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Which Coaster to start off kids with?


DaveStroem
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We will be heading down to KI tomorrow (3/26). I will have DD12 (my coaster buddy) DD10 and her BFF9. The younger 2 have not done any real coasters before. So what ones should I start them off with?

BFF9 is only 51" so that will limit some of the rides because of height requirements but will still allow for a nice selection of coasters.

Should I start with my all time favorite, The Beast, and if they don't like that just have them skip the other coasters or ease them in with The Racer or something else?

Thanks

Dave AKA Sulley

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I would say, start off with Adventure Express or Flight Deck. They are really awesome starter coasters, and are a great way to ease them in. From there I would probably move up to The Racer or The Beast.

Agree 100%

That is what my parents did with me!

Look how I turned out!!

haha.

Runaway Reptar is a good one too if they are tall enough!!

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I was just thinking that my first Coaster at KI was The Racer. Of course that was really the only coaster then. My first coaster of all time was the one at Zoo Park in Columbus that is now Zoombezi Bay at the Columbus Zoo.

This might make an iteresting thread.

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Okay call me crazy, but I say Flight of Fear!

That was the very first *real* coaster for me. I didn't know what was inside the building so my parents just told me that it was a huge room that they launched you into and you did a bunch of really fast circles around in it. She also told me that she had never ridden it, (lie).

After that I was estatic! She told me that there wasn't many roller coasters worse than that and I ended up ridding every coaster in the park! Never afraid again.

Even if she is really scared. Force her on it. Its for her own good! Trust me!

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I wouldn't start them out with a woodie because they might not like getting jerked around. I would start with Vortex

Something is seriously wrong with that logic. Vortex, while a park favorite of mine, is much jerkier than Racer ever thought about being. Speaking of Racer, start there in the second seat to the back. That would be a perfect location, and very traditional at that!

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A couple of thoughts and a question:

- I would never "force" someone to ride if they are scared, convincing and enticing (bribing) are ok, but you want this to be something they "want" to do

- Agree with the Flight Deck starting point others have pointed out, but Reptar is a good option also if fear level is high

- First Wooden coaster recommendation for me is the Fairly Odd Coaster before Racer or AE. It will teach them the feeling

Question:

- Interpreter, you and others often suggest that the ride in the middle seat or a three seat car (or front seat of a two seat car) is smoother than the back seat of any given car. The engineer in me is trying to understand this - can anyone explain why these would be any smoother?

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To put it in simple terms, the middle seat of a three bench car is smoother because it isn't directly above a wheel. In the front, you're over the front wheels, and in the back you're over the back wheels. The forces from both are balanced in the middle of the car, so that you don't get the direct bumps from either set of wheels.

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Guest rcfreak339

The first coaster I ever rode was Vortex and truthfully scared the living crap out of me and really I didn't want anything to do with coasters...I really have no idea why I'm such a big coaster geek now, somewhere it all changed. The last row on Vortex and that killer airtime in the first drop still scares me!

But I would start off with Backlot, smooth, not tall but yet not small and a steady speed...I think the youngster would love it, then work your way up. But NEVER force a kid to ride a ride if he doesn't want to....

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BTW they are all girls. I totaly agree with not forcing kids to ride but I am hoping that some peer pressure will help. My 10 year old daughter gets so worked up before a ride and then has an ear to ear smile during the ride.

We were at WDW last month and she did Tower of Terror the first night that we were at DHS. She loved it and thought it was so cool. She then guilted my wife into going on it the next day (Iron Dragon is too much for her). This time my wife was all ready for it but DD10 got cold feet and took my wife kidding her that she was going so DD10 would have to go since no one else would be there to wait with her. Again she loved it. I live with a house full of females (even the dogs are girls) so I am used to this kind of hysteria and changing of minds.

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As everyone else has said I would start them off on Adventure Express or Flight Deck. If they dont really have a fear of speed or heights then you can always let them try The Racer. I know this sounds bad but Runaway Reptar and Fairly Odd Coaster are two great ones as well.

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I say that most people are spot on. I think Backlot Stunt track is an excellent choice. My friend that is usually a non rider due to fear actually rode that and actually enjoyed it. Also, Reptar was a great ride for one of my nephews.

Although some will argue about it being a coaster, I think Avatar would be a great choice for every one. My family will do a lap on that laughing the entire time.

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Well we started them off with Flight Deck which the both loved. We then did Racer, Adventure Express, Reptar and Backlot Stunt Coaster. Couldn't get them on Beast or anything else. Maybe a bit more time to get over the fear of heights. Even my DD12 coaster buddy chickened out on me for DB. That ended up being OK because the SRL RULES. Most I ever waited was 3 trains. I also met Derek from the boards. He was on his 12th ride of the day as I was riding for my 3rd time.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Dave AKA Sulley

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I'd say Flight Deck or Backlot. If I were a kid I'd be more attracted to something like that then move on to the big stuff.

Maybe you should also try is the original kids coasters like Rugrats Runaway Reptar Coaster or Fairly Odd Coaster.

Edited by ZukoGirl
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