was everyone's children when they started going on the thrill rides?

Good morning,

I don't quite recall what age but more importantly, as soon as our son hit the 40' mark, a whole bunch of things opened up for him in terms of going on thrill rides so to speak. I'm pretty sure his 1st was Splash Mountain, followed by Big Thunder Mountain and he was brave enough to do The Tower Of Terror a few times.

If it helps, he just turned 6 so I'd say he's been thrill riding since he was 4 or so.

Hey Bob
You leave 20 minutes before me:crying:

Our son was, I guess, 5 the first time we took him. He was tall enough to ride BTMRR, ToT, Splash, etc (more than 40', less than '44). He rode 'em & loved 'em. Our daughter was tall enough the last time we went; she was maybe 4. She took a little more coaxing, but after she rode the 1st time, she wanted to ride again & again. She did decide to sit out ToT that time, but is looking forward to riding it this time. :D

My daughter was almost 2 and my mon put her on a kiddie coaster. Being a very tall kid, she was allowed on no problem. I was terrified, and I would have NEVER let her on if it were me. Any way, when I caught up to them, she was already on the ride,so off she went. I will NEVER forget the look on her face, she was THRILLED. It was the BIGGEST smile I had ever seen! We had to put her on it from then on, how could I deny her that.This was the same kid that at 4 months of age went in a little baby sled, and would only stop crying, and laugh when I ran as fast as I could while pulling.

Went to WDW when my oldest nephew as not quite 3. He was a tall kid (his birthday was the next week) and he's now a 6'6" or more young man. We took him on BTMRR, a little nervous about how he'd take it - and when we got done I asked him, a little scared of what his answer would be, if he liked the ride. "That was fun, can we go again" was said with such enthusiasm, the people behind us laughed!

(And so we went again!)

Depends on how you define "thrill" ride. My younger daughter is 5, but very tiny for her age, so she's a long way from being tall enough for any rollar coasters or anything like that. It's just as well, because she is really afraid of any dark rides, or going fast. She is OK with rides involving a little height, like Dumbo or the Alladin ride. My older daughter, age 8, loves Soarin', is fine with the tea cups, but does not like rollar coasters at all. She went on Splash Mountain once, and would not again. She says some rides make her feel funny, but she never gets motion sickness, so I'm not sure just what her issue is, but I respect it. I think you have to assess each kid individually, regarding their tolerance for speed, height, darkness, going backward, etc. A kid may be fine with one element, but not another.

I have to agree with that! My dare devil who loves California screamin' and almost All coasters(did not like Ghost rider at Knotts), will not step foot on a ferris wheel. Not the sun wheel, but a regular little ferris wheel. She is afraid of heights. That never stopped her from going on Tower of Terror, but each to their own I guess!

mom22gls took my answer. "It depends"

The factors are what thrill ride you're talking about and what the requirements are to ride it. My eldest is tall for his age but my younger two are more 'average to low' for height. By the time they've been tall enough to ride most rides, they're old enough, too.

I never force a child. Last week, I KNEW my 5-y/o could handle HM but he was playing Mr. Stubborn. I kept asking him but if he kept saying no, we would not have gone on it. Finally his older brother convinced him to try it so we went. That's definitely not a thrill ride in my book, though. ;)

That same day, that same child went on Space Mountain with bells on. He was anxious for it.

Over the years my kids have been reluctant to ride Matterhorn for whatever reason. It's a low-height restriction but either the bumpy-ness of it or Harold or both are deterrants.

For the most part, I take my cues from my kids and I start them on "easier" rides and build up.

Adrienne

Over the years my kids have been reluctant to ride Matterhorn for whatever reason. It's a low-height restriction but either the bumpy-ness of it or Harold or both are deterrants.

Adrienne

My 7-year old refuses to ride Matterhorn because of Harold. Even when I tell him that I would warn him when Harold appears, he refuses. So I won't even try to take my 5 year old on it.

gloria

I was just asking out of curiosity. My 3 and half year old is 37.5 inches, so this trip there will be no big rides for him.

I was just asking out of curiosity. My 3 and half year old is 37.5 inches, so this trip there will be no big rides for him.

Ahhh, technically he can ride Gadgets Go Coaster and Matterhorn. Gadgets is all outdoors, unlike Matterhorn. You could, if nothing else, take him to it, show it to him, and see if he's interested in trying it.

Adrienne

mom22gls took my answer. "It depends"

I concur. Something like the Matterhorn, or Big Thunder Mountain, can probably just be done whenever they are tall enough, but with rides like the Maliboomer and Screamin, you may want to wait. However I think that no one here can tell you when your kids will be ready, only they can do that. I would always ask them what they feel comfortable with, and let them see as much of the ride as possible before they get on it.

Personally until about two years ago was a major chicken, and would not go on any roller coaster whatsoever. Nowadays I can handle everything except the Tower of Terror and California Screamin.

futurecm21

Is there somewhere that has videos of the rides? Yesterday, DS almost rode Space Mountain and I found myself getting really nervous about it, since I wouldn't be able to ride it with him and be there if he freaked out mid-ride. Also, he's been asking to ride the Matterhorn, but wants to wait til "the baby comes out of my belly". It's been a while since my one and only ride there so I don't really remember much of it. I'd like to be able to prepare myself to prepare him for the thrill rides.

Liz :cool:

Like others have said it depends on what your child wants to do. Our last trip in Feb. we realized that my 3 yr old was big enough for Matterhorn. We went and did Gadgets go coaster first and he loved it. When we did the Matterhorn, he said he likes the ride but not the monster with the red eyes and scratchy hands (I never knew his name was Harold ;) ), and he'll do it again if the monster is not there. My oldest likes all except TOT, my middle son (6yrs old) is just now starting to like BTMRR and Splash. We had to let him take his time and warm up to them. I think it's O.K to encourage them, just not force it IMO.

As soon as they were tall enough. My 3yo is anxious to go on all the big rides. He is a little guy, and needed about 1/2 inch when we are there in December, so I see him going on everything on our trip this fall, he will be 4 in July.
My oldest is tall for his age, so I am guessing he was around 3. Well let's see, the little guy was 9 months when he went the first time, that would have made my oldest about 32 months, and I know he was tall enough for Splash and BTMRR then.