The celebrity chef tells PEOPLE there’s one ride in particular that he’ll never go on again
Gordon Ramsay may be daring when it comes to food, but he draws the line at Disney rides.
The restaurateur tells PEOPLE that the Ramsay family has big plans for this summer. Gordon, his wife Tana and his two youngest kids – Oscar, 5, and Jesse, 6 months – are heading to Disney in July. But the chef won’t be taking a spin on any rides.
“I’m not good on those big rides,” he shares. “I did [go on them] early on, growing up, though.”
There’s one classic Disney attraction that he declares he absolutely can’t go on again.
“Last time, I was sick as a dog on the teacups. These things were spinning round at a rate of knots and it wasn’t good,” he tells PEOPLE in a new interview ahead of his partnership with Welch’s Fruit Snacks.
Amid summer heat and long wait times, Ramsay says he’s going to come prepared with treats for his five year old.
“My pockets will be laced with Welch’s Fruit Snacks with a little incentive to stand in that queue like other normal kids and wait in line, wait your turn,” he says.
And even though his dad may not be keen on rides, Oscar has been preparing for them months in advance.
“I think he’s been measuring himself over the last couple of months because there’s a minimum height, and so it’s marked on his bedroom wall where the height is,” Gordon says. “He’s above that now because he’s a tall 5-year-old. He is super excited about Disney this summer.”
As for his six month old, Gordon says it won’t be easy to get around the iconic theme park with him since he’s “growing exponentially.”
“He’s so freaking big, I can stick him in a rucksack and let his legs dangle out the back!” he says. “I’ll be putting him on my chest going forward, walking around Disney in 80-degree heat.”
Along with Oscar and Jesse, they also share Megan, 25, twins Jack and Holly, 24, and Matilda “Tilly,” 22. With six kids, their schedules can be hectic, but the television chef told PEOPLE about how he and his wife keep the spark alive.
“Date nights are crucial, whether it’s the cinema, whether it’s going out for a drive. We have a little time, but it’s quality, and so that is really important,” he said.
Those nights don’t have to fall on a weekend. In fact, they prefer weeknights.
“Everyone thinks Monday is the most boring day. It’s not,” he explained. “With a young family, we are grabbing moments, and that date night moment is crucial.”
After 27 years of marriage, the couple learned that small getaways are also one of their favorite ways to reconnect and spend quality time together.
“We were in Nottingham two weeks ago. We went to go see Tilly up at her university. And after walking the campus, we went for dinner at a two-Michelin star [restaurant] and then drove back the next morning,” Gordon added.
