What rides are NOT for a 9 year old?

[dianaore]

My 9 year old is wanting to know what is not going to be for him. I know Tower of Terror for sure but what else is definitely not for a kid that age?

Diana

(for Stephen)

 

[DisneyDotty]

It will depend on your kid. Sorry--I know that's not terribly helpful, but my DS7 went on everything at DL/DCA except for California Screamin' (and that's only 'cause no one would ride it with him.) He LOVES Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones, Space Mountain, etc. Now, my DD11 refused to do ToT at DL (she had enough riding it once at MGM) and also refused to ride Indiana. And she hates the 3-D attractions like "Bug's Life"--still hasn't forgiven me for taking her to that one...
Good luck figuring it all out!

 

[LucyKate]

My 9YO was scared witless by Splash and didn't like Matterhorn, but then loved Indiana, GRR and all the 3D rides - so who can tell?

The only one I'd definitely rule out would be Screamin.

But if you want a guide as to what a nervous 9YO was still prepared to ride, and like, then in our case that includes GRR, Indiana, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Soarin, Star Tours, all the 3D rides and everything in Toontown and Fantasyland.

 

[tlovesdis]

How tall is he? If he's more than 52 inches, he can ride on everything!

My niece is 6 and she has been on everything except for Screamin, which she is dying to ride! She's been riding the Matterhorn since she was 4! She loves Space, Thunder Mt, Matterhorn, etc... But her favorite ride of all is Tower. When she was 5 she rode it 7 times on a 4 day trip and this past October she rode it 4 times!

 

[CA Disney Fans]

I have to agree with DisneyDotty, it depends on the child. My DS10 has loved riding majority of the rides at DL & DCA for the past couple of years, except Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, California Screamin', Maliboomer, and Splash Mountain. He doesn't like the queezy feeling his stomach gets from the drops. But yet, Rockin' Roller Coaster at MGM is one of his favorite rides.

 

[iceskatejen]

My 9yo neice loves them all, including TOT and Screamin'. I think the only ride with a height requirement she hasn't been on is the Maliboomer. My 6yo nephew loves TOT also.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

My son has loved all the rides. I think it's up to your child. TOT looks scary but it is way cool and I have seen so many little kids on that ride and they have loved it too.

 

[tinkerbell13]

My 5 y/o DD loves Space Mountain, but doesn't like TOT. I think she would love California Screamin, but is too short. She loves Star tours and Soarin, but hates Indiana Jones.
I would think at nine he would want to try all of them.
But then again I still have never gotten my 17 y/o DD on Maliboomer.

 

[tinkerbell13]

ooops

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

The first time we went to DL my daughter rode everything except Haunted Mansion and she was only seven!

 

[got2travel]

My son was riding everything at DL since he was 4 (he's tall for his age), except Splash Mountain. He thought you actually went under water after the drop because he couldn't see the logs anymore. Once I convinced him that you never actually go underwater, he now begs to ride it. Once Calif Adventure opened, he was riding everything there as soon as he was tall enough. He had to wait a few trips before he was tall enough for Maliboomer, but I think that was all.

 

[stampinshauna]

I'd encourage him to go on everything that he is willing to try. If he is scared about a couple rides, you could always ask kids his age about them as they get off--they may encourage him to go.

 

[MamaKate]

My son was riding everything at DL since he was 4 (he's tall for his age)

Mine too. My son has always been tall and did all the coasters at Disneyland when he was 4.

Both of my kids are thrill seekers and have done everything they are tall enough for. My daughter did TOT at MGM when she was 5 and loved it and was mad she wasn't tall enough for the Hulk coaster at Universal Orlando. Both of my kids are tall enough now to do all coasters at any themepark and love them. I glad because I'm a single mom and usually it's just us, so I'm glad I have someone to ride the thrill rides with.

My nephew on the other hand won't do anything!! And my niece who is 12 refuses to do any coasters, but will do anything else. So it all depends on the child and what they are used too.

