Test Track and Others for 5 Year Old

[Frozen2014]

Hi,

Coming to DW in October with DS9 and DD5. My DD is tall at 45" now so height is not a restriction. We've been to amusement parks in our city and surrounding areas, but she has stuck to pretty basic kiddy rides.

Originally I only had Test Track marked for my DS9, but I'm wondering if that would be ok for her too. I don't have any close rides (in proximity) marked for her while he would go on TT. Thoughts?
AS a note, we would use our FP on Soarin so would depend on the line up if we attempted it or not.

Also, let me know if any thoughts about Big Thunder Mountain (which I have it currently marked for her) and Barnstormer (which I currently only have marked for DS).

Thanks

 

[gtpoohbear]

My 3yo DS, who is afraid of everything, loved TT and Barnstormer. They really aren't scary at all. And Barnstormer is much milder than BTMRR, so if you only want to do one, I would pick Barnstormer. BTMRR isn't too bad, we made the mistake though of taking DD (4 at time) on it for the first time in the dark, and it terrified her. By the time she was 6, she thought it was "boring", lol! I would at least give her a chance to try some of the bigger rides early on, and you'll get a pretty good idea of what she can handle.

 

[tallguy001]

We were just there last week, with our 3 year old (he just turned 4 this Monday). He is 44 inches (tall for his age), and enjoyed all of the rides you mentioned. He was hesitant at first, but became increasingly comfortable to the point of wanting to do nothing but the "fast" rides.

 

[Aurora0427]

Hi, Coming to DW in October with DS9 and DD5. My DD is tall at 45" now so height is not a restriction. We've been to amusement parks in our city and surrounding areas, but she has stuck to pretty basic kiddy rides. Originally I only had Test Track marked for my DS9, but I'm wondering if that would be ok for her too. I don't have any close rides (in proximity) marked for her while he would go on TT. Thoughts? AS a note, we would use our FP on Soarin so would depend on the line up if we attempted it or not. Also, let me know if any thoughts about Big Thunder Mountain (which I have it currently marked for her) and Barnstormer (which I currently only have marked for DS). Thanks

My 3 year old rode Barnstormer back in February at age 2.5. She cried when they made her get off. We did RD at MK one morning just so we could ride it over and over and over again. Start at BS, and go from there!

 

[RedStars]

My anxious 6yo (seriously, he has an anxiety disorder diagnosis) loved TT, thunder mountain and barnstormer. He did NOT like EE, but I think that's because it was dark.

My 2.5 yo loved barnstormer too!

 

[TXPyroMom]

We took our DD at 5.5 and she loved TT and Splash. We rode both several times. You didn't mention Splash, but I highly recommend it!

Space Mountain was too jarring for her. She didn't care for Everest or TT or Soarin', but the last two are because she doesn't like it when her stomach drops.

Barnstormer and BTMR were both down when we went that year, so she didn't experience either of those that year.

 

[Frozen2014]

My 3yo DS, who is afraid of everything, loved TT and Barnstormer. They really aren't scary at all. And Barnstormer is much milder than BTMRR, so if you only want to do one, I would pick Barnstormer. BTMRR isn't too bad, we made the mistake though of taking DD (4 at time) on it for the first time in the dark, and it terrified her. By the time she was 6, she thought it was "boring", lol! I would at least give her a chance to try some of the bigger rides early on, and you'll get a pretty good idea of what she can handle.

Is Big Thunder Mountain in the dark?

Form other comments...I have Splash Mountain on the list for my DS. I think the big drop and getting wet like that would freak out my DD. Last summer, we were watching DS on a log flume type ride and she was scared of the splash....from the viewing point of view way back on the platform.

I don't have Space Mountain for either child.

What is EE?

Funny, as I thought Big Thunder Mountain would have been tamer than Barnstormer.

 

[ghtx]

Is Big Thunder Mountain in the dark?

It is (mostly) outside, so at night it is in the dark.

