Too Young for RSR?

[ClaraOswald]

I know that Radiator Springs Racers has a height requirement. But if a younger child is quite tall...would you still let them go this or not?

What's the youngest child you have brought on RSR?

 

[Mysteryincorp]

My daughter was three when she went on it for the first time. Same with Tower of Terror. She did great on both and wasn't scared at all.
For us, if she knows what to expect she doesn't get scared. I took her on Space Mountain with the Ghost Galaxy overlay and I showed her a video of what it would look like first. I explained the ghost wouldn't touch her and she was fine. She actually loved it!

 

[PHXscuba]

My kids were all older by the time RSR opened, but I think it's a not-scary thrill ride. More of a fast-car plus indoor dark ride type. I'd take a 3 or 4 year old on it if they met the height. Maybe not the very first ride they ever did (see how they like dark rides and small coasters first).

PHXscuba

 

[emmybee]

My girl was probably 4 when she first rode; really, we went as soon as she was tall enough. She wasn't a fan, but I insisted that she ride it because it was too cute and fun to let her pass it up. Now that she is 7 she loves it. I have also insisted that she ride Space Mountain, and she likes that ride now, too. Man, I still remember how she clutched my arm on that first ride! (Ya, I kinda feel guilty about it!) My girl isn't very enthusiastic about thrill rides, so I was surprised that she like Indiana Jones and Big Thunder Mountain on the first go. I remember talking her into riding IJ by telling her how her old "Spanish grandma" enjoyed that ride. lol Nowadays, I make her go on Splash Mountain and the Tower of Awesome Fun Times because momma needs her ride photos! Remember, "Mother Knows Best.".

 

[amyg1975]

My daughter is 4 and loved the racing part, but hate the loud inside parts. It really all depends on the kid!

 

[Malcon10t]

My granddaughter was 2.5yo when she rode it as her first 40" ride. She loved it. She was startled over the 3rd hill. After that, I usually put my hand on her leg to help hold her down. We always had her ride in the center seat.

We waited until she was 4 for Tower, and she isn't a fan. She does love Indy, it's her new "best ride ever." She rode it when she was 4.5yo. She is a tall kid.

First ride

 

[avalon451]

It's a super-fun ride, and not scary at all- just "zoomy". If you're not sure, have them watch a video of the ride on youtube.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I took my son when he was 4. He hated it. Too fast. So, if you have a kid that likes fast rides, I don't think it matters, but if you have a kid who is terrified of going fast, skip it.

 

[wench]

We've ridden it lots of times & I've only seen a child come off it crying a couple times. Most kids seem to love it. I agree with the advice of don't make their 1st ride, but if they do well on more basic things, I'd definitely try it.

 

[carnival kid]

Our daughter was 4 as well and loved it..... but she loves all rides including scary, fast and loud.

 

[bumbershoot]

and not scary at all

It certainly can be scary to some. The indoors stuff is loud and dark, and if they've watched the movie and know the story, Frank the Combine can be scary.


The ride itself is relatively nothing. It's zippy, but that's it. Might worry a child b/c it's just a seatbelt, but it's nothing for a parent to worry about; it's not going to hurt the child. It's just the dark ride elements that stand out to me as being scary to a child.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Can a small child see much from the center seat?

 

[calilou]

My girls were probably 4 and 5 when they first rode and not scared at all. I think most 3 year olds would be fine unless they are more timid or scared of going fast (that's the thrill of the ride - speed and a few small hills). My oldest has always been tall for her age so was 2 when she first rode Matterhorn and 3 for Space Mountain. You just have to know your child.

 

[DahliaRW]

I recommend showing videos (youtube) of the ride (and any other you're considering) and talk about what it will be like/what to expect and see if your child is excited about it or not. Beyond that, it does depend on the kid. My middle child didn't like "big" rides until he was around 7. He was scared by the kiddie coaster at another theme park at 4 (while his nearly 2yo sister rode it over and over). My youngest (the little sister) was throwing temper tantrums at 2 about not being tall enough to ride big coasters (as in the ones with 54" height limits). She now rides anything and everything.

 

[Malcon10t]

Can a small child see much from the center seat?

My granddaughter made a few comments about the ride, so I believe she saw most of it. My main concern was the shoulder belt being too high on her shoulder.

Since she was 2 1/2 when she hit the 40" mark, I decided I would only "let" her ride Soarin' and RSR. Her dad was there also, and he took her on Space and Star Tours. She loved those. So, any 40" rides were fair game. Matterhorn had come back up as a 42" ride, so it was out til she was 3.

 

[sbtw13]

I really think this is a little bit random. I have 4 year old b/g twins. My son loved RSR, but HATED Soarin and screamed through it. My daughter loved Soarin, and cried on RSR. She was okay for the inside parts- she didn't like the fast racing part. This surprised me, I thought she would like it. She was sitting in the middle of the second seat, and I wonder if this was part of her problem, she couldn't see in front.

 

[sherilaine]

My DD and I did single rider with a family of 4 - two very small kids who HATED it - they cried and screamed and were mostly upset by the indoor part than the rest of it. They really had a bad experience but other kids love it at a very young age - like many rides, height can be the least of your concerns, it really depends on the child.

 

[agamble]

Our daughter rode the 40" rides before her third birthday. As a previous poster mentioned above, the only one she didn't care for was TOT. She loves RSR.

 

[AZMermaid]

My son rode it at 4. He was tall enough right at 3 but that was when the next trip fell. He is not very brave AT ALL when it comes to fast or dark rides. He is willing to try everything once per trip. He is super daring physically- climb to the top of that huge tree- sure. Jump off- sure. I was shocked at how much he didn't like coasters. He hated Gadget's and Thunder- crying on both. He doesn't like the feeling that he will "fall out." He also didn't love the lawn mower guy jumping out. He rode RSR with Dad while I waited with my daughter. He did say he would ride it again with me with the rider swap pass.... but fairly reluctantly. Lucky him... I dropped the pass somewhere! So.... he I will say he tolerated it.

He will be 5.5 when we go again. He is tall enough for Indy now and likely will be for tall enough Screamin.' Ironically, I think he might like Screamin' but we will wait on that one. Indy.... no- not for him. I am hoping he warms up to Thunder- now that his sister is tall enough too.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Hmm...well, we still have a year. We'll probably have to play it by ear as far as fear and whatnot goes. I just wasn't sure if it would jostle (is that a word?) him around a lot or not.