Tot And Rnrc For 7 Year Old?

[disneydebi]

My DS is 7 yrs old (will be almost 8 when we go to WDW). He is just 48" tall, so technically he can ride RnRc and TOT. Last time we were there 2 years ago, he would have been big enough to ride TOT but my DH said no...

DS "claims" at this point that he wants to do both... whether that actually happens is questionable, but if he wants to, what are your feelings about those rides? I'm more concerned about RnRc due to the fast acceleration at the begining of the ride (I couldn't breath or scream....). He's a skinny 48" kid (only about 50lbs), long and lanky.

your opinions would be welcome.

 

[dtauer]

We just got back last night and my 7 year old daughter loved both ToT and RnRc. Her only complaint was that she wanted to plug her ears because the music was so loud, but couldn't because she was holding on so tight.

As far as physical impact on a 7 year old, I don't know. If you think about it, RandRC is actually very smooth. From an injury standpoint, I'd think that something like Space Mountain would cause more of an impact on the neck and spine because it's a lot rougher.

Since our 7 year old loves these rides, until we hear of a medical study proving them unsafe, we're going to let her continue to ride.

 

[eeyore#5]

My brother (at that time he just turned 8) went on both ToT and RaRC and loved both.

 

[natt]

We took our almost 4 dd on TOT (the height restriction may or may not have been different in '98). She loved it!! The older one was more "freaked out" by the story-line.

Last summer was the first time we could all ride all the rides and BOTH girls had a great time (now 12 and 8). We, as parents love all types of roller coasters, so it was "decided" that our children would enjoy them as well, and we would introduce them as early as allowed. My oldest daughter, who is the more timid, loves coasters and showed off to some more "tom boyish" girls at a Girl Scout trip to Hershey Park.

Just use his personality as a gauge. If your son seems to think he's up for it, he will probably be fine. RRC is more "cool" than scary!

 

[disneyag]

My 6 yr old loves both!! I bribed her with Disney pins to ride each one. After she finished, she wanted to both again!

 

[eeyore0062]

DD rode ToT when she was 7 and RnR when she was 8 (she wasn't tall enough until then). She LOVES RnR, and won't go near ToT again.

Let him try both, but if he shows any fear of ToT, let him wait. We encouraged our DD a bit too much, and now I think she will NEVER go on it again! She BEGS to do RnR, though!!!

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

My DS first rode ToT at 4 and RnR at 5 (he's tall). He loves them both.

ToT is smooth...I can't imagine anyone getting hurt or sore. The key to RnR is to keep your head back. DS is now 9, but when he was younger I always felt the need to lift up my head and make sure he was ok and I always ended up with a sore neck.

 

[erinch]

when my brave, TALL DD had just turned 5 she was tall enough to ride both RnR & TOT. She decided, after the 5th time on TOT that it bothered her stomach a little.

She loved RnR.
The second time we rode she started to howl.
They brought things to a halt while everyone gave dirty stares to us for "forcing" a tot to go on RnR.

It turned out that what she was screaming about was that she had to ride in the (smoother) center with me. Big Brother was in the back row and had told her he'd "pull more G's" than she would with me in the "baby seat.

That resolved, she rode the entire ride with her hands held up!

If your kids want to, let them go for it.

 

[Lora]

One of my daughters is into these rides. She rode TOT just shy of age 6 and RnR when she was tall enough at 7. During our most recent trip, she only wanted to do TOT a couple times. When I asked her why she didn't seem to like it anymore, she said it wasn't the drop, but the "ghosts" that scared her.

My other daughter may never see the inside of these rides in her entire life. That's just her personality. She may surprise me someday though. She certainly surprised me when she wanted to do Test Track...and then agreed to go on it again several days later. (She originally said she didn't ever want to ride it again.)

 

[my2boys]

Hi disneydebi.....

Sounds like our kids are from the same mold. My 8 yr. old was just 48"" and only 43lbs (skinny minny) when he rode R n R in December. He went on ToT for the first time the year before three times in a row!!! He loves them both!!

