Bug's Life

[Momma Bear]

Hi. I'm new to this forum, but have been reading TONS in the last few weeks. Any advice on taking toddlers on Bug's Life? My boys will be almost 3 and are HUGE fans of the movie. They generally are not frightened by anything on TV or movies. Is this attraction too intense?

A second thought, my boys will be 3 weeks shy of their 3rd birthday but are tall and mature for their age. Should I bring their birth certificates or anything to prove their age? I'd hate for anyone to think I was trying to 'sneak' them in without tix.

 

[Luvinit]

No need to worry about bringing B/C for the boys...Disney will take your word for it. I would say that bugs life is not to intense for the boys..you may want them sitting on your lap during the last few mins...but other than that I didn't think it was that big of a deal..it didn't freak out my DD when she was 3 and she hated everything...even the last part...she didn't seem to notice. It is kinda of loud though. See if you can sit in the center if i remember correctly.
Tracy

 

[SuzEm]

I think it depends on your child. It totally freaked out my 5 year old daughter - even though I had prepared her for what to expect, asked was she sure she wanted to do it, it's all make believe, etc. She loved Bugs Life and really wanted to see it, so in we go, and it ruined her for the rest of the week! She kept asking at each ride or show - are things going to jump out at me? She still talks about it - although she does want to try it again this summer.

 

[lenshanem]

This flipped my daughter out when she was around 2 1/2. She is now five and still remembers it and won't go back in there. It was very upsetting to her.

 

[mcnuss]

My DD thought it was hysterically funny. We told her ahead of time that if it seemed too real, she should take off the glasses. Afterwards, she talked more about the smells than the visuals.

Each child is different, of course, the problem is that to know whether they will hate or like something, you have to try it! (Isn't that the whole dilemma of parenting in general...? )

 

[HM]

My kids did not like it and still do not want to do it 4 years later (they were 4 and 6 the first time). They really don't like 3D movies at all because it is too realistic. I wouldn't suggest taking that age child to it. -HM

 

[BethC]

It really is an intense show, you might want to think twice about taking such young children on it. To be honest it's not one of my favorite attractions because I just hate having all these things come out at me. My children did not like it when they were younger. They are 8 and 10 now and will ride it, but my son knows to close his eyes, or move his body to avoid some of the effects.

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There are effects happening all around you, it's not just like watching a scary movie. There is a simulated bee sting (a poke in the back, I always sit forward to avoid this), large scary spiders drop down from the ceiling, bugs shoot things out at you (represented by puffs of air and loud noises), a very large Hopper comes out quite angry, water is squirted out at you, and it feels like bugs are crawling around on your seat.

These are just the effects I remember, like I said before it seems like there's always something coming out at you, and I really do think younger children would be quite frightened if not properly prepared beforehand.

 

[perpetualplanner]

Is this the same as HISTA at Epcot - if my younger son sits on my lap he would avoid most of the effects??

 

[Baloo]

We saw it for the first time when Erich was 5...AK had been opened for less than a month and Bug's Life movie wasn't out in the theaters yet so we had no idea who these characters were.It scared the living daylights out of Erich!!! So much that for nearly 6 months he didn't want to go into ANY darkened theater!

So last summer we took Joe and Jon to the AK for their first trip there.Erich was 8 and Jon 9.Erich was tenative but wanted to go in with his brother.Well it still scared the heck out of Erich.He ended up in my lap,SHAKING And crying like before..I saw a bit more than my first time but not much!Jon and Joe loved it! It was still a bit much for me too!! LOL!

I have a feeling Erich will never see this attraction...even as an adult.A clown scared me when I was around 4 and to this day they make me unconfortable!!


You know your child best but I recommend if you do see it sit way in the back and avoid the right side.A HUGE Hopper comes out there.


perpetualplanner...he would avoid some effects but things blow in your face and it's REALLY loud!

 

[LMHB]

My older boys were 2 and 4 last May when we went...they loved it! I held their hands during it, but they did not get scared anyway. Boys, even little ones, usually love bugs! My 2-year old got a little timid on Buzz and Haunted mansion, but was fine with this. They will be fine! And don't worry about the birth certificate. They didn't even ask about my tall then-four-year-old.

