Space mountain questions for 4-5 year old

[NYCMom21]

My daughter will be a few days away from her 5th birthday when we are at the parks, she is BEGGING to go on Space Mountain. My momma gut says no.. She really wants to ride though. She went on TOT when she was 3 and enjoyed it. My biggest worry is that she has to sit without me next to her and might freak out.. I seem to remember taking my niece on Space Mountain years ago and I was able to hold onto her shoulders from my seat behind her, or maybe I am imagining that?? Anyone know if that would be possible if I do let her ride.

Trying to decided if I should book a fast pass or not and which to trade out for it (maybe Buzz Lightyear ride??). This also assumes she will be 44 inches in 2 months, she is so close.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Yes, you would be able to hold her shoulder, for a sense of security.

 

[DiscoMinnieMouse]

Ha! Great minds think alike. I also held my daughters's shoulder the first few times on Space Mountain! It gave me a greater sense of security. She had just made the 44" at 6 years old. It's one of her favorite rides

 

[tsme]

My DD rode SM for the first time at 5 yrs old. She loved it. I was able to touch her shoulder through most of the ride. But at one point (maybe around a curve or drop), she moved and I couldn't feel her. I freaked out, but she was fine & laughing when the ride stopped.

 

[disnut8]

My momma gut says no.. She really wants to ride though. She went on TOT when she was 3 and enjoyed it. My biggest worry is that she has to sit without me next to her and might freak out..

I'd go ahead and FastPass it as having an almost five year old wanting to do something and then getting there and not being able to do it other than a long stand by line is not a great thing to do (in my opinion).

If your daughter has done Twilight Zone and all the mind games it plays on you. Space Mountain shouldn't be an issue. You can hold onto her shoulders but if she is at the height level, you won't have to.

If she is scared enough after you are seated in the ride vehicle, just tell the Cast Member you want to leave. No big deal. Disney won't launch a ride if a guest is wanting to get off it.

FastPass it and roll with it.

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

When I was little I was always nervous to go on Space Mountain because I wasn't able to sit next to my parents. My dad just always had me sit in front of him and for some reason it made me 'feel' safer...I don't think he ever held onto my shoulders though...that's a good idea!

 

[JennyDrake]

The new restraints really have you jammed into the car.

I am only 5' tall and I would not be able to reach shoulders in front of me.

I agree w/ PPer that it may be better for you to ride i front where she can see you.

Finally, Disney doesn't make millions upon millions by constructing rides where kids get hurt.....

 

[Bamagirl43]

I guess I'm way too much of a worry wart, but just because my kids are tall enough to ride something doesn't mean they should ride.

 

[Aurora0427]

I guess I'm way too much of a worry wart, but just because my kids are tall enough to ride something doesn't mean they should ride.

No, I totally get it. My daughter is only 3, and not tall enough for Space, but I'm already nervous about the day she's tall enough to ride it. She's a daredevil. She's also incredibly skinny, tall, but skinny, and I have irrational nightmares of her slipping out. Cuckoo. I even hold onto her on the Little Mermaid ride!

 

[Raenstoirm]

I don't see how you can hold her shoulders. Yes, technically you can, but I am too busy trying to hold on to myself to be able to lean forward and even touch the person in front of me!
OP, your daughter seems like a daredevil and the ride itself is rather short. I would go for it since she really wants to try. Maybe show here a pic of the ride car first and make sure she understands that you will be behind/in front of her though.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

My niece turned 5 in Sept. We went to WDW last week of Oct. Unfortunately she is just 41 inches so wasn't able to ride Space. But she totally would have. She loved Big Thunder. Last day she rode it with her arms up the whole time. This aunt's heart was smiling big. I have another coaster buddy! I don't have kids of my own, but if you tell her she has to ride in front of or behind you and she is ok with that, I say let her ride. Especially if she has ridden another coaster (big thunder or everest) and does fine. Yes I realize Space is different from these, but she'll be fine.

 

[swafay94]

We just went with our 6 year old DD. We held her hand during her ride. We only had to do this once, as she LOVED the ride.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Let her ride. If she gets scared, she'll learn a lesson about her limits. If not, she'll have a great ride. My guess is that the only one who will be scared is you.

 

[becd]

My DS-7 twins and DS-5 were all tall enough at the ripe old age of 4. Initially I was totally against them riding because I thought the darkness would scare them. Ha! was I wrong. As the old southern saying goes, all three took to it like a duck to water. Have to admit that for my youngest, I did hold on to his shoulders until our trip last October. He just looked so small int that seat and the safety bars were not big enough for me (lol). He thought I was being a complete Heli-Mom though because he eventually pushed my hand off and told me to stop. Guess my grip was to hard - what can I say, I worry

 

[mmafan]

I sat my son in front of me and held his shoulders and he was just 4yo

 

[HM]

Deleted post. Wrong ride. I thought it was Splash.

 

[deedeew80]

I too have been thinking about this! We are going at the end of April. It will be my kids first time! DD will be 5 in January. She loves rides!! But she is such a little bitty! She's about 41/42 inches & like 32lbs! LOL! I know she'll want to ride SM (if she is 44 inches by then) & I don't know how I will manage not being able to sit beside her! I think we will try other bigger rides first though, just to make sure she is ready for SM!

 

[vfalkner]

We just rode this last week with both my kids riding it for the first time. There was a big discussion with the 4 of us (DH, DS - 7 and DD-10) and our 60 minute wait in line (no FP - big mistake) as to who would sit where since it is single seating with 3 in a car. The kids both wanted a parent in front and a parent in back (not going to happen). Disney does suggest that you sit the little one in front of you, but if there are multiple adults, I would do one in front and one in back. We did this with the two kids in the middle. They both LOVED the ride. You can reach the shoulders in front, but it would be more for mental support as you can't reach well enough to really hold the child in place.

I would advise to get the FP though. The 60 minutes in line gave them more time to worry about the seating configuration that was warranted. On other rides where we walked right on, the kids didn't have time to worry (or Mom!) And we looked it up and the ride is about 2 1/2 minutes. I told them they could do anything for that short of time and they felt better.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

My fondest Disney memory is chasing my then 3-year old daughter back to the entrance of Space Mountain moments before midnight with her screaming "one more time Daddy" all the way.

I say let 'em ride.

 

[wmpenguin]

My 4.5 year old just rode last week. I was nervous the whole time. The first car was my roller-coaster-loving 7 year old, then my 4 year old, then my husband. I was first in the next car. It was our first big roller coaster and I spent the entire ride worrying about the 4 year old - is she crying? Did she fall out? We all got out at the end and she jumped up and down saying, "That was so much fun!"