What is EE?

Expedition Everest

Funny, as I thought Big Thunder Mountain would have been tamer than Barnstormer.

Nope, other way around (although when my 5-year-old-at-the-time rode them, he was more scared by Barnstormer than by BTMRR)

 

[bigbabyblues]

Big Thunder has a couple of 'caves', but you're only in them a couple seconds and you can see the loght at the other end. I don't consider it in the dark at all. Space Mountain is the one that is dark.

Barnstormer is in the former Toontown, and the height restriction is very low; I think both my kids were able to ride it by the time they were 3 years old. It is very, very short and geared for kids.

EE is Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. My kids love it, i haven't ridden it.

Big Thunder is our family's favorite.

 

[gtpoohbear]

Is Big Thunder Mountain in the dark?

Form other comments...I have Splash Mountain on the list for my DS. I think the big drop and getting wet like that would freak out my DD. Last summer, we were watching DS on a log flume type ride and she was scared of the splash....from the viewing point of view way back on the platform.

I don't have Space Mountain for either child.

What is EE?

Funny, as I thought Big Thunder Mountain would have been tamer than Barnstormer.

BTMRR is outside, so it's dark at night. I really don't think it would have scared DD so much if we had ridden it in the daytime. Live and Learn!

I would definitely recommend Space Mountain for the older one - it's been one of DD's favorites since she was 6. And mine too

Personally, I'm not a fan of Splash. DD likes it okay, but you have to not mind getting wet. EE is Expedition Everest, at AK. Again, a definite "do" (IMO) for the older one.

Barnstormer is in Fantasyland, and therefore tends to appeal to the younger crowd. Definitely an "entry-level" roller coaster. Both my kids love it, though!

 

[Frozen2014]

Oh thank you. Now I understand the comment about dark...at night time.

And that explains why I didn't know what EE meant. Animal Kingdom is the one park we're not hitting so haven't researched those rides.

Now I'm confused about the Rollercoasters....Big Thunder and Barnstormer. Now when I look, the height requirement is only 35" for Barnstormer whereas 40" for Big Thunder. For some reason, I thought Big Thunder was faster and jerkier (thought I had read that).

And any more comments about Test Track? Is it too fast for a timid little one?

 

[ghtx]

Now I'm confused about the Rollercoasters....Big Thunder and Barnstormer. Now when I look, the height requirement is only 35" for Barnstormer whereas 40" for Big Thunder. For some reason, I thought Big Thunder was faster and jerkier (thought I had read that).

What is the confusion? BTMRR has a higher height requirement, because it's faster and jerkier.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I think Test track is for sure appropriate for a five year old. My daughter adored it at 4. It is only fast at the very end, the inside is designed around the concept of test driving cars.

I would also say Barnstormer for sure. Not sure about BTMR, I actually dont like it because it reminds me of a wooden-type of coaster and I dont like the stomach butterflies it gives.... but my daughter loved it at age 4 as well.

The only rides in MK I wouldn't suggest for your kids are Stitch (thats for everyone to avoid, lol) and Space.

 

[deserrai]

My 5 year old is very timid and doesn't like anything remotely scary. TT is the only iffy ride I've gotten her on that she somewhat liked. For reference, she hates soarin', BTMRR and Star Tours and won't even try Splash Mountain. So I would say Test Track is a good choice.

 

[JZCubed]

Big Thunder Mountain is the best roller coaster at Magic Kingdom and my 5 y.o. loves it.

7 Dwarfs would be next best - although, we've not been yet.

Barnstormer is truly for little children. I would not waste my time unless you have a little child who has never experienced a roller coaster. Frankly, this is no better than a carnival ride.

Splash Mountain is also excellent. The ride is something like 20 minutes of tame before the one big splash at the end.

I anticipate that our child will prefer Splash to 7 Dwarfs.

Test Track & Soarin' are both fun. Since we have a convertible, our daughter enjoys this more than Soarin'. Frankly, I'm not sure children can truly appreciate Soarin'.

