Earplugs?? or Ear Muffs? Needed at Disney

[hiroMYhero]

If you do decide on ear muffs, purchase the ones with the greatest noise reduction - 25dB. "In the ear" foam plugs usually are rated at 32dB reduction which is a huge difference in perceived loudness as compared to the ear muffs.. I used to oversee a Hard of Hearing program - you are doing a great job in being proactive in conserving your family's hearing!

 

[rwdavis2]

As long a you are not continually exposed to loud noise it won't be a problem. Nothing is loud enough at WDW where you will damage your hearing at one or even a few exposures. The OP is worrying too much.

 

[Gillyrose779]

My kids are 4 and 5 and really like the ear muffs- wore them for the 4th of July Fireworks and had a great time.

On our last two trips to the world my husband would get children's ear plugs. Next time I think I will bring the muffs since they seem to really like them on.

I can't remember Fantasmic but I remember my older son wanting the plugs for Illuminations and Wishes... heck... they probably would have wanted them for the Dinosaur ride at AK- the picture we got was of my poor 4 year old holding his ears. He loved the ride but hated the noise.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Thanks! For the fireworks this 4th of July we were slightly far back. But I dont think far enough! LOL. My husband said maybe 300-500 feet back, but not sure. I had my fingers in my ears the entire time. They were exploding over top of us so it seemed.

My husband and I were just talking about this yesterday. We have twin infants so we opted to skip going to fireworks this year. However we can see them from our balcony. They are literally 4 miles away and they were still loud. Not painful loud, but 4 miles and we could still hear them clearly. Disney fireworks are never that loud. All we can assume is that Disney either buys or designed special ones that just aren't that loud. We were walking around the world showcase during illuminations last month and the babies weren't disturbed in the slightest.
That said, they made some change to the speaker system in the great movie ride when the upgraded it last month. We found it way too loud and covered the babies' ears with our hands. The narrator is a fine volume, but the CM is blasting. I assume they will get that worked out though.
It doesn't hurt to carry ear plugs if you are worried about it. If you are really super sensitive (I can't handle concerts or bars, but I am totally fine in disney) or have a sensory disorder, you will likely need them. Id say 99% of people don't need them though.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've never been concerned with hearing at Disney as nothing is overly loud.

EVERYTHING at Disney is overly loud. Everything is just a bit too loud, some things are way too loud, and there are sounds *everywhere*. When you put earplugs in you realize just how crazy-loud it all is.

I am not sure if she would want those in her ears.

Don't guess, buy some now and practice. They are really good once you get the hang of it.

 

[MrsDuck]

I'd pack a few pairs of the squishy foam ones if you're concerned. We've never had a need for them but I understand that everyone's ears are different!

 

[momtwoboys]

for years our youngest used the child sized noise cancelling headphones. everything is very loud in disney and we love it but he has a hard time with loud rides and shows. the headphones were a lifesaver for years. he also was used to wearing them in school as needed. and no we didnt care if people stared at him walking around the world showcase with Blue headphones. they made those rough years more enjoyable.

 

[JennyDrake]

May I ask what brand you use, and will it work for a 7 yr old?

SURE! MSA Safety Works.

Yes! they will work for a kid too. THey are more dense foam and you warm them in your hand or pocket for a bit, then twirl or roll them more narrow, then put them in the ear. They puff up to fill in the space, but are VERY easily removed.

 

[DisneyFinally]

If you do decide on ear muffs, purchase the ones with the greatest noise reduction - 25dB. "In the ear" foam plugs usually are rated at 32dB reduction which is a huge difference in perceived loudness as compared to the ear muffs.. I used to oversee a Hard of Hearing program - you are doing a great job in being proactive in conserving your family's hearing!

Thank you!!!! I may buy muffs for myself too! I do not care how I look ...LOL...I am not a concert goer but went to a Keith Urban concert last year..Everyone thinks Im crazy, but I will never go to a concert again without protection

 

[DisneyFinally]

My kids are 4 and 5 and really like the ear muffs- wore them for the 4th of July Fireworks and had a great time.

