:confused: I'm taking my first trip to WDW, and according to the guides,
Kali River Rapids and Splash Mountain are "intense" for young kids
but are often listed on suggested trip plans for families with youngsters.

Any parents out there can advise me if I am pushing it by
taking my 3 1/2 year old girl ?

She meets the height minimums but I don't want to scare the heck out of her.

Maybe the fact that you seem to be together on these rides gives some sense of security to the kids, not sure.

Appreciate any comments from experienced WDW parents !

That MIGHT be pushing it. I think it depends on the kid. The ride itself isn't "intense" by my standards, but if one has never ridden it before, it may seem crazier than it actually is. I had my 3 yo there and he bypassed this ride w/the grandparents.

However, if she tolerates some other rides that are just one step below this, than you may try it. I wouldn't hit this one first and have her traumatized for the entire trip!;)

Can't help you with Splash (my then 3.5 yo DS was still too short)...but on KRR, they gave him a "special" wristband at the beginning when they measured him, which gave him the "privilege" of riding in what they called the Captain's Chair. (My brain is a little fuzzy on the details of it--but he was definitely more secure in the special seat--I don't remember if it was a lap bar or what.) All of the CMs aong the way made him feel great ("you've got the wristband, you must be the captain! You're so lucky! You get the best seat!")--and while I know that the wristband was just for height verification, it made him feel special. (especially important because KRR was the only "grown-up" ride he was big enough for.)

The ride itself isn't really that bumpy. He had a great time watching the water, guessing which way the boat was going to turn, being his general hammy little self, and (most importantly for him!!) laughing like a loon when Mommy got DRENCHED and he was just slightly damp.

The only thing that might be a problem with Splash is the drop. The entire rest of the ride is tame and perfect for kids (at least the one at DL is). But it depends on the child. My now 6 y.o. never had a problem with it, but his younger brother, now 5 y.o., was terrified of everything. We took him on Splash but he hid his head in Daddy's lap the whole time. He chose not to go during later trips, but now he can't wait to go on it. We'll see when we are standing in the line ;) .

I haven't been on KRR, but GRR at DCA isn't really scary and they are the same type. Infact, I couldn't ever figure out why the height on it was 44". The only think I could figure was the size of the seats :confused: . You just get really wet, which isn't my thing, so I always try to avoid it. I don't like walking around in wet clothes. But you can put a poncho on her to try to avoid that problem.

My daughter was 4 when she first tried both of these rides. Kali River Rapids is fine. She and I were in the 2 seats that happened to get a tidal wave over our heads at the end and she was still fine even though she was not very fond of water in her face at the time. However Splash Mtn was a different story altogether. She hated it and vowed to never go on again. It was a bit too much with the big drop at the end. There is also a smaller drop in the dark inside the mountain that sent her into crying. They wouldn't even give us the picture at the end because as the CM said, "it appeared as though the little girl was sitting on your lap and that is against the rules". So the picture wasn't available to anyone who was on that boat. I felt bad because she wasn't even on my lap. She was just snuggled up beside me. Anyways, to make a long story short, KRR is fine, and depending on your child (mine still doesn't like "faster" rides 3 yrs later) Splash Mtn could be an adventure. Either way, they will live to tell about it and until you do the rides, you will never know how they will act.

I'd say that KRR is less scary than Splash, Splash is darker and I think those buzzards are creepy.

If your dd doesn't want to ride KRR, you can do what my dd loves to do, stand on the bridge and squirt the rafts (especially the one with her Dad and brother) as they go past.

My daughter who is now 14 has been riding Splash & KRR since she made the height requirement. My best friends son who is now 6 has been riding both since he made the height requirement. I hate KRR because for some reason I am the one that gets soaked (not just wet but soaked so badly I have to leave to go change my clothes and its miserable.) Anyway her son LOVES both, and named a creek near their old house Kali River Rapids so he obviously isn't scared of it. I think all kids are different. Take your child on some of the other dark rides first (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc) and if she handles those fine then she will be ok with Splash (because inside its like a big life size cartoon and very cute.) The drop is scary for EVERYONE but its super fast and if you don't tell her about it she won't even know until it happens. That always worked for us. Honestly I think its the older kids that get scared because they KNOW its coming.

With Splash, you can show him the drop from outside the ride. Show him that there's a pretty big splash of water, he may get a little wet, but everybody always comes out laughing. When our kids were first tall enough to ride Splash, they loved the ride, were a little apprehensive about the drop, but held on tight & were fine.

As for Kali, like has been mentioned before, the ride itself is rather tame. No big drops; nothing jumping out @ you, it is kinda bumpy @ times, though. However, there is a high probability that you will get SOAKED !! I don't mean sprayed, or dripped on, or even splashed -- I mean like the Gatorade cooler gets poured on you after you win the game.

They're both great rides. I HIGHLY recommend Splash !!! :D

The only "intense" part of Splash Mountain is the drop and the climb up to the drop. Your daughter can see the drop from outside and before you get to the entrance. There is ALOT more to this attraction than that drop, though. You don't just get into your log, go up, and then right back down. The rest of the ride, inside the mountain, is bright and cheery. And you will know when you get to the big drop. There are smaller ones along the way but nothing major. And even after the drop, there's more.

My granddaughter went on Kali River Rapids. She didn't like it at the time. She didn't like the fire scene. You can (and more than likely will) get very wet on this attraction. Very wet. I think that's what "scares" the kids more than anything. They get out of the raft and they are soaked. Not a very comfortable feeling. She can wear a poncho or you can take a change of clothes for her.

Actually, water is everywhere at Disney World so you'll probably want to pack a change of clothes every day. If she sees some of the kids playing in the fountains, she'll be able to join in with them.

We took our DS @ 3 and he went on both Splash and KRR and BTMRR. My DH and I both feel that the only mistake was BRMRR because it doesn't have individual lap bars and it was a little scary because he wasn't really restrained. I would try your little one out on the Barnstormer a couple of times and then have her watch Splash and see what her reaction is.

The Captain's Chair on KRR is a chair that is equipped with an orange bar to keep the little one from moving as much as those in the rest of the boat. As long as your little one is ok with getting verrrryyyy wet, she should be fine.

With Splash, you can show him the drop from outside the ride. Show him that there's a pretty big splash of water, he may get a little wet, but everybody always comes out laughing.

Opps, sorry. :eek: Show "her" the drop .. I was thinking of my little boy when he rode it the first time.

In any event, it's a GREAT ride. One of my absolute favorites in all of WDW. :D

Like many have mentioned with their kids; My DD (now 6) 1st rode KRR when she was 4 and loved it (I suggest ponchos :p ). Splash, not so much. It scared her the first time and she hasn't ridden it again since.