Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I think as a parent of a preschooler it's a good idea to go on the ride first and then use your best judgement as to whether your child is ready for it yet. Although, mine was ready for Splash and the coasters when he was tall enough, I'm not sure I would have wanted him to go on M:S at such a young age.
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp "Clearly, a 4 year old does not belong on MS." Not wanting to be thick, but I still ask: Why?
Originally Posted By ChiMike Nobody's at fault. It was a freak, unknown, condition accidentally triggered by a ride; a ride that, IMO, does not belong in a Disney theme park. Funny.. that all sorts of things at the parks become ruined because of Disney's fear of litigation. I wonder if that is the reason people are so quick to blindly defend M:S. Don't get me wrong I don't think M:S has killed anyone, but I'm sure the little boy visited many attractions that day and it was M:S that triggered his condition. Would POTC just as easily trigger it? Some say yes. I think the jury is still out on that. Or in this case the jury hasn't been picked yet! Regardless, Disney has already waived the white flag on this attraction. It was a colossal waste of money brought on by people who can't design themselves out of a box, well, Eddie Sotto can - but his fingerprints are minimal.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Clearly, a 4 year old does not belong on MS.<< I agree, but then following that, IT IS NOT the parents fault. Disney does not restrict riders by age. The child met the WAYYYY to low height restriction and was allowed to be on the ride BY Disney. A first-timer to M:S can't be faulted by that. I also agree with the notion that people need to take more responsibility for themselves and for their family.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys ^ Without knowing if you have been on MS, most rational people who have been on, wouldn't take a 4 year old on it anymore than they would let that same child ride their bike in traffic or take them to see an R rated scary movie or let them cross a busy street without holding their hand. The risks outweigh the rewards.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Hence my question. I'm not trying to belittle anyone but I am truly curious as to why you wouldn't allow such a child to ride. (FYI, we allowed our 3 year old to ride Space Mountain on his 3rd birthday (approximately), and he loved it.)<< My daughter rode Matterhorn before her third birthday and was riding coasters with inversions at 4. I still would not let her ride M:S at 5. I couldn't trust her to keep her eyes open and head straight. But I and you are not the typical parent at Epcot.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys ... and after reading post #25,it should also be said that it doesn't neccesarily make anyone who would allow their 4 year old to go on MS a bad parent. I'm sure there have been numerous 4 year olds who went on and had no problem. It's only when a tragedy happens that we all start passing judgement.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>^ Without knowing if you have been on MS, most rational people who have been on, wouldn't take a 4 year old on it anymore than they would let that same child ride their bike in traffic or take them to see an R rated scary movie or let them cross a busy street without holding their hand. The risks outweigh the rewards. << Yes. But Disney does MANY things to idiot-proof the parks. They do this because most of their guests AREN'T rational while visiting. I really think Disney dropped the ball with their height restriction. I agree with you 4 year olds should NOT be on the original M:S. Like Six Flags and other chains, e.g. Universal's Mummy, the height restriction should have been artifically set too high to weed out young children. This is where Disney = $$$$$ comes into play, they didn't want to repeat problems with opening up a heavily marketed attraction in a park lacking heavily marketed attactions and get Mom & Dad upset because Jimmy can't ride it.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >agree with you 4 year olds should NOT be on the original M:S. Like Six Flags and other chains, e.g. Universal's Mummy, the height restriction should have been artifically set too high to weed out young children. < I agree, an age restriction would probably be more appropriate for MS.
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp Response to 25 and 27. Yes, I have been on M:S numerous times - pre-opening, regular, and the revised easy version. I've enjoyed all of my trips. In fact, my feelings about the ride are exactly what (I think) WDI was trying to achieve - I get the feeling what it is like to get shot into space. Now, the SO doesn't like it, so this is one ride where we split: I go on, the SO doesn't. But I still don't understand why you believe that it's not right to take a 4 year old on the ride. You said that you wouldn't "...let that same child ride their bike in traffic or take them to see an R rated scary movie or let them cross a busy street without holding their hand. The risks outweigh the rewards." And I agree, I wouldn't allow them to do any of those. But how do those relate to M:S? What risk of M:S are you trying to have them avoid? You mention that the risks outweigh the rewards - and I ask, What risk? Again, I'm just trying to understand the thought process that is going on.
