Dark Rides & 3D Shows for 1yr old

[mcgrawfan]

How many people have taken there 1 year olds to the 3D shows and dark rides like HM and they haven't gotten scared. I wouldnt take my DD to HISTA because I am scared of snakes. But what about Muppets and Philharmagic. Also, what about some of the dark rides? Are there little ones out there who don't get scared or should I not even consider these rides. I don't forsee DD being scared, but wanting opinions of those who have been there done that.

 

[tekmom]

We are at MPHM 3D 2 weeks ago and some people not far from us had a little girl about 18mos. and kept trying to shove the glasses on her. She screamed through the entire show. We weren't sitting right next to them but could hear her crying and see her fighting them with the glasses. I personally wouldn't take in a small child that couldn't enjoy the show. Because it is different from a loading ride, only you would know how your child might react to the show.

 

[TDS373X]

Hindsight is 20/20...I would not take my daughter now 5 to the 3d shows if she were 1 because they are REALLY LOUD...Now I did take her to the Muppets because I thought she would like it(she's been going to WDW since her 1st birthday she has now been 5 times). She hated it. It was too loud which is something I had not even considered. I was thinking about the cute Muppies and how she would like them. She could not focus on the Kermie and friends because it was just too loud. Unfortunatly I did not learn this too loud lesson until last year and kept torturing her with the 3D movies that she hated. This year we discovered ear plugs and now those 3D movies are fine she loves them.... She did fine with the dark rides as long as I kept her close

 

[jcemom]

We took our DD at 16 mos. She was fine with all the dark rides. She really wasn't afraid of anything, but she didn't like the 3D shows. She, of course, wouldn't wear the glasses, but the main thing was that she didn't like the air and/or water that sometimes sprays at you. She never cried, but didn't exactly enjoy them either.

She was fine with everything else though...Haunted Mansion, Snow White, Pirates, all of those.

 

[jann1033]

you didn't mention it but a saw a lot of toddlers screaming(...and parents leaving) at fantasmic

 

[Pig Pen]

My brother and his wife took their two pre-schoolers to Disney 2 years ago during Presidents Week. They hated everything...the lines, the prices, the crowds. Of course they had ignored all the advice I gave them (go early, use fastpass, etc.) so I didn't feel sorry for them.

On top of everything else, the FIRST ride they took their kids on was POC. Well they were petrified of the darkness, the skeletons, the loud cannons, the guns. The rest of the day they cried on every indoor ride before they even got in the door.

I would suggest taking your kids on IASW or Peter Pan first, to break them in. They are fairly innocuous and funny. Then maybe work your way up to HM or POC.

 

[jj1403]

When we went in January my then 1.5 yrs old DD did not like any of the 3D experiences or some of the really dark rides. I think a lot of that had to do with how loud a ride can be. Someone suggested ear plugs or ear muffs. I wish I would have been told that before I went!! I would start gettting your child used to them by wearing them around the house.

It's best to just play it by ear. Anything with explosion or loud startling noises they aren't going to like.

 

[jckdisneybound]

We took our DD to the 3D shows for the first time when she just turned 2, she loved them. We took her again at 3.5 and she was terrified, b/c she understood what they were saying, but couldn't comprehend that it wasn't real. So we ended up leaving very shortly after they started instead of forcing her to stay.

 

[jj1403]

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I would suggest taking your kids on IASW or Peter Pan first, to break them in. They are fairly innocuous and funny. Then maybe work your way up to HM or POC.

This is a really good idea. We did that with my daughter and while she really didn't like the HM or POC. It was so loud in there nobody we were with noticed she was crying a bit.

 

[jj1403]

you didn't mention it but a saw a lot of toddlers screaming(...and parents leaving) at fantasmic

My daughter hated it. I ended up leaving my seat and standing by the consession stands with her. She cried, while she was clapping and she didn't want me to leave. It's very very loud at Fantasmic.

 

[homer424]

We did dark rides with my DD when she was 1 and she was completely fine with them. We stayed away from the 3D shows until she was about 4-and we only went on Muppets-because I was afraid she would be frightened by things coming at her. At 4, she LOVED the Muppets and we are thinking maybe bring her on the other 3D things this time around.

As I said in another thread, I think all children are different and you should assess them and their demeanor before going on the more "intense" rides. Funny story-my friend's daughter LOVED HM and POTC but freaked on SE.

I also like the suggestion of bringing them on quite a few tame rides first so they arent going on an intense one right out of the box. And talk to them about the ride-all the rides-so they know what to expect.

 

[mcgrawfan]

Thanks for all of the replies. I really hadn't thought about the movies being loud. I think I may try HM. We will see how she does on some of the other rides first.

 

[LeeAnn]

We took our DD at 9 Months and were surprised how much she LOVED Disney.

We were also surprised that she didn't like the dark rides too much. She slept in her own room w/o a night-light. But I must have antispated a problem because I brought Mini Flashlight and Neon Sticks which helped.

We also had to leave Muppet 3-D and Fastasmic. It was too loud and she didn't like it and we didn't want to disturb others.

If not sure, give it a try. Look to sit near an exit.

We are trying it again w/DD at 2-1/2 and w/DS 1-1/4.

 

[Becky2005]

We took our 1 year old into everything basically that we went on - not haunted mansion because my 8 year old wouldn't go on that, so I stayed with him and the 1 year old. LOL!

However, I DIDN'T get glasses for my 1 year old after our first experience in Muppets (he broke the earpiece! )

We didn't go on that many things though that would be a concern.

Actually, one of the hardest was Carousel (sp?) of Progress because he LOVED the dog and would get all excited about it, so he was yelling "oooh, ooh, ooh" and me trying to keep him quiet so others could here. LOL! It wasn't a crying noise but still and not exactly like I could get up and leave on that one.

About only did a couple 3-D's, Muppets and It's Tough to be a Bug - he actually LIKED the Tough to be a Bug and was WAVING to things that would freak other people out - he just thought they were more characters and was having a grand old time with it. My older kids didn't like this show but the 1 year old thought it was great!

Spoiler - just roll the cursor over it
When Hopper came outs from the side - who is huge and would scare people, DS-1 thought it was great and laughed & waved. Then spiders fell from the ceiling - he started waving at them, pointing and trying to grab them!

We went on rides that were dark on the inside and he never had any problems.