Which ride for 7 1/2 yr. old

[Disneyfan1977]

Hello all
Last year at Disney, we took our then nearly 7 year old on Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. She loved them both and laughed the whole time. This year she will be a few days shy of 8 years old. She and I have been talking about which rides she wants to do.

Last year she met a little girl who was 6 and loved Expedition Everist. So this year she wants to go on it. I just saw a post with a picture of a man praying while he was on it.....

This makes me a bit nervous that it is too scary/intense for her to handle. I would like to take her on Space Mountain and Expedition Everist, but I am a bit nervous.

Does anyone have any feedback regarding taking their children/grandchildren, etc. on these or any more intense rides???

Any advise would greatly be appreciated!!!!

 

[tlriv5]

My dd's were 8 our last trip and they rode Space Mountain and loved it. I don't think it's bad at all. We did not ride Everest, because we didn't think they'd be tall enough. We didn't even make our way over to it. They would have in a heartbeat though. THey can't wait to ride it this year! BTW, Thunder Mt. is there absolute favorite at WDW!

 

[wdwrich]

I think the picture with the man praying was contrived. My 5yo grandaughter loved EE and Space Mtn.

 

[Fabinva]

My son was 5.5yr old when he first rode Everest and he loved it, rode it twice! we took him back at age 7 and still his favorite ride.

 

[Tammysue5]

Last year we went for our first WDW vacation DD8 and DD5 had read ALL about it in Brimbaums book, knew about the Yeti... they were prepared..... our first day, our first ride... we got on we got off and DDs were wanted to go home! Both said that they had not realized it was so intense. However, we had a little girl ahead of us that was 6 and she had rode it before and LOVED it! So, I am guessing that it will depend on if you think she can handle it.

Well, we thought our DDs could but obviously were not fond of it.... but truthfully I am glad they at leadst tried it.

 

[mbc35]

Our b/g twins turned 7 on our last trip to WDW. We had to do lots of fast talking to coax our son onto Big Thunder Mountain. He liked it, but he didn't want to try Space Mountain or Expedition Everest. His twin sister loved Rock-N-Rollercoaster and rode it multiple times.

 

[Minniemouse07]

DD (then 6.5yo) rode EE and loved it until the Yeti swiped at her. She came off of it and told me that she didn't want to ride it again w/ me (we were child swapping and she rode w/ dh first).

She rode EE before Splash or Thunder Mountain so we told her that EE was the "scariest" of all the roller coasters in WDW...and since she did that one okay she would be fine on the others! ...oh and the others don't have any Yetis!

She was fine w/ the explaination and wen ton to ride everything else just fine. She was too short for RocknRoller Coaster but she may make 48" by the time we are there in July for her 7th bday!

 

[laughinplace199]

It really depends on the kid. My kids (DD8 & DS6) have ridden Thunder & Splash since they were big enough to ride and they both love those rides. DD8 rode EE last year and hated it. This past April, DS6 tried EE and loved it! They also both loved Space Mtn. DD will not try RnRC and DS was too short this time. They also both tried ToT. Again, DD wasn't a fan but DS was.

 

[cwf1028]

My 6 year old loved EE last year. She was actually turned away in the morning for not being tall enough and was devastated. We tried later in the day and she loved it. It depends on the kid. She also said Space Mountain was 'boring'.

 

[HunnyPots]

Let her look at the ride and make up her mind. Even from the outside you can see how high it goes.
There's no way either of my kids would have ridden it at 7 but you never know...

 

[nicwoodard]

My DD7 (was 6 last summer when we went) loved Space Mountain, but didn't like EE. However, she is determined to try it again next summer when we go again.

One thing I did before we went was look on YouTube. You can search Expedition Everest and it will bring up a some videos people took while on the ride. Though she didn't really like it, we did avoid total freak out when it came to the "torn tracks" and "Yeti " part. (And for myself personally, I think I would have had a COW had I not know that the "torn tracks" part was there.)

You can also find Space Mountain on YouTube...

