Tall toddler and 7DMT

[JDX4]

My 2.5 year old daughter just measured 39.5 inches tall (barefoot) at her doctor's visit last week. I didn't realize she was that tall, and that she will be tall enough for 7DMT and may even be tall enough for Soarin' and other 40 inch rides on our upcoming August trip.

My question is: Even though she is TALL enough, is her neck strong enough for these rides being only 2.5 years old? I also am not sure if these rides will be too intense or scary for her. She has gone on the kiddie coaster at the local carnival and loved it, but it was tiny compared to Disney rides. Has anyone here had any experience with a very tall toddler riding these rides? Would you have taken your toddler on 7DMT or Soarin' if they had been tall enough?

Thanks.

 

[QueenOfDunbroch]

We were there last month with my (then) 2yr 10 month old son, who was about. 38 inches. He loved SDMT, and wrote it twice back to back with me and my DH using our FPs.

It is extremely smooth, much more so than BTMR. You don't get that same sense of your head bouncing from side to side as you do on some other rides.

It might be worth testing the water with the Barnstormer? I'd say if she enjoys that she will probably enjoy the mine train.

My son was too little for soarin, but my 5 yr old DD, who hated Splash mountain and subsequently refused to ride anything remotely thrilling, loved soarin.

 

[JDX4]

Thanks for sharing your experience with 7DMT and your son. Glad to hear that it was a smooth ride. Good idea about trying brainstormer first. She is very daring and always wants to keep up with her big brothers, but I don't want to put her on something that may too rough for her.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I have not ridden the mine train yet so I can't really say about that one, but as it is 38 inches, she should be fine. Size wise, if she is 40 inches, she should be safe on any 40 inch ride. I however, would not take her on them. I just think most of them are a bit much for a two year old. Soaring is the mildest, but she is in a seat of her own. I would be afraid she would become upset or even board and want out!!!!!! Test Track is also not too bad, fast at the end but you can hold on to her. BTMT, SM, Dino, TT, are all pretty intense. If she has older siblings and evey one else is ridding it may be an issue, otherwise....just don't even tell her there exists and save them for next trip.

 

[PixieJenna]

Hi! We were there last month too. My DD is 2.5 and measures at 40.5. She actually went on SDMT, Soarin, Test Track ad BTMR and loved them all. It really depends on each individual child. I would take her on Barnstormer first and if she likes it. If she likes it then she will love SDMT. As far as the neck, the cart on SDMT sways, so it makes the turns less hard I think. You know your child better than anyone, so go with your gut. BTW, my daughter loved Soarin so so much!

 

[hpsalb]

DS was tall enough for the Barnstormer last year at 2.5 and did agree to ride on it. He is cautious so I don't know that he would have done much else anyway.

This year he is just over 40" at 3.5 and did agree to ride Splash Mt, Star Tours, and Soarin'. He watched 7DMT but then backed out (although he talks about it all the time and insists that he DID ride it).

Safety wise, I wouldn't have an issue with Soarin' (if she would measure tall enough) or 7DMT (if she is willing).

 

[JDX4]

OP here. Thanks everyone for your advice. It was helpful to hear what other kids have ridden.

I think we will start with Barnstormer and see how that goes. I have showed her videos of it on you tube and she says she wants to try it, but we will see what she thinks when she sees it in real life.

Then we we try 7DMT if she is game. If she measures 40", we MAY try SOARIN' with her, but that is only if she does ok on other dark rides first.

I hate TOT and Splash Mountain myself, so there is no chance that I would take her on those. When she is older, she can go with her brother and dad if she wants.

Kids are so unpredictable at age 2... she may not want to ride anything or even meet the characters. We will just follow her lead.

Thanks again!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'm in the same spot, I am going to try Barnstormer and MAYBE the Mine Train if he does okay on the Barnstormer. I would never do Soarin with him yet, I don't trust him not to try and get out of the swing if he doesn't like it. I think Splash and BTMRR are too scary for a 2yo and won't do those either, I don't care if he's tall enough.

 

[ktlm]

If she is 39.5 in bare feet, she will probably make the height no problem. On her 3 year old trip, DD( 8 ) was right at 40 inches in bare feet and when they measured her places, she was well above the stick. DD loved Soarin at age 3. I would have absolutely put her on it at age 2. It is a smooth gentle ride. I would not have put her at the end of the row. She sat between DH and I, and DH kept his hand on her the whole time when she was 3. I would just tell her she will feel like she is flying like Peter Pan or Diego (I said Peter Pan, but DD at age 3 told me I was wrong because it was a handglider), and if she wants to, then let her do that one.

We took DD on Test Track at age 3, and DH and I were stressed out during the ride because it really seemed to bounce her around a lot. She absolutely loved it though and wanted to ride it again, so we figured we were being overprotective by being stressed out and did it again. Unfortunately, we got stuck in the hot room the 2nd time, and after that, she hated that ride for years. We had to bribe her onto it, and she complained every time. Only last year when the new version had eliminated the hot room, did she start to really like it again. Seems like it is not quite as rough as it used to be before the refurb. I think I would be okay with a 2 year old on it, but that is kind of a judgment call- it can be jerky.

I agree, try Barnstormer first. DD rode that one 14 times in a row at age 2. It was late at night and there was no one in line, so they kept letting us just stay on and go again. I couldn't take anymore and got off after 11 or 12, and DH had absolutely had it at 14. DD was not happy when we made her stop. I don't think I would put a 2 year old on BTMRR, but that is just me. I think DD did that one for the first time at age 4 (maybe it was 3), and she hates it to this day. She thinks it is too rough and jerky. DD likes Space Mountain, but no way I would put a 2 year old on that. I'm kind of overprotective though!

 

[MScott1851]

Another mother of a tall kid here! My dd loved Goofy Barnstormer at age 2, and literally ate everything I put in front of her for an entire year so that she would grow and hit 40" for our next trip. We had good luck with everything except Tower of Terror, mostly because of the dark. She did ok on Soarin' at age 3, but she sat between DH & I. A way I prepared her for rides was to watch YouTube videos of them, especially the ones shot in POV. She knew kind of what to expect before we even got on the ride.

 

[PlutosMommy]

We didn't realize our son was 40in until our last trip to WDW. He was the same age as your daughter. He loved Barnstormer, BTMRR, Soarin, and TT. 7DMT was open yet, but we'll definitely try it in October!