Is the idea of kids "rides" meaning dark rides, mini coasters, etc. no longer in favor at Disney parks? My daughter is 39" and loves rides. My son (2 y old) is about 36 and loves them two. "Rides" I am interpreting as meaning moving vehicle type attractions.

They are great kids and love shows and movies too but for the first time I was accutely aware of the lack of "rides" for them to go on at all the parks except for MK. Even kids like some variety and moving rides are a real thrill for them.

Starting with MGM, there really aren't any rides at all other than the great movie ride. We went to MK the day before so she loved the great kids rides there and when we went to Studios my girl was very patient when we went on ToT and RRC but she wanted to go on a "my ride" afterwards and there just wasn't anything. AK has really nothing moving for anyone under 38" other than the one "dino dumbo" ride.

So my question is do you think that these are simply going to go out of existence in the future? I guess if they are going to spend millions do they think it's a "waste" to spend it on a kids ride? Personally I love the rides myself too so I don't think they would be a waste.

I think each park is just a different experience. If they all had the same kind of rides, they wouldn't be as special. I don't think it's a matter of them not wanting to spend money on "kid rides", I think it's just a matter of what fits into the parks. I have just always tried to help my kids understand the theming of each park (been going since youngest was 2) - that not all parks are about rides. We also don't go on rides that the kids can't ride. It makes it so no one is left out and we can anticipate them like the kids do...I've never been so thrilled as when they both were tall enough to do Test Track! (I'm still waiting for Rock n Roller coaster!!) Also, I think park hopping helps the kids. You can spend part of the day at MGM, AK, or World Showcase strolling and taking in shows and then head back to MK for some "kiddie rides". In our case, it was always POTC. No matter where we were, my boys wanted to go on "the pirate ride" those first trips. So, we always made time to go there! What I love about the Disney Parks is that each trip with kids is a new experience...they outgrow some attractions and grow into others.

Man...the next 25 days CANNOT go fast enough! I wanna be there NOW! :D

My question exactly. Why can't a ride like Splash Mountain have a second ride attached that just gently decends? Not all adults want to be dropped from great heights, either. I was disappointed at how many rides only cater for thrill seekers now. Wake up Disney. The whole family want to ride together. Buying a ticket to sit on a bench all day isn't value for money!!

I can see your point. We waited for our kids to be older before doing WDW, so we really didn't have your experience. However, I can see that it would be nice to have rides that little ones can enjoy that still are not a turn off to older kids. I have only been on Peter Pan, Pooh, Snow White and the Tea cups once, usually because the wait is too long although I would do them it it was a walk on.

Hitting 40" is the big key for WDW for many of the fun rides. Thankfully my daughter is tall for her age(3 and 41") so our trip in April was great for her(but not my wife since she is pregnant).

I totally agree with the need for kid's rides outside of MK. I think that since MK is patterned on the original DL it has more of the "fun for the whole family" commitment. The later parks seem to be trying to make things more exciting and competitive. But the advantage of WDW is the magic that transends the age. I love the kiddy rides at MK. It takes me back. I think that there is a lot to do in WDW other than rides, but they help punctuate the day. And as in another thread, there are many of us that don't like roller coasters (even though we might met the size requirement lying on our sides :~D) but would love a slower version of the rides!

Although I will say you forgot at AK there is the Safari that is a moving ride.

Hitting 40" is the big key for WDW for many of the fun rides. Thankfully my daughter is tall for her age(3 and 41") so our trip in April was great for her(but not my wife since she is pregnant).

Some children may be tall enough, but not emotionally ready for the HM, Dinosaur, or perhaps even the backlot tour.

What were the "big" rides that your daughter enjoyed?

Some children may be tall enough, but not emotionally ready for the HM, Dinosaur, or perhaps even the backlot tour.

What were the "big" rides that your daughter enjoyed?

She loves Splash, Test Track, Soaring, Thunder Mountain, Star Tours, and the Matterhorn(36", can you believe it). We waited on the Matterhorn until she was close to three.

Mansion is a ride we've decided to not take her on anymore. She says she likes it, but I'm not sure she likes the whole thing, so its a no go anymore.

She loves Pirates at DL because of the two drops, and the song.

TOT at WDW she's never been on, but here at DLR she's been twice. The first time was last December with relatives and she told me she didn't want to ride it anymore. Then every week she would say, lets go, lets go. We tried it last month and she changed her mind at the last minute. This past week we went again with niece and nephew. After much hesitancy, she seemed to really like it.

Dinosaour is an interesting case study. She closes her eyes, plugs her ears, and really, really enjoys the motion of the vehicle.

Because she's been visiting DLR since 4 months old on a consistant basis, she has always enjoyed the parks and characters. When she backs out of a ride, we never pushed her.

Now she can't wait to get tall enough for RNR, Mission Space and Space Mountain. Works great as a motivator to eat all her dinner. :)

Hope that helps.

