Is Pirates too scary for dd 3 y 8 mos?

That depends on the child. The youngest child I've taken on POC was 6 at the time. He was fine once he got over being concerned that it was fairly dark in there.

You should ask this question over on the Disney for Families board also. There are lots of Disney veterans over there with small children. I'll bet they would give you some great advice.

Katholyn
 
We took DDthen3.5 on POC, and she did OK. She was pretty nervous at first, but started getting into it by the end. DDthen6mo fell asleep because it was cool and dark!

Now we have the planning DVD, and she loves watching the attraction previews to include POC. She is getting pretty excited about our August trip and is constantly talking about what rides she wants to do including POC. She will be 4 almost 5 (a couple months shy of 5) this time, and is really getting into the planning.
 
my DD 3-1/2 last summer AND DS 6 were VERY scared. Not by the ride, mind you, but the queue! The voices in the dark, clanking chains noises...dark, etc. The ride is pretty humorous and there's lots of little things to point out to entertain them ONCE YOU GET PAST THE "DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES" drop in the dark! Prepare them for that beforehand.

We did end up riding it twice, and this summer both are looking forward to it....go figure.
 

It does completely depend on the child. We have been going on POC as a family since older son was 1. He nor his younger brother have ever been frightened.

They love it so much that both dressed as pirates for the MNSSHP last year.
 
after the first drop, the little ones have no problem...just point out the ltiile animals & quirky things in the background, & they will get a kick out of it.
 
I would say it's OK, but for some children it may be the max on their thrill meter. When I was young, that was about the most "exciting" ride that I would go on. Now, I wish ToT was even scarier than it already is. Boy how things change. ;)
 
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I have a 6 YODD and a 3 1/2 YODD and they both convinced themselves they were terrified of this ride. Every 6 months when we went (starting 2 years ago) we would try to get them on it. No go! Well last time (Dec.) both girls, then barely 6 and 3, went on and LOVED it! They now both call it their favorite ride. I think they like it so much because they overcame their fear.
 
Three of my kids have never been scared, have always loved POC. My second daughter, now 10, has always been scared of "the drop." On some trips she has refused to get on, staying off with grandma or whatever. If she can get past the drop she is okay! I should say, the drop is pretty tame. I have extreme motion sickness and it does not bother me. The rest of the rid is very tame. My kids escpecially love the skinny dog!!! Lacee
 
We took our dd when she was 2 and she loved it. We had prepared her by watching the sing along at disney. Mind you, she was very timid during that trip - would do nothing else in the dark after a BAD experience at Journey into Imagination (before they changed it back to incl figment). We went on this ride 5 times and she loved it especially the drop.
 
i went with my aunt, uncle, and cousins a few years back. the 3 year old boy absolutely loved the ride. you know at the end where the pirate is hanging his dirty hairy leg as you go through a "bridge"? well, because of that, he referred to it as the "dirty leg" ride, and he wanted to keep going back! the 6 year old girl was scared of the drop, but once we got through it, she thought it was great. didn't hesitate to go on again either. i guess it depends on the kid.
 
My dd was 2 3/4 when she went on it. the first time she was a little scared but wanted to go on it 2 more times. She loves it and says it's her favorite ride after Pooh and the teacups. Snow White scared her more.
 
We took our children on it for the first time when they were 22 mos., 3, and 6. They all did fine and have since been on it several times. We always tell our children that if you don't like it just close your eyes and hang on to mommy and daddy (this seems to work great). They are all a little afraid of the haunted mansion but my younger two just close there eyes and hold our hands. I just feel if we are going to WDW, I don't want to miss half the attractions because they are scared (and most of the time they end up loving the ride they thought they were afraid of). Of course, I would not force them to ride ToT or RnR. My 3 yr old was afraid of the Snow White ride last year but we took her on it and told her to close her eyes (which she did the whole time) but when we went on it again the next day she got brave and opened her eyes and was so excited and kept saying "this isn't spooky anymore". I always try to expain the ride to them as well, how it is pretend and we will be sitting right beside them. I do that with most everything (even Dr visits).
 
I have 5 kids who are real thrill seekers. They love wild rides and scary movies. When I only had my 3 oldest, we went to Disneyland. They were 6 and 3 year old twins. They loved Haunted Mansion and I knew they would love PoC. The drops were fine and being in the dark was also fine but one of my twins freaked out when the ships were firing "cannonballs." He just knew they were shooting at us and would sink our boat. I was completely surprised that it scared him as he had been on the Jaws ride at Universal the day before and loved it. His twin sister giggled all through PoC.

So you just never know. None of my other 5 kids have ever been scared at all on it (either at Disneyland or WDW.)

Bev
 
Depends on the kid, my dd is very brave and she wasn't thrilled with it at 3,but I wouldn't think that it would be so scarey it would be tramatic for a kid.
 














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