Space Mountain for a 4 year old?

[serene56]

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.

at 4 years old my kids were daredevils. I also did not prep my kids to what to expect, darkness and in a seat all alone.

Let me tell you, I had topry his little fingers off the bar and he didnt talk for at least a few hours afterwards.

Now its my GDs turn and we show her youtube stuff and she is on the fence at this time

 

[RMulieri]

It depends on your CHILD ...just because a child meets the height requirement does not mean they should ride.Only you know for sure how your child will handle it

 

[mommycrawford]

At age 4 chidren are ridiculously brave!...They don't have the experience to have the kind of consequential thinking that an older person does, so she is sincerely not scared. (Parallel to how tiny kids don't mind masked characters, but sometimes 4 year olds are wary/suspicious ....)

THAT SAID:

My DD was tall enough to ride the Mission to Mars ride at age 4 (couldn't reach the panels to work stuff though.) There was no easy side, just the full effect. She liked it, while my mother and I were nauseous after and didn't.

At age 8 we tried to do it on the soft side. We were in a capsule, ready to go, and she bailed. We left, she cried, and felt she let me down in some way. Knowledge that there had been a death on the ride overtook her knowledge that she had done it before and was fine.

Only you know your child. Is she a rule follower that could keep herself safe in a single seat, or could she panic?...That would be my deciding factor.

 

[ahill004]

I think it depends on your kid and how much of a daredevil they are with rides. DD6 rode it when she was 4 and it was her favorite ride until she did California Screamin' last month at disneyland at years old. DD4 wanted to try Space Mountain so bad and was finally able to do it at disneyland because the height restrictions there are 40 inches vs. 44 inches for that ride. Her first time on she was scared but the next day she decided she wanted to do it again. She rode it multiple times and ended up saying she liked it. She told us the part that scared here was the beginning during the countdown when the lights are flashing along the walls (to make it look like you are taking off). She thought they were swords (?). Who knows. Anyway, once I explained what they were (just lights) she was fine.

 

[lyonking3]

too scary........for a 4 year old.....

 

[Hannathy]

As long as they are tall enough and know what the ride is and want to go I would let them.

If they have went on TOT with no problem then I wouldn't even be debating whether they should go or not, it would be a definite yes.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

I rode SM yesterday and found it to still be quite jerky. I don't know if I'd let my 4 yr. old ride it though. It's still a very dark ride and hit my arms and elbows - but I'm 5'7" and much older than 4!

Both times I got the first car and there was not a lot of leg room!

But a parent knows their child best; the ride is probably less than 60 seconds if that's any consolation. There's a lot of screamng by adults in there anyway!

 

[pickles]

long as she likes TOT and will sit in her seat I wouldnt worry about it. she isnt going to fly out. The jerkiness affects us old bones adults a lot more than kids

just dont sit in the last seat..midle seats will be less jerky

depending upon your arms you sit behind her you can rest a hand on her shoulder if you need

 

[PiperPizzaz]

DS has been riding SM since just after turning 4. I do make him sit in the seat in front of me and put at least one hand up for me to lean forward a touch and hold. If you are very short I don't know if you can do that. I know it is safe but, I still have to hold him. If it weren't for that I wouldn't be riding it is not my favorite ride because it makes me a bit sick. If they like BTMRR, ToT etc than I am sure they will like it.

It is DS's favorite ride and he is a CHICKEN about spooky stuff. He will not ride HM or ToT anymore but, he loves thrill rides. His first coaster was at 2 1/2 at DL the matterhorn and he has been hooked since.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I think if she can handle ToT she would be fine on Space Mtn. Unfortunately DS4 was a week shy of 5 and 2 inches shy of the requirement, but he probably would have went thru the line and chickened out at the last minute anyway. You know your child best you should be able to make that decision with her.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I brought my DD now 7 on EE when she was 5. She hasn't been back on since but she did OK on it-no crying or anything....

We just got back from WDW and she wanted to try Space Mnt. She rode in the middle with DS(9) in front of her and DD(11) in back of her. I bought the ride photo that shows my DD(11) sitting forward and firmly holding DD(7) hands-she had her arms lifted over her head. I didn't ask if they rode the entire like that-I doubt it-they take the photo at the begining of the ride.

I find the ride still a bit jerky-really not much smoother than before rehab.

DD(7) got off saying she didn't like it but when we went back a few days later she wanted to try it again. She again said she didn't like it but rode it again a few hours later. No hand holding in those 2 photos.

When my DS rode it for the first time a few years ago I was able to lean forward and put a hand on his shoulder. I'm about 5' 8".

 

[r&kmommy]

My daughter is not quite 4 yet but if she were tall enough for space mountain this trip she would NOT be riding. She does not have the maturity right now to realize she needs to stay on her butt during the ride. She's smart and I could explain it to her, but really at just shy of 4 she's just not "trustworthy" yet... now if your 4 year old is closer to 5 then maybe? Depends on if you trust her to stay seated I wouldn't worry about roughness of the ride though.

 

[GoofysBro92]

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.

The quick jerking is not a big deal she would be fine with that. The ride is 2 cars with 3 single seats in a row for each car with a lap bar that comes between your legs and has a bar that goes across your lap. My nephew went on it last trip when he just turned 4 and I can tell you he did NOT like it at all, but the jerking was fine it was the dark he didn't like he doesn't like TOT for the same reason. So I wouldn't worry about the ride she would be fine and no chance of getting hurt but she may not like the dark and not seeing where she's going.

 

[maciemouse]

My child is five and she rode everything this last time (exept RR). Her favorite was EE. But she HATED Space Mountain. We did not want her to ride but she insisted b/c her cousins were doing it. It freaked her out. I agree with the maturity thing. I think she also did not like the fact that she had to sit alone. Hppe it helps. I can tell you that they will let her walk up and check the ride out. My son watched my daughter "take off" on the ride and he chose not to go on it. We then were escourted to the exit to wait. Good Luck.

 

[wendy1974]

I was probably 21 the first time I rode it (slight fear of it) and I rode in the last seat. I literally felt like I was going to fly out of the seat and it felt like my car was coming off the track a little. I'm sure I was overreacting a bit because of initially being scared of the ride but I did find out later that the last car is the worst to sit in because it tends to wip around more. I didn't like the fact that there was no belt, just a bar that barely covered my knees ( 5'2" 115 pounds). I was holding on to the bar for dear life. Now on the other hand, I love Rockin' Rollercoaster and feel way more secure when I ride it. To each his own, but I know if someone would have stuck me on Space Mounatin at 4 I would have freaked out. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

 

[mindync]

What makes SM so bad for little ones (or their mommas at least) is that you can't be right next to them. My son rode it last winter at 5. He liked it but I was terrified the entire time. I was in the front, he was in the middle, DH was in the back with instructions to never take his hands off his shoulders! I kept asking if he was ok and telling him to HOLD ON tight.

This year he is planning to do SM again and ToT. I am going to need some meds...