Splash Mountain

[Stephanie HD]

My husband and I are in disagreement over taking our 4.5yo fearless DD on Splash Mountain. This is her first DW trip but she knows many of the classic rides (SM being one of them) and she wants to go on it. She is 41 inches so she meets the requirement, but she's light for that height (31 lbs.) My husband says it's no big deal since Disney makes the height requirement with safety in mind. I'm nervous about her being so light and going on the big drop. I know I'm probably being ridiculous. Anyone else have experience taking a child that JUST met the height requirement on SM? Did their bottom come up really far from the seat during that drop? If it was up to me alone, I may just say skip it this trip. But my husband is willing to take her and she wants to go, so now I'm just trying to calm my nerves about it. TIA!

 

[dmea10]

My husband and I are in disagreement over taking our 4.5yo fearless DD on Splash Mountain. This is her first DW trip but she knows many of the classic rides (SM being one of them) and she wants to go on it. She is 41 inches so she meets the requirement, but she's light for that height (31 lbs.) My husband says it's no big deal since Disney makes the height requirement with safety in mind. I'm nervous about her being so light and going on the big drop. I know I'm probably being ridiculous. Anyone else have experience taking a child that JUST met the height requirement on SM? Did their bottom come up really far from the seat during that drop? If it was up to me alone, I may just say skip it this trip. But my husband is willing to take her and she wants to go, so now I'm just trying to calm my nerves about it. TIA!

My 4 year old rode it years ago and she was fine. I remember keeping my arm in front of her just because I was over protective. She loved it but as always it depends on the child. Unfortunately, it will be closed on our next trip in October. I am so disappointed. That is my all time favorite ride especially at night.

 

[Klayfish]

I know I'm probably being ridiculous.

No offense, but yes...yes you are.

Absolutely I would bring her on the ride. I can't recall exactly the weight of our kids back then, but they've been riding Splash since they were tall enough. The drop isn't straight down, I doubt she'd come up off the seat. Even if she did come up a little, it wouldn't be anything to worry about, she'd probably laugh. There's a lap bar restraint anyway. I could be wrong, but in the history of Splash, I don't think anyone has ever fallen out of it or anything like that. She'll be 100% fine.

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

The drop is a 45 degree angle so it would be very unusual (likely impossible?)for anyone to be thrown from a log.
Back in the Stone Age my tiny little sister rode with no problem. She was one of those kids who was so skinny that her head looked too big on her body, like an alien. This was also before the lap bars were installed.

 

[Capang]

My husband and I are in disagreement over taking our 4.5yo fearless DD on Splash Mountain. This is her first DW trip but she knows many of the classic rides (SM being one of them) and she wants to go on it. She is 41 inches so she meets the requirement, but she's light for that height (31 lbs.) My husband says it's no big deal since Disney makes the height requirement with safety in mind. I'm nervous about her being so light and going on the big drop. I know I'm probably being ridiculous. Anyone else have experience taking a child that JUST met the height requirement on SM? Did their bottom come up really far from the seat during that drop? If it was up to me alone, I may just say skip it this trip. But my husband is willing to take her and she wants to go, so now I'm just trying to calm my nerves about it. TIA!

I did it when my DD was 3 and just met the requirement. She loved it and it is still her favorite ride. If she wants to try it, let her. It's a fun ride.

 

[DisneyCAL]

My DD just turned 5 on our last trip and was barely 42". She absolutely loved it, its her favorite ride of all the parks. Disney is up on their safety and there is a lap bar, it isnt like youre sitting there in the open with nothing to keep you in the boat. Our first ride down the drop held my right hand out and braced the front while keeping my other arm around her but the rides after that I realized I didnt need to.

 

[bladiator]

I agree with one of the earlier posters -- just put your arm over her when you do the drop. I take my diabetic supplies EVERYWHERE with me, and SM is my biggest fear, so I wrap the loop over my wrist and then grab on tight and put it under my shirt and tuck it in, lol. Enjoy going on the ride, but you can always over compensate with precaution while on it.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Well, our ODD rode Rockin' Rollercoaster at age 5, sooooo.....

 

[Dis703]

I wouldn't be concerned about it. They are careful about these minimums. My oldest rode it at age 4 and he's a string bean. I'm sure he was barely 35lbs at that point. He loved it and had no issues.

 

[LilyWDW]

Let her ride!!!

Disney is not going to say the ride is safe for that height unless it actually is. They don't want to deal with the negative PR if something were to happen.

