Space Mountain for a 4 year old?

jonmar

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Messages
114
This will be our second trip to Disney Wolrd and last time our daughter was too short for Space Mountain. So, she just hit 44 inches and we leave in three weeks. She loves thrill rides and can't wait to go on Tower of Terror again. Anyhow, we have read how rough Space Mountain can be and are worried about taking her onboard. Not that she would be scared, but that she could get injured with the quick jerking movements. Is this a real concern? Are the restraints over head, or lap bars? Can you reach the car ahead or are you too far away in the event of a panic? Thanks a ton.
 
I'd love to know the answers to your questions. I'm praying my niece grows another inch in the next 2 months.

She is not like her older sister - she will probably love Space Mountain.
 
My four year old is probably 44 in with shoes on but I'm not sure he's ready for space mountain. Is it one person per seat? I can't remember. If so, I don't think he will be going on it.
 
This will be our second trip to Disney Wolrd and last time our daughter was too short for Space Mountain. So, she just hit 44 inches and we leave in three weeks. She loves thrill rides and can't wait to go on Tower of Terror again. Anyhow, we have read how rough Space Mountain can be and are worried about taking her onboard. Not that she would be scared, but that she could get injured with the quick jerking movements. Is this a real concern? Are the restraints over head, or lap bars? Can you reach the car ahead or are you too far away in the event of a panic? Thanks a ton.

While the ride is a bit jerky, i think that's worse for taller people (whiplash factor). The bar is a t-bar that will go through her legs and across her lap. Her seat will be just out of reach, unless someone has long arms. Both my kids rode it when they were 4 and they were fine. I would put her in the middle seat so she knows you are in front of and behind her. it is much darker now since they did the rehab last year, so just warn her about that and the fact that you won't be right next to her. You will also have enough time on line to see the cars and let her get an idea of the seating situation so that if you need to, you can back out at the last minute.
 

Haven't been on the updated version yet, but can't wait to try it. I can tell you about the old ride..... I doubt that they changed the trains. There are lap bars, but they don't do much to hold you in. Yes, the ride used to be very rough, especially the last car. You cannot reach the car in front of you, as the seats sit very low. I'd say if she's adventurous, you could let her get in a car @ the boarding station & see what you think. Then make your decision.

You can do a parent swap if she decides not to ride.
 
Haven't been on the updated version yet, but can't wait to try it. I can tell you about the old ride..... I doubt that they changed the trains. There are lap bars, but they don't do much to hold you in. Yes, the ride used to be very rough, especially the last car. You cannot reach the car in front of you, as the seats sit very low. I'd say if she's adventurous, you could let her get in a car @ the boarding station & see what you think. Then make your decision.

You can do a parent swap if she decides not to ride.

they changed the cars themselves...but they are still three to a train/two trains hooked together. i think the new cars held me in a little better as the ride felt smoother. i'm not sure if that was an illusion because of the complete darkness, but it did not feel as jerky.
 
Last time I rode space mountain,which was back in 2001 I think it was a rough jerky ride for me. I dont think I would let my 4 year old ride it unless it is better then when I was there. That is the one ride I remember not being sure if I wanted to ride again lol.
 
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My 5 y/o just hit 44 inches. We are going in 2 weeks and I was torn.. I'm also torn on EE.. I was thinking it was 2 in a car so knowing it's one will probably make me think no.. I don't wan to freak her out..
 
My 5 year old is 46.5" and she wants to go on EVERYTHING she's allowed to go on. I am really concerned about Space Mountain because I can't sit next to her. We have watched the "lights on" ride through on youtube and she said she thinks it will be fun and we talked about how you can't stand up or get out of your seat, even if you are scared and she said she knows. But I am still not convinced. I guess we see how she handles the other Mountains first?
 
they changed the cars themselves...but they are still three to a train/two trains hooked together. i think the new cars held me in a little better as the ride felt smoother. i'm not sure if that was an illusion because of the complete darkness, but it did not feel as jerky.

