Glo Sticks on rides

[AdventureGuru]

If it is going to make your child more comfortable...go for it...I read once that people we buying their kids sneakers that light up when you walk to make them more comfortable...

something small-no problem...

 

[MermaidMommy]

The problem that some posters are missing is that it's not necessarily the "scariness" of the ride but its darkness that can scare a child. For example, we took our fairly brave almost-4 yr. old DD on Pooh as her first dark ride. Now, DD had loved Test Track the day before, but I thought Pooh would be our safest choice for a non-scary indoor ride. Well, she was really upset by the darkness and didn't want to go on any more indoor rides. We went straight over to Tinkerbell's Treasures and bought a light-up Cinderella's Castle that could turn on and off, and that DD could keep in her lap during the rides. Fortunately, it worked like a charm, because it gave her a sense of control over the situation. If we hadn't had that, I don't know what would have happened the rest of our trip. By the time we went on Pirates, we told DD we were going to try and keep the castle turned off during the ride so we wouldn't bother the people behind us, and she did, but she kept it in her lap the whole time.

My point is, you won't know until you get there what things will scare your child, and you're smarter than I was because you're preparing in advance (and most considerately, too ). Kids today don't get scared more easily than in the past -- I remember my brother being freaked out by dark rides way back in the 70's. We just didn't have the all gizmos back then to help kids feel better.

 

[wtpntigger2]

The problem that some posters are missing is that it's not necessarily the "scariness" of the ride but its darkness that can scare a child.

Exactly! My dd uses a glow stick on dark rides because it makes her feel more secure and have control over the situation. The only ride I can see one being a huge problem is POTC since people other than your family are in the boat, but if the child isn't waving it around, it shouldn't be seen by others anyway.

My dd will be there in two weeks riding dark rides happily with her glow stick. She has the right to enjoy the rides as much as anyone else.

 

[Sammie]

Becca, you are my new DIS hero! (but you forgot about the cheerleaders )

OP - your job as a parent is to make sure your child is OK. Not bow to the psychotic demands of strangers.

I don't think saying this bothers someone is psychotic and the OP did ask.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Becca, you are my new DIS hero! (but you forgot about the cheerleaders )

OP - your job as a parent is to make sure your child is OK. Not bow to the psychotic demands of strangers.

I think the OP is the kind of person who doesn't want to do something that will bother other people. Doesn't mean she is bowing to "the psychotic demands of strangers."

 

[Tiffer]

They sell disposable cameras with flash also. It is still the responsibility of the guest to use them appropriately.

True but, some dark attractions specifically say no flash photogralhy..I had never heard any CM or announcement say no glow sticks!

 

[salmoneous]

My dd will be there in two weeks riding dark rides happily with her glow stick. She has the right to enjoy the rides as much as anyone else.

Her right to enjoy the ride ends when it interferes with other people's enjoyment. But as others have said, a simple glow stick held out of the way is fine.

 

[maxiesmom]

IOne of my pet peeves is trying to watch a fireworks show with someone who is wearing anything that glows or blinks near me. It's very distracting. They turn the lights down for a reason.

And I have never heard the CMs announce that guests must turn off all glow sticks or flashing necklaces either.

I agree with everything Becca said. It seems no matter what you do at Disney you are bound to offend someone. Do what you need to for your child, and try to be respectful, that is all we can ask.

I have bought my 6yr old niece a cinderella neckace which has a touch lite on it. She can't wait to go to Disney in October and wear her necklace! We have described the rides to her as best we can, telling her some are dark, and she wants to try to ride them. I would love for some of the posters who have said to wait until the child is ready for the ride, how do you know without a doubt what a 6yr olds reaction will be? I think my niece will be fine, but I can't guarantee it. Hence the necklace. If wearing it makes her feel better, so be it. If you honestly think Disney is not aware that kids use the glow sticks, wands, and other light up things that they sell on rides, you are kidding yourselves.

Now if someone is wacking you in the head with it, that would be different. But a little child with a small light up toy, come on!

 

[MyZoeJane]

Last time we took DD2 to Disney (January) I made her hold it down on her lap because I realized it would bug people. I'll have her do the same this time because I agree, it's just rude to wave it around and light up everyone else's experience of the ride.

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

In all of the times we have been to disney, I have never noticed children waving glo sticks or penlights. The only time I have really seen them was in the seance room in HM . Then, it's only because the doombuggies move in a circular motion. On rides like PP , POTC and Snow White, I'm too busy enjoying the ride with my family to pay attention to what a small child may be holding in his/her lap.

Also, just accept what Becca said earlier. No matter what you do, it's going to be someone else's pet peeve.

Have a wonderful trip!


Rachel

 

[Mom to a Princess]

Oh my goodness! People can get upset by just about anthing you do! I agree with Becca's post.

To the op: I have been taking my dd to WDW and DL since she was born and when she needed to I let her have a glow stick of some sort. As the other posters have my dd was more afraid of the dark than of the ride. A glow stick allowed her to control the situation and enjoy the ride. On our trip last week to WDW DD had a glow stick but never needed to use it. I would say do what is best for you and your child. If you always try to please the people around you, you will never have the oppertunity to please yourself. Before I get flamed let me say that there are ways to enjoy your vacation in a courtious manner without haveing to accomidate complete stangers!

