Fantasmic with small kids?

[lemondog]

Would you take small kids to Fantasmic? I am talking toddler/preschool age (2-4yo). I think mine would enjoy it, but then I read it can be really scary. Do people usually bring children this age into the show?

Thanks,
Angela

 

[iceskatejen]

I've only seen the WDW version once, but have seen the DL version too many times to count. The WDW version has way more villians and I think is scarier than the DL version and I would hesitate on kids that age seeing the DL one, but I've seen plenty of people do it.

 

[Gupsmom]

We've done Fantasmic since our youngest was 2 (other 2 kids were 3 and 4). My kids LOVE it. They weren't scared at all....but they're failry hardy kids. My youngest (now 4) does Splash Mountain with her arms in the air.

Jess

 

[alloyd1170]

We took our 2 yr old and he enjoyed it. He did flinch a bit during the fire effects (theyre bright and if youre down close, which we werent, you can really feel the heat). He was more scared of the effects in the 3d movies and any dark rides.

alison

 

[liznboys]

We didn't take our boys last year because it sounded like it would be too scary. I'm not sure if we will next year yet...our youngest will only be 11 months old (the older two will be 3.5 and 5.5).

You can see Fantasmic for yourself right here:
http://ww2.disneydreams.net:8080/soundvideo.aspx

 

[3MouseMom]

My older kids were not really an issue, they loved it, but dd was just shy of three when we last went. I told her about it before we went (she was familiar with the characters and the "bad guys"), so she wasn't startled.

We took her favorite blankie so she had something to put over her ears (she wore it like a hood) and she was fine. The loud noises were lessened by the blanket, and she loved the show.

But if your kids don't like fireworks, loud noises, etc., I might wait. The good news is you can sit way in back and hold them against your shoulder if they are nervous (I saw a few kids fall asleep that way)!

 

[maci]

There is no way I would go to Disney and NOT take my kids to fantasmic!
But that is just me. My kids love it! DS went the first time when he was 3 and DD was 6 months, and then again at 5 and 2, and DL at 5 and 3. They loved it each and everytime!

 

[maci]

oops ! Double post!

 

[renniks]

We took our ds to see Fantasmic when he was 4 and he had no problems - he really enjoyed it. He did cry and cover his ears at the Bugs life show.

 

[kimpossible]

We took our DS (then age 3.5 yrs) to see it. The majority of it he did not see because he asked me to cover his eyes. But boy did he love the end.

 

[kbkids]

We wouldn't miss this show!! It's a must see everytime we go. My youngest was 18 months when he first saw it. He's now 3 and has seen it at least a half a dozen times - never got upset by any of it. My DD, now 7, loves it as well.

 

[3MouseMom]

Renniks:

That's the same reaction my then 10 year old son had at Bug's Life (or just about). It didn't help that his dad told him before it started that they let real bugs into the theater during the show to "make it more realistic." yikes!

 

[kyirish25]

My 2 yr old loved it last year. Was scared of the Snow White ride but wasn't phased by Fantasmic. He still talks about how Mickey beats the dragon. Its his favorite picture in the Birnhams Kids Book.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Like others have said, it isn't really scary. The hype surrounding it is scarier

In all honsty, some of the rides scare ME - Snow White, heck, even Peter Pan and It's A Small World give me the willies. But, Fantasmic is AWESOME!
It has "frightening" scenes - with high-impact music...but they all take place on a huge island/mountain thing surrounded by a massive moat and you are seated in bleachers pretty far away. (Not so far that you can't see it - but far enough that it creates a feeling of safety).

It would be like, say, a big monster being on the field at a hockey game...scary if you were there standing next to them, yes...but not from up in the bleachers

It's HUGE - massive massive massive scale. Even in the "good" seats it's more of a laser-water show type thing (think fireworks display) than a fear-fest

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Mine were young (4, 2, and 10 months), and they weren't scared at all. We sat towards the back. Not a problem.

 

[TXMommy]

My DS was 3 when we saw Fantasmic and it didn't scare him, but the loudness of it bothered him (as it did in most attractions at WDW!). Poor baby - it got to the point that anytime we sat down on a ride or in a show he automatically put his hands over his ears!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We've seen it many times begining when my youngest was 2 1/2. She missed most of it because, even with an afternoon nap, they are pretty tired by Fantasmic.

We've always done the dinner package to avoid sitting with small children in the theatre for very long.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Can you refresh my memory about the Fantasmic Dinner Package? We just got the counter service "kids meals" that they had there at the entrance (uncrustable, teddy grahams, juice, and raisins...I think). But, I also recall some shows having dinner packages hat you could sit down at a restaurant and then had priority seating.
Do tell!

 

[swilphil]

Mine were bothered with the loudness of it. Maybe if you could sit far away from the speakers and stage.