Thanks for the info! I have had trouble riding in the past because of the "jerkyness", especially in the back. Also glad to hear it's dark again. My husband & I have discussed that it used to be much darker when we were kids. Showing my age I know LOL but facts is facts :goodvibes
 
I'm sure it's completely safe. My personal concern is I would want to sit next to my child at that age, and that's impossible on SM.
 
I have ridden on the rehab version of Space Mountain and loved it. It is very dark in there if that is a concern. We haven't let our son who is 8 on it yet because we know he'd be afraid of the dark. The ride is much smoother now and my personal opinion is that it is better. My wife liked the old version better.

The cars really haven't changed. There are some You Tube videos out there of the pre rehab version of the ride.

Hope that helps.
 
My YDS was 4 when he rode the 1st time and he was fine (this was in the past year). I was more scared than he was. I was able to keep a hand on his shoulder in case he got freaked out just so he'd know I was there but there was no issue. He loved it!
 
Every child is different, so I am sure there are some who could ride this ride and not have a problem.

However, if it were me, I wouldn't take my 4 year old for 3 key reasons
1) It is a simple lap bar mechanism which will make a person not feel like they are securely fastened in... especially if they are younger
2) My kids always struggled with darkness in rides when they were young. The pitch darkness of the ride might be a little much for a young child.
3) The ride is still very jerky, and it is a little unnerving even for me because with that lap bar and jerking around in the dark in a narrow car with a single chair you can feel at times you are coming out of it.


Maybe your child could handle it, but I personally wouldn't take the chance.

On a personal note, we were at DLC the year they opened ToT. Our kids were fairly young and we didn't think they would enjoy it. Someone at the hotel said, "Oh we took our little boy and he absolutely loved it." Our kids had always been pretty brave so we figured why not, what can it hurt. We took them on and it absolutely terrified my youngest. She was small and the bar across her lap didn't keep her firm in the car. It literally ruined the rest of her day. To this day I can't get her to try it again. Sometimes it is just wiser to wait until you are truly confident your kids are good with it :)

Hope you have a Magical Trip! :wizard:
 
My kids first rode Space at Disneyland when they were 5,7, and 8. I'm afraid I didn't prep them (or my DH!) very well. :( The 5 and 7 yo were terrified, the 8 year old didn't want to ride it again that trip and my DH has yet to ride it again to this day.
 
My dd rode SM as soon as she was tall enough. She wanted to be in the front. I sat behind her and kept my hands on her shoulders. She LOVED it!! She does still ask me to put my hands on her though.:goodvibes My son is just about 44"....I'm hoping this October will be his first SM trip!
 
My 7 and 8 year olds went on SM for the first time this year. They both love it, and it is 8 y.o.'s favorite ride. It was her top priority each day we went into MK on this past trip.

Note that 8 y.o. hates ToT and refuses to try RnRC. (7 y.o. likes both of those)
 
My (tall) kids both rode SM @ 3 and loved it.

Same here, although I believe I might have made them wait until they were 4. But they rode w/o me and continue to ride w/o me (3 of them to 1 car). The youngest rider (5)goes in the middle, the oldest(12) in the back and the middle child(6) in the front. DH rides in the car behind them in a different car.

I've done the refurbed ride and the seats are more like armchairs now and you are definitely more 'secure' in the seats. The ride unfortunately is now just darker and jerkier. I'm tall and get that whiplash effect, the kids say it's not that jerky for them so I guess it is really a different experience for shorter people.
 
It's a pretty tame ride. Our youngest just turned 6 - she loved it. That said, 4 is kind of young only because they would be alone in the seat. If the 4yo deals well with ToT (because it's also mostly in the dark and the drops are more intense than anything on SM), they will probably handle SM fine - I'd use that as your guide because you can at least sit with the 4yo on ToT to see how he/she handles it.
 

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