On our last two trips to the world my husband would get children's ear plugs. Next time I think I will bring the muffs since they seem to really like them on.

I can't remember Fantasmic but I remember my older son wanting the plugs for Illuminations and Wishes... heck... they probably would have wanted them for the Dinosaur ride at AK- the picture we got was of my poor 4 year old holding his ears. He loved the ride but hated the noise.

Good to know about Dinosaur! I dont remember it being that loud. But we may skip that one? Not sure if too dcary for my 7 yr old?? Or too fast???

 

[DisneyFinally]

My husband and I were just talking about this yesterday. We have twin infants so we opted to skip going to fireworks this year. However we can see them from our balcony. They are literally 4 miles away and they were still loud. Not painful loud, but 4 miles and we could still hear them clearly. Disney fireworks are never that loud. All we can assume is that Disney either buys or designed special ones that just aren't that loud. We were walking around the world showcase during illuminations last month and the babies weren't disturbed in the slightest.
That said, they made some change to the speaker system in the great movie ride when the upgraded it last month. We found it way too loud and covered the babies' ears with our hands. The narrator is a fine volume, but the CM is blasting. I assume they will get that worked out though.
It doesn't hurt to carry ear plugs if you are worried about it. If you are really super sensitive (I can't handle concerts or bars, but I am totally fine in disney) or have a sensory disorder, you will likely need them. Id say 99% of people don't need them though.

 

[DisneyFinally]

Great Info

Great Info!!!

 

[Disneylover99]

We always bought the "putty buddy" ear plugs for my kids. We used them on RnR and Dinosaur. My daughter also used them for Wishes, because the fireworks made her jumpy without them.

 

[Mikie]

We always bought the "putty buddy" ear plugs for my kids. We used them on RnR and Dinosaur. My daughter also used them for Wishes, because the fireworks made her jumpy without them.

I brought these in case my kids complained when they were older and used them when they were very little just because of all the ambient noise and stimulation. I don't know that anything rises to the level of damaging for one experience, but for little ones (or even adults!) it just gets to be too much some days overall.

 

[photo_chick]

My DS doesn't deal with loud noises very well. He covers his ears for some fireworks. The only thing at Disney that bothers him is Dinosaur and when people scream around him at shows and such. There is nothing that is overly loud to the point of damaging hearing at Disney. The reason you can't hear after a concert is because the noise was sustained for a prolonged period of time and it damages your hearing.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I would say that it depends on whether or not members of your family are prone to early hearing loss. There is a genetic factor. Without that factor, I do not think that anything in WDW reaches the decibel lever required to damage hearing (now that Off Kilter is no longer at Epcot).

 

[DisneyFinally]

I would say that it depends on whether or not members of your family are prone to early hearing loss. There is a genetic factor. Without that factor, I do not think that anything in WDW reaches the decibel lever required to damage hearing (now that Off Kilter is no longer at Epcot).

Yes. Im not sure. So far so good as far as family member

 

[DisneyFinally]

My DS doesn't deal with loud noises very well. He covers his ears for some fireworks. The only thing at Disney that bothers him is Dinosaur and when people scream around him at shows and such. There is nothing that is overly loud to the point of damaging hearing at Disney. The reason you can't hear after a concert is because the noise was sustained for a prolonged period of time and it damages your hearing.

Right. I'm thinking maybe just important as least for Fantasmic since its a 1/2 hr show. But you are correct, a concert is 2 hours.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

DH has custom molded earplugs for when he rides his motorcycle on a track. He doesn't use them at Disney World, but maybe you could try something like that?

 

[tzeitel]

DD used the Peltor kids ones and now has the adult sized ones (she is 12 but very sensitive to fireworks, fire trucks etc). We take them with us on every trip - no matter where we go - since you never know what we might find.