Stop Forcing Children On Scary Rides!!!

[BringBackTapestries]

Nice points on both sides of the fence, though some are a bit rude. Disneyjunkie. NO 4 year old is old enough for tower of terror or MS. You obviously DID NOT clearly read my post. Im not talking about kiddie screaming before he goes on the ride, shoot, mine does that sometimes. Im talking about VERY scary rides created for ADULTS and horrible parents FORCING their children on these rides that are WAAAY too much for children of that VERY YOUNG age. Yours is the typical response of people who LOVE to put others down and dont read first. The only one here judging is YOU. You would be one of the ones judging me for making a free side lunch of the fixins bar. Ouch mustve hit a sore spot. Last I checked I was in AMERICA where freedom of speech is still a right.



Spoon... VERY GOOD POST!

EbayItem number: 7163122521

 

[disneyjunkie]

Nice points on both sides of the fence, though some are a bit rude. Disneyjunkie. NO 4 year old is old enough for tower of terror or MS. You obviously DID NOT clearly read my post. Im not talking about kiddie screaming before he goes on the ride, shoot, mine does that sometimes. Im talking about VERY scary rides created for ADULTS and horrible parents FORCING their children on these rides that are WAAAY too much for children of that VERY YOUNG age. Yours is the typical response of people who LOVE to put others down and dont read first. The only one here judging is YOU. You would be one of the ones judging me for making a free side lunch of the fixins bar. Ouch mustve hit a sore spot. Last I checked I was in AMERICA where freedom of speech is still a right.

Spoon... VERY GOOD POST!

EbayItem number: 7163122521

Wow, how did you manage to meet every 4-year-old that might visit WDW? I find it amazing that you know for a fact that NO 4-year-old is old enough for TOT or MS.

I'm glad to know that I (and all the other parents on the planet) can stop wasting money on planning guides. We can stop reading sites like the DIS.

All we need to do is send you the ages of our children and a list of the rides and shows we think they may enjoy. Then we can just sit back and wait for to decide which rides and shows are ok for our kids. (kids you've never met)

Oh, and if I saw you making a free side lunch from the toppings bar, I wouldn't judge you, but I sure would laugh.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Since children mature at different levels ages arent appropriate for admittance.

I believe that's why WDW has a height restriction rather than an age restriction. If you are XXX" tall, you (hopefully wil be mature enough to handle the ride). But everyone should use their judgement.

I don't think the family of the 4yo boy had ever thought this tragedy could happen. Unfortunately, they will never forget it.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

NO 4 year old is old enough for tower of terror or MS.

My four year old went on ToT. No, we didn't force him. We watched videos about it, I explained it all to him and let him decide. We even had my dad wait in line with us in case he chickened out. He didn't and he was fine. Was he scared, yes, because that's part of the ride. Just like he's scared on POC, etc. He knows that's part of the fun though. The thing that bothered him the most was the teen behind him joking "I want my Mommy". Will he ride again? He said yes.

I'm not judging you, I just don't think you or anyone else should make such broad statements. By the way, you said "the only one judging was you [Disneyjunkie]" in your last post but I think calling parents "horrible" and "STUPID" is judging them. Why can't we all just get along!?!

 

[VSL]

I haven't read the entire thread (yet!), but I am so against children being forced on rides. If they are tall enough and want to try it, then great.

But if they are clearly frightened, then no way. IMO, anyone who forces their children to do something that they don't NEED* to do and are so afraid of that they are screaming/crying/shaking/just saying 'NO', is a bad BAD parent.

*obviously, this doesn't apply to children having their jabs/going to the dentist - those stuff really are to help them in some way!

