Glo Sticks on rides

[jeepgirl30]

I'm almost afraid to ask because I don't want to cause a debate but...

I have read about buying glo sticks so children aren't as afraid on dark rides. My first thought was oh yes, DD6 would love this. Then I thought, huh, wonder if it is distracting to others on the same ride?

This is DD's first trip to Disney so I'm not sure what to expect. I want to be prepared for all reactions but I also don't want to upset anyone around us.

If I go on a ride/attraction that says NO cameras and someone is snapping away it really does irritate me and distract me. I don't want to be the cause of ruining a ride for someone else but at the same time I don't want to not go on a ride DD may enjoy with a little added comfort.

Any advice?

 

[Linzybrooke]

I'm almost afraid to ask because I don't want to cause a debate but...

I have read about buying glo sticks so children aren't as afraid on dark rides. My first thought was oh yes, DD6 would love this. Then I thought, huh, wonder if it is distracting to others on the same ride?

This is DD's first trip to Disney so I'm not sure what to expect. I want to be prepared for all reactions but I also don't want to upset anyone around us.

If I go on a ride/attraction that says NO cameras and someone is snapping away it really does irritate me and distract me. I don't want to be the cause of ruining a ride for someone else but at the same time I don't want to not go on a ride DD may enjoy with a little added comfort.

Any advice?

I'll be honest, it would and does bother me. Not so much when they are kept low or are seated behind me but when they are in front of me and are holding them in the air or waving them around I get annoyed. Same goes for the parades and nighttime shows.

I would suggest sitting in the back row for attractions like Peter Pan, Snow White, Pirates and other dark rides so as not to distract those behind you, and to advise your kids to keep them low and still rather than wave them around.

I totally get the want to use them and really don't have a problem with doing so as long as it is understated and respectful of other guests. I really appreciate your consideration of others in this aspect!

 

[cstraub]

I would say it would not be a good idea. Even the little red video camera light that some cameras have can be seen and be distracting on a dark ride.

I'd say if you were riding something like Astro Orbitor or the People mover at night outside then it would be fine to use a glow stick. Someplace like the haunted mansion would not be ok.

 

[shannon1219]

I gave my 2 year old neice glow sticks ( they were the kind that could be worn as a bracelet, not very bright) everytime that we went on a dark ride this past December. She of course was not waving them and the CM's said that it was perfectly OK. It made her feel secure and everyone in our group got to enjoy the rides without her her squirming and talking during the ride.

 

[Hope73]

I let mine wear them but not wave around. I just don't want them hitting someone. Never have had them on rides.

 

[Kae]

We got our kids this Micky & Minnie key chains that had a penlight that went on when you pushed it, they hung them from their lanyards. DD used it mainly it the que at PotC..

Kae

 

[Corryn]

Kinda off topic, but...
My daughter bit into her glow stick one night. She was covered! Her clothes, her skin, her hair and her mouth glowed...If I wasn't so worried, I'd have laughed my butt off...
I called Poison Control and they said they had no clue what to do (Not Kidding!) They put me on hold and after a minute or two, told me to make my daughter drink a lot of milk.....
It worked. She wasn't sick and by the time she went to bed, she was still glowing, but healthy!

 

[TinkNH]

I would think a small glow stick or glow bracelet would be fine, esp if she was keeping it in her lap and not waving it around. Wouldnt bother me any..a crying child would bother me more cause I would feel bad for them. A lot of the glow products come in colors like blue and red that are not nearly as bright as the traditional yellow ones. Also more than likely the only people in your car on the attraction..like winnie the pooh will be your family. I know there are people who will dissagree...but I just don't see it as an issue..hadn't even thought about it really...and I have a bunch of glow stuff packed for DD since I know she will want them when we are in the park at night. Sitting here thinking of the dark rides ...I cant think of a one where a little glow stick would interfere with my experience. Even my favorite the haunted mansion..the doom buggys have high backs so you wouldn't even SEE what someone in front or in back of you was doing.

 

[MariDisney]

I'm almost afraid to ask because I don't want to cause a debate but...

I have read about buying glo sticks so children aren't as afraid on dark rides. My first thought was oh yes, DD6 would love this. Then I thought, huh, wonder if it is distracting to others on the same ride?

This is DD's first trip to Disney so I'm not sure what to expect. I want to be prepared for all reactions but I also don't want to upset anyone around us.

If I go on a ride/attraction that says NO cameras and someone is snapping away it really does irritate me and distract me. I don't want to be the cause of ruining a ride for someone else but at the same time I don't want to not go on a ride DD may enjoy with a little added comfort.

Any advice?

I have to say that I don't get irritated too easily at WDW but this is one of the things that does it for me. Last trip we were in a boat on POTC with a bunch of kids wearing glow stuff and for me it really did detract from the ride. I think if it's an attraction when you have your own vehicle (Haunted Mansion) it's OK, but when you're near other people, it's not such a good idea. JMO, of course.

 

[Disnefan]

well, they sell all those things during the parades & in the gift shops, so I'd say it's fair game. If Disney didn't want you to have them, they wouldn't sell 'em right?

