What rides have you let your 4 year old on?

[cajun_angel21]

I'm just curious because we are planning our DEC 08 trip for our DD's 4th b-day. DH seems to think that she going to be able to ride some of the big rides and I still think that she will be way too small. But, I get motion sickness and DH thinks I'm over protective because of that.
So my question is what have you chilren rode on at 4 and how did they do? (likes/dislikes)

 

[glass slipper girl]

My 4 year old has been on pretty much everything but Space Mountain. He's loved everything except Rockin' Rollercoaster. He is a big 4 though. He just hit the 48" mark on this trip. As in when we went to ride Primeval Whirl at AK one morning the CM tried passing a credit card like thing between his head and the bar and said "boy he's RIGHT there exactly at it!" and let him on. Later in the day we went back and I could run my finger between his head and the bar (your spine compresses throughout the day and you are a teensy bit shorter at night than in the morning).

He's been on every ride at AK and loves every single one including Everest and Dinosaur.

He's been on everything at Epcot as well. The exception is that we only let the kids do the tamer version of Mission Space, not the more intense one.

MGM he's been on everything too. Tower of Terror was one that he enjoyed while he was on it and said he liked it for about an hour after then he started saying "maybe I will skip that one next time" the more he thought about it. He rode Rockin' Rolercoaster and didn't get upset about it but said "that was not my favorite." His older brother wanted to ride again (we had a baby swap pass so Dad was going to take them) and my 4 year old passed on the 2nd ride. He didn't like the fast take off. Was fine with the "during" part, just didn't like the blast off.

At MK he's been on everything but Space Mountain. He usually wants us to hold his hand or put an arm around him so we've waited on that one since we couldn't sit next to him.

Our rule is that no one has to ride anything they don't want to and Mom and Dad are OK with using the chicken exit with them if they change their mind in line. We encourage trying a "big boy ride" but we don't push and we definitely don't force. Each kid is different. While my 4 year old is a HUGE thrill seeker and daredevil, his 6 year old brother is not and our trip in February was the first trip for him to ride anything even close to a thrill ride. He didn't like anything even slightly fast for a very long time. He left this trip saying Everest and RnR were his new favorites. He hasn't been on Space Mtn. for the same reason and he doesn't want to do ToT because it looks too scary.

Start your DD off slow, try Goofy's Barnstormer before any big thrill rides and see how she does. If she meets the 40" height requirement for things like Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain and she is interested in riding them, she will more than likely do just fine.

 

[luvmickey5374]

Oh yes...our daughter had just turned 4 last year when we went and she was 42 inches. She was able to ride most things except Space Mountain and Rockin Roller Coaster. She loved loved loved Tower of Terror and Big Thunder Mountain...she is still talkin about it and can't wait to go back on!! It will just depend on what your daughter is willing to try, if she feels brave enough and she is tall enough....let her go for it!! Have a great time

 

[dec181981]

we went to DL for the first time when ds was 4 ans he went on anything that he was tall enough for. Space Mountain, TOT, BTMRR and he loved them all. We do have a rule in our family that probably would not work for everyone's though...If you are tall enough then you have to try at least once. It has yet to fail us. The kids are adventerous and dont throw fits or scream or beg to get off. They really seam to enjoy themselves.

 

[homedad]

our last trip in 2005 and ds was 4 and 42" at that time, we rode all the 40" plus rides. He didn't care for TOT and was completely bored with GWF(is that it??, he said). Loved BTMR and TT. Were off again this September and he's(I'm) very fired up for SM.

 

[tribus121]

Last september the only ( Big ) ride that my dd 4 was tall enough for was kali river rappids and she enjoyed it

 

[jimenyfan]

We let our kids go on any ride they were tall enough for. As long as they werent in a state of panic we all rode. If the ride looked a little scary they always wanted to ride with DH, any other time they wanted to ride with me.

