Advice needed on scary (or boring) attractions for preschooler

[petitephlox]

Hi everyone,
this will be our first trip with our 4 year old DD. There are some rides and shows that are clearly way too scary for her that we'll be skipping, but others that I'm not sure about and would like your advice. I know things can change in another 6-7 months and she may not be afraid of the same things, but wanted to get an idea for now. Currently she definitely finds some villains scary, as well as dark and spooky things. We haven't had much luck with watching a movie in the theater (it's very loud and overwhelming to her)-- even the cute little spongebob movie at the aquarium was too much for her, because it was 4 D and the effects were frightening.
She was ok at the zoo recently, in a standing experience (wolves howling, darkness), so I'm thinking we could try one or two of the 360 degree movies at Epcot (china? Canada?).
She LOVES comical and animal things, isn't so much into princesses.

What do you think of these?
MK
Pirates of the Caribbean ride (the photos creeped her out a little, but not sure if in real life she'd just have fun?)
Mickey's Philharmagic Show
Peter Pan's Flight (is the ride or film scary?)
People Mover train ride (would this be boring for kids or fun?)

Epcot
Spaceship Earth - is the ride scary? Too long for a preschooler/boring?

Animal Kingdom
Are the Kali River Rapids frightening for kids?

We're skipping HS since much of that seems like she'd either not be interested or it'd be scary for her, haha.

Thank you!

 

[maryandthemouse]

The only one of the above rides that MIGHT be scary for 4 year old is Kali. There are rapids and you WILL get really wet. Aside from that, the other rides are not scary in the least and DD will surly love. Have a fabulous time!

 

[AngiTN]

Wow, that's a hard one. First, I can't imagine any ride at Disney being scary. Even to a 4 yo. They just are not scary in my (or DGD's) definition. We've been taking DGD since she was 3 and scary is not a word she'd use to describe anything she was tall enough to ride by age 4

But, I also can't imagine a child thinking Sponge Bob Movie is scary. Annoying but not scary.
So, that makes it hard to say what your 4 yo would or would not enjoy.

I'm guessing based on what you've said that she would not like Peter Pan. It's dark and using glow in the dark paint on everything. You feel like you are flying above it all. If Sponge Bob overwhelmed her I'm thinking Peter Pan would too.
Philharmagic is the same. It's anything but scary but it is dark, in 3D and they use an added element of splashes of water or wind when the same happens on screen.
People Mover is great but it's dark in places so that's something to consider if dark disturbs her

Spaceship Earth may well be something she doesn't enjoy. It's rather boring, dark and you go backwards for a bit. It's not scary in my definition though.

As for HS, there is Disney Jr stuff. Beauty in the Beast show. Frozen show. Lots that isn't scary at all. I don't suggest skipping it.

 

[colagirl]

When we took my 4 year old DS to Disney, he was scared of almost anything dark. He even was briefly scared of "Living with the Land," if you can believe that. It surprised us as he doesn't have fears (including of the dark) IRL. He totally freaked out on Pirates (not helped by the fact that the ride got stuck and we were in the dark for about 15 minutes) and had to leave Malestrom. We didn't even attempt Haunted Mansion. However, he did like Peter Pan's flight and Spaceship Earth (a lot). This all changed when we went back this past summer (he is now 6). So - I would advise you just to play it by ear, and be flexible if your child doesn't want to do a ride, even if it is a favorite.

 

[ArwenMarie]

It really depends on the kid and only you know your kid.

Off the top of my head...

Animal Kingdom, I would skip Kali. It's Tough to Be a Bug can be scary as well.
MK: Philharmagic is mild, Peoplemover is good except there is one dark park, Peter Pan could go either way. Pirates I would skip
NO STITCH!!!!!
Epcot: Skip Spaceship Earth.

I actually think DHS has a decent selection for little kids, Toy Story Mania, Beauty and Beast show, Mermaid show, Muppets show, Disney Jr show for sure. I would skip Great Movie Ride. I would be more likely to skip Epcot with a 4 year old than DHS or maybe hop between the two.

Just my opinion, hope you have a great trip.

 

[AngiTN]

I'd probably YouTube for ride videos of any you are considering and let her watch and see what she thinks. I know experiencing it in person will be vastly different it should help give you an idea of her reaction.

 

[jmccoy18]

The People Mover is never boring! It has been my little sisters favorite ride since she was 3... now she is in college.

Pirates might be a little scary, especially if she won't even go to a movie in a movie theater.

My DD is 4 and we have been watching the rides on youtube. When we went when she was 2, the Winnie the Pooh ride scared her (the dark part with the storm and ) and after that she would only ride things that we could see from the outside (dumbo, carpets, etc...) until we convinced her to go on the Little Mermaid ride bc Ariel is her favorite. Now that she is 4, I wanted to see what she would ride. Watching the videos on youtube has been great.

 

[ArwenMarie]

As for HS, there is Disney Jr stuff. Beauty in the Beast show. Frozen show. Lots that isn't scary at all. I don't suggest skipping it.

Oh yeah, the Frozen show! Forgot that one, but that's a great one for a four year old

 

[Jennunc]

We just got back with a more sensitive 5.5yr old DS and 1yr old DS.