Now she can't wait to get tall enough for RNR, Mission Space and Space Mountain. Works great as a motivator to eat all her dinner. :)


LOL

This is awful, but I did "make" my daughter ride on her first rollercoaster. She was about 12 and she wanted to ride, but kept chickening out. So I picked out a very nice, mild, small one at the old Opryland Park and told her that we were going to wait right there until she got on. Her brother and sister, who were younger, went ahead and rode while she watched and when they found out that we were staying there until she rode, they were very persuasive and her pride was smarting.

She loved it. I never would have made her if I had thought that she would actually be frightened or if it had been much of a coaster, :)

She loves Splash, Test Track, Soaring, Thunder Mountain, Star Tours, and the Matterhorn(36", can you believe it). We waited on the Matterhorn until she was close to three.

Mansion is a ride we've decided to not take her on anymore. She says she likes it, but I'm not sure she likes the whole thing, so its a no go anymore.

She loves Pirates at DL because of the two drops, and the song.

TOT at WDW she's never been on, but here at DLR she's been twice. The first time was last December with relatives and she told me she didn't want to ride it anymore. Then every week she would say, lets go, lets go. We tried it last month and she changed her mind at the last minute. This past week we went again with niece and nephew. After much hesitancy, she seemed to really like it.

Dinosaour is an interesting case study. She closes her eyes, plugs her ears, and really, really enjoys the motion of the vehicle.

Because she's been visiting DLR since 4 months old on a consistant basis, she has always enjoyed the parks and characters. When she backs out of a ride, we never pushed her.

Now she can't wait to get tall enough for RNR, Mission Space and Space Mountain. Works great as a motivator to eat all her dinner. :)

Hope that helps.

Your daughter does not play! :-) She rides things that adults won't ride. I chickened out on theTower of Terror, although I have been on WDW's several times. Each time I had to be coerced into riding, though.

LOL

This is awful, but I did "make" my daughter ride on her first rollercoaster. She was about 12 and she wanted to ride, but kept chickening out. So I picked out a very nice, mild, small one at the old Opryland Park and told her that we were going to wait right there until she got on. Her brother and sister, who were younger, went ahead and rode while she watched and when they found out that we were staying there until she rode, they were very persuasive and her pride was smarting.

She loved it. I never would have made her if I had thought that she would actually be frightened or if it had been much of a coaster, :)
I still remember being tricked into going on Splash Mt. when I was little. My mom told me that you go on the ride and then tell them if you want to go on the drop or not. And I believed her so we went on. And after it was over I just wanted to keep going again and again. :D

I probably have a very unpopular opinion on this - but I can't for the life of me understand why people would want to go to WDW while they are pregnant, with infants, babies, or two year old.....it seems like it might be a miserable experience. Sure, no doubt some two year olds (I'm sure lots of you have been with your two year olds and they got lots out of it. I'm just saying it's not for us)would love a morning at the Magic Kingdom. And being pregnant, hot standing around all day? Ugh - not for me at all - but yes, I understand some of you did go and did enjoy yourself. I just see the tired parents and cranky, hot kids and think - "man, I'm glad I'm not them - who in that group is enjoying this moment"?

We started going when our youngest was 5 years old. We wanted to, as a family, be able to get the most out of the trip, not spend our days divided into who could, who couldn't , who can, who can't - who wants to who doesn't want to.................

I'm sure many of you have opposite opinions and opposite experiences. That being said....

Yeah, MK pretty much as it over the other parks for rides for younger kids. Perhaps they are catering to a "older" crowd or the families who frequent the WDW area but whose kids have gotten older - by offering more than slow tea cups and the like. If the other parks were more like Toontown I'd not be planning our 3rd trip in 4 years as I type...our kids (and us parents!) would be bored. Perhaps they have attempted to give the largest group of folks the largest variety.

Okay - that's it for me!

When we took our 18mt old I was fond of saying -" he loved it, but he would have loved hanging at the mall too." A young child loves the noise and sites and sounds- but certainly he would have enjoyed many simplier-i.e. cheeper vacations. However, our oldest was 6 so that was why we were going. But I was surprised how much my 18mt old did get out of it. Not really the disney stuff, but the long period of time with our family all together all the time with nothing to do but have fun. Disney made it so easy and fun to be a family that I can't imagine any other vacation would be as easy (especially for the parents). With our busy lives, I think this was a time my young son really recognized that we four were it, the core of his life (for now). It changed the dynamics. We have gone on other vacations, but nothing gives us that fun togetherness at the same level and ease as Disney. So now I do understand going at any age, with any age.

I am so wanting to go back....

Okay - that's it for me!

I agree with everything you said, I just would have never been able to put it so eloquently. :)

We took our daughter for her 2nd B-day...then returned when our second was 8 months old. Neither time was miserable for us. It was a new experience seeing things from a different perspective.

I noticed that more CM's give you that "special" attention when you have an infant and a toddler. They would put their hand out and greet them with a big smile!!!! That's the magic!

And our last trip one was 3 and the other 7, it's getting easier with no diapers, bottles and naps, but you have to go expecting that's what needs to be done with children that age.