 

[sacall]

I have two dds, 10 and 8. We have been there when both were around 4. I let them ride any ride they were tall enough to go on. My older daughter went on them all, but the RNR in MGM. She wasn't tall enough, but she sure wanted to go! Now, my younger daughter, on our last trip, she was 7. She just then wanted to try Space Mnt. and Splash Mnt. She wouldn't go on any other rides even though she was tall enough.

I would leave it up to your daughter. Let her decide which rides she wants to go.

Stacy

 

[Hannathy]

Anything they wanted and met the height requirement for. (which was everything they were tall enough for)

 

[cajun_angel21]

Okay, sounds to me like I'm being a little over protective. I'll chill out and start making a height chart. Is it wrong to hope for shortness? Just kidding. I'd never do that to her I'm 5' 1". I still have trouble meeting the height requirements. hahahaha j/k

 

[dman11]

This is something I was questioning too. I'm so glad to hear most of your 4yo's loved ToT. I really enjoyed that during our last trip and was hopping my DD would like it but was worried about it being too scary for anyone her age.

What is the height requirement for SM? She's going to be just over a month away from being 5yo when we go so hopefully she'll be tall enough to ride it.

 

[jillyjoey]

Oh yes...our daughter had just turned 4 last year when we went and she was 42 inches. She was able to ride most things except Space Mountain and Rockin Roller Coaster. She loved loved loved Tower of Terror and Big Thunder Mountain...she is still talkin about it and can't wait to go back on!! It will just depend on what your daughter is willing to try, if she feels brave enough and she is tall enough....let her go for it!! Have a great time

DITTO!!!!

 

[larkles]

Thanks for posting this question. Our 4 yr old is very worried about new things and anything with loud noises- having him checked for Sensory issues this month. Hearing that all of your kids did well makes me breathe easier

 

[amblackmon]

We went a year ago when my DD was 4 and we let her ride every ride that she was tall enough for. She loved them all and we found out that she is a little dare-devil! If I was worried about her I would make sure that her dad or I sat by her and held on. That was all it took for her! I think the rides scared her less than the waiting on everyone else to ride made her mad!

This year she is looking forward to Space Mtn.! September can't come soon enough!

 

[CampbellScot]

we went to DL for the first time when ds was 4 ans he went on anything that he was tall enough for. Space Mountain, TOT, BTMRR and he loved them all. We do have a rule in our family that probably would not work for everyone's though...If you are tall enough then you have to try at least once. It has yet to fail us. The kids are adventerous and dont throw fits or scream or beg to get off. They really seam to enjoy themselves.

I think that is a great rule actually...kids can talk themselves out of anything...and really...it's a ride at Disneyworld...it's supposed to be FUN. If they try it and decide it's not fun, then good. At least they tried. I'm sure tons of people will have objections to that, but it really is all in how you present it.

All I know is that my husband and I don't pay thousands to sit on the bench and watch. The kiddos don't earn money all year to "wait till they are bigger". Carpe Diem!!!!

All that being said...the only ride I'm not sure about taking either of the kids on is ToT...the beginning scared ME...and my step daughter gets car sick easily...and I don't want them to be in therapy in ten years blaming their step mom for their continued fear of the dark!!!

 

[saremmons]

My DD was tall enough to ride 40" rides at 2 1/2. She is turning 4 this spring and is hoping to ride Everest for the first time. She loves Soarin the most. TOT and Splash Mountain are okay for her, she gets nervous as she gets on, but won't let us get out of line. Afterwards she always asks , "Can we go again?"

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

We went right before DS turned 3 and he was a little short for alot of things but he made the height requirement for TT and he still tells me that was his favorite. You just have to make sure they won't actually be afraid of the ride, don't want to terrorize the poor things. My DS wouldn't go anywhere near the Haunted Mansion or ToT and that was just fine but if he met the height requirement and wanted to try it, I wasn't holding him back. My DH's mom did that to him and she messed him up bad. To this day he's afraid of EVERYTHING but the carousel!