Ds5 loved Peter Pan but we watch Jake & have the Disney Peter Pan book (if movies are hard I recommend getting books from the library instead).

They both hated Pirates. We tried to make it light & funny but neither kid liked it.

We did Mickeys Philharmonic & it wasn't a hit. It's not scary per se (he did not like the Fantasmic scene) but it is SO loud. Unbelievably loud. We enjoyed the Muppets 3D so much more. It was really funny to DS5- though we are muppet fans so he's seen the muppet movies.

He also hated It's A Small World (boring). We let him sit with his eyes closed. He also didn't like Buzz's ride in Tomorrowland. We didn't really either. TSMM in DHS is much much better. We ride it 2x.

He loves roller coasters though, always had & his favorite ride of the week was BRMRR.

HTH.

 

[Jennunc]

Oh yes, the Winnie the Pooh ride was not loved. The dream/storm- it was a little weird.

 

[petitephlox]

Thank you so much, guys!! This is very helpful, and I will definitely watch youtube clips with her.
Arwenmarie- does no stitch means it's boring without stitch or you don't recommend stitch stuff? Hahaha

 

[tlmadden73]

Some rides I purposely avoided with my 3 yo:
Haunted Mansion - it is supposed to be scary and I think he would not enjoy it yet.
Pirates - he probably would have been fine .. but I remember finding it scary when I went (a lot older than that) .. I mean .. it's dark .. creepy and animated people are moving about .. it is supposed to be scary! We didn't have time for it anyway.
Stitches Great Escape - Not as scary as the old Alien ride, but still could be scary for a young one (and just not a great ride anyway). Being strapped in a seat with darkness, flashing lights and sounds .. not good for a little one.
Great Movie Ride - (simply because of the Alien scene) .. but he probably would have been fine (we didn't have time anyway).
Bug's Life (skipped that when he was 2 .. figured that might be too scary for such a little one). He probably woudl have loved it at 3 .. he liked all the other 3-d movies.

My son loved Peter Pan as a 2yo and 3yo .. flying above the city was just amazing to him. He didn't wan to get off.
My son didn't find anything boring .. everything had so much going on he enjoyed it all - Small World, Little Mermaid, Jungle Cruise

He loved all the shows (and wanted to see them again and again ) .. Frozen, Muppets, Disney Junior .. etc.

Rides you should NOT miss:
Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story Midway Madness .. kids love shooting things!

My son was more scared of certain charaters - Ursala, the witch from Snow White, etc. So he enjoyed those rides, but was "worried" or scared for just a few moments when they showed up. He just would hide his eyes .. and no big deal. Heck .. on the last trip he was scared of all the Disney Junior M&G characters (I think he was just afraid of how BIG they were).

It was pretty magical trip ..

There are things he was

 

[Baklava]

Wow, that's a hard one. First, I can't imagine any ride at Disney being scary. Even to a 4 yo. They just are not scary in my (or DGD's) definition. We've been taking DGD since she was 3 and scary is not a word she'd use to describe anything she was tall enough to ride by age 4

Dinosaur and Expedition Everest were too scary for my 5 year old. Actually, they were too scary for my 18 year old too. Haunted Mansion was too much and she didn't like the dark on Stitch. (At DL Snow White creeps out a lot of little ones, as does Pinocchio.)

OP, Spaceship Earth might be dull and we didn't ride Kali because it was closed. The rest of your list should be fine.

 

[petitephlox]

Oh, now I get the stitch reference!! Haha, thanks guys!!

 

[petitephlox]

I'm hearing a lot of votes for DHS!
She loves nemo and we love world showcase, which is why we thought epcot 1 day, ak one day, and mk two days? Do you think we should try to slip in a morning at HS too?

 

[nilla]

On our first trip to WDW, our son LOVED Expedition: Everest, but hated Stitch's Great Escape

 

[Baklava]

I'm hearing a lot of votes for DHS!
She loves nemo and we love world showcase, which is why we thought epcot 1 day, ak one day, and mk two days? Do you think we should try to slip in a morning at HS too?

YES! There's a Little Mermaid show, the Frozen sing along, several great rides, Muppets, a Disney Jr. buffet meal that was way better than we were led to expect... DD loved Indiana Jones too.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm hearing a lot of votes for DHS!
She loves nemo and we love world showcase, which is why we thought epcot 1 day, ak one day, and mk two days? Do you think we should try to slip in a morning at HS too?

Yes, unless you have the only little girl in the world that doesn't like Frozen

 

[ArwenMarie]

Thank you so much, guys!! This is very helpful, and I will definitely watch youtube clips with her.
Arwenmarie- does no stitch means it's boring without stitch or you don't recommend stitch stuff? Hahaha

I meant don't do Stitch. Let's just say a whole trip was basically ruined by Stitch LOL

 

[keepswimming76]

Youtube videos are a great idea, and you can even have her watch them to see her reaction. My daughter loves watching rides. I want to take her on Everest on our next trip (she'll be 6) and the first she saw it she was scared. After a few more viewings, she's now talking about riding it.

I would advise to stay away from Pirates because of the darkness and creepy voices.
Peter Pan is not scary other than the darkness.
She'll probably love the People Mover and Philharmagic.

You may be surprised by the things she ends up liking.