Originally Posted By ChiMike But they can't do an age restriction. How many parents will lie. That's one more variable that can be thrown in a lawsuit, "Nobody told me anything about 6 and under, your honor?!" In the future if they are going to choose to build attractions like this they need to suck it up and set a high height restriction.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 <<I have a question for those who said that they wouldn't allow their 4/5/6 year old to ride M:S (or any other ride). Why?>> JMPO-The ride is very intense for an adult let alone a child. To me a 4 year is not meant to be on a ride like that. My son was riding roller coasters at the age of 4. He is now 10 and I still would not allow him to ride MS even if he wanted too. For me personally, it has nothing to do with a child passing away on MS. I would still think that it was poor judgment if they brought their 4 year old on MS. The ride is way to intense for a young child. But this topic can and will be debated all day long. The fact is that a young innocent child has lost his life no matter what the circumstances are. That's a tragedy in itself.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys The risks on MS encompass everything from nausea, to dizziness and lightheadedness and in this case, death, for someone who may have unknown condition. The warning signs speak for them selves While this is true of adults as well as children, I think that parents have the responsibilty to shield their children from the above mentioned risks for the child's own well being and safety. Now the argument can be made that the Teacups can cause nausea and dizziness, but let's be realistic here. MS is way more intense than the Teacups.That's all I have on this.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>But how do those relate to M:S? What risk of M:S are you trying to have them avoid? You mention that the risks outweigh the rewards - and I ask, What risk? Again, I'm just trying to understand the thought process that is going on.<< I don't care if your child is Doogie Howser, you are not going to get a 4 year old to keep their eyes open and head straight throughout the ride. When a young child, unintentionally, disobeys the instructions - yes things like vomit become a problem. If you had a great experience with a 4 year old on M:S then I say Huzzah, Up With People! (I wouldn't want people giving me garbage about bringing my 2.8 year old daughter on Matterhorn - not when she has to ride it for the 23rd time.) However, the bigger point is MOST 4 year olds aren't going to be in a mental position to correctly ride M:S and THEN enjoy it.
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp "The ride is very intense for an adult let alone a child. To me a 4 year is not meant to be on a ride like that." I agree totally that the ride is intense. But why single out a 4 year old? How about 10? 14? 18? 58? My question concerns why is everyone talking about a 4 year old, as if the age is the problem when in actuality the question should revolve around the make-up of the rider irrespective of age. "The risks on MS encompass everything from nausea, to dizziness and lightheadedness and in this case, death, for someone who may have unknown condition." Again what does this have to do with a 4 year old, as contrasted with someone older? That's the issue I'm trying to bring up here - that it shouldn't be directed to the age of the rider, but to the condition of the rider. "Now the argument can be made that the Teacups can cause nausea and dizziness, but let's be realistic here. MS is way more intense than the Teacups." True - I have a hard time with the Teacups (won't go on them more than once a year), but no problem with M:S. And strangely enough, I can't "ride" backward at the Garden Grill; I get dizzy, and need to switch seats so that I go forward. Go figure.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 You know I started to type this whole long post but it does not matter what someone says, you are not going to be satisfied. The ride in MY OPINION is way to intense for a 4 year old to handle. They are not capable of following the proper instructions of the ride. I already stated that I would not let my 10 year old go on MS even if he wanted to. I still would not let him go on it even when he turns 18.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>I agree totally that the ride is intense. But why single out a 4 year old? How about 10? 14? 18? 58? My question concerns why is everyone talking about a 4 year old, as if the age is the problem when in actuality the question should revolve around the make-up of the rider irrespective of age.<< (I don't care if your child is Doogie Howser, you are not going to get a 4 year old to keep their eyes open and head straight throughout the ride. When a young child, unintentionally, disobeys the instructions - yes things like vomit become a problem) A larger portion of 28 year olds will keep their eyes open and head straight.
