DL Pirates question

[DAISY DUCK FAN!]

Since we have yet to visit DL, one of my children is concerned that there will be a drop (or drops) like Pirates in WDW. Would someone here be kind enough to please clarify this for me. I know he won't get on if he's not sure. TIA!

 

[Mike_M]

There are two drops in DL instead of the one in MK. I also think it's a little steeper in DL (The 1st drop).

 

[DoomBugger]

Nothing to fear with the small drops. if he won't go on it just don't tell him and he'll wind up loving it.

 

[DAISY DUCK FAN!]

Nothing to fear with the small drops. if he won't go on it just don't tell him and he'll wind up loving it.

Yeah, but then dh & I have to live with him afterwards. But you're right, what he doesn't know, he can't avoid!

 

[Monkey Monkey]

I was afraid that my DS (2.5) would be scared on the drops when I first took him a couple of weeks ago, but I just held him tight and said "Wheee!" and he loved it!

Of course, he wasn't already afraid of such a thing, so he didn't know the difference.

 

[fairycat]

Also remember that the hills are small enough that even little infants can ride. So it can't be all THAT scary.

And with the longer ride and cool storyline, he is going to be so bummed if he misses it. Maybe watch a youtube of it to help him get over the drops.

Also though you think you are going to get a huge drop at the end of the ride, its just a tease.

 

[toocherie]

Also remember that the hills are small enough that even little infants can ride. So it can't be all THAT scary.

And with the longer ride and cool storyline, he is going to be so bummed if he misses it. Maybe watch a youtube of it to help him get over the drops.

Also though you think you are going to get a huge drop at the end of the ride, its just a tease.

LOL--I never expected a drop at the end . . . . funny how people's perceptions are so different!

 

[Mike_M]

Is it the drop or the splash that your DS is concerned with? If it's the splash, try for the middle of the boat. you will get a little wet in the front row. They are pretty quick little drops and the 2nd one is smaller.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was afraid that my DS (2.5) would be scared on the drops when I first took him a couple of weeks ago, but I just held him tight and said "Wheee!" and he loved it!

Of course, he wasn't already afraid of such a thing, so he didn't know the difference.

I hope your kiddo doesn't do what mine did...he loved Pirates at 1 (OK so he nursed and slept though it), liked it at 2, and then for this entire year of being 3 he has HATED it and has only been on it once (in two longer trips!). He now promises that on our next trip, when he turns 4, that he will both go on it AND love it again. (it helps that he has now seen the first movie. )

 

[pixiewings71]

There are 2 drops but they aren't that bad. I think what makes the first one scary is it's completely dark. Just let him know it's coming and tell him to scream if it helps. The second drop is well lit and he will be able to see it. After that no more drops, he will love the ride and be glad he did it. There is a small *drop* at the end but it's not bad at all, you don't slide down, it's controlled and it's very short.

 

[Cadillac_Dreamgirl]

The drops are not that bad. Mine was 15 months old and seemed to enjoy it. I think what scares the kids is the dark and noise that come with many rides.

 

[DoomBugger]

You might want to consider covering his eyes or distracting him from the talking skull above the first drop; it might freak him out. Since the drop comes after that it might be too much drama for him all at once.

Try to keep him from noticing it and after he goes on it once then he will hopefully enjoy the ride and want to go again!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Also remember that the hills are small enough that even little infants can ride. So it can't be all THAT scary.

And with the longer ride and cool storyline, he is going to be so bummed if he misses it. Maybe watch a youtube of it to help him get over the drops.

Also though you think you are going to get a huge drop at the end of the ride, its just a tease.

Last week there was a family sitting behind us on POTC and the 2-3 year old hated the drops... kept saying "I WANT TO GET OFF NOW". Loudly! But by the time it got to the scenes with the pirates, he had forgotten all about it. By the end he said he wanted to go again! (To the apparent relief of mom and dad!) I congratulated him on being such a brave boy, and enjoying the ride even if the first part was a bit scary at first. He totally beamed! Plus- he liked looking for Captain Jack Sparrow His parents handled his fears very calmly and didn't make any big deal of it at all. I think that helped, that they didn't clutch him and coo or anything. They had what looked like a 1 year old and maybe a 5 year old as well, who seemed to love it all the way through.

 

[rentayenta]

There are 2 drops but Disneyland's POTC is far superior to WDW's. Really. You will love it!

 

[noryglory]

I think the scariest part would be hearing the boat or two in front you as you approach the skull drop at the beginning of the ride in the Bayou...everyone screams bloody murder like it's the scariest thing ever, but it really isn't. And if you happen to get a boatload of teens in front of you they are going to ham it up all get out...and I think that could make your child very, very afraid.

But like a previous poster said, the rest of the ride is so mellow and long that it's just totally forgettable. The drop is very, very dark so if it's your first time you might think it's going to last forever (but it's only like 15 feet or so, I would guess)...I have been riding it since a preschooler so I have no idea what I felt like the first time...at that age my biggest fear was thinking the ride at the end was ACTUALLY on fire!! (But my cooler head prevailed, I realized no one was freaking out so it must not be real...oh that Disney magic!)

 

[DAISY DUCK FAN!]

The part that seems to concern him the most is the unknown. If he can't see it or doesn't know what's coming, he tends to panic. But I did ask him again yesterday and he said he would just ride it. Initially he wanted us to ride it without him first. How he expected that, I can't imagine.

 

[KerTggr]

I was a bit of a scaredy cat re: rides until almost the end of High School! My dad used to have to remind me of how cool the pirates were to get me to go on POTC when we went to DL. But, he convinced me every time and it has always been my favorite (after I grew out of Dumbo .)

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I used to be absolutely TERRIFIED of the drops on POTC when I was 3 all the way until I got to about 8.. Yeah, scaredy cat, I know, lol. I remember the trip when I was about 4, and my Mom was wearing this bright pink windbreaker and I remember clutching that thing to death, screaming down the flumes.. I did the same thing on BTMRR.. I still bring that up to my parents to this day (I'm 20 now)..

 

[DAISY DUCK FAN!]

I used to be absolutely TERRIFIED of the drops on POTC when I was 3 all the way until I got to about 8.. Yeah, scaredy cat, I know, lol. I remember the trip when I was about 4, and my Mom was wearing this bright pink windbreaker and I remember clutching that thing to death, screaming down the flumes.. I did the same thing on BTMRR.. I still bring that up to my parents to this day (I'm 20 now)..

Well, since he is 8 today, hopefully, he'll outgrow any fear by the second week of April

 

[teacups]

If its like the 10 or so times we went on it in October he'll have a blast! We had the whole boat singing and laughing! We really bonded with a lot of pirates on that trip... Sit him in the middle, squeeze together and start singing!

Tell him if Teacups can do it... ANYONE CAN!