What order to introduce "thrill" rides?

[ksoehrlein]

My very tall DD is slowly transitioning into the more thrilling rides. We did her first roller coaster (Goofy's Barnstormer) and Kali River Rapids when she was 3.5 and did Test Track when she was 4.5 this past February. She LOVED Test Track!

What "grown-up" ride do you suggest we do next to celebrate her 5th birthday? I'm leaning toward BTMRR but only after we go on Goofy's Barnstormer again to get her reaccustomed to the whole roller coaster concept. Is that too big of a step up? Should we do Star Tours on this trip?

Space Mountain is out because when we went through it on the TTA to give her an idea of what it's all about she was scared of it being a dark ride and the fact that I couldn't sit next to her. She's 42 inches tall, so I think that leaves out Splash Mountain.

In what order did you transition your kids from the more child-friendly attractions to the more "adult" rides?

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

If she can handle Test Track and Barnstormer, I would go with BTMRR and Splash (she is tall enough--40")

If she likes those, maybe next trip she'll be ready for Rock-n-Roller Coaster, ToT, and Mission Space (my DS 6 just did these 3 this trip for the first time---he loved them!)

 

[jnrrt]

I have to say that my daughter totally surprised me by LOVING splash mountain when she was 4. She was exactly 40" tall and pretty much afraid of everything, didn't like the barnstormer at all and that was the only thing we really tried, but for some reason she really wanted to do splash. I tried to talk her out of it because I thought she'd freak, but even after seeing the drop she wanted to do it, and then did it two more times. She never really liked the drop at all, but she thought it was totally worth it because she wanted to see the rest of the ride. Who knows why she went on it the first time, but it's so cute that it's her favorite, and she does it in spite of the drop.

 

[prplcrzy]

I would probably do BTMRR next and then depending on how that goes Spash Mountain. Then each trip, I'd add a few more (probably 2 a trip not to overload): Space Mountain, TOT, Rock n Rollercoaster and Mission Space. (We're not huge fans of Test Track, always breaks down on us, but I'd put that one maybe before or after Space Mountain)

This is how we did it with my daughter and she started the adult rides at 4 with BTMRR. My son will be 4 this trip (Nov.) and he'll do the same thing. He wanted to go on BTMRR last year, but just missed it by 1/2 inch.

Each child is different and you know what their limits are. You'd hate for them to get so frightened that they regress with the rides.

Have a great trip!

Nancy

 

[pezpam]

Primeval Whirl tipped the balance for my DD. She was 6 last year and *really* skittish about big rides, but knew she wanted to do big rides when she got older - I LOVELOVELOVE thrill rides and she wanted to be able to join me someday. I made absolutely sure to not only not push, but to make sure she knew it was just fine not to go on those rides since I had other times I could ride big rides. Primeval Whirl was somehow ok for her to try - I dont' know if it was the less threatening atmosphere or what, but she tried it.

After that, she went from being nervous about EVERY ride to begging to go on Dinosaur and a couple of others. That was in Feb and by the time we got to June and our local Six Flags, she was begging for bigger coasters - upside down wasn't ok, but the one in complete darkness was a hit. This year, she's going to try a ride with a loop!

 

[LeftCoaster]

I'd go with Big Thunder, Splash, and Primevil Whirl as the next set of thrill rides. Also, peer pressure from her friends at school might help too.
My eldest niece was 4 on her trip to Disneyland a year and a half ago. She was still afraid of most rides at that time. Well, now that she's in kindergarten and has heard some of her friends talking about going on the "big rollercoaster" at California Adventure, she has declared that she is going to ride that too when she goes again. I hope my nieces turn into adrenaline junkies like their uncle. =)

 

[ksoehrlein]

I'm dying to try Primeval Whirl (never been, myself), but I think the height restriction on that is 48". It looks a little tamer than some of the 40"-height-restricted rides, so I'm not sure what that's all about.

I'm glad to know I was wrong about the height restriction on Splash. That drop scares ME to death, so I'll let my DD make the call on that one. I know she'd love all the other aspects of the ride.

I can't wait for her to go on Mission Space, I just don't know when that will be. DH felt a little queasy afterward, so I'm shopping for a new "ride buddy" on that one. I described it to her and she sounded all jazzed up, but finished by saying, "I never want to go on that ride." I have no idea!

She's still a little nervous about dark rides, so Space Mtn, TOT, and especially Rock-n-Rollercoaster will have to wait. Too bad for me...

 

[sheri236]

i think it depends on the child. i took my 5yo dd on rnr and i was quite nervous but she loved, loved loved it!!! begged to ride it over and over!! a lady in line behind us couldn't wait to tell her dh and 16yo ds who were too chicken to ride!!

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

It definetly depends on the kid. When my oldest DD was 5 she rode ToT. She loved the drop(hated the ghosts). She is 9 now and just getting ready to ride SM. She won't go anywhere near SplM. She dosen't like to be splashed with water. I think you should explain the elements of each "thrill" ride to DD and see what she wants to do. Sometimes they know what they can handle and what they can't betterr than anyone(even mom & dad).

 

[rt2dz]

My son was 3.5 when we went last. I took him on everything that you only needed to be 44" for--yes, that includes ToT. His favorite was Goofy's Barnstormer. But he did enjoy BTMRR, Dinosaur (especially), and many others. He's still quite proud of himself for riding ToT--he loved the standing ovation everyone gave him when he got off, but I don't think he'll be riding it again at our upcoming trip. Funny thing is, it was Snow White he didn't want to ride again. Go figure.

 

[KimWDW]

What's BTMRR? I'm racking my brain...

 

[jnrrt]

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I can't keep track of all these abbreviations!

 

[swilphil]

If she can handle Test Track and Barnstormer, I would go with BTMRR and Splash (she is tall enough--40")

If she likes those, maybe next trip she'll be ready for Rock-n-Roller Coaster, ToT, and Mission Space (my DS 6 just did these 3 this trip for the first time---he loved them!)

My son is 4 1/2 and he loves BTMRR and Splash Mountain. He did go on ToT right after his 4th birthday and did fine, but he didn't want to go on it again on our trip last week.

 

[Rellim]

We did Kali and Splash when DD was 4 and I'm thinking of taking her through the ToT preview part and see if she is brave enough to get on the elevator for our next trip. It's tricky because sometimes she is brave and sometimes she is scared of the very same ride...