where you are able to hold their hand. She also loved Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mt, Test Track and Kali River Rapids. Although she met the height requirements, there was no way that I was taking her on Tower of Terror or Dinosaur. It will be a while before I think that she is ready for those rides.
You know your boys best. If you think that they might be nervous, there is always next trip. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[mom2my3kids]

My son had only just turned 3 years old and he loved it.. We loved it..lol

 

[cuppycake]

My daughter was 3 1/2 when we went in Sept, and she *mostly* loved soarin'. She's not a big "in the dark" kind of kid, so the very beginning of the whole "in the theater" type environment made her nervous. Also, she HATES fireworks (not into LOUD things) and she was having a great time and smiling all the way to the end. I don't want to spoil it by telling you everything, but there is a scene at the end of the ride with fireworks and it's loud...thankfully it only lasted a few seconds, so she didn't get much of a chance to cry, but there were some tears.

She has decided that she wants to do it again in December when we are there, but this time we KNOW the fireworks are coming and can help prepare her.

FWIW, she also LOVED Test Track, but wasn't thrilled by Splash Mountain (too dark for her liking) except for the drop...that was the part she enjoyed...go figure!

 

[maxiesmom]

I think that you know your own children best. Are they afraid of heights? If you are placed in the front row, you are really up there! If you are not sure, I would switch off. It is not worth risking your children not trusting you and freaking out every time you try to ride something. Anyway, you can always use it as an excuse to have to go back when you are sure they are up to it!

 

[lg3]

We took dd3.5 on Soarin' at the beginning of August in DCA. She BARELY made the height requirement. Okay, in full disclosure, she was 1/4" short, but we had a FP and they did not measure her to our shock. Anyhoo, she absolutely loved the entire ride - no problems with being scared of heights, but at the VERY end of the ride she got upset at the fireworks. I forgot that there were fireworks at the end. Bad mom. If fireworks are not an issue, I say more power to you.

 

[Gillian]

I was very disappointed that our 2 yr 10 month old DD did not meet the height requirement, because I think she would have loved it.

DS, 5 at the time, thought it was great, even though he was nervous at first. He's generally fearful of new things, but soon decided it was his favorite ride! Due to the magic of child swapping and fast pass, he got to ride a bunch of times!

 

[kohlby]

This post couldn't come at a better time! We're headed to Orlando in 2 weeks and I have a 3.5 year old who is 42". He road his first roller coaster with air time at carowinds several months ago. He got mad at the state fair when he couldn't go on the really big rides.

Our plan is to show him the rides on the computer before we go and talk about the big ones. Then ask him if he wants to do them when we're there. When went 6 months ago, I didn't think he was ready. (He was tall enough then too). But now I'm wondering about Test Track, Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, etc.

*My son is fine in the dark, but hates loud noises. That did hinder our trip last time. We're taking earplugs this time. He hates firewords until a few months ago - when we tried them with earplugs.

Are the firewords on Soarin' really loud? I'm wondering if he should wear earplugs the whole ride.

 

[lg3]

This post couldn't come at a better time! We're headed to Orlando in 2 weeks and I have a 3.5 year old who is 42". He road his first roller coaster with air time at carowinds several months ago. He got mad at the state fair when he couldn't go on the really big rides.
Our plan is to show him the rides on the computer before we go and talk about the big ones. Then ask him if he wants to do them when we're there. When went 6 months ago, I didn't think he was ready. (He was tall enough then too). But now I'm wondering about Test Track, Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, etc.
*My son is fine in the dark, but hates loud noises. That did hinder our trip last time. We're taking earplugs this time. He hates firewords until a few months ago - when we tried them with earplugs.
Are the firewords on Soarin' really loud? I'm wondering if he should wear earplugs the whole ride.

I didn't think that they were so loud, but maybe for a 3.5 yr old they were. Also, they are "right in your face" visually, so that may have intensified the feeling. If your son will wear earplugs, I would go with that.
I can't imagine a 3.5 yr old going on Tower of Terror. DD was just tall enough to do Splash Mountain, but got scared when we got closer and wouldn't do it. Maybe it is different with a boy?

 

[lovesdumbo]

My DD was 3 1/2 on our last trip. I had ridden Soarin at least 8 times previously and couldn't wait to take my rough and tumble tom boy on this ride now that she was tall enough. I just couldn't understand why there was even a height requirement UNTIL...she freaked out on the ride. She was crying and trying to crawl out of the seat. I think she couldn't understand that it was "just" a movie. I tried to hold her and cover her eyes and ears as much as possible but it was a miserable experience. She won't be wanting to ride that anytime soon. Thankfully she bounced right back as soon as we got off the ride. The only other "thrill" ride she did that trip (she got sick so she spent 2 days out of action) was Test Track which she LOVED.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

I'm 41 and I was scared on it. It was the height thing. I kept trying to tell myself that I was only a few feet off the ground, but it sure looked like I was way up there.

The little boy next to me loved it though! He was leaning all the way forward with his arms held out. He enjoyed his flight! He looked to be around 8 or 10.

 

[kokotg]

my just past 3 year old loved it, but he was a bit unpredictable. he adored Test Track but refused to go on the Pooh ride a second time because of the "storm."

 

[disneyfreak74]

DD was 3yrs 4 months when we went in Sept and LOVED it!!!! She wanted to fly again!! She has even already mentioned it when we were talking about out trip in Jan. She also loves Test Track!!!

 

[LaraK]

At 3 my DD loved soaring...hated TT. Loved SM, BTMR and begged to go on TOT...in fact, we skipped MGM so that we wouldn't have to fight about not letting her on TOT. She's was on the Jackrabbit an adult coaster with a 38" height restriction before she turned 3 and loved every second of it (went on it 5 times including two in the front row)...so she's a thrill junky like her mother my baby!