Would you ever MAKE your child get on a ride?

[strmtroopr96]

My oldest DD is the type who will be scared to ride something the first time but then after decides that she LOVES it!! She has done everything at WDW except for Rock and Roller Coaster. We are still trying to get her on that one and hopefully will in September. She will be nearly 9 then. I think it is just being indoors and not as visible that is the problem.

And this is the same kid who started riding huge rollercoasters at Hershey Park at the age of 4! LOL So I try telling her that RnRC is much tinier compared to those.

She doesn't usually want to go back on Tower of Terror or Mission Space anymore though but will once in awhile. Expedition Everest is her current favorite though.

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,
my eldest DD (7) hates anything new and will refuse to go on new rides too - we went to DLRParis and had to force her just to try rides - once she knew we wouldn't force her onto anything unsuitable or horrid (as if she doesn't know us by now!!) then she was fine. I expect for our trip (in a week!!!!!) she will revert to refusal for a few rides again, then be fine...

Tessa

 

[WDWorBUST]

I voted no way - but DD has refused to ride very little she was tall enough for. She didn't want to do HM in January - so we didn't, no big deal. She's 4 and had just went on it in September but for whatever reason didn't want to and she's been riding it since 13 months (we always just laugh - ha ha ha ha you don't scare me - at the ghosts). But she did TOT in September (she was a couple months shy of 4) and although she didn't get upset she didn't really like it (she was disturbed by the people disappearing, not the ride itself) yet she insisted on riding it in January. So - I have a child that it really hasn't been an issue with. It might be different if she wasn't so daring.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well I would never ever berate my kids for anything- especially for not wanting to go on a ride. I have however insisted that they try a ride even if they did not want to. I am not talking RNR- rides like Peter Pan- which they loved! I don't want my kids to be afraid to try things. I talk to them, explain all about what they will see, assure them that it is not a scary ride and if they truly are stressed about it I don't make them go.

 

[mericletwins]

Why didn't YOU say something to the kids? I don't understand why people don't take control of a situation more often...

She said in her post that she had asked the kids to stop, but that they kept doing it anyway.

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

Why didn't YOU say something to the kids? I don't understand why people don't take control of a situation more often...

Oh I did talk to those kids it only made them laugh and get worse... 1st I told them to stop... asked where their parents were told them they were scaring my child... told them I would report them to the CM in the front... I know looking back I should have walked away and gotten back in line when they were not there but I was angry and that didn;t occur to me... I did report them to the person running the ride. other than asking them to stop telling them they would have kids someday etc I mean its not like I could (or would) do anything physically to make them stop. there were plenty of other parents around us asking them to stop too... just their kids had been on it and knew better than what those kids were saying. What would you have done to get them to stop?


oops I posted this as soon as I read the post to me thank you to the 2 who already mentioned that I did speak up

 

[Avonlady1001]

You have to remember that developmentally a young child of one or two doesn't know fear, they don't know how to be scared of something.

Around three or four, when they become more independent and start to develop a sense of self, children start to fear things and start to understand the concept of 'scary'. At this age, also, they cannot rationalize things - or more, you can't rationize with them. This develops at a later stage of development, when you can 'talk them' into things.

I would never force a child, esp. one so young. A child's fear may be different than an adult's fear, but they are just as real.

I have to disagree w/ this. Last time we went, my DD was 2. On Pirates & Snow White, she hid her head the whole ride and refused to go on again. She said they were scary & dark. We're going back in 2 months, she'll be 3 1/2, and I've convinced her to try them again b/c she may like them this time. But a 2 year old knows when she's afraid. I wouldn't force her on anything, but I would try to convince her to try it.