 

[Jennasis]

Glow stick...fine as far as I am concerned (please keep it down in her lap. No waving it around).

Now as for those people with camcorders and digital cameras. Those screens are bright! You do not need the color screen to take pics or to videotape. The regular eyepice will do just as well. There is a reason people hold up their cell phones and cameras at concerts instead of a lighter...it's bright!

 

[Katems]

These don't bother me at all. I say give your child the glow and don't let her wave it around and everyone should be satisfied. We used the glow bracelets, not sticks, on our recent trip. My husband and I donned them, too, about two or three per wrist! It's fun and it's easier to spot your family at night. We do sit still and don't wave our arms around and they don't blink or flash. They're also a low light....so I truly don't see the problem here.

BTW, actual glow sticks work GREAT in jack o lanterns!! You can have your pumpkin glow in any color (green looks eeery!) and it's a SAFE way to do it...no fears of fire!

 

[Mom to a Princess]

BTW, actual glow sticks work GREAT in jack o lanterns!! You can have your pumpkin glow in any color (green looks eeery!) and it's a SAFE way to do it...no fears of fire!

THis is such a great idea!! I can not believe that I have never thought of this since we always have glow sticks around the house.

 

[Hannathy]

I hate the light up things on dark rides and especially at night shows like fantasmic etc. I only have one question to the parents that say their kids have to have them on rides -- What did kids do 20 yrs ago? believe it or not but millions of children have rode these rides without them.

 

[Mom to a Princess]

I hate the light up things on dark rides and especially at night shows like fantasmic etc. I only have one question to the parents that say their kids have to have them on rides -- What did kids do 20 yrs ago? believe it or not but millions of children have rode these rides without them.

Yeah millions of kids did ride the rides without glow sticks and I bet that millions still do. I let my dd have them because they made her more comfortable and willing to try something new. No harm was done. We did not damage the ride in anyway. Sure some people might have been irritated (mind you dd always kept them in her lap) but other people might have been irritated if she had been upset. It is impossible to please all of the people all of the time. Who should I have pleased in this situation? Oh yeah I pleased my dd and myself without being obnoxious about it.

 

[HawkeyeThad]

I normally don't mind these things, and can understand why a child would use them. BUT.... on my trip last month, my first ride on HM was totally ruined because of these. The car in front of mine had a couple of children wearing glow in the dark necklaces and those spinning things. When we got to the ballroom scene, the lights were refelecting off the glass, and it made it really difficult to see some of the effects. Beyond that, it wasn't an issue. It's just that I love the ballroom scene, and it totally ruined it.

 

[PrincessParty]

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!

I had them take my name and number and call me back when I called them after my daughter ate the fish's food. (I now know bloodworms are freeze dried mosquito larvae!) Back on topic, the same child was twisting hers and it exploded all over everyone. We all glowed. Glad you DD was ok.

 

[TinkNH]

I agree with the advice to do what you need to do to keep your child feeling secure while still being mindful of the others around you, like keeping the glow stick in their lap and stuff. No one goes out of their way to try to annoy other people, but no matter what you do SOMEONE will be annoyed..espicially it seems when it comes to kids and Disney. (If you put them in a stroller, they are either too old for someone, or you are using a stroller and they dont like strollers, if they walk they may stop short, swing a chain, or dart off and be lost in the crowd, if you use a safety harness someone is annoyed by that...I wish my DD could fly..then I could not worry about how to get her around the park..she could hover over us, ) I basically think it is a case of darned if you do darned if you dont. SO go on your vacation, bring what you need to bring and have a great time with your child!

 

[sukhakuli]

I have never seen these on a ride. I don't know how many times I've been to DL, and I've never seen one. We brought some the last time we went to DL and they were a huge hit with the kids. We opened it after dark while we were waiting for the EP. The both fell asleep snuggling them that night, so I got online and bought 150 of them for the kids to use off of ebay. I never would have thought of using them during a ride, but it would have been useful that one time when we rode Winnie the Pooh and they forgot to turn the lights on. It scared the dickens out of my daughter riding through the ride with all of the sound on and no light at all.

And BTW, the packaging says they are 100% non toxic.

I'm sorry that glow sticks, and flashing necklaces (yep, we have those, too, the kids love 'em) bother some people. Do the flashing lights on the rides bother you as well? They bother me, but the glow sticks and necklace lights don't bother me. Truthfully, I think that they are kind of sweet. I love seeing kids get so excited over small things like that. I guess that's why I love Disney. Even watching other people's kids have a good time makes me feel happy. So when we're waiting for Spectromagic or the Electrical Parade (depending on which park we're at) I love seeing the little critters all decked out in their glowing stuff twitching with excitement.

Here's a tip for some parents whose kids may be afraid. Get some glow in the dark fabric paint (I make my own with phosphorescent pigment), and stamp or paint something on your kids' shirts. They glow bright in the black lights and after dark. I put them on my kids' jammies, and they love it.