 

[BamaFan121s]

I guess it depends on your individual child... My DD has been riding everything at WDW (including RnR) since she was 6 and we've never come across any issues with it. She LOVES the thrill rides...even the 'scary' ones. (This is the kid who rode Dinosaur at 3 and laughed the whole time!)

 

[ReneeA]

My DD is not quite 5, super tall for her age and loves it.

Of course, both my daredevils rode ToT by the ripe old age of 3 1/2...

 

[myprinceandprincess]

My DD is now 6 and can't wait to go on Splash Mountain and Expedition Everest. The last time we were there she went on Space Mountain and loved it, and she was only 5 years old then. She is tall for her age so meets the requirement. You know your type of child, and if she was laughing on the other rides I think she'll have a blast on those rides!!

 

[biras jim]

this is one of those questions that I think it's hard for a sampling of opinions to be of much help .. I, too, have a 5 year old who couldn't get enough of EE but he cringes when we go on Maelstrom .. I think your best bet is to really explain the rides to your kids and let them decide (with EE, I think there are some good pics/vids to show what happens)

 

[Chelley00]

My daughter was a couple weeks shy of turning 5 on our last trip, and she rode everything she was tall enough to get on (except Space Mountain, and that was only because I was nervous about not being next to her, not because she was scared) She rode BTMR, Splash Mountain, TOT, EE (5 times!) She just realized she's tall enough for RNR, and wants to cancel the cruise and just go to WDW to ride it (and Space Mt)

 

[GoofyKidd]

I know I'm crazy, but I'm so scared for my kids (DD8 and DS5) to go on Space Mountain this Sept. They're way tall enough and in the past they weren't yet ready. Well they are ready this year-but I'm not! I hate the whole idea of them riding alone with me in front of or behind them. Not being able to hold them in scares me. I guess I know that they won't fly out of their seats, but I still worry. I haven't let on my fears to them so they won't be scaredy cats like me! Maybe someone could help ease my fears??

 

[Minniemouse07]

I know I'm crazy, but I'm so scared for my kids (DD8 and DS5) to go on Space Mountain this Sept. They're way tall enough and in the past they weren't yet ready. Well they are ready this year-but I'm not! I hate the whole idea of them riding alone with me in front of or behind them. Not being able to hold them in scares me. I guess I know that they won't fly out of their seats, but I still worry. I haven't let on my fears to them so they won't be scaredy cats like me! Maybe someone could help ease my fears??

When I was in 7th grade we took our big family vacation to Magic Kingdom (I say that very specifically because it was the year before Epcot opened!). My sister was in 5th grade and my brother was 5 or 6yo.

We ALL went on Space Mountain. My younger brother rode w/ dad, sister rode w/ my mom and I rode BY MYSELF.... in a separate car no less!!!

So picture this... Mom is carrying everything we purchased that day in various bags placed at her feet and has dd in her lap.

In the middle of the ride sis screams... "Mommy.. help me!"

Mom replies... "Help you?? Who's going to help ME!!"



It is a classic story in my family that we pull out from time to time.

We actually all got back on and rode Space Mountain again on our second day at MK!

Dd didn't get a chance to ride it when we were there in December but it is first on our list for our July trip... she's turning 7yo while we are there!

 

[pmama]

My daughter will be very much the same age our next trip. She will be one month shy of 8. We took our last trip for her 7th birthday. The scariest ride she would do was Splash Mountain. She was proud of herself for riding, thought it was sort of fun but is still unsure if she will try it again. The fact that your daughter loved Splash Mtn and Thunder Mtn I would say she's more adventurous and will be ready for more. I'd ease my way up and she'll tell you when she feels uncomfortable going on. I definitely wouldn't choose EE for the first ride first day LOL

 

[disneydiva06]

My oldest DS was 5 on his first trip, and he rode EE twice. This time around, it's one of the first things he wants to do! I think it all depends on the kiddo, though.

ETA~He's almost 8 now, and is looking forward to his first ride on RnRC.