First ride, is she right?

[JillyBean1899]

I think it depends on your child. My kids have went on it starting at 18 months all the way to 11 years old (and everything in between...lol) and have never been scared. Even if he does not like it I cannot imagine it ruining the whole rest of the day, Disneyland is full of magical moments and memories and I hope you have many!

Have a Magical Time!

Actually, it can. When I was 3 I apparently became terrified of the Snow White ride (even though I'd been riding it basically since I was born), and because the witch scared me so bad my mom couldn't get me back on any other ride in the park for months (again, all rides that I'd been on hundreds of times). I even screamed bloody murder when I saw Snow White out in the park (and she had been my favorite character until that point ... poor girl was confused why I was freaking out when every other time she'd seen me in the past 2 years I ran right up for a kiss).

It's rare, but it can happen. Kids' brains aren't wired like adults'. I think the OP has done pretty much everything she can to prepare her son, he should be fine. May want to bring along a glow stick (not a flashlight, that would be too distracting for everyone else on the ride) just in case. You'd be amazed what a "magic" wand can banish.

 

[Californiacicle]

Actually, it can. When I was 3 I apparently became terrified of the Snow White ride (even though I'd been riding it basically since I was born), and because the witch scared me so bad my mom couldn't get me back on any other ride in the park for months (again, all rides that I'd been on hundreds of times). I even screamed bloody murder when I saw Snow White out in the park (and she had been my favorite character until that point ... poor girl was confused why I was freaking out when every other time she'd seen me in the past 2 years I ran right up for a kiss).

It's rare, but it can happen. Kids' brains aren't wired like adults'. I think the OP has done pretty much everything she can to prepare her son, he should be fine. May want to bring along a glow stick (not a flashlight, that would be too distracting for everyone else on the ride) just in case. You'd be amazed what a "magic" wand can banish.

Thanks! I bought him a blue star bracelet in the dollar spot at Target that lights up a bit so he can wear it on dark rides if he gets a bit scared. I do like the "magic wand" idea though.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

I suppose there are kids for whom one shake up could ruin their day, but it would be really hard to stick it out at Disneyland, Land of 1000 Distractions!

Personally, I would prefer to console a scared 5-yr-old with a Churro and a trip to Pirate Island (both right near HM) than to deal with a 5-yr-old who was promised he could pick the first ride of the day and then told he could not pick the first ride after all.

We all know what our own kids would do/how they can handle scary rides for the most part. Some flip outs just can't be predicted, but most parents would be able to respond appropriately. For instance, our friends' little girl was about 5 on a trip and she was inconsolable after the black widows came down in the A Bug's Life show. They just took her back to the hotel for a swim and a nap, and she came back that evening good as new.

We started off with Star Tours and Space Mtn with my 4-yr-old niece - she was scared but was trying to stay strong but we knew she had hit her limit for the time being on scary rides - so we went on the Storybook Canal boats next.

You only need to distract him or tell him to put his head down for about 4 seconds when the hanging skeleton appears. DD 7 still won't look up - even after hundreds of times on the ride - and wants us to hold her in the elevator - even though it's one of her favorite rides.

 

[frijolefrito]

So my wife and I were a bit worried how my 3 year old would react. She too wanted to go be spoooooky at the spooky mansion. She loved! Me as a kid I hated it because I am a big scaredy cat. I know as a parent you try to protect your kids but, it's disneyland and he asked for it. He's a peacock you gotta let him fly!!! (other guys movie reference)

 

[DahliaRW]

None of our kids were ever scared by it. We explained a bit what to expect and that it was all pretend. My 4yos favorite ride is Tower of Terror actually!

 

[mitch98]

When our kids were scared of any ride we just made sure to let them know what to expect, and it sounds like you have done that. It is the unknown that is the worst thing. Usually even if they were scared at first once the ride was over they would say "that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be".

You know your son best so I say go with your gut.

 

[Cholula]

It isn't an elevator room, it is the stretching portrait room or just simply the portrait room.

 

[kitayama]

I agree with many people here... Don't look up and you won't see the guy hanging from the ceiling of the elevator. Be prepared for screaming, and scream along. Hold your child close when the doors of the elevator open because it is quite dark.

Let me add, laugh at the silliness of the graveyard. Point out how neat the effects are in the scarier sections of the ride such as the black widow room. And even if no one screams in the elevator, I believe a scream is in the sound effects in the elevator.
(Sorry, I just needed to call the stretching room an elevator a few times. It is what it is!)

 

[AudreyKThompson]

At WDW you can ask to skip the stretching room (also great for pp who said the screaming hurts their ears)-- haven't been to DL in years so don't remember if that's an option, but if the stretching room is the main "scare factor" you are concerned about, you could try that .
All three of my kids have been on that ride since toddlers. Recently DD4 has said she doesn't like the "scary" ride. . . Not sure what changed. . . But since it is one of her brother's favorites, on trips when I'm "single mom" and can't stay out with her, we ride and I just quietly sing the song with silly faces or distract her, and she knows she is always allowed to "make a scary part disappear" by hiding under my jacket. It works, and sometimes she forgets she's scared and enjoys the ride. Never once has she complained or cried during or after the ride. Although once in line she was screaming she didn't want to go. . . I'm sure all the people around me thought I was a terrible mom for forcing this terrified preschooler on the ride ( if only they knew it was her 15th+ time riding it . . .) and we were in the metal queue with no way to just step out- she calmed down the second we sat in the doom buggy lol.
I say let him ride. It will work out! Have a fun birthday celebration!

 

[Californiacicle]

I agree with many people here... Don't look up and you won't see the guy hanging from the ceiling of the elevator. Be prepared for screaming, and scream along. Hold your child close when the doors of the elevator open because it is quite dark.

Let me add, laugh at the silliness of the graveyard. Point out how neat the effects are in the scarier sections of the ride such as the black widow room. And even if no one screams in the elevator, I believe a scream is in the sound effects in the elevator.
(Sorry, I just needed to call the stretching room an elevator a few times. It is what it is!)

LOL

 

[ClaraOswald]

It isn't an elevator room, it is the stretching portrait room or just simply the portrait room.

But it IS technically an elevator. (At WDW, it is not an elevator, however.)

 

[bumbershoot]

At WDW you can ask to skip the stretching room....

All three of my kids have been on that ride since toddlers. Recently DD4 has said she doesn't like the "scary" ride. . . Not sure what changed. . .

People have asked at dlr and generally been told no.

She changed. When my son was 4 he wouldn't even ride pirates, which was his fave. Everything spooked him in new a different ways. We had gone twice when he was three, sometimes when he was 4 and dealt with the extra-scared year of being 4, then on his 5th birthday (went at 4 and 5 for bday because every 5 years or so it falls over Memorial Day weekend and no one at home is available for a party...wish we were there this year for it!) everything was back to normal levels of nervousness lol.

But it IS technically an elevator. (At WDW, it is not an elevator, however.)

Agreed.

 

[Gisele]

But it IS technically an elevator. (At WDW, it is not an elevator, however.)

Yes, I know that. I am speaking in terms of atmosphere and ambience. I cringe when people refer to the portrait room as an elevator. Like one is in a business building.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes, I know that. I am speaking in terms of atmosphere and ambience. I cringe when people refer to the portrait room as an elevator. Like one is in a business building.

That's how you hear it, but no one means that description when they say it.