 

[Georgieut]

One of the great things that I did with my DD9 and DD7 the months before our trip was let them read a kid guide book and go through the WDW web site view and read about the rides. They wrote down what rides they wanted to ride and those they wanted to stay away from. For instance the Snow White ride. So we get there and they rode those rides they wrote down and we didn't ride the ones they didn't want to ride. The funny thing is my youngest never showed fear or being scared and always talked how she's not afraid of anything and she claims the TOT was her favorite ride. But she knew ahead of time what the ride was all about. She held onto me the whole walk in line real tight. It being night time made it more errie. My oldest gets up to the Primeval whirl. I was not with her. There was 6 of us. Anyway she had cried before getting on the ride and then was excited during it and afterwards. But she is sensitive and cries at everything like another lady who posted. They had wanted to ride the Rockin Roller Coaster before the trip but came time to be there they didn't want to. So we skipped it. Mind you DH was not all that happy but he didn't say anything. We had a great time riding the rides we did. We planned it out very well. I also felt it was a good age to take them there for their first trip since who knows how long it will before we ever go again. Anyway stay safe have a great time.

 

[hokiefan33]

As an annual passholder, it always gets my goat to see STUPID parents doing EVEN STUPIDER things!!! If you force a child onto a ride that is WAY too scary for his age/tolerance you are BEGGING for trouble! I have seen parents LIE to the children and PROMISE them that Tower of Terror or Mission Space or Haunted Mansion is not scary. You cant catergorize these people. They are every race, intelligence, age and financial status. But they all are usually making a HUGE mistake. Do they honestly think the children will not remember that their parents lied to them? Most children have awesome memories. It just isnt right. I understand some of the reasons, and sure, many of the children will love the ride... but a 4 year old has NO PLACE on Mission Space... PERIOD! Shoot, I'm a 33 year old healthy and cocky thrill ride addict, Ive rode every ride in every WDW park, and EVEN I cant handle Mission Space! I did it once... awesome ride, simply amazing, but NEVER again! Too much for me! Now Tower of Terror I do over and over again, but theres something about MS thats just too much for me. Everyone is different. When my 4 year old asked to ride Tower of Terror I used a little common sence and said "In a few years when your old enough"

Here's an example:
I have an Autistic son who went to WDW one year, and was a DAREDEVIL at age 4. I never lied to him, and used common sence on what to allow him on. We told him accurately what the ride was like, and let him decide. We rejected his decision to the really bad ones of course, afterall, he was only 4. The same year, later in the season, we went to a local amusement park, and he had a rather bad experience on a... once nice, now... poorly maintained roller coaster. He had several nightmares because of it, and on the next trip to WDW he was PETRIFIED of every ride. Even the monorail! We tried our best to get him to not be scared, but the damage was done. It took 3 trips before the daredevil appeared again, and he was back to himself. We tried our best to get him on the rides before this point, but NEVER dragged him on kicking and screaming, and NEVER lied to him... even though we KNEW he loved them the previous year. In HIS time he came around, on his own. If we had lied to him, or drug him on kicking and screaming he may have never rode anything again. On our last trip I saw waaay too many parents lying to their children. I also spotted this way too often at my previously favorite ride ExtraTERRORestrial. (Stitch cant compare! What a loss!) Parents would tell the children it wasnt scary knowing it was. The poor kids were petrified. What makes parents do this?

If youve never been on a particular ride, use a little common sence. Ask a castmember if the ride is appropriate for your child. READ THE DANG SIGNS!!! They are there for a reason!!! If in doubt, Disney allows swap offs. Go on with the older child or just one parent. Then be HONEST with the kids and they will TRUST YOUR JUDGEMENT when they really need to.

Just venting. Your entitled to your opinion. Thats just mine.

Im not implying anything about the family on the news. Its a sad story. What a horrible way to end a vacation. They may not have known, and I do feel that WDW doesnt always stress ENOUGH just how bad some of these rides can be. If they stressed the horror level as much as the "amount of wetness" it would be much better. Since children mature at different levels ages arent appropriate for admittance, but then a few more warnings wouldnt hurt either.

This could potentially be one of the biggest loads of crap I've ever read. You yourself say "everyone is different." That being the case, every ride does NOT affect everyone in the same manner. Case in point - you say you're a cocky thrill ride addict, but that you can't handle M:S. Why? B/c that particular ride affects you different than other rides do. Maybe it's the motion of that ride compared to the motion of others. For me, M:S is nothing more than an expensive Gravitron with a movie screen right in front of you. Doesn't affect me at all. But SM or the Teacups, I can get sick on those and lose my lunch if I'm not careful, just b/c of the motion of those rides and the way it affects me.

