Toddlers and rides

[la79al]

Two weeks ago we took DD to the beach and rode the ferris wheel and the carousel. The ferris wheel she looked terrified and actually cried when her sister bumped her. The carousel she was clinging to me and signing all done before it even started moving. This is some sort of wierd, very short lived phase and she will be fine in DW right?

 

[Bren's Mom]

You're going in 4 months? I would be sure to have an alternate plan for her as far as rides go. It's probably a phase, but there's no way to tell how short or long lived it will be.

My ds was just fine and dandy on a carousel until about 18mos. Then one day he just said no way, no how and that was it for ANY ride for a while. We went to Disney when he had just turned 3. He didn't want to go on ANY ride. Once he was on Small World and Pooh and those he was fine, but was not happy in line waiting to get on. We just let him lead, did all of the non-ride things with him. We had a great time, but this trip had been planned around him so what HE wanted to do was fine by us. (My mom and I took him.)

At almost 4 he has just turned the 'ride' corner. We went to an amusement park a few weeks ago and he wanted to go on everything, even ones that I was like , yup...he wanted to go on them. And was fine going on alone. (All kiddie rides, I don't mean big ones!) And loved everything. He has no more issues with the carousel at our local zoo.

So he outgrew that, but it took time and patience. I would just plan for the adults to take turns sitting it out with her. Good luck!

 

[ShellyShellfish]

When we took our little one back in January, he was very close to your DD's age (15 months) and he LOVED the rides. So hopefully it's a short phase she's going through!!

Around here, we have carousels in most of the malls, and whenever we go to the mall DS wants to ride them...do you have something like that near you? Maybe you can get her used to the idea by watching it first and then eventually riding it with you sitting behind her so she feels snug and secure?

Good luck! Like the PP said, let the child guide you, it'll work out for the best.

 

[Zeebs]

We recently took our 20 month son to Disneyland. Prior to the DL section of our trip we had travelled from LA to Vancouver, we took him on a few rides such as carousels and those rides they have at the mall and he hated them. I was thinking oh dear Disney is going to be a waste of money (he hates hates hates the characters also)

At Disney he went on every ride that didn't have a height restriction pretty much. There were a few he didn't really like but was ok on, didn't scream just tried to get as close to me as possible. I think it helps that at Disney you can ride with him.

My suggestions are ease her in gently, make your first ride something like the teacups. It is outside and not dark, you have the option not to go really fast.

Seth wasn't keen on the dark rides but did tollerate them, snuggled into me.

By the time we left he would ride the carousel without putting his arms out to get off. Although tried to put him on a mall ride last week and it was a no go. At least he saves me money there

Good luck and have a great time.

Kirsten

 

[Lstar311]

I second the idea of taking your child to a small amusement park or carnival first and letting her watch the rides a few times before you try to put her on. I do that with my son and sometimes it takes a few tries before he'll go on a ride but he has been very good about telling me what he will go on and what he will not. good luck!

 

[annacali]

Also keep in mind that some kids may just have sensory issues with going up and down or round and round and never like rides that do that, but rides that are flat (Small World) or can go up and stay up (Dumbo) won't bother them a bit. If you can figure out what it is about the carousel that bothers your child (the up and down-ness, the spinning etc) and if you notice she reacts similarly in other situations (like hills in the car) then you can simply reassure her that you won't take her on any "up and down rides" and if you choose your first few rides at Disney well, she will trust you and you will do fine.

If she seems scared, it is probably best to let her sit back and watch until she is ready.

All that said, they definitely do go through phases. My oldest DD is nearly 7 and has always been a ride everything kind of girl. But our last trip to DLR last month, she got scared and cried on Thunder Mountain, and now is not wanting to ride anything dark. So, we ride the out in the open rides only with her right now. If she can't see that the ride isn't dark, she doesn't want to ride it. On the same trip DD4 was riding ToT--every kid is different!