Do any rides scare your children?

[puffkin]

Doesn't sound like a very fun day to me. I guess to each his own but making a child cry repeatedly as Disney is not my idea of a good time for either party.

Oh, but I would do it again in a heartbeat and probably will have to when we take her sister next year. If anyone has ever hung out with a 7 year old, they know exactly what I am talking about with the "I think I know everything" stubborness they have. How would she even know if she likes it? She has NEVER been on the ride before and she had NO idea. We knew she would love them....she was just being stubborn.

I think it would have been a shame for her to waste her one and only trip to WDW (economically her parents couldn't afford to take her or her sister) sulking on a bench while the rest of our party rode (we were there with extended family and some first timers). She had a FABULOUS trip and talks about EVERY ride all the time, even though it is 3 years later. The little bit of hassle we endured getting on the rides was well worth it to see her experience and them. If we had given in to her, we both would have lost a lot of magical memories!

ETA: I wouldn't force a kid onto anything at our local parks where you can see the entire ride. The WDW are so different becuase you can't really tell what they are from the outside. Also, at a local park we would most likely be returning in the future, where WDW is a little more "out of reach" for a lot of families to visit more than once or twice.

 

[Beehn]

I brought a mini flashlight keychain that was in the shape of an animal. (I think you pulled the tail and the mouth opened up with the light.) Anyway, I had it ready in case DD didn't like the dark rides, just as a distraction. She did fine and never really needed it, but it is something easy to bring along just in case.

 

[tink20]

I think with a 3 year old it might be hard to know exactly what might frighten them. Do a tester ride, maybe the Mexico boat ride or Nemo ride, then do POTC. My 5yr old last summer was afraid of everything we stood in line for , because it was new, way too much unknown for him. He had to be coaxed onto everything, He wasn't crying or screaming, he was just holding onto my leg tight and even wanting daddy to hold him. But after every ride, he said that was FUN. It was just he didn't know what to expect. Going back in 3 weeks, we have talked about the rides, watch youtube, and I have told him nothing is going to touch him, and nothing is real, it is all pretend.. We'll see how he does! Oh and we didn't get to do HM is was under rehab, so I am a little concerned about this one!

Whatever you decide,, Have a Great Trip!!!!!!

 

[las3888]

Well, DS is a VERY cautious guy. We go to Disney several times a year...he is now just over 3. He started refusing to go on many rides around 2.5 y/o. We really can't/don't force it. He just gets pretty panicked. He talked a big talk at home prior to our last trip...told everybody he was going to ride HM and Buzz Lightyear. No way did that transpire. Honestly at this very young age, I can't see forcing him to sit through dark, loud rides with lots of scary images...it really just makes no sense to me, although I would dearly love to ride these rides myself! I do hope he outgrows it in a few years.

Anyways, what has helped was to use a flashlight in some of the rides if at all possible.

 

[brymolmom]

I have never tried any of the 3d type rides with my son, maybe now that he can sit still I little longer we will try it. Do your children do okay on them if they dont wear the 3d glasses?? I agree with you that I wont let my son dictate what ride I do or do not go on, if my husband and I want to ride something we will use the swap. But I also wouldnt want to force a screaming child on a ride, thats not fun for you or anyone around you.

My daughter still didn't like 3D even without the glasses - have you ever looked at the screen - it's really creepy looking without them. That plus the loudness of the show and the dark - she didn't like it.

I would suggest if you try the 3D ones...sit near an exit - we had to leave a few. I agree - not fun to those around us - if she gets really upset - we leave so we don't disrupt others around us.

You'll have fun no matter what!

 

[TruBlu]

No, but It's a Small World scares me.

 

[wlwilliams9]

We just got back last week and our DD (22 months) loves all of those rides. She even rode the Barnstormer rollercoaster and yelled "WEEEEEEEeeeeeee" the whole ride. Once we were off, she said, "again!" She rode 2 more times over our vacation! I say if your little one doesn't scare easy, then he'll be fine! Have fun!!

