Dark/Noisy rides?

[indimom3]

Our March trip will be my first trip to DL in 7 years, and my first trip ever with my 3 kids. Our 8yo is very noise sensitive, and does not like dark interior rides. Rides that other kids might not consider scary at all (like Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan) are just torture for her. To give you an idea - our last trip to Epcot she rode Test Track and LOVED it. She also loved the Barnstormer and enjoyed most of BTMRR minus the extremely loud beginning portion. She loves TSMM, but didn't even want to go near Buzz LY.

There are couple of new rides since my last visit to DL, and other rides that I don't remember ever going on and I'm hoping to get some feedback about whether they are dark or very noisy rides. This will also be our first time ever at DCA.
What rides should I avoid even trying? I know Roger Rabbit is loud and dark, so that's off the list. But I don't remember the Storybook Boats and haven't been on Nemo.
Ariel is her favorite princess, so she does want to do the LM ride in DCA. I just hope that doesn't freak her right out since I expect it to be dark in parts. Any other DCA advice is greatly appreciated.

Another question - there's a kiddie coaster in Toontown, right? How are the lines for that as the day goes on? I know we'll be there during a busy time, just wondering if we should make that a morning priority after TT opens.

Thank you! I am so excited to show my kids the Disney park I grew up with!

 

[skiingfast]

Many of the rides are dark and have load parts. It sounds like she does mostly good with them so I would be willing to try anything.

Gadgets Go Coaster in Toontown is like Goofy's Barnstormer in MK. If you want to ride it it is a good option to do first. Toon Town opens an hour after the park opens, not right away. The wait is similiar to the wait in WDW, 30 minute wait for a one minute ride.

In DL Indy may be questionable, it is meant to be thrilling. Mr Toad has a loud part in it. Space is obviously very dark. Splash has a dark section. BTMRR is the same as in WDW, starts with the dark tunnel, but maybe she will like it better this go around.

In DCA ToT would be questionable, Monster's Inc is like a Fantasyland Dark Ride. LM will be good. The other rides don't have any suprisingly dark or loud part.

 

[pixiewings71]

RR is very loud, not completely dark but extremely loud! I would avoid that one. Storybook Boats are outside, not dark and not loud, you sit in a boat and look at miniature fairy tale worlds. Nemo...instead of jumping onto the sub ask the CM at the head of the line if you can go to the handicapped viewing area, if they ask just tell them she doesn't like enclosed spaces. They show the ride projections on a screen in a small room to accommodate those who cannot go up and down the stairs, it's the same exact "show" you see on the actual ride but you're not in the sub. The sub is dark, once you're on you can't get off, the room on the other hand, you can simply leave if she doesn't like it.

LM will be fine, it's inside but it's not dark at all, Ursula's Grotto isn't even dark.

 

[myxdvz]

DDY-5 is the exact same way. I made her ride some of the rides and she would agree only if I'm sitting beside her and I cover her eyes while she covers her ears.

She liked: IaSW, Storybook Land, Nemo Sub, Casey Jr Train, Dumbo, Carousel, Astro Orbiter, Autopia, TreeHouse, Jungle Cruise, Mark Twain, TSMM, Mickey's Fun Wheel, almost all the rides in A Bug's Land, Jumpin Jellyfish

She tried but didn't like: Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Sleeping Beauty's Castle walk-thru, Go Coaster, PoTC, Alice, Little Mermaid

I didn't even make her try (my 6 almost 7 DD did all these): Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin, Snow White, Mr. Toad, Pinnochio, Indy, Splash, BTMR, ToT, Space, Star Tours, Monsters Inc, Goofy's Sky School, Soarin

 

[indimom3]

I did not know that about Nemo, nice tip! I'm hoping she'll actually ride that one without protest, since the fairly boring Nemo ride in Epcot that was too tame for her.
Thank you for all the help!

Can anyone point me toward a list of height requirements for all the rides? I have miniature sized children, and my 5yo is turning out to be more of a daredevil than the 8yo. I need to see if she's tall enough for some serious fun this trip.

 

[skiingfast]

Can anyone point me toward a list of height requirements for all the rides? I have miniature sized children, and my 5yo is turning out to be more of a daredevil than the 8yo. I need to see if she's tall enough for some serious fun this trip.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/list/

On the left you cans select boxes to sort by "Height".

 

[CrazyDuck]

The idiot people who scream in the elevator for Haunted Mansion always freak my kids out...

 

[SGDisneyFam]

The idiot people who scream in the elevator for Haunted Mansion always freak my kids out...

That's the very reason we have never taken our 5 year old to the HM

 

[bumbershoot]

The idiot people who scream in the elevator for Haunted Mansion always freak my kids out...

My son still feels that if it's frightening enough for grown people to scream, he certainly doesn't think it's appropriate for him!



Nemo is small, closed in, you feel like you're truly under water (for a lot you actually are not, and I think it's important to watch the subs from outside, seeing that the hatch is above water in the lagoon), and it can be LOUD beyond belief! I mean LOUD. We went one morning, and I don't know if we were more sensitive or if they'd moved the volume up to 11, but DS was nearly in tears and I had my fingers in my ears part of the time, because the captain's voice was so loud it was painful.

Earplugs are your friend. Even if a ride is something the child wants to go on, earplugs will help to keep the sound from ruining the plans.

 

[indimom3]

We might just skip Nemo, then. It actually makes touring the parks with 3 kids very easy when they have no interest in so many of the slow loading rides! I certainly don't miss Winnie the Pooh or RR, although I used to like Peter Pan.
The Haunted Mansion is one of my favorite rides, but none of my kids will go on it. I tried taking my 5yo through the bypass line (where you skip the stretching room) but she was too scared to board our doom buggy.
I know this too shall pass, they thoroughly enjoy Disney even without those rides, and I know what they like/dislike will change as they grow up. And if while my girls are young, I have to ride IASW 10 times each trip... so be it. It's a small price to pay.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We love earplugs in our family. I always get a package of the foam kind and carry them in a pocket. I use them on all sorts of rides. I find I can get overstimulated and a little grouchy if I don't. I'm short, so my ears always seem to be right by the speakers!

My kids love using the earplugs, too. We make it a point to bring them every trip.

 

[danceanddisney2010]

when i was little the storybook land was definitely a favorite of mine! Heck even at 19 it's still my favorite it's not dark ...except for when you go through the whales mouth but if you go in the daytime it isn't bad..and definitely not loud. One I would for SURE stay away as it's dark and loud as ever is the pinocchio ride. OUCH!

Hope you have a great time!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

I wouldn't skip Nemo, just go use the handicapped room as I mentioned above. It's actually quite adorable. I've never had sound issues like Molly mentioned above, that doesn't mean it's not possible, it just means I've never experienced that.

My girls LOVE the HM, as do I. I just made sure I told them people were going to scream loudly and we helped them cover their ears when they were small. But HM is very dark inside and it IS a Haunted Mansion so it may be better to skip it.