And as to the story with the broken glow stick, I think the stuff inside is fairly save (not a dr or anything though), but there's also broken glass in there too, so that's certainly dangerous, especially in the mouth.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i like what the poster said about keeping them down low and not wacing them about or fooling around with them.

 

[CowboyCO]

I have to say that I don't get irritated too easily at WDW but this is one of the things that does it for me. Last trip we were in a boat on POTC with a bunch of kids wearing glow stuff and for me it really did detract from the ride. I think if it's an attraction when you have your own vehicle (Haunted Mansion) it's OK, but when you're near other people, it's not such a good idea. JMO, of course.

I have to agree with MariDisney. I also went on POTC and people on the boat in front had glow sticks around their necks and each cavern was "lit up" from the light sticks. It really detracted from the ride because there are areas that are supposed to be dark, that were now not dark.

The worst are those flashing necklaces they sell for the night parades. You know--the ones like strobe lights? Those just kill me!

IMO if your child is too scared to go on a dark ride, do the "baby swap/switch pass and take turns"

After all, if the light ruins the effect or if the child is too scared and cries during the ride, the ride gets ruined for everyone else anyway!

 

[InstImpres]

One thing we do instead of the glo sticks sometimes is turn on the "view" from the digital camera or cell phone. DN is happy checking out the pics and I think the glow is much less as it is usually in or near her lap

 

[timon711]

I'll be honest, it would and does bother me. Not so much when they are kept low or are seated behind me but when they are in front of me and are holding them in the air or waving them around I get annoyed. Same goes for the parades and nighttime shows.

I would suggest sitting in the back row for attractions like Peter Pan, Snow White, Pirates and other dark rides so as not to distract those behind you, and to advise your kids to keep them low and still rather than wave them around.

I totally get the want to use them and really don't have a problem with doing so as long as it is understated and respectful of other guests. I really appreciate your consideration of others in this aspect!

I totally agreee Linzybrooke! I do get distracted by illuminated things in areas that are intended to be dark and it does take away from the attraction. I would also like to applaud the OP for being so considerate of other guests!

My suggestion would be more along the lines of the glow necklaces. They are much dimmer than the glow sticks and could easily be wrapped around the child's wrist and worn as a bracelet if a necklace isn't wanted. Or how about some sort of little cheapie glow in the dark plastic toy? Possibly something that might be the prize in a cereal box or I've seen stars intended for the walls or ceiling of a child's bedroom. I don't know what they are called, but do you know what I mean?

JMO - hope it helps!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I agree that the more subtle light products are less of an issue. I also think the glow sticks on some rides are less of an issue (HM, fine. POTC, not so fine) while on some rides they can be a distraction.
I presonally get annoyed when someone has a laser light - ugh! But most peope are smart enough to turn off the blinking light things.
If the child is going to be that scared, then maybe the ride isn't for them. You could also try making up a game, but maybe this will only work if you know the rides. Like the Norway ride has a bear, my neice likes to growl quietly at the bear (Since the bear is growling, I seriously doubt her little growl is distracting) instead of being afraid of it, she has control over it - and looks forward to growling and showing her teeth to the bear. On Snow White, she waits for Dopey at the end and waves.

 

[Schmeck]

I think it's hard to judge how much light a cellphone or camera viewer gives off if you are sitting right next to it - you are not looking through that glow at the attraction, while the people behind you are... I know kids shouldn't have small flashlights on rides, as the temptattion to point the light at objects during the ride is hard to beat!

Keeping a glowstick in your lap, maybe tucked between/under your knees would probably be OK - but if a child is that afraid of the dark in an attraction, I'd just not bring that child on the attraction!

 

[rlovew]

I know that Disney sells them but the glowing things in the dark actually give me a headache especially if they flash. I have actually almost thrown-up on a child sitting beside me with a flashing necklace on the bus because of the way it gives me a headache and in dark rides you can't get away from the glow because light in darkness is very noticable.

 

[Quinn222]

It really bothers me on dark rides and shows to have these things in front of me. last time at Fantasmic a little boy right in front of me had a flashing necklace on and I thought I was going to have to leave, it was awful. At one point he dropped it almost in my lap and when I returned it I took the opportunity to ask his dad if he could keep it in his (child's) lap, which he did and then it was fine.

 

[jeepgirl30]

thanks everyone for the ideas. I have no idea if my DD will be afraid or not as we have not done these types of rides yet. Its only her and I going so the child swap is not an option.

I think I will buy her a couple of the pink glo braclets and keep them in my bag. IF she becomes distressed on a ride I'll open it for her to keep in her lap. More as a comfort and reassurance.

I'd never do the flashing things, they would drive me nuts too.

 

[Mersmom98]

My dd used the necklaces at night but it was mostly for my sanity. We were there at a very busy time and it helped me keep her in my sights at nightime. With that being said I had her keep it around her neck but under her shirt when we went in a dark ride. It was still visible through her shirt but was a little less obnoxious.