You can't make a blanket statement that 4-year olds aren't old enough to ride M:S - period, as you say. What a bunch of bull? What do you know about my 4-year old? Here's the answer - nothing. So how do you know it would adversely affect 4 year-olds? Here's the answer - you don't. My DD rode M:S when she was 4 and LOVED it, as did my DS (then 7). Did it affect them at all? Nope. Any health problems or illnesses? Nope. So based on that, how can you say that it was not appropriate for my 4-year old to go on it? What's your basis? The way that YOU feel about it? Please.

You also say that "since children mature at different levels ages aren't appropriate for admittance." That right there disproves your own ideas that 4-year olds shouldn't be on M:S! What if one 4-year old is more mature than the next? Should the fact that they're both 4 keep them both off the ride, when one might want to ride it and the other doesn't? Nope.

And by the way, I have never, and would never, force my kids to go on a ride. I know what they would probably like, and they have opinions as well, and normally they can be sensibly talked into going on something they're apprehensive about and then they love the ride!

Your argument just doesn't hold water. That's b/c it is based on opinion (4-year olds aren't ready), and not fact (all 4-year olds are different), but you try to make your opinion fact (all 4-year olds shouldn't go on M:S). My opinion, which IS also a fact, is that each 4-year old should be evaluated by their parents (and only their parents, not outsiders) as to the appropriateness of a ride for them, apart from any minimum height or weight requirements, which are designed for physical safety based on the engineering specifications for the ride.

 

[Beauty]

I forced my child on Haunted Mansion. It isn't scary and my child was 7 years old! I knew he would love it and was overreacting. He didn't kick and scream, I wouldn't have forced him if he did. I rode the ride and judged it and I know my child so I did coax him on and of course he loved it.

I would NEVER EVER force him on an intense ride like MS or TOT although he goes on both now that hes a teenager.

I think the funniest thing I remember happened when he was about 11. We were at IOA and he got on the Hulk. There was no forcing, he wanted to go. Well he was strapped in and ready and it was takeoff time and he says I think I changed my mind..........UMMMM TOO LATE!!!!!!!!!!!! He loved it though.

 

[disneygalsdd]

heres a story for you....
I was about tio get on rock in rool caoster and this little boy a few seats in front of us is SCRRRRRRRRRRREAMING no i want off i want off and he is trying to take off his shoulder thing and his dad is making fun of him oh ur a baby ur scared ur a baby and he tells the ride operater to start the coaster. the little who is not more than 8or7 freaks out thrashing and kicking nd the ride guy releases the belts and the kid darts away and the father catching up. all u can here as they are starting the ride is an embarresed 8 y/o who is being called a baby by his own father!!!!


omg it made me sooo mad poor kid..

 

[boosmom96]

I forced my child on Haunted Mansion. It isn't scary and my child was 7 years old! I knew he would love it and was overreacting. He didn't kick and scream, I wouldn't have forced him if he did. I rode the ride and judged it and I know my child so I did coax him on and of course he loved it.

I did not go on the Haunted Mansion until I was in High School. And then only because I was with my school choir and too embarassed to admit I was scared!! I will freely admit I was the biggest scaredy cat, but my parents never made me go on anything I said no to.
We took our DD to Disneyland for her 5th birthday and she went on ONE!!! ride in 4 days!! She didn't like Small World and after that didn't want to try any other ride. It never dawned on me to decide I knew what she would like and make her go on those rides. We had a great trip meeting characters, seeing the sites and riding rides with the "baby-swap" option. We are going back this summer and she is really excited about most of the rides. She has said she doesn't want to go on Peter Pan, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride & a few others. While I THINK she would really like them, we'll let her look at them and if she still doesn't want to ride them then we'll do a "baby-swap" and my DH and I will go on the rides we like.
No matter how well you know your kids, there are always going to be things that will frighten them that you are just not aware of.

