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  • On Jul 14, 2008
    Mindy from UT Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    My girls are 11,9 & 7. We want to do all the "big" rides together. My 7yo insists she's even going on Tower of Terror, however her only roller coaster experience was Matterhorn. Any tips of where to start so we don't scare her with a big ride?

    Each person's threshold for thrills is different. Some kids are happy on Space Mountain at age five while others are fearful at ten. Some love dips and spins, while others find them terrifying. Some like fast, but don't like dark or spooky. All my girls love Space Mountain but not one of them will try even the easy version of Mission Space. The only one of my kids that really enjoys Tower of Terror is the 8 years old. She loved it when she was six, but it scares the heck out of my 11 year old. There are as many variations as there are people. Age and gender are not particularly good indicators about whether a ride is right for a particular person.

    That being said, there some ways you can ease your daughter into the WDW thrills. My first advice would be to tell her that you respect her needs regarding the rides. That means that if she has a last minute change of heart, you won't unduly pressure her to ride. We had several "almost" trips on the Tower of Terror before my kids actually rode. I would read your daughter books such as the Unofficial Guide to  WDW, where guests give honest opinions about the fright factor of each ride. You could go on YouTube. Many guests have posted ride videos of their own experiences on the attractions. You could speak with the cast members at the entrance to each attraction. For example, if your daughter has issues with speed, ask the cast member how fast the ride goes. and see how your daughter reacts to this information.

    And there are "baby steps" you can take for thrills. For example, Goofy's Barnstormer is a basic starter roller coaster. If that works, then try Big Thunder, if that works, try Space Mountain, if that works, try Expedition Everest, if that works try the Rock 'n Roller Coaster. For spookiness, start with Snow White, if that works, try the Haunted Mansion, if that works, try the Tower of Terror. You get the idea. Your seven year old may end up being the bravest one in the family. Just take it slowly and let her figure it out for herself.
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Meet the Panelist: Erin, New York

I have three teenage daughters. We're DVC members obsessed with Disney travel. We've been to Walt Disney World countless times and have visited Disneyland & Disneyland Paris. We've taken several Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise trips. Learn More About Erin

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