And next time we go, our second will be 4 1/2 so she can go on even more rides, she was just below the height requirement last time!

To get back to the original reason of this topic, it's so enjoyable to ride with the entire family! But, we are all thrill seekers so the only rides "I'm" afraid of is TOT and Dinosaur! Sissy me!!!

Ha! Summer I'm surprised anyone agreed with me - I've not got a very popular take on the whole thing - :rolleyes:

I couldn't even count on my relatives (dig at Tappenfeat! :p - will we see you on Sunday?)

Wow, there are so many responses here that I agree with that I can’t quote them all. Luvmyboys, I think you are right on with what you say. Each park isn’t just another space to fill with more rides… MGM really does feel different than MK and AK is so unique in so many ways. Still, it does seem that there aren’t any new “rides” that are meant for kids _and_ adults anywhere except MK (Buzz notably).

Which brings me to Cami’s comment on the Splash Mountain kiddie version… I have said that same thing about 10 times and I wondered if I was the only one that thought that way but my daughter would so love SM and should have a kiddie version. Maybe even a really short version of the ride riding through the end or whatever like a longer version of the wedway err… Transit Authority when it goes through Space Mountain.

And mzoolue, the pregnant comment hits home for us. My wife has been to Disney when she was pregnant and it was really hard for me to see her not get to ride her favorites. She of course had the patient motherly attitude and didn’t seem to mind but last year I heard her joke that maybe she wouldn’t have more kids just so that she wouldn’t have to go through the torture.

When we took our 18mt old I was fond of saying -" he loved it, but he would have loved hanging at the mall too." A young child loves the noise and sites and sounds- but certainly he would have enjoyed many simplier-i.e. cheeper vacations. However, our oldest was 6 so that was why we were going. But I was surprised how much my 18mt old did get out of it. ....
I've been hearing this for as long as I can remember of people that wait until kids can "enjoy it" but we've found our kids get lots out of it at every age. Plus, we go for ourselves :)
What has become priceless to us is watching the reactions on their faces at each age to things that are marvelous to them. Take the fiber optic lightup sidewalk at Epcot for example: we have some of the best video of our kids (starting at 1 year old) and the amazement on their faces as they run around, kneel down to examine and even try to scoop the lights up in their arms. Priceless.

If I didn't love Disney myself, I'd never go just for the kids, but since I do, we just appreciate it however it comes.

Ha! Summer I'm surprised anyone agreed with me - I've not got a very popular take on the whole thing - :rolleyes:


Yeah, I mentioned this in another post and I got slammed for being selfish on my vacation. :/

So I just let it go because I knew my point wasn't getting across and figured everyone is entitled to their opinion. :)

And mzoolue, the pregnant comment hits home for us. My wife has been to Disney when she was pregnant and it was really hard for me to see her not get to ride her favorites. She of course had the patient motherly attitude and didn’t seem to mind but last year I heard her joke that maybe she wouldn’t have more kids just so that she wouldn’t have to go through the torture.


That wasn't me, that was ericles, but I do agree with her. My oldest daughter went to WDW when she was four, but with my mom and sister.

Baby sister and I stayed home. I was pregnant and baby sister was a little over a year. I really didn't even consider going.

Ha! Summer I'm surprised anyone agreed with me - I've not got a very popular take on the whole thing - :rolleyes:

I couldn't even count on my relatives (dig at Tappenfeat! :p - will we see you on Sunday?)


It's only love, can't you tell??? :fez:

No, really, there are so many points of views, I can see all of yours and we all have our own opinions from personal experiences.

Les,

We have yet another B-day party...and getting ready for the wedding...bachelor/bachelorette parties all in the same day! Have fun!

And mzoolue, the pregnant comment hits home for us. My wife has been to Disney when she was pregnant and it was really hard for me to see her not get to ride her favorites. She of course had the patient motherly attitude and didn’t seem to mind but last year I heard her joke that maybe she wouldn’t have more kids just so that she wouldn’t have to go through the torture.Thats what Epcot is for. My pregnant wife(due in Sept.) got to eat her way throught the world. Combine this with great shows, parades, dinners, relaxing at the pool, etc., she agreed with me that this was one of our better vacations, even though she missed out on the thrill rides. Thankfully you have 4 parks to choose from.

We are going again in January, so we will have a 4 month old with us. To help make the vacation guarenteed enjoyable, we are bringing MIL with us. I love her dearly, she loves babies and my daughter, and we'll have a 1 bedroom at BWV so it should be a great time. Like others have mentioned, we aren't going for the 4 month old, we are going for our family vacation that includes my DD(she'll be 4 then) who as mentioned above loves everything Disney. Thankfully Disney doesn't start charging until a kid is 3, plus we will have a kitchen so we will have that added flexibility. We don't push either of the kids or ourselves at the parks(1/2 days most of the time) either. So while the 4 month old won't actually know whats going on, she will enjoy it when she is older and can look at all the pictures showing the love that is in our family at one of our favorite places.