What rides do you consider a "no" or "iffy"for a 6 year old

[goofy papa]

This will be the first time bringing my kids down to Disney. My oldest is 6 now. We have preped by watching the DVD they send, taping the Travel Channel as much as we could and looking through old pictures from my past trips. She is tall enough to go on all the rides, but my wife thinks I am nuts for thinking she will go on such rides as ...

Tower of Terror
Rock N Roller Coaster
Space Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain
Test Track

Are any of these unrealistic for me to consider taking her on? I know you need to know the limits of your own kids, but please let me know of your experiences with your children when they were this age.

Thanks for your help

 

[GoodFairies]

Well, you will certainly see plenty of other six year olds on those rides. I would say she would definitely be fine on Test Track, Space Mountain, and Big Thunder. For Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster, I would let your daughter decide for herself.

 

[dizagain]

My DD surprised me in many ways at WDW. She loved looking through the book before our trip and telling me just what she WAS NOT GOING TO RIDE.....just about everything outside of Fantasy Land!!!

She cried on her second ride of the day - Peter Pan - and said she wanted to go home because it was too scary. Well, I was horrified and naturally was thinking not-so-nice thoughts!!

She went on to ride pretty much everything except RNR, TOT, and Space Mountain. She LOVED Thunder Mt and Test Track - both made her feel she was really daring. She handled Dinosaur and Splash just fine- although she didn't really like them much, she didn't cry or anything. She also didn't love the 3-D adventures, but she went in each one and just closed her eyes if necessary.
She also went on every single slide at TL and LOVED THEM!

So, all kids are different, but mine is definitely a ride "wimp" and she enjoyed most everything. I was very proud of her for trying new things. I will tell you that when she would say she didn't want to ride something, we said we were going anyway (except for the big coasters). She almost always said, "let's do it again!" Now, she was never crying or anything in line...we're not monsters, and believe me I saw some that trip!!! We know our daughter well, and we knew how things would turn out!

What a magical time you will have...my girls are begging to return but must wait another year! Have FUN!!

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Hi goofypapa,

The best advice is to let your daughter go on the rides she wants to go on.........as long as you aren't pushing her to do so (and assuming she meets the height requirements), there shouldn't be any issue.....

Our DD (4) can't wait until she's tall enough for Space Mountain and RNRC.....

We will be going on BTMR, TT and ToT this year with her and she is excited for them.....

 

[dvcmommy]

At 6, my dd LOVED Big Thunder and Splash Mountain, but ToT scared her to death!!!

Each kid is different, my ds will be 6 during our next trip, and I think we will let him go on Test Track and the mountains (not Space)....he really doesn't like the dark, so the others are probably a no for him.

 

[oogieboogie]

My DS who just turned 6 is scared of the unknown. He's always saying no to everything, and ending up regreting it. He pysches himself up so bad, that he can cry while waiting in line for the rides. We know this and know that once he got on the rides he would love them.


This happened at BTMRR and at Buzz Lightyear. It turned out the be his favorite rides of all. It happened at all the thrill rides, but once he got on it and realized nothing really happened to him and the ride itself wasn't so bad, he relaxed and was able to enjoy the next time we did the ride.

We always tell him that he should try once. If he doesn't want to ride after that, then he doesn't ride. That's been our philosophy with him... try it once.

My point is that you know your child best. For us, we had to push this DS. His younger brother is just the opposite. He has no fear! If you think your DD is up to it, then go right ahead. The rides at Disney are designed with families in mind, and most families will have kids with them.

 

[wannabee princess]

I think one thing to do is to try to "work up" to the more intense rides. For instance, starting with Goofy's Barnstormer as a roller coaster before heading for Thunder Mountain. Start with Winnie the Pooh before moving to Peter Pan (although when he first rode on Pooh, those heffalumps and woozles kind of gave my little guy a fright - he was probably 3-4 at the time)

My youngest would generally at least try every ride (and he has always been pretty tall for his age so he was able to ride the bigger rides quite young), but he would not always choose to reride them when he was able to.

We always made sure our boys were aware that they would not have to ride any of the roller coaster/thrill rides if they decided to change their mind. We would go through the lines and then we would do a child swap if one wasn't agreeable at the time it came to ride.

I do think starting with rides that they felt comfortable with, and then working up to the more daring, was our best way of going. If you start out with Space Mountain, she may be scared of any ride that is in the dark (anything from Peter Pan to Pirates of the Carribbean). Some rides sound scarier to kids too - the screams as you walk toward TOT were almost more frightening to mine than the actual ride! Hearing the sound TT makes was almost a reason not to go on for my youngest! You may want to discuss this in advance if you think that may make a difference.

