Talk to me about AK Dinosaur

[tlmadden73]

View attachment 114077

That is my wife in the back seat with her head down...every year she says she won't duck and hide...not this year either!

I love putting first timers on the right side of the car . I pulled that trick on my wife. LOL. She still gives me a hard time for it.

 

[Magpie]

Okay thanks. Boo. I think we'll have to pass. My boy has autism - so it sounds like it will probable be too much for him.

I definitely wouldn't inflict Dinosaur on anyone who is sensitive to sensory stimuli.

If you're considering swinging by Universal, though, they have a nice Dinosaur Discovery Center in the Jurassic Park section of Islands of Adventure. There's also a Jurassic-themed playground, and a scenic Pterodactyl ride up above the trees. (Which you can only go on if you have a small child with you!)

 

[LaurenT]

Yeah - definitely too much stimulation for an autistic kid! My daughter has aspergers and will go on it - she's 12 now, but she covers her ears and shuts her eyes! Not sure why she goes on - other than to say she did it.

 

[DatFan]

I say go for it....but you may want to hold on to him during ride. A bit rough but lots of fun!

 

[Mouse of Mystery]

You've gotten good advice -- steer clear. As you know, autistic kids can be sensitive to loud sounds and unsettling images.

I love the ride, personally, but it can be very scary for kids riding the first time. It's the only ride in WDW where my 8 year old looked truly frightened.

I suggest you watch the videos online and then maybe ride it for yourself when you are there before allowing your child to experience that particular ride. You know your child the best, and first-hand experience is the only way to know for sure.

There are lots of other great dino things to do in that part of the park that are much less intense!

 

[msmama]

My son is 7, but is a HUGE scaredy cat. He won't ride anything fast, or even remotely scary (Test Track is a no-no and Pirates is a maybe - yes with lots of coercion, for year he was terrified of the safari at ak). This last trip we were in AK, it was ridiculously hot and we needed to be inside. The restaurant wasn't open yet and the Dinosaur ride was literally the only thing with a/c. So we got in line, thinking he'd chicken out before we actually got on the ride.

A LOT of kids chickened out after the pre-ride video but my son said he'd go on it (reluctant but insistant). Surprisingly he made it through just fine. He said he never wants to do it again, but he liked it.

I did emphasize that it was all pre-tend and nothing bad was really happening (we were just in a big building, we didn't actually go back in time).

 

[samsteele]

I personally wouldn't take a 5 yr on it. Very intense & scary. A previous poster recommended Ellen's Energy Adventure at Epcot for a dinosaur fix and I absolutely would do this. Great recommendation! ps I was on Dinosaur a few years ago with a Dad & young son in the seat in front of me. Not only was the young son terrified throughout the ride and sobbing, we had a ride breakdown immediately after the T-Rex . . . when it was still dark but you could just see the light at the end of the ride. Breakdown lasted 15 minutes. Yep. One of those breakdowns. The youngster sobbed and screamed non-stop. I felt so sorry for both him and his Dad. The poor Dad just kept hugging him, apologizing and explaining to his boy that he didn't know it was that scary.

 

[juliekzp]

My 5-year-old loves it and is a little autism-y (for lack of a better term, as he doesn't quite qualify for an official diagnosis but shares a lot of characteristics). Maybe try some more mild dark/loud rides and see how he is on those first. If they don't even phase him, then maybe give Dinosaur a try, with plenty of warnings -- because it IS loud and intense, as everyone else has said. I also agree that a youtube video preview is a good idea.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

I am huge fan of dinosaurs and I love all kinds of rides/coasters/etc., but I can't ride Dinosaur. DH made me go on it with him and I had my eyes shut and ears covered the hold time. I don't like things popping out at me and it's really loud. It's also way too bumpy for me. I still made FP's for our next trip so DH can go twice. I would definitely show him a video of Dinosaur to see what he thinks.

 

[Robo]

Maybe try some more mild dark/loud rides and see how he is on those first.

Haunted Mansion?
Pirates?

 

[chris1212]

My 3.5 year old rode it no problem. So probably depends on the kid. Maybe build up and see how he does on similar rides?

 

[kmdrago1783]

My four year old DD (almost 5) is dying to go on this and TOT even though I have warned her that they are both scary. DH does not want to do TOT because he thinks that she is going to be terrified and it will ruin our trip. Ha! I have also shown her YouTube videos to prepare her but I don't think they do the ride justice. I think we will steer clear of TOT and maybe try Dinosaur depending on how she does with some of the other rides. She keeps saying, I'm going to be brave!

 

[soniam]

Roughest, loudest ride in all of WDW. First time I rode it, I was so jerked around that I could barely see anything. I gripped the grab bar in front of me for dear life. It's barely a good ride for older kids and adults, so definitely not for a younger kid, especially with sensory sensitivities. We still do it almost every time, but it's not one I particularly enjoy. Indiana Jones at Disneyland, on the other hand, is much smoother and not as loud. We really like it.

 

[sersee05]

My son had been on it once...and it terrified him. He loved dinosaurs. We are here now and he won't go on it so he sits with me waiting. I can't tell you how many kids come out bawling.

 

[theyoungs07]

Last year when I was in line a couple was trying to convince the CMs that their child who looked no more than 3, is close enough to the height restriction to go on it. I sure hope that they didn't end up letting him on...I can't imagine a 3 year old enjoying that ride unless his brain is dead to stimuli from constant TV watching. My 7 year old rode it and liked it but he's pretty laid back...My 9 year old daughter never wants to ride it again.

 

[Mousemommy1]

This is one of my favorite rides - but no matter how many times I ride, it's still scary!!!

My 11 yr old won't ride it anymore and my 8 yr old will go but close her eyes and block her ears the whole time, LOL.

Hopefully when my son is older, he will want to ride with mama, lol

 

[bdiddy]

Our DD was 4 the first time we took her and she liked it, our son wasn't tall enough that year but the next year he was at 3 and he loved it. He doesn't get scared easily though and we really prepped him. Now at 11 and 9, it's one of their must-rides at AK for sure. I also don't think it's as jerky as Space Mountain.

 

[Fizban]

My little guy just turned 5 and he LOVES Dinosaurs.

The height restriction is only 40" on Dinosaur but it says it might be scary for kids? Can someone discuss?

Thanks!

This is one of our favorites rides. The story line is pretty well done. But i have to tell you that you *must* hold on to the bar in front of you because that is the roughest ride that I've done at the world. You will get bounced around. As for scary goes, yes it can be startling. Their is one really creepy scene where you see a dino with another dino halfway down its throat.

 

[MasterGracey84]

Lots of great suggestions and comments in this thread for you to consider. I love the ride, but yes it is quite rough on the body.

 

[chupacabra]

My DD was 4 when we rode Dinosaur and I didnt expect it to be so intense. AK was our first park that trip and for the next 6 days my DD kept telling me she never wanted to go back in time again LOL. I felt like the biggest A hole for taking her on that. I dont think the actual ride was that bad as far as motion but the dinosaurs and falling meteorites were pretty intense considering my DD thinks tinkerbell is real....