 

[WantToGoNow]

She will be fine. My dd rode RnRC, ToT, Splash Mtn and Space Mtn at 5.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Splash Mountain is my husband's all time favorite ride. He couldn't wait until our daughter was tall enough to ride. Our daughter is on the small side so it took awhile until she met the requirements. But to my husbands heartache, she had absolutely no interest. Eventually after many trips, years and begging...she went on. She sat in the middle of us with my husband behind her and his hands on her shoulders. She really doesn't care for the ride but she doesn't like any "faster" ride like rollercoasters. She much prefers the slower paced rides. My husband says he waited years to be able to go on all the rides with her only to find out she doesn't like them. I say let her ride (with envy) because I wish my daughter was more adventurous like yours.

 

[bdiddy]

My DD also went on it at the first time at 4.5 and was barely over 40" and it's always been her favorite ride. Just have her sit between you and your husband and one of you put your arm around her if it makes you feel better. Funny story about kids flying out of rides is that on that same trip DH also took her on Dinosaur and he said at one point in the ride in the dark it was throwing them around so much and he had to hold on to keep from squishing her and he was convinced that when he reached over that she would be out of the car like she would have flown out. lol.....of course that would have been horrifying now but we laugh about it now.

 

[Kae]

I think dd was 3

 

[Cinderella94]

This wouldn't even occur to me to worry about. She will be perfectly fine.

 

[mcjaco]

Let her ride!!!

Disney is not going to say the ride is safe for that height unless it actually is. They don't want to deal with the negative PR if something were to happen.

Height requirements are set by the State of Florida.

As for riding, our 4.5 year olds last year said they wanted to go on it when they watched videos of it, but once they walked past the drop, they both bailed out. And one of them is pretty fearless. I'd say wait to see how DD reacts when he sees SM.

 

[disneywithbaby]

Our DS was 41/2 on our last trip and 40 inches, he is very tiny-29lbs at the time. I was scared to death of letting him go on anything so I might've in the minority here it I hear your concern. He was only allowed to go on Splashwith2 adults in the seat with him, he was in the middle. Husband and I squeezed him in and literally had our arms on top of him-the picture you can't even see him! He loved the ride and we went about 6 times but never alone or with other kids. BC he was 40 inches technically he was now allowed on other rides but we let him do soarin and he lived it and I was having a heart attack of fear in the seat next to him, so then he went on soarin 3 more times that week always with an adult on either side-not that we could stop him if he felll out! On the last day the CM said he was too small for soarin! Now he might be 43/44 inches this next trip but only 30lbs. He is nor allowed to ride things like test track or rock n roller even if he is tall enough. We may try TOT this year we will see. He loves roller coasters but I only have 1 son and if being over protective on a ride like RNR keeps him alive then so be it. I am not judging any other parent at all bc I wish I didn't have these fears but when he was 4 he was tall enough and old enough to ride a coaster at sesame place....I was seated next to him and when we went around a bend HE FELl OUT! I grabbed him and screamed for my life for the ride to stop, but it didn't and I had to hold him until the end. It was the most horrific min of my life. On a side note, I don't keep my kids in a bubble or anything, they both are in ninja warrior training etc which is terrifying to watch but a broken bone is easier to fix then falling out of a ride. Ok sorry for the long soap box

 

[disneywithbaby]

Also, even though you are in the "Disney bubble" and think thru check the rides better than say a carnival ride at the pop up carnivals I rode TOT last year with my brother in law, we buckled our belts then realized mine was stretched out from the last person (I am Not small so this person must have been very large) well the buckle would not snap back and I was yelling for the CM not to close the elevator doors but they shut us in and I had no seat belt on! That ride picture has me holding on to my brother in law for my life it was scary! And I'm an adult....so yeah Disney doesn't always double check your belts etc;technically it was clicked on so I guess no red flag went up. I have been on the ride since then but always tripple check my belt.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

The lap bars were just added in 2011 - and they were added to keep people from standing up, not to keep people in the seat! I feel certain that she will be fine, but it doesn't hurt for you to hold on just in case. You can make holding on to her part of a funny picture.

 

[Stephanie HD]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm really not an over-protective mom but something about SM has me nervous. However I don't want to make her miss a ride she's looking forward to. I think we'll just go for it and take everyone's advice and just hold on to her. Also, I didn't know SM had lap bars. I haven't been on that ride in 7 years (we didn't get on it last trip we took.) That makes me feel a little bit better. Thanks again!