Splash Mtn - how young child?

[Kimberle]

Hi,

How young were your children when they first rode splash mtn? I just measured Brittany last night, and she 40" (min height). She'll be 4.5 on this trip.

If I remember correctly, the only really "scary" part of the ride is the big drop. Now, I don't like rollercosters at all (the drops), but I've never minded this.

I did take her on the Goofy rollercoster last year (3.5 yrs) and she didn't like it to much.

How did your young children enjoy this ride?

Thanks,

 

[Stimpy]

My DS is a daredevil and loves "thrill" rides! He went on Splash Mountain in January for the first time, he was 3. But it really depends on you child. Like you mentioned, the last drop is a big one. But all the animatronics inside are really cute.

 

[B'rer Karen]

I went with friends in June and their two boys. Their oldest son was 4 (he turns 5 at the end of August). I was so excited to find out he was over 40 inches because Splash is my favorite ride and I really wanted to take him on it. I probably had a little bit of influence here because I was the novelty, cool Aunt Karen who he never gets to see wants to take him on her favorite ride. I really pumped him up for it so by the time he rode it, he was really excited. Kept asking when it was time to ride my favorite ride. As we went through the ride I kind of talked him through it. Like "okay, now this is just a little drop, now this is just a medium drop" and then I let him know when the big one was coming. He LOVED it. We didn't get too wet. He immediately wanted to go back on (it was e-night) and so he went on with his Dad and he got soaked. He was drenched to the bone but he had a huge smile on his face. The next day we were trying to decide what to do next and he said "I have a really good idea of what we can do. We can ride Aunt Karen's favorite ride again." I was so happy

BTW, I wouldn't consider Drew a daredevil kid. He went on Test Track and said it was okay, but he didn't want to go again. Same for Haunted Mansion. But he loved Star Tours. Hope this helps.

 

[galaxy]

We took our 4 yr old on this this year...he didnt really want to go beacuse he didnt want to get wet.(he'd been drenched on Kali river rapids).

We persuaded him to go and we all wore ponchos to keep him happy...he seemed to enjoy it ..no tears or tantrums.

I tend not to give him too much info about possible scary rides..if something comes up and he seems unsure we just reassure him that its not real or that the good guy will win or encourage him to look for a character or such like. Never really had much of a problem and he has went on things more than once despite saying he doesnt like it. Mind you he is the youngest and tends to go with the flow(thank heavens)


Although he insists he;s never doing tower of terror again.!!

Galaxy

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

There is also a cut-off, for having to have an adult ride with a child, but i can't remember what it is.

My 5 Y.O. was a little upset, that she could not ride it by herself. I would have let her the 6, 7, and 8th times, when we went on E-night.

 

[jacksonsmom]

My son went on it this past June. He is 3 yrs old & 43.5" so he is on the tall side.

He really liked Splash Mountain, but it really depends on the child. My son is a 'dare devil'. He went on ToT, Test Track, Dinosaur with no problems.

So I would go more by the chilg then if they are tall enough. Maybe show her the drop & let her decide from there.

 

[Momof2boys]

We were at WDW this past May with my 5yr old ds. This was our first trip that he was tall enough to ride some of the bigger rides. Splash Mountain was one he picked to ride. He did great, but didn't want to do it again. He ducked down for the big drop, so he was the only one dry. He thought that was very funny. He did love Kali River Rapids and rode that a few times. He also let my brother talk him into the Dinosaur ride at AK (that's what happens when you have Uncles that don't have kids) He was scarred to death and kept telling me he wanted to get off. I told him to just close his eyes and hold on. He was shaking when he got off, but was happy to tell EVERYONE he rode it.

With my ds, we would let him see the ride or explain it to him and then let him decide. He was okay with some, but didn't want to go on others. He learned the hard way on Dinosaur about not being able to get off. This was on our first day, so I was happy that it didn't keep him from trying some other new rides.

 

[Kimberle]

Oh boy, I know what you mean abt the Dino ride at AK! Dh & I love it, but no way would I take DD on.