If you can, the game plan should be to arrive at EPCOT at rope drop (when the Park opens) and go to one or the other. If coming thru front entrance, Test Track is closer; coming thru Gateway, Soarin' is closer. Anyway, go on which ever is closest to your arrival point and Fast Pass+ the other.

 

[Frozen2014]

What is the confusion? BTMRR has a higher height requirement, because it's faster and jerkier.

Got it now. I guess I had these backwards as I originally thought BTMRR was tamer (and didn't notice the height requirement)

Barnstormer is truly for little children. I would not waste my time unless you have a little child who has never experienced a roller coaster. Frankly, this is no better than a carnival ride.

If you can, the game plan should be to arrive at EPCOT at rope drop (when the Park opens) and go to one or the other. If coming thru front entrance, Test Track is closer; coming thru Gateway, Soarin' is closer. Anyway, go on which ever is closest to your arrival point and Fast Pass+ the other.

Awesome...thanks.. I will put Barnstormer back on the list for her. I had misunderstood.

We cannot make rope drop as we have breakfast ADR at Akershus at 9:15am. So guess we'll see the wait time for for Test Track and decide if we bother or not.

One other question then....if DD ends up not going on Big Thunder Mountain, what other rides are near that that would be ok. I kind of have our day starting in that corner (and had her going to Magic Carpets while DS was on Splash Mountain)...then heading over to Pirates of Caribbean, etc. But these are all probably along the same thrill / age group. So not sure what she would do if she skips Big Thunder.

 

[jbish]

As you can see from my signature, I have twin boys - on our last trip, they were about 3 weeks shy of their 4th birthday.

My one boy is more adventurous, slightly taller than his brother, and has always been more "athletic". He LOOOOOOOVES Test Track - still talks about it to this day. By far his favorite ride. He went on all of the thrill rides that he was tall enough for - Barnstormer, BTMRR, Splash. I think Splash is his second favorite ride.

My other boy is much more timid - but he's the kind of kid where he works up the fear much more in his mind that reality. He's like that with food even. He just doesn't like to try things. But we do "nudge" him a bit to try something at least once before writing it off completely. He did not like Barnstormer. I think he was okay with Soarin' and TT, but didn't want to try them again.

My daughter, at age 4, wouldn't try anything. (We did a lot of It's a Small World and Teacups that year.) But at almost-7, she did everything and loved it.

I would try some of the "easier" stuff to start and see how he does. I would think that Seven Dwarfs would be a good place to start - I'd be very interested to see how my 2nd boy would do on that one.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks. Jbisg, guess that shows bow it can really differ from child to child.

I may have to adjust our plans as I had us starting at Big Thunder and in that area on our first MK day.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Splash and BTMRR are next to each other, but there aren't any other rides near them. Pirates and Magic Carpets aren't too far away, but not close, if that makes sense. When we had one too little to ride, one of us just hung out with them in the area until the others were back. It seems like there are a couple of shops in Frontierland she may enjoy looking around while you wait. There used to be a little play area at Splash Mtn also, near the restrooms, maybe?

Oh, both of mine have always loved Test Track. No problems with that one.

 

[letsgoreds]

We cannot make rope drop as we have breakfast ADR at Akershus at 9:15am. So guess we'll see the wait time for for Test Track and decide if we bother or not.

\

If you can get there before rope drop (so near the front of the line), you could totally B-line it to Test Track and ride it before your 9:15 ADR. Test Track is near the back, and moves quickly at opening. Walk isn't that long/far to breakfast. You are losing precious early AM time with the breakfast, so knocking off a headliner before, is a great use of time!

If you are a few minutes late to Askerhaus, it isn't a big deal. It is an awesome ride. If you are concerned about jerkiness on that or BTMRR, know that you can put your arm around your LO. I wouldn't skip either one. Let them ride and decide for themselves if they like it : )