space mtn age

[sara]

At what age did you let you child ride space mtn? I see that the height is 44". But, my 5 yo is 43 & 3/4 and I really don't think I could let her ride it for a few more years. It makes me nervous that you can't hold on to them!!!
Just curious, when did your child first ride?

Sara

 

[lookingforward]

My son went on Space Mountain when he was four years old. He had just recovered from an extended hospital stay at Duke and his doctors gave us the okay. He was tall enough, although I don't remember exact inches. I was scared, I sat behind him and I could not hold him at all. He was fine, said it was "the ride of his life" but did NOT want to do it again! We are going in December (he is almost 9 now) and he is ready!He especially wants to go on Alien Encounter this time, it is the one ride he has missed that his big brother always talks about.
Do what makes you feel comfortable, I know that I was NOT comfortable not being able to hold him on the ride, and was glad he did not want to do it again.

 

[GrammieMame]

My (just turned) 6 year old GS insisted on going on this. When we got there, I remembered that it was a ride alone, but we went ahead. It was his first "thrill" ride and he didn't like it. The combination of riding alone and the darkness wasn't good. I was afraid it would turn him off other rides, but he rode Splash Mountain, Big Thunder RR, Haunted House, Kali River Rapid, and loved them all. But a year later, he still won't go on Space Mountain.

 

[BuzzMe]

My 13yr old son first went on Space Mt. when he was 6yrs. and loved it! He was not a big fan of "dark" rides but this did not bother him. His least favorite ride is Splash Mt. because of the drop. I still try to hold on to him whenever we are on certain rides even though he's now quite tall. I'm still afraid he'll fall out!

 

[mainey-mouse]

My son rode at 4-1/2. He was fine with it.

 

[SandraC]

dd was 7.5 yo on Space Mtn this past April (three open heart operations and she loves the thrill rides).

She had her Make A Wish trip in 1998 when she was 4.5 yo and we mainly did lots of character based Disney.

We just followed her lead and told her want to expect.

She went on Space Mtn. 3 TIMES!

She's 58 pounds and 52 inches tall!

 

[lcsmom]

We did our first ever Disney trip in June. DD7 wants to go back and do all the "mountains" again. DD is 46.5" and 45 pounds. I was very nervous about space mtn, but she thought it was great. She did prefer being in the center seat with me in front and Dad in back. She didn't like the 3rd time when she was up front.

 

[steph73]

My just turned 6 yr old DS went on Space Mountain on our trip. He has mixed feelings about the ride. I overheard him talking to his uncle the other day and told him "it was really cool because it looked like you were in space, but it went really fast and I was a little scared". That about sums it up from his point of veiw. He wasn't terrified, but he didn't want to ride again.

I was concerned because I wasn't able to sit next to him and hold onto him. When we boarded, my sister sat in front of him and I sat behind him. The CM noticed my concern with making sure his belt/harness thing was secure, so she came over and triple checked it for me. Even pulled up on it hard and said to him, your not going anywhere see you can just sit back and enjoy your ride. It reassured both of us.

I just asked him again and he said he doesn't want to ride it again though lol....he's not much of a thrill ride person anyway.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you go on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (an elevated train type ride thru Tomorrowland), you will get a good preview of Space Mountain. You can see the boarding area and also the SM cars going by above you.
My oldest DD rode SM when she was 6 and was very scared. I had never been on it before and DH, who had been on, thought one of us could sit with her. She was very scared and spent the whole ride saying she hated it and wanted to get off "Right NOW". It seemed like the longest ride I had ever been on. We found out about the preview after we rode.
My youngest DD is the daredevil. I know she would love SM if we could figure out a safe way for her to ride it, but because she is disabled and can't ride alone, she will never get to do it.

 

[Felicia]

My DS was 5years9months old when he rode Space Mountain. I remember going in the seat behind him and I held onto his shoulders - like that would have helped to hold him in?!? He also rode ToT that same year and love them both!

 

[Emily921]

My daughter was 5 years and 7 months when she rode Space Mountain in May. It was the last ride on the last day of our 10 day trip. We had fast passes but had to wait about 30 minutes because they had shut it down. The turned on the lights until they fixed the problem. I think there were some ships stuck. Anyways I too was very nervous and she was grinning from ear to ear and wanted to go again! She can't wait until October when we can go back. Of course she just loved Goofy's Barnstormer rollar coaster.

 

[Winston112]

My 4 yo DS loved it and wanted to ride again but there was no way I was returning. I was also nervous that I couldn't hold on to him and believe me I needed someone to hold on to more than he did. I know, I'm a wimp. He was 46 inches at the time.

 

[Barb D]

It really depends on the kid. DS (now 10) has been riding it and loving it since he was 4. DD (now 8) has been riding it and hating it since she was 4. Even at 7 she didn't like it. Now she's 8 and says she'll try it again.

My advice is to start out with Barnstormer. If he likes it, go on to Big Thunder Mountain. If he likes it, go on to Space Mountain. Work your way up gradually. BTW, if your arms are long enough you can reach up and hold his shoulders. If your DH has longer arms than you, have him sit behind your child.

 

[jennypetal]

7 and 3/4 years old. My daughter was really quiet on that ride(another words...terrified!!) She liked TOT though. I think the dark and the riding alone part scared her.

Jenny