We rode it when it first opened & there was no restriction. We went 1 at a time as there was no way we'd take dd on a ride that we didn't "know". A couple just ahead of me took their young dd's (liiked like 4 & 6). The kids were hysterical!!

Thanks for your feedback everyone! I was just looking at the height requirements & it looks like there will be lots of "new" rides we're "eligible" for this trip!! N ToT, I'm not "grown" enough for that one!!

 

[Cindy'sCastle]

I took my daughter when she was 4 for the first time. She loved it and actually loved BTMRR even more. Go figure!!!

 

[DisneyKidds]

Our DD, who is on the tall side, was tall enough at 3 to ride Splash. We were so excited, and she was to, to ride with her. That first time she went on it three times............................and then wouldn't go on it again for over a year. She said she liked it, but didn't want to go on again.

What spooked her wasn't just the big drop, but she isn't a fan of being in the dark so the portion of the ride before you go up the big hill was scary for her.

Well, after that year plus wait she finally went on again in May and liked it.

Each kid is different, but a fairly adventurous 4.5 year old should be ok. Unfortunately, there is only one way to find out. FWIW, our DD loves Barnstormer and could go on it again and again - ever since she was tall enough, and she was affraid of Splash until this last trip.

 

[Clover9990]

My DS has been going on Splash Mountain since he was 3 years old. He's always loved it, although he says his favorite ride is BTMRR (and it'll be closed during our next trip...poor little guy! ) He is 4.5 years old now, by the way. DD wasn't tall enough on our last trip, but just might be this time- she is almost 3.

 

[Kimberle]

Thanks everyone! I think I'll take her to the ride, watch it a bit & let her decide.

I can't believe my "baby" is big enough for so many rides now!!

And, I'm super *bumed* Big Thunder RR will be in rehab.

 

[elemusing]

My DS5 was 2 going on 3 his first time on Splash. (He is tall for his age.) He did not like the drop - but loved every minute of everything else. We ride it every time we go now and he knows the drop is coming, but thinks the rest of the ride is worth it.

Now - he HATES Goofy's Barnstormer, but loves TOT and HM. He doesn't like the jerkiness of the rollercoaster.

 

[crisi]

Letting her watch and decide is good. My kids haven't done Splash, but they've done similar rides (at 3 and 4). They've never wanted to do them a second time the same day - but they are OK with it and aren't traumatized.

If she isn't sure, don't push her (at least too hard).

My kids want to do EVERYTHING this trip (4 and 5), and we will see how much they actually have the courage to do. We are bummed about BTMRR, too, but the kids missed out on the Barnstormer last time (my son didn't like roller coasters and my daughter was 2 - we felt too young). And there will be a next time. I think the difficult one will be Dinosaur - it has such appeal to a five year old boy - but because its totally enclosed - he really can't get a good idea of how frightening it is going to be for him. If I decide it will be too much - we just may not even go that direction at the AK - no need for him to realize he missed it and mom can always tell him it was "closed" when we come home.

 

[HappyMommy2]

DS was 3.5 last month when we went, and the way we knew he would probably like Splash Mountain was this: after we went on Pirates of the Caribbean our first morning, on every other ride he kept begging for a "big dip" and was disappointed when there wasn't one! Granted, the POTC drop is MUCH smaller than the Splash Mountain one(s) but it's the same general feeling.

After Pirates of the Caribbean we tried DS out on Goofy's Barnstormer (he loved that) 4 times before taking him on BTMRR and then Splash Mountain. He went on Splash with DH because I can't take the big drops! DS loved the ride and they rode twice, but he didn't want to ride a third time because he didn't like getting wet. Otherwise I think he would have ridden it all day.

I'll bet your DD is ready. Maybe go on Pirates of the Caribbean or the Barnstormer first and see how she does (although Barnstormer, which is pretty rough, might not be a good predictor of how DD will do on a smooth ride like Splash).
At any rate you will have lots of fun!