 

[all4fun]

heres a story for you....
I was about tio get on rock in rool caoster and this little boy a few seats in front of us is SCRRRRRRRRRRREAMING no i want off i want off and he is trying to take off his shoulder thing and his dad is making fun of him oh ur a baby ur scared ur a baby and he tells the ride operater to start the coaster. the little who is not more than 8or7 freaks out thrashing and kicking nd the ride guy releases the belts and the kid darts away and the father catching up. all u can here as they are starting the ride is an embarresed 8 y/o who is being called a baby by his own father!!!!


omg it made me sooo mad poor kid..

Now THAT is clearly an example of bad parenting. It's understandable why a child that age would be apprehensive before riding RnRC for the 1st time but with proper coaching from the parent probably wouldn't have freaked out like that and would have enjoyed the ride. You're right, very sad.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I guess you missed the part of Pyrxtc’s post that said her daughter cries when going onto the ride, but is giggling and ready to ride again when it's over. I think she knows her child better than we do.

I did the same thing with my son when he was 9. He was afraid of many of the rides, and would have passed them all up had I not pushed him to try them. Of course he loved them all.

I'm sure some nosey, busy body saw us going on the rides and may have had plenty to say about me "forcing" my son onto a ride. I'm willing to bet the person wasn't around at the end when he was begging to do it again or to see him happily ride the same rides several more times during our trip.

Maybe we should start a theard asking people to stop passing judgment on others. Go on your vacations, enjoy your trips, and learn to mind your own business.

If someone wants to put their 10-year-old in a stroller, that's their choice.

If someone wants to use a leash to keep up with their child, their choice.

If someone wants to encourage their child to ride a ride they are nervous about, their choice.

If someone wants to feed their children ice cream, burgers, fries, soda... during their trip, that's their choice.

If a people want to walk around eating turkey legs, more power to them.

We complain about so many things that don't have anything to do with us.

We all go to WDW to enjoy ourselves. We shouldn't have to worry if we're going to do something that will piss someone off so much that they just have to start a thread about it on the DIS.

My son and I are returning to WDW September 29-October 5. I'm sure we'll give the busy bodies, plenty to talk about.

I'm a far cry from a size 4 and I can't wait to get my hands on a turkey leg. ( and several other yummy snacks)

I'm sure my son will force me ride TOT at least twice during our trip.

My son's birthday is the last day of our trip, but I plan to celebrate the whole time we're there.

I think we should all just enjoy our trips and not worry about what the next family is doing.

YAY!!! FINALLY!!! Someone with some sense!!!
We will be the crazy family there in November that DOES NOT eat junk food (and people will say we are depriving ourselves/ds ), uses cloth diapers (people will talk about how much work it is/gross it is/etc. ), travels with a baby (he will never remember it so why bother, blah blah blah ), and we'll be traveling with my father who is a cancer survivor who has had numerous surgeries and needs a wheelchair to get around, but can get up and walk for very short periods of time (OMG look at that guy ABUSING the wheelchair!! ) LOL, if I had a dollar for everytime we will be judged, I could pay for our trip! But, I am going to ignore the busybodies and focus on MY family and having a good time together!

 

[BikeFan]

Sometimes I wish my kids were more afraid of things, but they're fearless. In '03, my then-5yo DD ran and jumped into the OKW pool as soon as we got there, right into water over her head (and she could not swim), and just last week my 5yo DS did the same thing at a neighbor's pool. Luckily my wife and I know enough to keep a sharp eye on them, and were able to pull them out before they drown. Anyway, both rode ToT many times in '03 (my son had just turned 4 at the time), and would've done it again all day. So obviously every child is different, and parents should make informed judgments about what their kids can handle.

 

[dzneprincess]

I guess you missed the part of Pyrxtc’s post that said her daughter cries when going onto the ride, but is giggling and ready to ride again when it's over. I think she knows her child better than we do.

