My 5-year old son will be just about the right height to ride Indy for the first time when we go to DL in October. My wife is worried that Indy has too much whip-lash and jerkiness for a 5 YO. My son has already gone on SM (8 times and loves it) and the matterhorn around 4 times (once on the tomorrowland side). I tried explaining to her that I think the Matterhorn is much rougher and SM is more whip-lashish than Indy, but she doesn't believe me. So, I'm writing the community to get your input. Thoughts please! :) Thx!
Wayne

My 5yo was tall enough last Decemeber to go on Indy. He wanted to go and was so excited. The best part was that my dad was with us. He hadn't been to Disneyland in 25 years, so obviously he had never been on Indy either. I honestly think my 5yo didn't get jerked around too much, not more than he would on the Matterhorn, which he hasn't been on in a few years. He was terrified of Indy. Once he got scared, he held on for dear life and had his head down and eyes closed. I tried to get him to look at stuff and he wanted no part of it. So for us, it is more of a fear thing. He LOVES BTMRR though.

My 5-year old son will be just about the right height to ride Indy for the first time when we go to DL in October. My wife is worried that Indy has too much whip-lash and jerkiness for a 5 YO. My son has already gone on SM (8 times and loves it) and the matterhorn around 4 times (once on the tomorrowland side). I tried explaining to her that I think the Matterhorn is much rougher and SM is more whip-lashish than Indy, but she doesn't believe me. So, I'm writing the community to get your input. Thoughts please! :) Thx!
Wayne
I do not consider the Matterhorn or Space Mountain rougher than Indy. I have ceased riding Indy due to the jerkiness. Between occasionally having my back put out of place, and always leaving Indy with a severe headache, I came to the conclusion it was not worth the pain. My kids still ride, while I hold the dog. I do ride and enjoy Matterhorn and Space Mountain without a worry about injuring my back and without getting headaches.

I think Indy is rougher and scarier than any other ride in DL, hence the higher height requirement.

My 5yo was tall enough to ride it last year, although she didn't particularly like the ride. It didn't freak her out or anything, but it wasn't one of her favorites. I don't think it had anything to do with the jerkiness, though. Her favorites were Grizzly River Run, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and BTMRR.

It's interesting that you find Matterhorn less jerky and rough than Indy. I think it's the opposite, but that's why I'm asking everyone else. :)

So if he was tall enough (hence the height requirements), the ride would be suitable for him to ride? He isn't scared of much and I explained what the insides of the ride is like. He wants to go on it.

One person wrote about getting headaches coming off the ride. I have never experienced that...neither has my wife. How about everyone else?

Indy is a little rough for my tastes -- I have gotten headaches on there too, or had existing headaches made worse. I have no problems on any other DLR rides.

I find the Matterhorn to be more painful to ride than Indy. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like the Matterhorn needs shocks. It's very jarring, whereas Indy kind of throws you around with its wild turns and sudden stops.

An observation: Indy is my daughter's favorite ride, and we've always asked to wait for the front row. On a recent visit, we were able to ride Indy several times in a row, but I told my daughter we would only do so on the condition that we not ask for the front more than once.

We ended up in the back row, and it was a VERY different experience. I found the back row threw us around far more than the front. I actually grew worried about my back.

If you're going to try it, I'd recommend asking (politely, and with a willingness to wait) for the front row.

PS - I think of the three, Space is the smoothest and least likely to create a whiplash-type effect.

I find the Matterhorn to be more painful to ride than Indy. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like the Matterhorn needs shocks. It's very jarring, whereas Indy kind of throws you around with its wild turns and sudden stops.

An observation: Indy is my daughter's favorite ride, and we've always asked to wait for the front row. On a recent visit, we were able to ride Indy several times in a row, but I told my daughter we would only do so on the condition that we not ask for the front more than once.

We ended up in the back row, and it was a VERY different experience. I found the back row threw us around far more than the front. I actually grew worried about my back.

If you're going to try it, I'd recommend asking (politely, and with a willingness to wait) for the front row.

PS - I think of the three, Space is the smoothest and least likely to create a whiplash-type effect.While the Matterhorn can be jarring, it is more my knees that take the brunt of it. It is less "whippy" and more "bumpy" than Indy. Space is the smoothest. For me, it isn't worth the headache to try Indy (or Star Tours) again. (I havent' rode in probably a year, and at that time, I was agreeing to only one time a trip.) I also don't plan on letting my niece ride the next trip. She should be just tall enough, but she can wait til she is a little bigger.