One suggestion (although it's hard because they are right next to each other).........try to have him not ride them right after each other. Although my DS LOVED it, he did ToT then ran over to R N R and needless to say becames VERY NAUSEOUS!!!!! It was his second time on it so it didn't scar him too much.......although he got nauseous he still says they are his favorite two rides!!!!!

 

[Trish5768]

My DD rode TOT for the first time when she was 6 and loved it. When we went back in Sept and she was 8 she got to the elevator doors and freaked out and did not go on. Go figure-
She rode RNR for the first time when she was 7 and loved it and rode it when she was 8 as well. Have fun!

 

[onceuponadream]

I have both a brave DD8 and a more reserved DS11. My DD when she was just 7 last year and just tall enough to ride rode RnR because she wanted to. She was a little apprehensive but loved it and wanted to ride it over and over. It was her first "real" rollercoaster experience. However, the only ride she doesn't want to ride is ToT. Maybe the name is too scary or the haunted hotel theme.

Now DS6 is finally tall enough and wants to ride both in June (to one up his sister I think ). We always leave the decision to the kids. DS11 has never ridden SpMtn, SplMtn, RnR or ToT. I wish he would as I think he's missing out but we feel it is entirely his decision and he wants no part of it. He doesn't mind watching. He has always been more cautious.

So as far as your question I think let them ride whatever they choose. As long as they meet the height requirement I feel confident that Disney has made sure that it's safe . Have fun!

 

[KickTheSky]

If your child is brave enough to ride the attraction and he/she meets the minimum height requirements I do not see any reason from restricting them from riding. All rides at all parks are strictly regulated for safety and for determining safe riding heights. Most riding heights are set about 4 inches higher than what their true safe riding height is to make sure that a child that is slightly under the limit that accidently gets on the ride will not be hurt.

If the child chickens out at the last moment, I wouldnt force him/her to ride the attraction. The child will definately not enjoy the attraction at all and the child will probably end up hating rides for a long time if not forever.

As for Rock'N'Rollercoaster itself, being a coaster enthusiast, and knowing the track record of the company that built the ride, I was amazed at the smoothness of the ride. The ride was built by a Dutch firm called Vekoma. Most of their rides, especially their looping ones, tend to be rough and have a lot of headbanging with the over the shoulder restraints. Rock'N'RollerCoaster has very smooth transitions throughout the ride and is very smooth. Even the launch was smooth.

As for ToT, I do not believe you acheive full freefall on the ride, rather all of the falls are controlled falls (with a brake parially engaged during the fall) because of the fact that most freefall rides have a over the shoulder restraint and ToT has a shared lapbar(although I hear some of the elevators are being/have been retrofited with individual lapbars). The ride has very smooth transitions in between coming up and going down as well as from going down to coming back up.

Hope some of this helps.

 

[disneydebi]

i realize RnR is smooth. I personally loved it last time we were there. I'm just concerned about the launch. I still remember that feeling in my stomach, and not being able to even breath for that one second or so....

I just want to make sure he will be okay. Like I said, he's a skinny guy, not a lot to him. I'm not so worried about him getting knocked around as just the force on his little body. And is scaring the pants off him.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

My son, though tall, is very thin. He weighed 45ish when he first rode and was fine. Don't create worry when there's no need. Little skinny kids ride RnR every day without any problems.

 

[tjmw2727]

If he is willing and meets the height requirement let him decide.

My dd's have loved riding TOT since they were tall enough (about 5ys) but my 8yo did not like the new drop sequence this Feb and was also more frightened of the preshow than in years past. Maybe she is old enough to really understand the "fear factor" now but my 5yo still LOVES TOT.

Obviously my 5yo dosen't meet the height requirements for RnRc but my 8yo just made it this year and LOVED this ride.

TJ

 

[mbethel]

My little brother who is 5 loves both rides. I might get a little nervous on ToT, but he'll "hold my hand" he said ( No matter that I'm the adult!) I think it really helped that we had earplugs for RnRC. None of us like loud noises and we could clearly hear everything even with our ear plugs.