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Mom With Kids After RunDisney; Mickey Fantasia Hat; Donald Duck Hat; Goofy Hat
  • On May 29, 2008
    Cari from NE 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.

    I have seen lots of info on height requirements for certain attractions but my concern is my 4 year old son meets most of these but are some rides ie, tot or space mtn , okay for him to ride physically?

    The height requirements are there to ensure guest safety. If your son meets the stated height requirement, then he will be physically safe.

    However, whether some of those more challenging rides are right for your son is really a parental decision. For example, with Space Mountain, each of my girls was ready to ride this at a different age. One was raring to try it at age five and had a great time, one tried it at six and didn't love it then but enjoys it at eight, and the other wouldn't even try it until age 8. My 60+ year old mother refuses to ride Space Mountain because she's too terrified; she did it once 30 years ago and vowed never again. And one of my eight year old twins would do Tower of Terror 20 times in a row if we let her, her twin sister will not ride this, and I must say it scares the heck out of me.

    Only you know if your son has a daredevil streak or is more timid. So, how do you decide what to do for your family? The best thing to do is educate yourself about every ride.

    - Get a good guide book. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World gives candid reviews of every ride.
    - Get the free vacation planning video from Disney. There is footage of some rides on there.
    - Search on YouTube for footage of Disney rides. Many guests have posted their vacation film. You can see the whole ride in some cases.
    - If possible, you go on the ride for a test run before inviting your son to go with you. This is really the best way for you to gauge whether your own child will enjoy a particular attraction.

    Many four year olds do enjoy the thrill rides, but don't worry if your son is not ready yet. Disney will still be there when he feels the need to be spun through space, drop down an elevator shaft, or get attacked by a Yeti :-)
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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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