soarin for a 3 yr old?

[Jenny]

my DD may meet the 40" req. for our late jan. trip & i'm debating on bringing her on soarin. has anyone brought a 3 yr old on Soarin & how did they like it? has anyone been on the ride & heard screams from a little one?

 

[scubamouse]

our 3.5 y/o ADORED it. then again she loved tower of terror
our 5 y/o deemed it his favorite ride and he was far less of a thrill seeker.

we did it 4x with the kids and they loved it. we never heard any kids crying or screaming (well at least not about the ride anyway )

if she's tall enough, take her!

 

[bicker]

Our almost-2 year old DN will likely be 40" by then (can you believe it!?!?!) -- Do you think the extra 1.5 years will make a difference?

 

[Ava83]

DD3 Loved it, went on it twice. She was 3 years and 2 months. But the child rode anything she was tall enough for. She got so good at measuring she would find the height chart go right to it without a cm asking.

We call it the birdie ride and she can still describe it.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

My dd absolutely loved Soarin' as a 4yo, and she was far from the thrill-seeker type at the time.

 

[scubamouse]

Our almost-2 year old DN will likely be 40" by then (can you believe it!?!?!) -- Do you think the extra 1.5 years will make a difference?

Its not scary - it's very serene. the only thing my DD didn't love the first time was the fireworks.

We went to WDW when DS was 2.5 and in many ways he was less scared then than at 5. you could check DN out on goofy's barnstormer to start - that's more of a ride than soarin.

 

[becka]

I really had not intended on letting my DS (3.5) ride Soarin' if he was tall enough. After reading this thread I may need to reconsider. Are the restraints on the rides individual seat belt types or is it a bar for the entire row?

 

[disney-super-mom]

It's a very gentle ride, but just to be safe so your young one doesn't get too scared when the chairs lift, I suggest sitting in the third row. The third row doesn't go up nearly as high as the first and second row, yet the ride is still a lot of fun from the third row (it's just a better location for those with a "fear of heights" issue).

Have fun on your trip!

 

[disney-super-mom]

I really had not intended on letting my DS (3.5) ride Soarin' if he was tall enough. After reading this thread I may need to reconsider. Are the restraints on the rides individual seat belt types or is it a bar for the entire row?

It's individual seat belts, and for those younger riders, there's a middle loop that goes between the child's legs, and then the seat belt goes through the loop and clips in on the other side. It's for safety purposes so the child can't slip down and under the seat belt and fall out.

 

[taxmom04]

We just got back from our trip the first of Dec. and our DD 3 1/2 loved
Soarin'. She told someone just today that it was her favorite ride.
Like another poster stated, my DD was a little scared of the fireworks at the end but she rode it again and then rode it 3 more times by the end of the week.

 

[MinnieMe67]

Hi! We took our 3 year old DS on Soarin' earlier this month and he loved everything about it but the fireworks over DisneyLand. I have to say on our previous 2 trips he was much more of a thrill seeker than this trip (he hated the dark rides this time). It is amazing how they change from year to year. His sister (DD5) was the total opposite, hated EVERY ride our first trip and couldn't wait this time around! That said, he did love Soarin' and still talks about it. The ride has lap restraints for everyone, with a special loop for smaller riders. It was a wonderful ride, IMHO.

 

[scubamouse]

I really had not intended on letting my DS (3.5) ride Soarin' if he was tall enough. After reading this thread I may need to reconsider. Are the restraints on the rides individual seat belt types or is it a bar for the entire row?

you sit in a row of seats w/11 other people. you have a belt you pull across and if you're below a certain height (i'm guessing 4.5') you have to loop the belt thru a loop attached to the bottom of the seat. It's like a highchair set up. I'm 5'7 and felt more comfortable using the loop at the bottom of the seat even though it's optional. we were in the first row (highest) 2 times and always felt very safe.

 

[chris7]

It really depends on your kiddo. My 3.5 year old daughter, who I had previously thought was very adventurous and brave, had trouble with rides I had never thought would be a problem. I think there must be a developmental window around that age that she has not passed through yet. Anything involving the dark was a problem. She really did not like Winnie the Pooh or Peter Pan, but loved It's a small world. We tried to talk her into soarin, but once she heard it would be dark at the beginning, it was a no go.

 

[taxmom04]

Chris7,
My 3 1/2 DD was the same way this past Nov./Dec. She didn't like Peter Pan or Pooh because Peter Pan was kinda dark and because of the storm in Pooh. I loved both of them and tried to get her to go again another day with me but she adamantly refused.
But she did love Soarin'.

 

[Jenny]

I am really glad to hear that other 3 yr olds have been on this ride & have enjoyed it, with the exception of maybe the fireworks scene. I'll talk to my DD a little about it & see what her reaction is - maybe find some pictures on the web. She went to Disney at 2 yrs 10 mo. & 3 yrs 8 mo (same year - jan & nov. 05) & was more scared on the same attractions the 2nd time around. She developed a strict list of rides she doesn't want to go on again - like Haunted Mansion (didn't like the stretch room), ITTTB & Maelstrom - for our jan. 06 trip. I think Soarin is different from the aforementioned....nothing popping out at you - nothing intentionally trying to startle you. If she's tall enough, I think we'll give it a try. It's the only ride for 40" & up that we were considering for this trip....thanks for the encouragement.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

We tried explaining to timid DS5 that it was like riding a kite. We thought it was a wonderful explanation, but he still didn't like the ride. He's VERY timid and doesn't like anything dark (including Peter Pan!) or loud. We just know he's really, really timid and don't try for too much.

OT: If noise is a thing for your kid, I'm a big proponent of foam earplugs! DS absolutely LOVES them! They keep noise from being a problem so he only has to deal with sight sensory overload. Whoever decided that a ride had to be as loud as an AC/DC concert?! I thought the heffalump song was going to drill into my head! Yikes!

I'd say if your kiddo likes Peter Pan, Soarin' shouldn't be a thing. That's just my opinion, of course.

Happy planning!

 

[byoung]

Should have no problem.

 

[Twinprincesses]

I think my girls will be tall enough then, or at least I hope so. They will turn 3 in Jan, but I think that Soarin and the BarnStormer is the only ones I will take them on. Might consider Splash Mountain.

 

[umaangel00]

I hate rides basically. Anything like a roller coaster that might scare me I hate it. Do you think I could ride soarin? It sounds like I will be able to but I am not sure.

 

[scubamouse]

I hate rides basically. Anything like a roller coaster that might scare me I hate it. Do you think I could ride soarin? It sounds like I will be able to but I am not sure.

DS5 adored soarin and only did BTRR once (and he loves trains). also we have a friend that shouldn't ride coasters and he had no problem at all w/soarin multiple times.

as i said on my other thread about the crowd, IMO this is the only major ride that appeals to people from 3 to 83!!