Test Track and Others for 5 Year Old

[Frozen2014]

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.

Never thought of that - or that it would be possible. Epcot doesn't open until 9am....so with a 9:15am ADR at Akershus, you think

1. They could let us in early enough to get to the ride?
2. There would be time to ride it and then head over for our ADR?

I heard it was a 15 minute walk or so just to the restaurant. But huge bonus if this is possible.

 

[etzmn123]

I'll go ahead and ditto the others who said it depends on the kid. When I went with a 5yo, he went on everything he was tall enough for multiple times. Splash, Big Thunder, Space, Tower of Terror, Everest and absolutely loved them all. He was heartbroken that he was an inch too short for Rockin Rollercoaster. His sister, who was 10, was super freaked out before Splash, Everest(!), and Space but ended up loving them too. She wouldn't touch Tower of Terror though.

You can show her some ride videos on YouTube and see what she thinks, maybe she'll surprise you!

 

[letsgoreds]

Never thought of that - or that it would be possible. Epcot doesn't open until 9am....so with a 9:15am ADR at Akershus, you think

1. They could let us in early enough to get to the ride?
2. There would be time to ride it and then head over for our ADR?

I heard it was a 15 minute walk or so just to the restaurant. But huge bonus if this is possible.

I would only try it with Test Track...Soarin' and SoAT take too long to get through. You will basically pass it during your walk also...I say go for it, and make a game-time decision depending on when they open the gates. I thought that usually Epcot was opened by 8:45 for a 9am posted opening...has that changed?

If you aren't familiar with easywdw...here is a link to his Epcot 'cheat sheet'. He has created one for each park. Great site...and he just published a book with another expert blogger.

http://www.easywdw.com/cheatsheets/ep_cheatsheet_easyguide2.pdf

Have fun!

 

[Frozen2014]

I would only try it with Test Track...Soarin' and SoAT take too long to get through. You will basically pass it during your walk also...I say go for it, and make a game-time decision depending on when they open the gates. I thought that usually Epcot was opened by 8:45 for a 9am posted opening...has that changed?

If you aren't familiar with easywdw...here is a link to his Epcot 'cheat sheet'. He has created one for each park. Great site...and he just published a book with another expert blogger.

http://www.easywdw.com/cheatsheets/ep_cheatsheet_easyguide2.pdf

Have fun!

Thanks so much. First time at Disney so not sure how this all works. We would get a FP for Soarin so this is a good strategy for test Track if we can do it with out ADR. How long a walk is it from TT to Akershus? Doesn't look too far from the map but I have no concept of actual distance. And I assume to give about 10 min for the ride itself?

And yeah...for the other suggestion about You Tube. We haven't told our kids yet. I'm thinking telling them end of summer or September for our Oct trip, but will be after FP opens up.

 

[JJsmama]

My 6 yr old likes barnstormer. Has been riding it for a few years. Mostly he doesn't love the jerkiness of it though, but is not scared of it. Last year when he was 5 was his first year on TT and BTMR. He liked both of them. especially liked TT. I think he will like them better this year though bc my kids are always nervous and don't enjoy things fully the first time. If we get right back on, they love it.
Others you may be wondering about: Soarin and kali are both good for that age. Splash depends on the kid.
My youngest has not done T oT , RR , EE, Space or Dinosaur. He may try Space this summer.

 

[Indio]

Thanks so much. First time at Disney so not sure how this all works. We would get a FP for Soarin so this is a good strategy for test Track if we can do it with out ADR. How long a walk is it from TT to Akershus? Doesn't look too far from the map but I have no concept of actual distance. And I assume to give about 10 min for the ride itself?

It won't take very long. When you come out of Test Track, don't go back to the main walkway - cut thru the walkway that goes by the Odyssey on the left side of the lake. Norway is the 2nd pavilion. 5 to 10 minutes depending on how fast you can walk.

 

[TravelandLeisure]

My 3.5 year old just barely made the height requirement for Test Track and BTMRR, but she enjoyed them both. Ironically, she initially refused to ride the Barnstormer; however when we tried again she loved it.

 

[jlsmith376]

My DS 7 and DD 5 love barnstormer - they will ride it over and over. It is a kiddie coaster, but if your DD is timid it is much less intimidating than BTMRR.

