I have taken my now 6 year old to Disneyland now twice. Each time before we get to the park he tells me he's going to go on this ride then that ride. When the time comes he decides he doesnt want to go on that ride and would rather go on something else. I trek all the way over to the other side of the park just for us to wait in line only to hear I gotta go potty right when its our turn to ride. His way of sayin im still afraid!!!. What can I do to get him to go on some rides. It gets extremely frustrating to spend the money and the time in the park just to stand in line. Last time I wound up saying things that I shouldnt have. Any ideas? So far the only thing that I have been able to get him to go on is Casey Jr circus train. He wont go on any of the dark rides.
Thanks

I had a son who also didn't like to ride many rides. A lot of times I just sat out with him but then some times I didn't offer to see what he would do and he would end up coming. I didn't do this with terribly frightening rides, though.

If you live close, and don't have an AP, I would invest in one.
If you can go a lot, and, treat it like no big deal, maybe it will become 'no big deal' to him.

We all say {okay, maybe not all of us} things we regret. But, I can see by your post that you feel bad {as we all do when we say something we regret}. So if the opportunity comes up to remedy what you said, do that.

And, something else that might help. If you know someone who has a child close to his age {maybe not too much older because some big kids don't realize they used to be afraid of rides, too} , maybe you guys can hook up.

Maybe even on a breakfast club meet, sometimes kids come. Or, the group of adults might be incentive enough for him to want to ride something with them.

Either way, good luck.

I still have bad memories of making my son go on the Jungle Cruise. :(

thanks mousewife, Yes I live close by and I just got us both annual passes for his B-day. We were supposed to go Saturday with a couple of his buddies but I havent heard from them in two weeks. I guess I could see if one of his other buddies wants to go and hope that the other two dont show up. It will really cost me a fortune not to mention will I have enough room in the car :) I am thinking of going to Disneyland tomorrow and filming alot of the rides and letting him watch them at home tomorrow night. Then maybe he wont be as scared.
THanks again :)

Progressive Desensitization. Keep getting closer and closer, get them used to the idea, and soon they will just go on.

Get him to go with you through the queue, knowing that he can back out at the end with no pressure from you. No teasing, no names, no pressure. Use lots of distraction techniques while you are in line. Got a Gameboy, perchance? Another trick I use for scardy kids is to have a penlight-flashlight which I shine on the floor of the vehicle while on the ride, right by our feet. They can look at that while we are moving. Earplugs are helpful for sensitive kids. Also, don't play up how dark or scary things are - talk about how funny and silly they are! Don't call the figures in Haunted Mansion "ghosts" but instead call them puppets. "Laugh at the puppets!" Keep reminding them that it is all pretend, and you won't let anything bad happen to them.

Okay - we are are clearly different parents. While I tried the approach above with my daughter, it only seemed to encourage the behavior. She is currently 7 - we went through this when she was 5 and 6 on various visits. Well, I went through it with the Grandparents anyway (Dad didn't go those times.)

Finally, Daddy went - and he basically told her "suck it up". THat was the phrase he used. She had to go on it once. If she didn't want to ride it again, that was fine. But she had to at least try it. That was to go on the story book land boat (she was afraid of being eaten by the whale - at 6 - even though she could see the whale was "fake".)

So, she sort of quivered the lip a bit and off they went. She came off with the biggest grin ever. Next ride. Same thing. She doesn't like the queue of Indy still - it's a bit dark in some places. Last time we went, I kept pulling on this and yanking on that which bugged her - yet on the way out, she insisted on yanking and pushing things herself. (You know, in that queue how it has the interactive features - that's what I mean by yanking - not any sort of vandalism.)

Needless to say - my girl is the roller coaster queen. Daddy and her have been to Knott's and Magic Mountain for a day of nothing but thrill rides. She even rode X! And loved it - and begs for a chance to go back again.

So, maybe my dh's approach was a bit harsher. It's not for everyone, I'm sure. But I don't think I've caused any sort of lasting psychological damage.

My 4 year old doesn't like going on some things. I make deals with him sometimes that if he rides with me on Haunted Mansion (it's my absolute favorite ride) that I'll take him on whatever ride he wants to go on. That works for him. It's been interesting to watch him get over his fear - last time on HM he told me "I'm so proud of myself for being brave." It was a milestone for him. We've also used tactics like telling him that Space Mountain is really called Buzz Lightyears rocket ships because he's such a Buzz Lightyear fanatic.

At the risk of sounding like an "adult", have you considered not taking him to DL for a while? IF you specifically spoke with him about going on the rides, and he specifically said he wanted to go on them - then you purchased the tickets and he didn't go...I wouldn't take him for a bit. Wouldn't we do the same in other situations? Hey - I like to do those special things for my kids as much as possible - but lets face it - I'm not teaching them the value of things when I buy them the $20 carton of ice cream (or whatever)they "really really wanted" only to have them not eat it - time and time again.