My most memorable trip to date is my daughters’ first visit. It also had the steepest learning curve, and is when I truly began developing my personal Park Strategy.
In February of 2023 my mother (Nana), brother (Uncle Tim,) best friend (Auntie Lindsay), daughters (Morgan & Maggie ) and I arrived at The Cabins At Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. The girls were four (Morgan) and two and half (Maggie) at the time. Our first park day was EPCOT. Our first planned ride was Spaceship Earth. Our first detour of the day was meeting Minnie Mouse.
My youngest LOVED meeting Minnie. However, almost the minute we boarded our time machine to take a slow moving journey into the past, she climbed into my lap, buried her face in my chest and began to whimper.
Before our trip I knew Maggie would not be my rollercoaster gal. I had no idea she would hate any and all dark rides. Despite the glow stick bracelet I had provided her and whispered reassurances that we would not be going fast, have anything jump out at us, etc. she cried through the entire 15 minutes. My mama heart broke, I felt I had failed her.
I know families have different strategies around introducing their kiddos to new experiences. Both my kids have a fear of the unknown more than anything else. Given this, I had opted prior to our trip to review Ride Videos with the girls so they could make a list of must dos and skips. I also had my own list of rides and experiences that I wouldn’t even consider introducing yet. Spaceship Earth didn’t make either list. This began my journey of understanding what did make her nervous, where the magic of a Disney trip lived for her, and learning to adjust accordingly.
If you know you have a reluctant rider or, like me, stumble upon new knowledge of what ride elements are undesirable, reach out with your questions. I have compiled a list of rides by park and elements to consider before determining who in your party should ride. Quick tip, height requirements do not always correlate with it being the right time or age to ride.
In general, some things to consider include:
To this day, Maggie is a reluctant rider. Her favorites from that first trip are still her number ones; Dumbo and Alien Swirling Saucers. She also really still loves a character meet and greet. Meanwhile her bolder and taller sibling wants to hit up every roller coaster and spooky themed ride there is. When we have two adults available, we take the approach of dividing and conquering.
But, what do you do with your reluctant rider while others queue for those bigger rides?
We have reserved and not used Lightning Lanes for Pirates of the Caribbean, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and Slinky Dog Dash more than once. I’ve even paid for unused Individual Lightning Lanes for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Rise of the Resistance. Both my kids know that they are never obligated to ride anything…even if they said they planned to.
Full disclosure, my kids are 5 and 6 years old and have been to Disney World 5 times. When we went on their first trip I would never have believed we’d be so privileged. Even if we only went a handful of times over the course of their lives, I didn’t want fear of rides to be an issue for them.
That is my biggest advice. You know your kid. If you think they just need a little encouragement, push a little. If you are unsure or they adamantly express a desire not to experience an attraction I’d go the route of better safe than sorry. Most likely your kiddo won’t be reluctant forever, but if a ride gets imprinted with fear and anxiety you may struggle to get them on just about anything going forward.
We all experience Disney World in different ways, and not everyone is a ride person. There are so many other magical elements to enjoy. And that’s the goal, right? An enjoyable trip, whatever that looks like for each person in your family or travel party.
My park strategy will look much different than someone else’s, because we have different children and different family dynamics. What I have come to understand is that my own trips and strategies need to adjust (at least a little) with every visit, because every time you go to the parks you go with a new child/children. They may be taller, braver, have new interests, or possibly have grown more cautious, aware and afraid.
May you and all the members of your party find their own pace, must dos and joyful park experiences.
Happy planning,
Jody
