Bug's life okay for a 4 yr. old?

[fanofdisney]

I was just wondering how frightening it might be for little kids. I think mine will be too scared for Haunted Mansion and Snow White. How's Bug's Life?

 

[alecam]

I actually was quite frightened by this show! There are alot of surprises, some of them physical (being poked in the back and stuff). I'm embarrassed to admit this, being a 32 y.o woman, but I won't even take my DS5 and DS3 to see this when we return in June.
In a word, NO I wouldn't recommend this for a small child!

 

[Drizzo67]

See my experience was completely different. My DD(5) absolutely loved it while it terrified my DH (35). Go figure....

 

[Pixiedusttravel]

My 3 year old screamed bloody murder... I had to take him out
Of course an older woman sitting next to my DH during the show nearly pierced 5 holes in his leg as she grabbed his thigh during the "bug exiting" part of the show!

If your child is frightened by Snow White, I'd skip a Bug's Life until he/she is a bit older.

 

[26555]

Can you describe any other physical events? My kids can handle things if I warn them in advance so I'd like as many details on scary stuff as possible. (Sometimes I overdo it because they kept asking when the witch was going to pop out in Snow White, didn't scare them at all.) I've heard its loud and my kids are sensitive to that so I'm bringing ear plugs for that.

 

[fanofdisney]

Thanks, I don't want to traumatize him. He's never been, but we get online all the time and view pictures and he was scared by the Snow White pics! But---he thinks riding tower of tower looks like fun. "looks like" key word!

 

[DreadpiratK]

The thing I remember most was when a bug "runs'" under your rear! It's quite a shock, abut very funney if you can handle it. We loved a bugs life, but my then 9 year old had a lazy eye, and I dont think he could actually see the 3-d effects. I'm hoping now that it's a lot better he'll enjoy these types of shows more.

 

[Pixiedusttravel]

Can you describe any other physical events? My kids can handle things if I warn them in advance so I'd like as many details on scary stuff as possible.

The first part is fine, with a few 3-D effects involving "acid" being squirted at you and some other fun stuff, but then Hopper comes up (on the right side of the stage/auditorium) and he is scary for little ones. He calls on his "army" to come and you are "attacked" by wasps/bees and huge spiders come out of the ceiling. (in the meantime it is dark and foggy) It only lasts a few minutes, and then Hopper is "taken care of". Then the Bugs Exit the room (that parts funny, not really scary) When I go, DH stays outside with my 3 year old and I try to sit in the very back of the auditorium with my 9 year old. The effects don't seem to be as overwhelming back there.

 

[princessmom5]

My 4 yr. old DD was terrified last year . She has not forgotten either and keeps reminding me we will not be going back this time!!!
25 days to go!!!!

 

[SandrainNC]

My son was almost 4 and he hated it. He was fine in Haunted Mansion and Snow White. The problem was (and we learned this along the way) he hated being squirted with water and he hated the fake smoke. There was a good bit of the fake smoke in Bug's Life and something squirted. He was all over me so I missed most of it. I thought he would be fine because he had already seen Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Mickey's Philharmagic, but I was wrong!

Sandra

 

[MrsPete]

My 7-year old had no problem with the Haunted Mansion or Snow White, but Bug's Life terrified her. I suggest you skip it.

 

[Kanga1]

Oh, I'm so glad somebody asked this question! My DD4 can't wait to do Haunted Mansion and Snow White, but she has nightmares about bees and spiders. Nope, we'll definitely be skipping this one!

 

[bdcp]

We found it to be pretty lightweight and all the kids in the show while we were there were fine. The best thing to do is describe what may happen before and how it works. They need to know it's not real bugs. Check the tour books, Birnbaums and unofficial guide for descriptions. Don't ever take a child in and let them think something like this is real. You won't ruin anything for them and you may get them to enjoy it. It's all done with air and water. I thought it was pretty cool and not as scary as Alien Encounter was. (last time was in 1998) It depends on your child's level of fear also. My feeling is don't force but encourage and let them know nothing will happen to them, that it's all make believe. It worked with mine when they were small. It was actually harder to get them to go on attractions when they were teenagers.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Everytime we have been in the show there has been some child really terrified of the show. There are also lots of preschool age kids doing ok. Most however are sitting on parents laps with thier eyes hid. It is a little intense. For older kids and adults it is a not to be missed thing so I suggest baby swap if you decide not to take her.

Fanofdisney,
The scariest part of TOT is the preshow if your child makes it through that the ride its self is not so bad. The preshow even spooked my then 8 year old a a little the first time we went. There is a chicken exit that gets used a lot.He loved the ride however.

Jordans' mom

 

[caribn7]

We did this in 2002 with DS3 and DS1. We held them on our laps and they loved it. By holding them on your lap they don't feel the "bugs exiting" etc. Just a thought

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I rode ITTBAG last year on my honeymoon. I couldn't really enjoy the show because of all of the kids screaming and crying. It was really ptitful!!! Unless you think your child can handle it I probably wouldn't do it.

 

[TN Traveler]

We went in early June of 2004 and altho DDs ages 12 and 8 at the time loved it, my then 4 yr old HATED it! She started crying so bad her nose started bleeding. Thankfully I had some napkins in our backpack. She has always been a tough kid--plays soccer has been hit hard or fallen 100s of times and would get up running. She rode ToT and Space Mtn BY HERSELF and was fine so I never dreamed this show would bother her as much. I had no idea what was going to happen but if I had I would have told her in advance and I think she would have handled it fine. She really liked Flick at first and thought he was cute but when all the other bugs came, she freaked. I think it was as much the noise and darkness as anything else. She didn't like Dinosaur either but again if I had had any idea what was going to happen I could have warned her like I did on ToT. She did fine on both of those rides. The show is really great so I agree w/another poster....either talk to your child and explain what is going to happen and let her sit in your lap or do kid swap. It's really too good to miss.
Have a super time!
Karen

 

[Dragonfly8124]

We just went a few weeks ago, my DD2 and DD11 loved it. They were not scared a bit, my DD11 was in a wheelchair so she didn't have the poking chair and my DD2 was just laughing at the show. Now this is also a child that felt so comfortable on the Haunted Mansion that she fell asleep. In fact I do not recall one show or ride that scared her. We even done Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and she had a blast. Now a little insight on DD2, she doesn't like the dark - typically - I was affraid that she would get scared. But to our surprise everything we went on dark or not she wasn't bothered by it. Maybe she figured out that it was going to be ok because she would actually get mad if I wouldn't let her sit in the chair like a big girl between us instead of holding her.

So all in all I guess you never know until you try.

 

[my2tinkerbells]

I have to add my 2 cents here. My 7 year old was scared silly in ITTBAB! But, my 3 year old loved it! She was not scared of anything! But, in the same breath we did AK on the first day of our 8 day trip and after the trauma (lol) of seeing that show, she would not open her eyes in the phillharmagic, peter pan, haunted mansion, ect......anything that was dark, she thought something was going to poke her or spray her or "get her"! We had no idea she would react like that, you just never know. When we were on the great movie ride (which is now one of my favorites) she was so scared thinking the guns were real, she hid on the floor of the "car" I laugh about it now, but it did get a bit irritating. Needless to say we will not see ITTBAB, when we go back in 2006!

Good luck! I think you can never predict how your child will react!

Jill
Mommy to Lizzy 8, Hailey 4 and little peanut on the way 9-5-05!

 

[Chris22]

Last year we took my 2yo daughter and 4yo son to see it. They were a little suprised, but no major problems. Both of the remember it very well and are looking forward to seeing it again when we go in April.