Space Mountain Question....

[Ellasgirls]

Both my kids are tall enough for SM (dd 4, ds 7) and it has been over 10 years since I rode it. Do kids sit infront of you in their own seat or do/can they sit next to you so I can hold onto them? Thank you!

 

[all4fun]

At WDW the cars hold 3 people single file. At DL the cars hold six people each, 2 side by side in three rows.

hth

 

[Minnie824]

My DD was 5 last year, and tall enough to ride space mountain. She had been on all the other height req'd rides, including Expedition Everest (which is her favorite) but I didn't let her go on Space Mountain. It (obviously) is really dark there, and you can't see the drops coming. She would have had to sit in her own seat, and I wasn't comfortable with that yet. Maybe this year...we'll see.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

You sit in your own seat. There is a bar that comes down. DD 7 just met the height requirement this year and she wanted to go on. We have been on the people mover( i know it has a new name now, but i will still always call it that) so she has seen what it looks like inside. I actually hadn't been on the ride for about 20 years so i didn't know that the seats changed. I did get nervous because she is so petite. I was worried that she could fall out. I have never heard of it happening, but this is my child. I was sitting behind her and trying to sit as far forward as possible in the seat trying to get my arms around her seat to hold onto her. I am not even 5 feet tall myself and my arms are short. I could only grab her arm pits. I was against the safety bar and i was dying because i couldn't breathe. I am telling you i never wished a ride to end so quickly as i did this one. It seemed like it went on and on forever. I thought i must have hurt her because i was really holding on tight. When we got off i was releived but then she asked to go on again. She loved it, but we didnt go on again until the next day. I tried to find another strategy to hold onto her, but no such luck, i went without breathing again.

 

[all4fun]

I wanted to add that at MK (WDW) the height restriction for SM is 44". At DL it's only 40". My ds (4) is 42-1/2" w/out his shoes on, and only 34lbs. He's a little bean pole, lol. We are going to WDW again this fall and who knows, with his shoes on, he might just be tall enough to ride SM by then. He really wants to go but I am very skeptical about how safe it really will be for him. I also worry about him flying out of the seat, which has a T shaped bar that comes down over your lap, or worse, him freaking out and trying to climb out of the seat to come back to me or dh (he's very impulsive). Even if I were sitting right next to him, like the seats are set up at Disneyland (CA) I'm not sure I would feel comfortable with it! Like the pp said, I have never heard of anything happening but this is my kid. And you can ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (aka People Mover) and it takes you thru the queuing area and you get to see a little bit of the ride. That might help. Best of luck w/your decision.

 

[Ellasgirls]

Thanks everyone! I think DS (7) will definetly love it but not DD (4 when we go!). He is a big kid (almost 80 pounds) and LOVES BTMR and he is also over 50" so I don't think he will fly out. I will have DH go with him because he is 6'6" and can use his go-go gadget arms to hold ds into his seat if he needs to. I personally hate rollercoasters but LOVED SM when I rode it 10 years ago so I will ride it after them and hopefully ds will have like it enough to ride with me! Thanks again!

 

[njmeisje]

WDW changed the seats to 3 separate seats. So the kids have to sit alone, you can't hold them.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

WDW changed the seats to 3 separate seats. So the kids have to sit alone, you can't hold them.

If you are able to get your arms around the seat in front of you, you can hold onto them. In my previous post, i said that i could only grab onto my daughter's arms at her armpits because I have wicked short arms and I am not even 5 feet tall. So even though there are separate seats, you can still hold onto them if your arms reach. I am certain that anyone taller than me can .

 

[Bama_C]

DD was 8 the first time she rode SM at WDW. I sat behind her and put hands on her arms. She was a little scared at first but when we finished she wanted to do it again! and again and again! Now it's her favorite ride.

Unfortunately, we did not have the same experience with 2 DSs. When they were 10 and 8, we took them on SM as the first thing they ever did at WDW. They were both terrified and wouldn't ride it again the rest of the trip. DS1 turned 15 last year, and we only just got him to ride it again. Now, he loves it and it's his 2nd favorite ride. DS2 decided to give it another shot on his 2nd trip to WDW, even before DS1, and has loved it ever since.

So... bottom line is you have to know your children. Talk to them about it. Ride the People Mover (erm... the Tomorrowland Transit Authority) and let them look at it first. Tell them that the ride only gets up to 35 mph ...half the speed of a car. Then decide whether you want to give it a go.

