Kid's First Coaster

If she's on the fence about riding Gemini, you could really play up the racing angle (assuming both trains are running.) She might be less scared if she's distracted watching both trains and concentrating on "winning".

You could even offer a her some sort of prize if she rides it and her train wins.

But as others have stressed, let her choose the coasters she wants to ride. She's way too little to be forced. They'll be plenty of time for peer pressure when she's a teenager.

I'll definitely let you know how she does. I would never force her on anything. I've already explained that it's okay to be a little scared, but she's safe and that when the ride is all done, she can be very proud of herself for doing it.

I was terrified of rides until I was about 12 and my mom forced me on Top Gun at KI. I'm glad she did because it made me get over it, but then again there's a huge difference between ages 7 and age 12. I just have my mind made up that this is her trip, not mine. I've been to CP three times this season and will definitely go back, so I can ride my rides next time. We'll leave it up to her.

I don't know how old I was, but I can say that the first coaster that rode and actually enjoyed (the beginning of my love for all coasters) was Gemini.

I remember going on Blue Streak before that (the single bars that didn't go down far enough when I was next to my father scared me - not a problem any more). I also remember being scared on Wildcat. When I got to Gemini, I was scared but my brother and sister made me ride it and I absolutely loved it (I believe that at that time it was still the tallest roller coaster in the world). Later on in the day, I went on Corkscrew and loved that too. I think that for me, the security of having your own retraint bar was the important part.

I think that if I were taking a child today (which I will be in a couple of years) I would start with Iron Dragon, because it is a very secure feeling coaster. After that, Gemini would probably be next and then maybe Corkscrew (to conquer that feeling of going upside down)

I'm sure that every child is different. Maybe you should let her decide after looking at a couple of your choices.
*** Edited 6/19/2007 5:43:48 PM UTC by Natas***

I think that Wildcat is alot more scary than what it looks. Even if she wants to ride that one in the beginning, I may try to steer her to something different. I'm not sure if it's the steep drop,s compact turns or sudden stop, but Wildcat is not a kiddie ride, in my opinion! I'm not sure about Corkscrew, I've actually never ridden it because I've heard that it can be nasty on the neck and I hate getting beat up on rides. If she shows an interest I'll suck it up and pretend not to be worried!

Wildcat has some pretty high G-forces, which could make it a little scary. Blue Streak was my first coaster, and I have the same story about riding with my dad and only having the single lapbar.

We had that issue with Maverick actually. They wanted to ride it but we steered clear of it because of how intense it is (at the time all they had ridden was Mine Ride).

They really didn't like Mine Ride that much, but they were not scared to try something else. They LOVED Iron Dragon, they both said it was their favorite ride.

Watch out for the helix on Gemini, when we rode it she got jerked so hard that she hit her head on my arm (pretty hard).

Yes, I agree that Iron Dragon does not feel like a real roller coaster. In fact, I don't like the feeling like you're falling out of your seat on roller coasters but I don't get that on Iron Dragon and ride it lots. However, my first grown up coaster was Gemini. However, my Dad dragged me on it by my hair after they wouldn't let me on Jr. Gemini so just because I was dragged on it. I don't like it because of that experience. So, I would start small and don't force her. Let her make her own way on but encourage her and she'll enjoy it more.

I was actually bribed to ride my first coaster. Then after the first bribe, I was forced on. Some people react differently with being forced to do something. My sister and I were forced on a rollercoaster and she still hates them, but I can't get enough of them.

My first was Mean Streak back in 91, but I would recommend Iron Dragon or Wild Cat for a first coaster.

Iron Dragon gets my vote. Between the seats being so deep in the car and the shoulder harnesses, it won't scar the kid so badly that she won't want to try anything else. Throw her on one of the "big rides" to start and you might be sitting around in the park all day until closing.

Well....Now less than 24 hours before we're supposed to be at CP for my youngest niece's first trip, she's not going with us due to that slightly dysfunctional branch of my family tree... My brother's ex has stated that she doesn't think that the rides are safe for such a small kid and for some reason he agrees (for the first time in 5 years). I've explained that the park takes safety very seriously and would never let someone ride if it wasn't safe. Whatever. There's no arguing. Thanks for all the suggestions anyway, hopefully I can convince them to let me take her soon and I can let you know how it goes. Though I'm disappointed (and now searching for a different idea for an awesome birthday gift) I'll try to enjoy my day with the others tomorrow. Look for us at Maverick ERT!

Well, on one hand, it's ridiculous to say the rides aren't safe for a 7 year old. My 4 year old would certainly disagree. In many ways, Iron Dragon is more tame than the car ride to the park. :)

On the other hand, my wife think he's too little as well. She was opposed to him riding Iron Dragon, even though we rode anyway. She has informed me that even if he gets to 48" this summer (he's at 47 3/4" now), he will absolutely not go on Magnum or Gemini. (Don't worry, he will :) ).

For the most part, Disney has lower height limits than Cedar Point. She vetoed Tower of Terror at Disney MGM, but didn't put up much resistance for anything else. He ended up riding (and loving) Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Expedition Everest, Soarin', and Mission: SPACE. All more than a month shy of his fifth birthday.

It should come as no surprise that after multiple thrill rides at Cedar Point and Disney World, he is still alive and healthy. Not to mention absolutely in love with everything he's been on. I think her worry probably comes from the fact that she doesn't like to ride, but she has an overprotective side. All parents do.

The rides are safe, but when it comes to your child, sometimes being overprotective prevails.

Walt,

I certainly agree that some parents are overprotective. Mine certainly were. But I have always loved Mine Ride and Iron Dragon (once it opened). In fact, my Mom always hated coasters and my Dad had a back problem one year during our trip. They allowed me to ride both Mine Ride and Iron Dragon by myself. I loved it. Disney does have lower height limits. It's totally cool. As a travel agent, I love the fact that my quick getaway last April was so inexpensive that the most expensive part of the trip was the plane ticket. But yeah, I saw lots of kids riding the thrill rides and loving it. But that's part of the appeal of Disney. Thrill rides, and good old fashioned family fun. The appeal of Cedar Point is really just thrill rides as they seem to be taking out more family rides in favor of thrill rides.

I rode my first coaster five years ago. It was Gemini and I loved it. My brother who is only two years younger then me rode it and now he won't touch anything with the word coaster in it. Like what everybody above me said, it really depends on the child. In my opinion, you should go on Corkscrew first. It's not very intense and when you go up-side-down it's so fast you don't know your doing it. If not the Corkscrew, then try Iron Dragon.

My daughter went on her first coasters during our last trip in 2005. She was 9 at the time, but is SUPER tiny, so she was barely 48" at the time.

We took her on Jr. Gemini & Woodstock Express first. After that, we got her on Iron Dragon, Wild Cat, & Cedar Creek Mine Ride. We did also get her on Gemini, but she freaked on that one.

I would say this- don't put her on a ride she is scared to go on, whether it's Jr. Gemini or a large one. Not everyone likes coasters, even if they do eventually ride them. Some people are terrified of heights, or drops, and just plain old don't like them.

Putting them on a big coaster first is insane, and can cement a life long fear in them that they might not get over.

Go with whatever the 7 year wants to ride. Don't push her to ride something she might not be ready for.

That's not to say she's going to go in and scream in terror over a larger ride. By all means, if she WANTS to ride Millie first, put her on it. She might love it immediatly. Then, there's little to worry over on what she will take to first.

Show her the rides online, dig up some of the many POV clips on the CP website and you tube, and tell her what the rides are like. If she gets to "know" the rides before going, she will likely not be as scared of them when she gets there.