Ear protection on rides?

[HCinKC]

I was watching some rides on YouTube, and was wondering what is allowed on them. For instance, I know my 6yo would like Dinosaur minus the loud sounds. Can he wear his ear protectors? They are the headphone kind not ear plugs. I don't think he would do plugs. I've also seen people say they bring flashlights or some other light up item for dark rides. Is this actually allowed? I want my son to experience whatever he is interested in without breaking rules.

 

[angierae]

Please, please don't bring flashlights or other such things for dark rides. It might help you or your family, but it will ruin the ride for anyone riding with you. If your child isn't ready for dark rides, then please wait until they are.

 

[HCinKC]

I actually don't want to bring a flashlight. I have just seen that a lot and got me wondering about ear protectors. I am just wondering if any of these extra things are allowed. I don't want to come across snooty, but I am not asking about anyone's opinion on what rides we chose and why. I simply want to know if Disney has a rule about things.

 

[hakepb]

There was a recent thread where some were encouraging ear protection on RnR

Just make sure that they can't slip off and hit a guest, it's a bumpy motion simulator.
(While others silently judge your son in the category of teens that can't stop listening to their Beats headphones while on a family vacation)

 

[L&Lfan]

I think they would be allowed but they should be secure. This is the type of attraction where they warn you about hats, eye glasses and other loose objects flying off. But no offense, I have to agree with the PP and suggest you wait til your child can handle this type of attraction without the use of aids. Ear protectors, flashlights and such.

 

[Miaka1]

I always wear ear plugs on dinosaur. I have hyper sensitive ear drums and that ride is seriously loud! My daughters also can't handle loud noise, so we found that ear buds (the expensive kind that mold to the inside of your ear) worked best. Cancelled out just the right amount of noise, but could still hear the dialogue. I could easily see over the ear protectors falling off in this ride.

 

[CAS239]

I really don't think dinosaur is that loud. There's only one part where a dinosaur roars and that's where they take your pic. Other than that the ride really isn't loud. We go on it every trip and I've never seen adults or children where ear protection

 

[bumbershoot]

I think that all of Disney is too loud. Rides especially. But even the ambient noise is constant, nonstop, and can get overwhelming. I generally have earplugs in my purse for those times that itmgete to be too much. Just dampening that sound helps SO much. I'm an adult with no diagnoses of any sort, but the noise can really mess with my day.

For comfort I would see if he can get used to earplugs, but bring the ear protectors and see I they are ok. Given how kind Disney is about people with autism, etc, allowing them to help themselves, I bet they would allow the ear protection.

Please no flashlights. You'll ruin the ride for everyone. I had LASIK done years ago and it really harmed my ability to go from dark to light and back. When someone takes a flash picture in Pirates I cannot see for a minute or so. It's no fun.

Some kids like a glow bracelet or two, because it gives them a teensy bit of light without being intrusive to the other people riding.

 

[Cedarmom]

Ear protectors would be fine on Dinosaur. They aren't going to fall off so I can't imagine they wouldn't allow them. We used them in lines for my son at times, but he wanted them off for the attractions themselves. His sensitivity has to do with background noise, however, and not the 'loudness' of the actual ride.

 

[RedOnion]

Until my son (now 11) outgrew the need, he wore noise-canceling earmuffs on any ride that made him nervous. He actually rode Dinosaur at age 4 (he met the height requirement). There are models manufactured just for children, appropriately sized and in playful colors; a quick Web search should provide lots of options. We went with the 3M Peltor Junior Earmuff and had great results. Good luck and enjoy your next trip!

 

[dmband]

If you guys want great ear protection at a small cost and the added benefit of not drawing attn easy
Check out http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/er20.html
Standard are kid friendly and large are adult. (Old packaging said kids/adult but was changed.)
So fast and easy to put in and out and have a natural sound spectrum unlike foam or over the ear. (Simply raise the top of your ear slightly and put in, twist slightly and pull out)
Finally you can get them a little cheaper by searching online, I think I got five pairs for $35 but I do live concerts and use them regularly so having extras is more boggy to me
Also comes with a removable cord to connect them together

 

[WillAustin]

I really don't think dinosaur is that loud. There's only one part where a dinosaur roars and that's where they take your pic. Other than that the ride really isn't loud. We go on it every trip and I've never seen adults or children where ear protection

It's loud enough that I can still hear everything on the ride while wearing 33db earplugs.

 

[CinderElsa]

Ear protection &/or glow bracelets (not the flashing kind) = OK; affects only your child
Flashlights = not OK; affects other guests

IMO.

 

[disnut8]

Personally, I see ear protectors as being the same as glasses. Only ear protectors could go over the top of the head and not loop around the ears. Take the ear protectors and have your son put them on just before you board the ride vehicle. You might want to check out the safety restraints to see which attractions are are thinking about have the "pull down over your head" ones so you can help him on those.

Ear plugs would be a lot easier so you could try an introduction to those before you leave but if not, take the protectors.

 

[goofy4tink]

I researched all the attractions before having my dd go on them. Those that were too scary (roller coasters mostly) were put on hold. Well.....we didn't think Dinosaur was going to be an issue. BUT...it was. The photo from her first time there (she was 8) has her with her head between her knees, hands over her head. We thought it was because she was scared. Nope, it was too loud. Come to find out, she is very sensitive to very loud noises. And a lot of the Disney attractions are very loud! She still puts her hands over her ears on Dinosaur and she's now 21!!!

I would say to bring some kind sound lessening device. Also, the glow in the dark bracelets are a terrific idea. They give some light for the child without negatively impacting those around.

 

[lovethattink]

My son doesn't like to wear headphones on the attractions. Especially Dinosaur where they could fall off from the jarring around. He wears those little orange ear plug things. First Aid usually has some on hand. Less chance of it falling out than the headphones falling off.

As for the flashlight, I downloaded a flashlight app to my phone. I use to carry an actual flash light. We've been stuck on dark rides several times at places where there was no light. Though only needed one twice when he panicked and I couldn't even see him. Needed to make sure he was sitting in the vehicle. IMHO, I think glow sticks work better. He can see it around his neck or wrist and I can see where he is.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

One of our sons is an Aspie - very high functioning, but with an extreme aversion to loud noises. I wish I had thought of ear protection the first time we went! And I would do the glow stick / bracelet thing instead of anything with a "real" light as well. Michael's sells tubes of bracelets in their $1 section quite often. I also pick up glow sticks the day after Halloween; they are perfect for a night light in a tent or unfamiliar hotel room, or to comfort a kid on a dark ride w/o interfering with anyone else's ride.

 

[larryz]

Quick-on, quick-off would probably work...

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight...1424025326&sr=8-6&keywords=hearing+protection

Disclaimer: not endorsing any particular brand, but using this to illustrate the style I'm talking about

 

[HCinKC]

Thanks so much for the info! We do have the Peltor brand in a kids size. He wears them for riding on my parents tractor, fireworks shows, etc. DH and I both have hearing loss from working in the music industry for many years, so we take decibels seriously. I think I will bring both some small plugs and his headphone type ones. If he wants it, it's there, if not, that's fine, too. I am not worried about the dark, as I consider that more like a movie theatre experience, but a glow bracelet he would love anyway haha.