Pixie dust to you!

 

[Ellasgirls]

So... bottom line is you have to know your children. Talk to them about it. Ride the People Mover (erm... the Tomorrowland Transit Authority) and let them look at it first. Tell them that the ride only gets up to 35 mph ...half the speed of a car. Then decide whether you want to give it a go.

Pixie dust to you![/QUOTE]

I think that is a great idea. My ds (7) is always very hesitant to do any ride BUT when he does he LOVES them. I think if hears it only goes 35 mph he will not be so hesitant. He loves Test Track and is SURE that must go 100 mph . Thank you!

 

[Bama_C]

He loves Test Track and is SURE that must go 100 mph

and it's actually only 65 mph... but what a great ride!!!! I always end up squealing by the last curve.

Pixie dust to you!

 

[Dizmom0923]

If you are able to get your arms around the seat in front of you, you can hold onto them. In my previous post, i said that i could only grab onto my daughter's arms at her armpits because I have wicked short arms and I am not even 5 feet tall. So even though there are separate seats, you can still hold onto them if your arms reach. I am certain that anyone taller than me can .

I rode behind my son(5) at Thanksgiving. I was able to put my arms around him and my daughter(14) sat in front of him. She actually was able to reach her arm back by him, I guess as kind of a comfort for him. He chose to ride but I don't think he will ride the next time. He came off crying. I felt like such a bad Mommy.

 

[all4fun]

I just wanted to add that we took our very timid nephew to WDW in '01 when he was 6 or 7 yrs old and he was scared to ride space mtn. We told him it was like riding a rocket through outerspace and we took him on the TTA-people mover first. He decided that he wanted to ride it and after that it was one of his favorites. I think sometimes it all in the presentation. If you have a child that is interested astronauts and outerspace you might be able to make it more appealing by presenting it to them in that light. Just thought I'd mention it.

 

[Ellasgirls]

I just wanted to add that we took our very timid nephew to WDW in '01 when he was 6 or 7 yrs old and he was scared to ride space mtn. We told him it was like riding a rocket through outerspace and we took him on the TTA-people mover first. He decided that he wanted to ride it and after that it was one of his favorites. I think sometimes it all in the presentation. If you have a child that is interested astronauts and outerspace you might be able to make it more appealing by presenting it to them in that light. Just thought I'd mention it.

That is a great idea! His room right now is outer space. I know he will love it and if he goes with Dh he will be just fine....we may not leave that area for the day (he tends to get a bit obsessive with rides he LOVES) Right now his all time favorite ride is Test Track and BTMR...that is all he talks about going on when we are there!

 

[JenEeyore]

Our DS went on SM last November at 4 1/2 when he hit the height mark. The first time we tried to go, he didn't like the dark in the queue (is more afraid of dark than the speed factor of rides) and bailed at the very last minute so we ended up doing child swap. We talked about it during the trip how he was so excited before the trip to do that ride, and he decided to give it a 2nd try at the end of the trip after he had already mastered Mt Everest twice at AK. He did ride it, but it was NOT his favorite ride. We did not make him do it again, but now since time has passed, he has talked about doing it the next time we go, so apparently it didn't scar him for life or anything. I sat in front of him and put my arm back where he could hold my hand. That was physically rough on me, but reassuring for him.

I would say if you take your child on it be prepared to bail at the end of the line, or child swap or something if they change their mind. I hate to see parents "force" their kid on something they obviosly don't want to ride, so I would never do that, but some coaching sometimes works if they are just a bit hesitant. He did try Mission Space on the Less Intense version and that is his new FAVORITE ride besides Test Track and Soaring. We still haven't tackled Dinosaur at AK yet because of the dark thing - that one I'm letting him totally decide since it is a longer ride and very dark with things jumping out at you. His friend goes on it though and totally loves that one and they are the same age, so everyone is different. Have a great trip!!

 

[lillygator]

I just went on this last week with DD 4. It was her first time although she has done all the other Mountains and Everest. I was worried as this one seats one in front of the other. Here I am trying to reach forward to put my hand on her shoulder and see if she was alright and she is holding both hands in the air screaming her head off....(she loved it!)

The seats are just set so apart it's hard to hear what someone in front of you or in back of you are saying....