I did the same thing with my son when he was 9. He was afraid of many of the rides, and would have passed them all up had I not pushed him to try them. Of course he loved them all.

I'm sure some nosey, busy body saw us going on the rides and may have had plenty to say about me "forcing" my son onto a ride. I'm willing to bet the person wasn't around at the end when he was begging to do it again or to see him happily ride the same rides several more times during our trip.

Maybe we should start a theard asking people to stop passing judgment on others. Go on your vacations, enjoy your trips, and learn to mind your own business.

If someone wants to put their 10-year-old in a stroller, that's their choice.

If someone wants to use a leash to keep up with their child, their choice.

If someone wants to encourage their child to ride a ride they are nervous about, their choice.

If someone wants to feed their children ice cream, burgers, fries, soda... during their trip, that's their choice.

If a people want to walk around eating turkey legs, more power to them.

We complain about so many things that don't have anything to do with us.

We all go to WDW to enjoy ourselves. We shouldn't have to worry if we're going to do something that will piss someone off so much that they just have to start a thread about it on the DIS.

My son and I are returning to WDW September 29-October 5. I'm sure we'll give the busy bodies, plenty to talk about.

I'm a far cry from a size 4 and I can't wait to get my hands on a turkey leg. ( and several other yummy snacks)

I'm sure my son will force me ride TOT at least twice during our trip.

My son's birthday is the last day of our trip, but I plan to celebrate the whole time we're there.

I think we should all just enjoy our trips and not worry about what the next family is doing.

Splendidly put!!! My sentiments exactly!! My rule has ALWAYS been if you are tall enough, you will try it ONCE. After that it is up to you. My kids know my rule, they accept my rule

 

[VSL]

My rule has ALWAYS been if you are tall enough, you will try it ONCE.

What if your child was in absolute hysterics? You would seriously FORCE them to go on a ride? A RIDE?!

Seriously? If they were shaking? What if they started fitting? You'd still make them go on just because they are tall enough?

Seems kinda cruel to me

 

[dzneprincess]

What if your child was in absolute hysterics? You would seriously FORCE them to go on a ride? A RIDE?!

Seriously? If they were shaking? What if they started fitting? You'd still make them go on just because they are tall enough?

Seems kinda cruel to me

Luckily I have never had that situation

 

[alecam]

If someone wants to encourage their child to ride a ride they are nervous about, their choice.

I agree with your entire post:

But, there is a big difference between encouragement and force, and a big difference between nervous and petrified!!

I think the OP was concerned with the petrified child being forced, not the nervous child being encouraged.

Just MHO!!

 

[VSL]

Well, fair enough
But what about those parents (and we all know they exist unfortunately) who really would have no qualms about making their children go on something like M:S/SM/ToT/RnRC just because they were tall enough, even if that child was beyond terror at the thought?

I think that I'm going to go with the whole 'talk each ride through with child before even leaving for the airport to see what they wanna do' thing.

 

[VSL]

alecam - you said it!

 

[dzneprincess]

Well, fair enough
But what about those parents (and we all know they exist unfortunately) who really would have no qualms about making their children go on something like M:S/SM/ToT/RnRC just because they were tall enough, even if that child was beyond terror at the thought?

Flame suit on, but I think it is their business. Only they know their child. Some children are expert Dramaqueens or Kings. Sme kids can carry on like that over nothing....If I were to see something as you described, I simply mind my own business, and chose to believe THAT parent knows THEIR own child best. Naive? Maybe.....And honestly, I have been to WDW many times and it is rare if ever,that I have encountered all these trembling, terrified,screaming children. If I hear nervous kids in the pre shows, I normally try to offer encouragement. As one poster said there is a big difference between nervous and terrified. Yes, I have seen nervous kids ( my own included the first time they tried something) I can honestly say that I dont recall seeing someone so petrified that I would have classified their parents as being cruel for making them ride the ride. I always try to teach my kids, life would be so boring if you sat on the sidelines and watched everyone have fun. I try not to judge other people's vacations, just as I would not mine judged. We are all there to have fun afterall, right?