 

[Wendybird55]

I think the most important thing is to know your child and choose rides you believe are approriatate for them. Obviously there are rides they can see for themselves what it's like (Dumbo, Barnstormer, etc), buy many of the Disney attractions are inside and they can't tell much. I would try my best to explain to them what's in store with the rides even if there are some scary parts, but assure them you will be there to "protect" them and the scary parts are just make believe for fun. Sometimes if you make a scary part seem like fun your child will laugh instead of cry. Also let them know they don't HAVE to go on the ride, but you think they will have fun and if they don't like the ride they don't have to go on again. A good way to prepare them is to talk alot about the rides beofre you go to get them excited and there are different websites (you tube) you can go to to actually let them watch the ride. I think sometimes its more the fear of not knowing what's about to happen then the actual ride itself. The more prepared the are, the less afraid they may be.Some rides they may need some time to think about it and that's OK. I don't think it's right to FORCE a child to thte point they are petrified, but I also know unless your child tries something, they won't know if they like it and you

 

[SandrainNC]

No. I would try to talk them into it, but would not make them. My parents used to do it to me (I was a ride chicken until Jr. High). And no, I still did not like the log flume rides even after I was made to ride it. I was very very afraid of anything with big hills and they would say I had to ride it. I was scared to death! I love the big thrill rides now by the way. So, no I would not make them. Also, my oldest has special needs so doesn't really realize what he is getting on until he is on there. He is tall enough for TOT but there is no way I would do that to him. We just use our judgment about what he will like and plan to do the same thing with my youngest (who does not have special needs). I just don't think forcing them is a good thing. I have seen it too with a child screaming and begging not to ride something and I feel so bad for them (because I have been there and it is very scary).

Sandra

 

[rt2dz]

I have not read the replies. My answer is both yes and no. It completely depends on the situation.

Last trip (12/07), DS#1 did not want to ride Expedition Everest. We said fine and jumped on without him (one at a time). Both DH and I after riding told him he’d love it. However, he had a not-so-good experience on a roller coaster a few months back and was nervous. He declined. We didn’t push it. His choice.

On the other hand, DS#2 on the same trip was flipping out because he didn’t want to go on It’s A Small World. It looked scary to him because he couldn’t see anything. Knowing full well it wasn’t, we made him go on. And, of course, he found out it wasn’t scary and he loved the ride. With DS#2, we encountered that with quite a few rides, mostly the very benign ones.

There were other rides that DS#1, my big thrill seeker, has ridden in the past at WDW that he didn’t want to ride this last trip because of that one past roller coaster experience (at a different park). Most I turned the other way on (ToT, BTMRR), but I didn’t want to see him get uptight about all rides from a fluke experience, so we gently pushed (aka, bribed) him onto some rides (i.e., Dinosaur—a favorite of his). He was happy he went, I knew he already loved them, and it helped push him past that one bad experience. I also push him onto Haunted Mansion because it is the queue he dislikes and not the ride—he loves the ride. We have learned to just do that one when we can practically walk on.

 

[disneygal2007]

I witnessed a parent physically forcing their daughter to ride ToT last year.
We were a bit back in line, but I saw and heard it. The poor girl was hysterical, crying and begging not to ride!! It was aweful! And all the onlookers just stood there, not knowing what to do. I thought the CM would have stepped in, suggesting they opt out. But instead, the CM actually helped this woman buckle her daughter in!
When we reached the front of the line, I asked the CM why he allowed this girl to be traumatized. The CM responded, "It's not my kid, so I have no control." I thought this was a lame excuse. Disney CMs should intervene when a situation gets as bad as this. Other kids waiting in line opted out after seeing what that girl went through. My dd would have, if she hadn't ridden ToT many times before.
Sorry to vent, but after seeing what I saw, IT IS WRONG TO PHYSICALLY FORCE A CHILD when he or she is panicked, and pleading not to do it. Ever heard of child swap???????

OMG I so agree. That made my heart hurt reading that.

 

[craigs bride]

im not very good with the rollercoasters and water rides so i wouldnt force my children into doing something i dont myself
but saying that my middle daughter loves anything that is fast whereas my son hates anything like that ! but we still love visiting the parks as there is a lot more than rides to be seen !

 

[dbmarie]

My dh convinced my then 9 year old to ride TOT and after that she wouldn't ride on anything. We had to push her to get on everything after that even rides she loved before that. We got the looks and comments on every ride we tried to get her on. It was not fun and I'm hoping we won't have a repeat this year.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

I definitely would insist that my child ride the ride. That's our parenting philosophy in general: my kids must try every food on their plate, must always say hello to adults (and later they must be able to tell me the color of the adult's eyes so I know they made eye contact) , and they must try every ride at least once.