 

[fiveforall]

My 2 yr old sat in his dad's lap and didn't wear the glasses. My 4 yr old wore the glasses and sat in the seat and was a little scared, but knew to close her eyes when she was scared. Our 7 year old LOVED it.

We bought Pooh sunglasses for our 2 yr old to wear during the 3D movies.

If the boys sit in your lap and know to close their eyes if they get scared, then they'll do fine!

And I wouldn't worry about the birth certs. We had the opposite....DD was 4 and still looked very little. We had a ticket for her(which we used), but only in MK did they even ask for it!

 

[CaseyJr]

Totally depends on your child(ren). My DS, 7 was crying to leave, refused to wear his 3-d glasses, and had his head burried in my lap. Totally unexpected reaction.

He did the same thing in "Honey I Shrunk the Audience."

 

[Shells9]

DD was nearly 6 at the time, and we found out real wuick that although she loves thrill rides -- don't take her to a 3D movie! She freaked out during a Bug's Life and did not like Honey, either. She sat in my lap, and used my hand to cover her eyes most the time!

 

[sha_lyn]

DD loved TTBAB at 2 1/2 and 4 1/2. I suggest trying Muppets at MGM first however. Also leave the glasses off at first, them let them put them on if they are handling the movie ok

 

[Plan Man]

Prepare your child. Read a guide book that tells you what will happen and give your kid a heads up. Tell them what to do if they are frightened and everyone should be fine.

It is a very cool show!

 

[E&B's Mom]

I knew this would be an iffy ride for my DD (then 5). So, when we were seated, we made sure we sat next to an exit door. I think we even asked another family if we coulkd switch seats, and when we explained why they were more than happy to. Sure enough, as soon as the stink bug set himself off my DD started screaming that she wanted to leave. We darted for the door, and a friendly CM even held it open for us as we made our escape.

Since she knew that she could leave she is not afraid of trying it again. She will be 7, and when we described it to my DS4 who will be making his first trip, he insisted that we have to do it.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

There's absolutely no way to tell if your kids will do well or not.

My two DS's (7 and 5) have been to WDW 3 times and had been on Haunted Mansion, Pirate's, HISTA, Great Movie Ride, Muppets, etc. and loved them all. This last December they insisted on going to the Bug's Life show and I gave them a full description of what to expect. They had also seen the Animal Kingdom special on Travel Channel and knew all about how the animatronic Hopper works. As soon as the show got to its 'scary' part, they both freaked out, began shaking and were jumping to get in my lap. Even after taking off the glasses, they were scared from the darkness of the theater, the extremely loud bug noises, the large spiders falling from the ceiling, etc. Neither one cried, but they were very scared and both said they never wanted to do it again. However, I might add that I think they were glad they at least tried it.

 

[SueM in MN]

I've seen the show at least 5 times and each time there has been at least one family who left early and a number of crying and screaming kids (the real scared type of screaming, not the "I like being a little scared" type).
If you decide to go, go into the theater all the way to the end of a row opposite where you came in. That way, you will be close to the exit and also farthest away from the giant Hopper. Most of the sacry action takes place on the right side or the middle of the stage.
The last 2 rows are for guests traveling with wheelchairs and their parties, so you can't sit there. But if you sit as far back in the theater as possible, you'll not have spiders falling all around you. I was surprised the first time I saw the show from the middle of the theater and the middle of a row (when we didn't have DD in her wheelchair with us) at how much more intense the show was.
Like some people mentioned, I don;t think you can know ahead of time exactly how your kids will react, even if the love the movie and even if they have been well prepared. That giant Hopper really looks real to many kids (even older ones). He's very menacing.

 

[cart-mom]

My DS & DD were 6 & 4 when we went last and they were a little scared but I told them to take off the glasses when they got scared and they did. The didn't like the feelings from the seat either.

Do you know what they are talking about now that we are going back in July? Smelling the stink bug and seeing all the butterflies cover the screen.

Hey, it's Disney. My kids have been exposed since the womb so they are okay with most of the stuff they have at the parks They are just shy around the characters but I hope to get around that by giving them autograph books.

Trust your instincts and go with it. You know them best.

Worst case scenario - sit in the back towards the middle. If it's not too crowded you should be able to get up & leave if they get scared.