Animatronics, mannequins, and marionettes .. Help!

[DivAndTup]

My 10 year old DS has developed a severe aversion/fear to humanoid animatronics and mannequins. When he was 5 (last time we visited DW) it wasn't an issue, now it is. He really wants to go (as do I!) and I'm planning our October trip so we'll stay mostly in AK and Epcot, with a half day at MK and the star wars stuff at HS for DH.

I think I've figured out which rides have animatronics (nice wiki site list and youtube/memory), but I need your help with the other places we might stumble across a display. For example, I noticed in "One Man's Dream" there's the Abe Lincoln animatronic, this is sure to freak him out, as in all honesty would the life-size cardboard cutouts in the museum.

If you can think of any other places there might be fake people or lifelike statues, I'd love to be prepared ahead of time.

Thanks all for your help, and I'm so glad there are communities like this one were people can share their love for Disney Magic!

 

[igrsod]

Are costumed characters ok?

 

[DivAndTup]

Oh, yes. Real humans (in costumes or not) are fine. Even real robots, like C3PO are fine. It's just things that look human, but aren't that cause problems.

 

[Jennasis]

Is it only human AA's?

 

[DivAndTup]

As you can imagine we have lots of talk about this, and currently we haven't come across anything to test the theory of human only AA's on. He's had issues in museums & stores (where the mannequins are human). I'm pretty sure dwarfs and giants fit the human category, but we think that the Muppet's will be ok, and possibly bears & birds (although as the bears stand up so we'll skip them to be safe). I'm not sure where the Na'vi come into things.

 

[Jennasis]

If he has an issue with all animatronics that is honestly going to severely limit what you can do. Stores have mannequins. Windows on Main Street may have them. I'm hard pressed to find an attraction without some type of animatronic...maybe Monsters Inc Laugh Floor?...Speedway?

 

[Tink_83]

If he has an issue with all animatronics that is honestly going to severely limit what you can do. Stores have mannequins. Windows on Main Street may have them. I'm hard pressed to find an attraction without some type of animatronic...maybe Monsters Inc Laugh Floor?...Speedway?

I was thinking the same thing... that going to Disney is almost like an intense form of aversion therapy. I completely understand the desire to though... maybe a list of rides that people know are ok would be better and more manageable in length

 

[DisneyWishes14]

When entering MK, you may want to stay in the middle of Main St. as much as possible or (if it's not possible), head down the right side (by the candy shop) as there will be less chance of mannequins on that side (the left side has all the clothing stores, a baseball player statue outside, etc.). You could also take the train around MK to avoid walking down Main St. altogether.

I would probably do the same at DHS (the clothing stores are on the left as you enter).

Is there anything you can do to redirect him if he becomes fearful? If so, I would be prepared to do that at any given moment in case there is a display you walk by.

 

[SureAsLiz]

You could also take the train around MK to avoid walking down Main St. altogether

There are animatronics along the train route that are realistic enough to confuse both adults and children before they have a chance to process, so probably not the best idea

 

[Barbydoll8]

You are extremely limited in MK. Carousel, Philharmonic, tea cups, dumbo, barnstormer, speedway, tiki room, small world maybe 'cause they are all really cartoonish. That's about it.
AK - you have the whole of dino land that's more like carnival rides. New Avatar river ride is a no. That thing is creepy real looking. Maybe stay away from everest. Everything else is ok I believe.
Epcot - Test track, sorin, living with the land, nemo, crush -turtle talk, are ok. I'm taking it he's too young/little for mission space anyway. But everything else that's a ride has at least one human-ish animatronic.
HS - stay away from the great movie ride.

Best to you on this endeavour.

 

[Jennasis]

I guess the real question is, how bad is his fear? Because honestly, I can't think of a worse place to go on vacation for someone with a fear of animatronics/mannequins/puppets. If this is a temporary thing, like the 12 months my little sister decided she was afraid of elevators and escalators but she eventually outgrew the fear, you might have a shot t making the trip work if he's over it by the time you go. If this is an intense psychological thing, then you might want to reconsider.

 

[wilkeliza]

Now that I think of it there isn't much that doesn't have something in that realm. Even Space Mountain and Big Thunder have human statues and animations. Best of luck OP.

Are cartoon humans okay or is it just realistic looking humans?

 

[DisneyGeekyParadise]

Here's some attractions you'll for sure be able to do without the fear:
Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Astro Orbiter, Dumbo, Triceratops Spin, Philharmagic, The Barnstormer (i think), Journey Into Imagination With Figment (i think all the animatronics are just figment?), Soarin', and Toy Story Mania. This isn't a complete list, and my memory is extremely foggy, so please correct me if I'm wrong on any of these. Hope this helps, OP!