It may not end up being the most optimum in touring plans, but it may make for a more enjoyable riding experience!

 

[kild]

At 6, my son loved Space Mountain, again and again and again. He rode everything except ToT and regrets not doing it. But, he got scared during any of the 3d shows and fireworks ?? Now, he loves them all and can't wait to get back to ride MS and ToT and enjoy the shows and fireworks.
My 2 year old is not scared of anything. Rides, fireworks, shows, etc... he has the attitude of "bring em on!" We are considering having him exorcised

 

[Yensid_MD]

Let them at least go through the queue for every line. There is always a way out of the ride.

My son when he was 4 walked off of Space Mountain and said " well we don't have to do that one again" but when he was five it was now one of his favorites.

Small flashlights that clip to their beltloop can be confidence builders for dark rides such as POTC.

Have fun!

 

[DemonLlama]

My daughter lost it on, of all things, "Snow White." The witch really scared her at 5. She wasn't tall enough on that first trip to ride the big coasters/rides, but on the second trip the same child that screamed on Snow White could not get enough of Tower of Terror! Kids are so different, you just have to know what pushes their fright buttons.

 

[iceskatejen]

I was six the first time I rode Space Mountain at DL and I laughed the whole way through it. I couldn't figure out why anyone was screaming. Turns out I'm a thrill ride junkie. TOT is the ONLY Disney ride I scream on.

My neice on the other hand is most definately a ride wimp. She won't even look at some rides and says she won't go on them, though she's getting better and on her last DL trip rode some rides she previously said she wouldn't and ended up loving them (were talking about POTC and Soarin'). For some reason Peter Pan scares a lot of kids--not sure why. Most adults think it's beautiful.

 

[MouseClubMom]

My daughter rode Big Thunder at age 3 (she is quite tall) and LOVED it. She is 5 1/2 now and has asked to go on Space Mountain and Test Track. I think RNRC and TOT are a bit too much for her.

She also HATES Haunted Mansion of all things. Just too creepy for her.

MCMom

 

[gm]

my six year old will not even step foot on the dinosaur ride or tough to be a bug show. However, she loves to go on Test Track, Space Mountain, Thunder railroad.

 

[Dalpal]

We took my DGD then four going on five on ToT and in the picture we are all (Myself, DH, and her two older sisters)screeming except for her. She looked completely bored.
We are taking them again This June. She is now 8Yrs. She doesnt even remember it.
I remember it ........every drop

 

[il-gander]

Out of your list above, my nearly-6-year old rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Test Track. She loved Test Track, BTMRR was iffy (was also our first ride at MK, I think she'll like it better next time). She loved Splash Mountain, big drop and all. She's thinking about Space Mountain for when we go to MNSSHP in October and/or when we go back to WDW next June.

Things she didn't care for - ITTBAB, and Haunted Mansion

I can't even get my 10-year-old on ToT or RNRC! I've been trying to talk her into it 'cause I think she'd like them if she tried, and I want to ride them myself this time, darn it!

Carla

 

[CRCrazy]

My youngest went to WDW for the first time when she was 5 - she LOVED all the thrill rides, she is fairly tall, so she was tall enough for Space and Splash - but just missed the cut off for Rock N Roller Coaster. She was EXTRAORDINARILY bummed that she was not tall enough - she was dying to try it. Her favorite thing that whole trip was definitely Space Mountain. She did try to go on Tower of Terror, but the line through the hotel freaked her out, and she bailed!! My middle daughter does NOT do thrill rides, so she always does the line with us, and then takes the chicken exit, so we know where they all are!

That said, when she was 5 - dark things, and things with FIRE really freaked her out! She did Haunted Mansion with a death grip around my neck - but ended up loving it - knowing the Grim Grinning Ghost song really helped. She didn't like Kali River Rapids or Fantasmic, due to the fire scenes!

We went back when she was just turned 6 - she made sure that her shoes had THICK soles, and sure enough - she made it onto RNRC!! This is now her all time favorite - she has a need for speed!! She did try Tower of Terror again, since she was no longer afraid of the dark - and this time she did do the ride - she didn't mind the drops at all, but she still didn't like the music or the holograms. This was a one time ride for her - in fact, we went back this year when she was 7, and she didn't even go near TOT! She says, maybe when I'm 10!