Which rides for kid who gets scared easily

[UsNew2Disney2008]

My son has been watching videos of Disney and wanting to try some of the more "thrilling" rides. Mainly Dinsoaur, Splash MT. and Stitch.

He is tall and big for his age, 46 inches tall w/o shoes; 56 lbs. He will be turning 5 on our trip.

Here is the problem - he gets scared easily. He will HIDE during parts of Sesame Street or other mild show like Dora. Refuses to watch NEMO & Lion King.

Any suggestions on which rides would be good for him?

We did a weekend last year. He rode Buzz - which scared him, but he seemed to like. He HATED WTP (scarey) and TTA (scarey). He rode BS, but didn't want to ride again.

What about Soarin? I know it seems "high up" but would that be appropriate as well?

 

[DISNEYNV]

Stay clear of Dinosaur! Our DD (4) almost had a heart attact and she is a brave little girl. I would stick to the family rides like Dumbo, Small World, Pooh, etc. My DD also refused to do the Haunted Mansion... But she loves movies like Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. It's the dark factor! She was a bit apprehensive to go on POTC but loved it. Soaring is a great ride for that age group. Not scary at all. Unless you don't like heights Rule of thumb... If they seem scared and don't want to ride don't force it. There is plenty to do and ride without the trauma. Also, if you are sceptical ride it first. I wish we would have done that with Dinosaur, but she wanted to go on. OMG...the look on the poor kids face! Worst parent award please!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Stay clear of Dinosaur! Our DD (4) almost had a heart attact and she is a brave little girl. I would stick to the family rides like Dumbo, Small World, Pooh, etc. My DD also refused to do the Haunted Mansion... But she loves movies like Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. It's the dark factor! She was a bit apprehensive to go on POTC but loved it. Soaring is a great ride for that age group. Not scary at all. Unless you don't like heights Rule of thumb... If they seem scared and don't want to ride don't force it. There is plenty to do and ride without the trauma. Also, if you are sceptical ride it first. I wish we would have done that with Dinosaur, but she wanted to go on. OMG...the look on the poor kids face! Worst parent award please!

Thanks for the information! I will def. not do Dinosaur then! The problem is he is begging to ride these things, and I think he shouldn't. I know he will be mad at me, but I know out of the few we did last year that if Pooh was a bit much for him, these others are just too much x 10000!

I'm just worried about how to make him understand that!

 

[hroyale]

Sounds a little like my DS. Just yesterday he hid behind me durring part of Wow Wow Wobzy.

Anyway, we found the key was to prepare him for what was going to happen, and keep talking about it being pretend. "Wasn't it fun to pretend we were flying?" Etc....

The only ride we went on that he got scared on was POC, and I knew that one was going to be risky so it was planned on the last day so it wouldn't turn him off for rides.

These were his favorites:
* Soarin' (I was worried about this, but he LOVED it. Let him take off his shoes and pull his feet up so he doesn't get the dangling feeling.)
* ToyStory Mania
* Indy Speedway (he was nervous because it looked fast, but realized it was just like the antique cars at other amusement parks)
* Winnie the Pooh
* Buzz Lightyear
* Carosel
* Small World
* Aladian's carpet

Take or leave:
* Dumbo
* TeaCups
* PeterPan

A little too scary (didn't want to repeat):
* Jungle cruise (just the cave part)
* Pirates of the Carribean
* Nemo at Epcot (just the part with the angler fish, I didn't prepare him for it so that was my fault)

He also loved all the shows. All of them. From Tiki Room, Crush, Finding Nemo, Lion King, etc.... Except for the stunt show at HS. "Too loud and firey." Yet he's still talking about it and acting it out with his toy cars.

I've been told the Ariel show at HS can be scary because of Ursela. It was having technical difficulties when we were there, but I was alittle worried about it.

DS loved watching Splash Mountain, but would never consider going on it even though he was tall enough. We can't even take him through a car wash. I don't think he'll ever be a thrill rider.

Hope this helps,
Heather

 

[jenb1023]

He should be fine on Soarin and Splash Mtn. I would avoid Dinosaur and Stitch. My DD is a daredevil who rides everything including TOT but even she doesn't ride Dinosaur. You might want to try BS again and if that goes okay then maybe BTMRR. It seems like he doesn't like dark and scary stuff but may be okay with thrilling things.

 

[drinkme]

He should be fine on Soarin and Splash Mtn. I would avoid Dinosaur and Stitch. My DD is a daredevil who rides everything including TOT but even she doesn't ride Dinosaur. You might want to try BS again and if that goes okay then maybe BTMRR. It seems like he doesn't like dark and scary stuff but may be okay with thrilling things.

My ds8 who loves Dinosaur, EE, BTMMR, Space mt. is afraid of Splash. He is so scared of the bird (is that a vulture) at the end right before the drop.

Go figure!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Thanks so much for your advice!

He actually has issues with dark and with scarey!

He has always said there is no way he'd ever go on PoTC! So I know that is a no!

He loved Jungle Cruise once I told him they were puppets. I thought he'd love KS, but he hated it. Was afraid the animals would get us. He is a big animal lover, so that was a shock to me.

We went to MK:
Buzz - liked, but scared during ride. didn't want to go on again.
TTA - hated! hated! hated! Couldn't get off fast enough. (didn't know about space mountain part - my fault totally)
Dumbo - loved
WtP - didn't like
IASW - loved!
MC - loved!
JC - loved!
BS - scared while on, didn't want to ride again
Teacups - loved.

AK:
KS - didn't like.
FoTLK - scared during show. picked to participate, wouldn't - sat in my lap wanting to leave.
TS - loved

DHS -
Playhouse Disney - was bored.
Animation - didn't like - boring.


Honestly - that is our experience there. Epcot will be new to us, as will a lot of DHS & AK - we spent about maybe 2 hours in each of those parks. Maybe 4 hours total in MK too.

I really appreciate all the help. It is funny, my DD who is about to turn 2 - she'd ride ANYTHING! LOVES to be thrilled.

Oh - one more thing - the Mission Space in the mild setting - is that okay? He seems a little obsessed with wanting to do it.

 

[Colinsmom]

My DS loved Mission Space at 5yo but has a lot fewer fears than your DS. He was terrified on Dinosaur, Haunted Mansion and Expedition Everest (also It's Tough to Be a Bug and Honey I Shrunk the Audience) but loved everything else (he was tall enough to ride it all, including Rock n Roller Coaster). We haven't tried Stitch yet and won't for a while longer. Stitch is pitch black for a while and pretty intense.