My DD5 is slightly phobic about characters. Last week we were at Chucky Cheese and she freaked out when Chucky appeared. She wanted to leave, and I refused. I agreed that she didn't have go NEAR him, but she did have to remain at the party. About 30 minutes later, she decided she wasn't afraid of Chucky anymore and even hi-fived him before she left. Happy DD5, Happy Chucky, Happy Ending.

I believe that catering to the phobic whims of a 5 year old only validates it.

 

[JodyLynC]

No way would I force my child on a ride. Why should I? There are dozens and dozens of other things to do at WDW. Why must a child go on a ride he/she doesn't want to?

I was one of those kids that was forced to go on rides by my parents before I was ready. I have miserable memories of family vacations. To this day, I am unable to go on certain rides. More often than not, I will get a feeling of panic at the thought of certain rides.

Just use Child Swap for Heaven's sake!! If you are one of those families that vacation at WDW every few years, skip the ride this year and try again another year.

 

[JodyLynC]

I believe that catering to the phobic whims of a 5 year old only validates it.

Sorry, I don't understand this comment. A 5 year old is going to have certain concerns/fears/misgivings that an older child or adult might not. I don't see how simply saying "I understand you are uncomfortable. This is how I view this ride/attraction/situation" is catering to a phobic whim.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

My DD5 is slightly phobic about characters. Last week we were at Chucky Cheese and she freaked out when Chucky appeared. She wanted to leave, and I refused. I agreed that she didn't have go NEAR him, but she did have to remain at the party. About 30 minutes later, she decided she wasn't afraid of Chucky anymore and even hi-fived him before she left. Happy DD5, Happy Chucky, Happy Ending.

I believe that catering to the phobic whims of a 5 year old only validates it.

Sorry, I don't understand this comment. A 5 year old is going to have certain concerns/fears/misgivings that an older child or adult might not. I don't see how simply saying "I understand you are uncomfortable. This is how I view this ride/attraction/situation" is catering to a phobic whim.

For example, in the case I mentioned above, my daughter wanted to leave because she was afraid of Chucky. I believe saying to my daughter "you're right sweetie, we should leave" caters to that whim and sends the message that Chucky is actually frightening. By lovingly insisting that she stay and observe, she learned that her fear was unfounded.

 

[JodyLynC]

For example, in the case I mentioned above, my daughter wanted to leave because she was afraid of Chucky. I believe saying to my daughter "you're right sweetie, we should leave" caters to that whim and sends the message that Chucky is actually frightening. By lovingly insisting that she stay and observe, she learned that her fear was unfounded.

I agree that saying "You're right sweetie, we should leave." would likely not be helpful in that situation. Lovingly explaining the situation and helping her to set boundaries that was acceptable to you both sounds like what occurred. Your earlier post sounded a bit harsh. When you said that you "refused" to leave and the statment "phobic whims" took me a bit by surprise.

Not that you owe me any explanation... I've read some of your posts on other threads and generally agree with you. I think that is why I was so surpised by your earlier response. Thanks for taking a moment to respond.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

Not that you owe me any explanation... I've read some of your posts on other threads and generally agree with you. I think that is why I was so surpised by your earlier response. Thanks for taking a moment to respond.

Gladly.

 

[design_mom]

I did... once... but I won't do it again. (It wasn't at WDW.) And I only "talked it up" -- I didn't force, bribe, cajole or anything.

I talked my DS into going on that big, swinging Viking Ship ride at an amusement park. He loves swings and I really thought he'd enjoy it. I told him it was just like a big swing -- and that I really, really thought he'd like it. And that it really wasn't scary.

What I forgot about -- until the thing started swinging -- is that there's only one lap bar for the whole row, so the lap bar is only tight on the largest person in the row. He was the only child in the row and there was a large adult in the row. He did not feel properly strapped in and was petrified. I really don't think he was in any danger (I was right next to him) but he did *not* enjoy it.

I really think he would have enjoyed it if the lap bar had been at his level... but I have now lost my credibility when it comes to "what's scary." (I doubt he will *ever* ride that Viking Ship again...even though I do think he'd like it.)

Now I just say "I think you'd like it" but let him make his own decision and if he doesn't want to, that's okay.