Flashlight for dark rides?

[CanadianGuy]

I agree with the poster who said GLOW BRACELETS.

This is a GREAT use for them.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would say no to a penlight or flashlight but my kids often wore a glowstick bracelet every day for this reason. One year we bought the glow in the dark stars they sell at the dollar store for decorating your room and made wands with them. The stars glow much like your white laces on the dark rides but don't bother anyone else. The kids loved having their own wands and got excited about the dark rides so they would glow.

TJ

 

[maxiesmom]

As long as you teach your children how to use the lights (no pointing them at other people, or outside of the ride vehicle) then go ahead and use them. There is not rule that you cannot take a small light on a ride with you. Disney sells them, for pete's sake. They don't confiscate them before you get on the rides.

Thanks for asking what is appropriate. Many people think that if your child might be scared you should not take them on. That is crazy! How do you know what will spook your child? If they want to vacation in a place that guarantees no screaming and no children upsetting the ambiance of a ride, than I don't know what theme park they could possible vacation at.

 

[CheshireVal]

I can't think of any ride dark enough where anyone would actually need an extra light. Most of them do have some light (with the exception of some of the tunnels in TTA).

 

[maxiesmom]

I can't think of any ride dark enough where anyone would actually need an extra light. Most of them do have some light (with the exception of some of the tunnels in TTA).

The beginning of Malestorm is quite dark. You only have the light from the Viking's eye, which doesn't really illuminate anything. It is more a beam of light. Also the dark drop in Pirates. And the Haunted Mansion isn't exactly bright. But I can see a child needing a small light for a moment. Now if they are being rude and putting the light in your face, or all over the attraction, I would have a problem. But to me the bigger problem is all of the adults who take flash pictures when they are not supposed to.

 

[jamounger]

When my daughter was little when we got to the entrance she always asked the CM "Is it dark?". If they said yes she wasn't going. I never would have dreamed of giving her a flaslight or penlight because I would think it would spoil it for the other people. I do like the idea of glo sticks or a cell phone and would have probably gone there. I always try to think about no matter how wonderful I think my children are other people may not find them so amusing. I always try to have them think about how what they do affects others around them.

 

[lillygator]

I too think if the child is that sacred of the dark maybe it would be best they not go on it. The idea of glow bracelets is a fantastic idea!

 

[Deb & Bill]

A cell phone gives off too much light, especially to anyone sitting behind the person with the cell phone.

 

[Neelloc]

I agree, at the very maximum, a glow bracelet could be used to pacify the child's fear of the dark and minimize the amount of light disturbing other riders.

However, being a parent of a 4 year old and a 2 year old myself, I probably would err on the side of caution as to which dark rides to go on with them.

Last September, my 4 year old handled HM beautifully, in part to us telling her that it was a "silly scary" ride, and we'd whisper in her ear what was coming up next. We gave her the option of wanting to ride after we went through the stretch room, and she did great. I would have never considered taking a small light on for her, that's just me.

We took her on Winnie the Pooh and Peter pan first to test how she'd do. We "worked" our way up to the other stuff.

 

[HayGan]

Glow necklaces bracelets are the BEST solution for kids who might be a little bit frightened of some of the darker rides. The illuminate a very small area for the child without spoiling the atmsphere for everyone else.

They serve a second purpose in that they are great to wear around WDW at night. I find that kids aren't begging for light spinners, etc. when mom has a couple glow sticks to give to them at parades, etc.!!!

You can buy them in bulk at most craft store for just a few dollars. They are a much better solution than any type of flashlight!

 

[perdidochas]

For the rides that go through dark areas, I was thinking of gettting a couple mini flashlights that are on keychains, and just looping them to my kids' beltloops so they could turn them on if they get scared.... is that allowed????

Bring glowsticks instead. The miniflashlights might messup the ride for someone else.

 

[eliza61]

Stick with the glow bracelets and/or skipping the rides. Cell phone lights are distracting IMO, some rides are designed to be dark and scary. HM and POTC might be a no go for your child

 

[SummersMom]

I just went to the dollar store about got 12 glow bracelets for $1 for this exact reason, now I know my kids won't be scared, but won't bother others either.

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

We gave a teeny tiny flashlight to DD5 for the dark rides. She scares easily and this really put her at ease. The only time I really remember her using it was on Pirates.

 

[cpbjgc]

Our kids had them on their pin lanyards, and no cast members commented on them or asked us to put them away (probably helped that they had Mickey on them ). My daughter turned hers on once on the TTA ride in MK, but aimed it in the car at the floor, like she was asked to do. I don't see that it would disturb others, especially when so many adults are busy snapping away with their flashes on (which happened on every dark ride I was on this past January). So I say go with the flashlights that you described, OP. If you let the kids know the ground rules for their use, it shouldn't effect anyone else on the ride.