My DS7 likes BTMRR but DD5 still refuses to get on. They both love Soarin and TT and started riding them when they were 4. Neither will ride EE, RnR or ToT.

 

[Winnowill]

My daughter was almost six when we were there in April. We rode Test Track almost second thing we did the first day. At the beginning of the ride, when the vehicle jerks around an obstacle, she started to cry, and said, "I never want to ride this again!" When it went outside and started going fast, though, she loved it, and we ultimately rode it multiple times. She had the same reaction to Splash at DLR last year (you should see the progression in the pictures - from stark terror in the first one to euphoria by #6). She loved BTMRR and, after a little trepidation, EE as well.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

This has been repeated ad nauseum in here, but the Barnstormer is definitely just a kiddie coaster. I know I've seen a picture of an emergency evacuation done on it...using a step ladder! I don't think the ride is much taller than 6 feet off the ground.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

OP, you've asked about nearly every single ride in every single park you're visiting. Have you considered picking up a copy of The Easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit or another Disney guidebook? They contain ride descriptions and talk about the scariness factor for each.

 

[Frozen2014]

OP, you've asked about nearly every single ride in every single park you're visiting. Have you considered picking up a copy of The Easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit or another Disney guidebook? They contain ride descriptions and talk about the scariness factor for each.

Yep...well, for the ones that I am questioning. Thanks for the book, but I'd rather get opinions from personal experience on here than read a single description in a book. Think that's what this site is for, no?

 

[andeesings]

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.

You don't really get that wet. And the inside of the ride is SO great (and long), it's worth seeing if she'll go on rather than tell her she won't like it and not take her. We didn't really let my nephew (4) get a look at the drop and just took him on the ride (he's scared of EVERYTHING, wouldn't go NEAR haunted mansion) and he LOVED it. The drop looks worse than it is, and over in a second. The rest of the ride is more than worth it- my favorite ride in all of WDW.

 

[pooh4evr]

We have always had the girls ride whatever they were tall enough for. At 4 DD#3 LOVED LOVED LOVED Splash, Soarin, Barnstormer and TT. Now at 6 her absolute 2 favorites are ToT and RnR. Don't be afraid of having her try rides, you never know what she will like.
TT will be fine nothing to be afraid of, Barnstormer is a great ride for little ones - one of my favorite memories is of our youngest siting next tom me on Barnstormer with the biggest smile squealing and laughing like crazy! Don't do BTMRR with her first- the very beginning is dark and LOUD! Start with Barnstormer, 7DMT, or Splash.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you so much for all the comments. Really appreciate it.

My original plans have MK day one starting at Big Thunder (both kids) and Splash (DS) with maybe Aladdin Carpets (DD) and then heading to Pirates of Caribbean and Jungle Cruise. Mk day two starting at Peter Pan followed by other Fantasyland rides. Maybe I should switch these? Its partly in thus order since MK day one we end at BOG and day two at CRT so it made sense logistically, plus it worked with non FP rides but still riding early morning. May need to look again.

 

[pooh4evr]

Aladdin is right by well at least much closer to Pirates than it is to Splash or BTMRR, it is right in front of Jungle Cruise. Take her on Splash she will like all of the scenes (the animals are very cute) the final climb is a little dark, the drop is fast but there is a very happy scene at the end she might really like it. As far as where you end the nights the castle (at lease the check in spot for CRT, which is in the back of the castle ) and Bog aren't that far apart at all so being closer to one versus the other doesn't really make much difference. Your going to be walking many miles a day already. I am sure either way will be fine, don't stress too much over ride order or doing things in certain areas only. There is so much to do it is mind boggling!

 

[DemoBri1]

Right now I believe TT is still the fastest ride on property where it gets a little over 60 mph. That being said my DS rode it for the first time at 4 and DD at 5 and both loved it. Still one of their favorite rides although we have yet to ride it after the refurb.

As far as the coasters go if you don't think she'll ride barnstormer then you shouldn't put her on BTM. BTM is a bit more intense than the barnstormer. If you're not really sure about BTM try 7DMT first. It's right in the middle of both coasters.

 

[milamoo]

It's been a couple years since we have been there- DD just turned 6- and from the sound of the posters she will have a lot more to ride than she did when she was 4. I never really considered TT but I bet she would like it.