,
Katie

 

[dopeyfanatic]

My boys are tall for their age. At the age of 2 (we went in Feb, he turned 3 the end of March) my younger son went on ToT. My older son who was 4 1/2 would not go on it. My then 2 year old loved EVERYTHING. My older son didn't like rides that were dark. Now that we're going next month my younger sone, now almost 4, can't wait to go back and go on the rides, ToT included...and especially try out Space Mountain. My older son has apparently got the fever, but we'll see when we get there. There's really no way to judge what age is ok. It's completely up to the child. My oldest wants to go on Screamin'. He's not yet 6, but he's tall enough. If he wants to go he can. Some rides people will say are definitely no, but it really is up to your individual child. You'll have to see what he thinks when he gets there. He may not be as scared as he thinks he will be when the time comes and he sees so many little kids going on the rides....but at the same time, some people just don't like roller coasters....Good luck and have fun!

 

[All Aboard]

As others have indicated, every child is different. Ours is at one extreme. She has experienced every WDW, DL and Universal attraction as soon as she was tall enough. She never had a problem with any. She reached 40" when she was a couple of months short of three and a half, and has been riding Tower of Terror ever since. Same for Dinosaur. She's now about to turn 8 and is waiting patiently to reach 54" to ride Hulk and Dueling Dragons.

Now, her cousin is a year younger and cries hysterically during Voyage of the Little Mermaid. So, she is clearly at the other extreme.

I'm not really bringing any unique advice to the discussion. But, reiterating to leave it up to the kid to decide. Describe it, even preview it yourself if possible. At 9 years old, he'll be inquisitive about it and will understand your description. Our daughter has grown up trying everything from all types of foods (octopus may be her favorite thing right now) to wild attractions. She's developing into quite a worldly young kid, and it's fantastic. Encourage, but don't push has always been my approach. I'm always honest and if I think it might be too much, I let her know. But, in the end, she makes the decision - and it's almost always in favor of trying.

 

[ZeusNike]

Our daughter has been on every ride at DL and WDW since she was tall enough to ride and loves all of them (actually she is not wild about the Maliboomer and gets a bit motion sick on Star Tours so usually skips them). Conversely our friends have a son who does not like any of the "big" rides and he is 17! It really depends on the kid...none of the rides are not OK for a 9 year old if they like rides.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I really agree with the poster who said to have the child ask (or you ask) a child about their age who is exiting the ride if they liked it, was it scary, etc. My daughter is 9 and has now ridden everything at Disneyland, including Maliboomer which she is now tall enough to ride. She was scared but asked a little boy getting off the ride and he assured her it wasn't scary at all and if she had ridden Screamin it would not bother her. He was right and she was way more willing to believe him than me! Also, start out slow, if Matterhorn is too scary, then Ca. Screamin is a no no. If they are afraid of the dark then Screamin might be fine but Haunted Mansion too creepy.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

CA Screamin' is not necessarily out just because they don't like Matterhorn or Thunder Mt. My son doesn't like Matterhorn because of the Monster, or the dark tunnel in Thunder Mtn. (although he's still willing to ride them with his daddy), but has no problem with CA Screamin' or Mullholand's madness. Each ride is different and a child can love one and hate one you really wouldn't expect. It's really something you can't plan ahead....Also, some kids coming off rides might think the ride was scary so make sure you pick a kid that looks excited and is possibly talking about how fun it was!

 

[Rapunsel]

My DS4 just rode Soarin and BTM and loved them both, but refuses to do splash mountain.

It is all on the kid. Sometimes doing a preview is important. I do that with most. So I can tell him what to expect.
There is no height requirement on the HM, But I won't take either of my kids DD1 or DS4 on it. As everyone else can scare the crap out of them with their screams..

I go on Indy, but I close my eyes when we go by the snake...
I don't like jungle cruise in the dark because of the piranahs, because the jump out at you.

I go on everything though. I can't show my kids that I am scared..

I love TOT, but if they don't like the un predicatable drops that can be a problem.

Have fun!

 

[pezpam]

It's so about your particular child. My Dd decided at age 6 to try some of the medium-level stuff at WDW, then the next year, she fell in love with TOT, RNRR, and all the rest and started begging to go to every amusement park around. But she won't go to the 4-D movies because they usually puff air in her face. Go figure. LOL