Which is "scarier" - SM or EE?

[erineab]

My son is 7 years old. He has done BTMR and is ready to try a new coaster this year. It took a lot of nerve for him to try BTMR last year (he was very hesitant at first), so I don't want to freak him out and make him too nervous to trust me/try new rides in the future.
With that information, which coaster should I suggest he try this year - Expedition Everest or Space Mountain?

 

[CanadianPaco]

My DD rode SM at 6 and LOVED it! Still does!! She loves EE as well but SM is her fav!

I find SM jerky but EE is such a smooth ride. Even the backwards part! Enjoy!

 

[KrazeeK120]

Of the 4 roller coasters at Disney (Big Thunder, Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, and Rock 'n Roller Coaster), I think that EE is the scariest...it's the only one with a really big drop.

There really isn't anything scary about Space Mountain, except that it is in the dark. If your DS isn't bothered by dark, he should be fine on this ride.

 

[ellie05]

I think EE is scarier than SM.

 

[Mommymarie]

My vote is also that EE is scarier based on my daughter who can be timid with rides at first....my DD9 love SM, BTMR, and RNRC at HS, but she is scared of EE. She rode it twice and hated it both times. I think the Yeti does her in! Although, I think that SM is dark and jerky....

 

[SmallWorld71]

One thing to consider is that on Expedition Everest you can sit next to your child, while on Space Mountain you are in front of or behind them. Also, Space Mountain is in the dark.
For those reasons, my DD10 was able to tackle EE no problem at 5, but didn't tackle Space Mountain until 7.

So, while I agree that EE is more intense, from a kid's point of view Space Mountain may likely be the scarier of the 2.

 

[meeko987]

Both rides have an element that would intimidate a child. Space Mountain is in the dark, and there may be stress (or excitement, depending on your perspective) at not knowing what's coming next: a quick dip? a loop? a huge drop? Who knows what can happen in the dark! To decrease the stress factor, you could share with your child what the ride will and will not do.

Expedition Everest has the appearance of the creature, but I think the most intense part is the fast backwards portion. It hits people in different ways. I enjoy roller coasters a lot, but my first time on this ride (as an adult) had me praying on the backwards part, mainly because I couldn't see what was happening. Now, I think this is the best part!

 

[MomToPirate&Princess]

Based on my kids, EE is scarier.
DS11 rode them all as soon as he was tall enough and loved them. EE and RnRC are his favorites because they are the wildest. (He's a coaster buff and will ride anything and always has.)
DD9 had to gradually be broken in to the coasters. At 7, she first rode BTM and was iffy but tied again and loved it on the 2nd try. She rode SM and didn't hate it but wouldn't do it again that trip and wouldn't try EE. (she was too short for RnRC). At 8, she decided she liked SM and gave EE a try but wouldn't do it again. At 9 she now loves EE and still won't try RnRC.

 

[flicx]

EE for sure . The only thing that space mountain has on EE is it is in the dark. The drops on space aren't near what they are on EE!

 

[iheartbuffy]

SM is dark and gives you neck injuries afterwards lol EE has the Yeti which can be creepy. The backwards part is what does me in. It's too much pressure, I can't ride it more than once...which sucks because I love the rest of the ride.

 

[KrazeeK120]

SM is dark and gives you neck injuries afterwards lol EE has the Yeti which can be creepy. The backwards part is what does me in. It's too much pressure, I can't ride it more than once...which sucks because I love the rest of the ride.

Have there been a lot of neck injuries on SM? I haven't seen reports of that.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

My son is 7 years old. He has done BTMR and is ready to try a new coaster this year. It took a lot of nerve for him to try BTMR last year (he was very hesitant at first), so I don't want to freak him out and make him too nervous to trust me/try new rides in the future.
With that information, which coaster should I suggest he try this year - Expedition Everest or Space Mountain?

~Great question! I seriously need a break from this football thing. I told DH all week not to set his hopes too high on Denver and I was right. What is it with guys and football?!? They've been yelling at the TV ever since kickoff & now everyone is sulking -- except me!

~Back on topic, DH and the kids find EE to be the "scariest" of the two. I think Space Mountain is scarier because I don't like the seating layout for children and it's quite rough. EE is a very smooth coaster but going and you can hold on to your child. With that said, the backwards part can be pretty intense for some. Have fun!

 

[shelemm]

SM because you can't see what the ride is until you are already on it. The apprehension is always scarier.

 

[Lizard Valley]

My DSs looooove roller coasters, and have joyfully ridden all of the Disney ones from the moment they were able to hit that bar. That being said, DS7 is afraid of the Yeti. He'll go on it once, and then will choose to sit out the other times, just because of the Yeti. It's his least favorite of the 4 coasters. Because of that, it's the other 2 DSs favorite...

 

[tanyaandallie]

Hmmmmmm, I think both can be considered scary. Space really doesn't have any super scary elements but being in the dark does make it a bit scary. I love it and my ds loves it. EE is scarier (I think) and it also makes me nauseous. I love roller coasters but for some reason EE bothers me. DH agrees, ee is scarier!

 

[karenklo]

IF he is afraid of the dark, SM may not be the one for him, add to that he has to ride by himself. EE has bigger drops, goes backward, and then the Yeti. My boys have them both since they were 4! I do not like SM because it is so jerky my DH and my necks are always sore after a ride!

 

[LWdisney]

When my daughter was about 7 she intensely disliked SM, despite loving BTMRR and EE … when we finally parsed why, it turned out that she was thrown around a lot, much more than an adult would have been, and she hated that banging around … I had my hands on her shoulders and noticed it, but she had to verbalize it for me to get it. Now, at 11, she loves SM (just returned, actually).

 

[guinness408]

Definitely ee, however the darkness on sm makes it feel like a more intense coaster. And sm is so lurchy...had a headache after it.

 

[iheartbuffy]

Have there been a lot of neck injuries on SM? I haven't seen reports of that.

I was being facetious

 

[4xmom]

SM makes me feel sick to my stomach every time I ride it. It is really a rough ride. My kids always did better on first time coaster with their daddy being able to sit beside them. I did ride SM sitting up holding my nephews shoulders on his first time. I wouldn't suggest that! I felt like I had been in a car wreck afterwards.