 

[Dannielle_1]

Just got back with DS 2.5.

The first dark ride we did was Pirates. He wasn't particularly scared, more nervous and was holding his ears because he thought it was loud (this is typical of him). Anyway, when he would get nervous we would be sure to point out things we thought he would like and/or be familiar with, and or funny. (See the doggy, see the guitar, look at them chasing each other.) After the ride, he was talking about the guy playing guitar. We did this throughout the week when he would show signs of being nervous. Did I mention my son is really funny about loud noises and even thinking something may be loud?

Other dark rides he was "nervous" on were Nemo (2nd time no problem); the Land (the begining thunder - he was fine after we made that part a game and 2nd time no problem); Imagination - he got scared toward the end when there is the big bang and the whole scene opens up (heck, it made me jump); Norway; and the first time through Mexico, but once he saw/heard Donald, he was fine; The TTA first time through, but was fine after that (wanted to see the "shooting stars" in the "tunnel" - we rode this probably 8x). For him, it really is about the sound level and the unknown, but we'd talk him through it. Plus, we were there over 8 days and he became more comfortable with them more and more each day.

We didn't even try the HM (just too dark, especially in the stretching room and loud in the graveyard) or Snow White. We also didn't do the 3d shows or Little Mermaid, mainly because we didn't want to make him sit through a show. But it was just DS, DH & me, no others to think about. DH & I have been many times, DS once before, and we plan on returning many more times, so we had no feelings of we have to do ______ (fill in the blank with pretty much any attraction at WDW).

DS loved Pooh, Small World, Buzz Lightyear (over and over and over - thankfully the line was short), the TTA, Mexico, Norway, Spaceship Earth, and Living with the Land.

I would say, make sure your first dark ride is either something your child is very familar with, not at all scary or not that dark (Small World, Pooh, maybe the TTA, Mexico, maybe Nemo, The Land - if you think the thunderstorm in the first "scene" won't be an issue). I think riding pirates first might have set us back a little. Also, maybe try some outdoor rides first. As when you think about it, how much "ride" experience do toddlers have, generally speaking? (Jungle Cruise, Teacups - if you can, Dumbo - if you want to wait).

Hope our experiences help.

 

[ethansmommy]

Just got back with DS 2.5.


I would say, make sure your first dark ride is either something your child is very familar with, not at all scary or not that dark (Small World, Pooh, maybe the TTA, Mexico, maybe Nemo, The Land - if you think the thunderstorm in the first "scene" won't be an issue). I think riding pirates first might have set us back a little. Also, maybe try some outdoor rides first. As when you think about it, how much "ride" experience do toddlers have, generally speaking? (Jungle Cruise, Teacups - if you can, Dumbo - if you want to wait).

Hope our experiences help.

Thank you for sharing your experience. You have given me alot of great advice, I am starting to get really excited to try all of these new rides with him. I hope he enjoys them.

 

[ethansmommy]

No, but It's a Small World scares me.

In some weird way it scares me too!

 

[ethansmommy]

We just got back last week and our DD (22 months) loves all of those rides. She even rode the Barnstormer rollercoaster and yelled "WEEEEEEEeeeeeee" the whole ride. Once we were off, she said, "again!" She rode 2 more times over our vacation! I say if your little one doesn't scare easy, then he'll be fine! Have fun!!

I never even thought to take my son on the Barnstormer. Is there a height requirement for this ride? My son is around 38". I think he might like the rollercoaster.

 

[ethansmommy]

Thank you everyone for all of the advice.

 

[ethansmommy]

I brought a mini flashlight keychain that was in the shape of an animal. (I think you pulled the tail and the mouth opened up with the light.) Anyway, I had it ready in case DD didn't like the dark rides, just as a distraction. She did fine and never really needed it, but it is something easy to bring along just in case.

Thank you for bringing up the mini flashlight, I almost forgot that I had brought these on our last trip but didnt end up using them because we didnt go on any dark rides. I am sure they will come in handy this time.