MGM Attractions--too intense for my children?

AlexNoah

Earning My Ears
Joined
Oct 1, 2005
Messages
9
I have 7 and 4 year old boys and am wondering about the intensity of some of the attractions at MGM. I've read in some books about them, but would appreciate a parent's or someone who has been there's point of view...I am wondering about the Backlot Tour, The Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Star Tours and LIghts, Motor, Action. Noise doesn't seem to bother them. I know they are not ready for Rock and Roller Coaster or Tower of Terror and I am thinking No for the Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey. Can someone tell me a little bit more about these and/or rate them from mild to most intense?

Thank you so much.
 
Well we just came back from our trip and I can tell you we've done all of the attractions you listed except Sounds Dangerous. My girls this time were 9, 3 and 1. The great movie ride has an alien in it and my 3 y/o old knew this and was set to make scary faces at him and shoo him away, which she did. Indiana Jones was just boring to them. Backlot tour was mostly boring for them also except for the water & fire. Star tours my oldest daughter rode when she was 6 and she liked it. None of my kids have ever done rock n roller coaster, but my 9 y/o first rode Tower at 5 y/o and loved it. My 3 y/o wanted to ride it but wasn't tall enough. It really depends on the kids. There are people(kids and adults) who will do Stitch's great escape but not Tower. My daughter loves Tower but just rode Space Mountain for the first time this year. I won't go anywhere near Stitch, Honey I shrunk the audience, or It's tough to be a bug, but I love everything else. Anymore more questions just let me know.
 
My DD was 7 and she rode everything with no problem (except Rock and Rollercoaster, she wasn't tall enough.) She was a little aprehensive about Tower of Terror, but we just held onto her and she was fine. She did say she wouldn't ride it again though. :goodvibes
As for Backlot Tour, Movie Ride, and Indiana Jones, no problems at all. She loved them. We didn't do Sounds Dangerous, it just didn't sound like something we would enjoy.
We were also at MGM when she was 3 1/2, and she rode the Movie Ride, and Backlot Tour then, but not the others.
 
We did some of these with DS4 who got really tired of just "watching" attractions. This was his least favorite park by far (same opinion as DD6 and DD8). He did LOVE star Tours and had to ride it many times. :goodvibes He kept looking at us very worried in Indiana Jones and with reassurance was fine, but didn't enjoy it. We skipped LMA because we heard that a man catches on fire and we knew all the kids wouldn't like that at all. The Backlot tour scared DS under the waterfall and you could feel the heat of the fire and he didn't understand what was going on. He was bored with the rest of the tour. The Great Movie Ride had the alien and I diverted his attention. He was uneasy with the gunfire. Again, very worried. I was able to reassure him through all of it, but if I had to do it over again, I don't think any of these would be worth it. They are all out-dated and uninteresting to the kids. Just my opinion. the best thing for the kids at MGM was character interaction and Little Mermaid (I know, you have boys :confused3 ), Muppets :3dglasses (although not as good as other 3-D shows in WDW), and my kids liked the animation tour. Beauty and the beast was excellent too---be sure to catch the pre-show :cloud9:
 

AlexNoah said:
I have 7 and 4 year old boys and am wondering about the intensity of some of the attractions at MGM. I've read in some books about them, but would appreciate a parent's or someone who has been there's point of view...I am wondering about the Backlot Tour, The Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Star Tours and LIghts, Motor, Action. Noise doesn't seem to bother them. I know they are not ready for Rock and Roller Coaster or Tower of Terror and I am thinking No for the Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey. Can someone tell me a little bit more about these and/or rate them from mild to most intense? Thank you so much.
My DS has done all of these plus RR & ToT since he was 6. RR is his favorite ride in all of Disney and has been since he rode it the first time!

Below are his ratings: (now quoting DS9)
scale= 1 so not scary its boring - 10 too scary wish I hadn't done it!
ToT = Not too scary, maybe 7... didn't like the bright light in my eyes
RR= Fun!! maybe 6, fast, lots of loop-ty loop
Backlot Tour= about 5...
The Great Movie Ride= about 2 or 3...some action
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular= 2 or 3
Star Tours = Love it! about 5
LIghts, Motor, Action= ?? don't remeber it
Sounds Dangerous= didn't like it... don't like the dark

Hope that helps... BTW also, he hates Stich's Alien Adventure!
 
The Alien in the Movie Ride I thought was quite scary for a kid, my son who is 6 and will ride anything was not scared of it though. He was however scared at Tower of Terror, I could see it on his face as we exited, of course he did get back on it later with me because he didn't want me to ride alone, but he didn't go on for a third time :earseek:
 
AlexNoah said:
I have 7 and 4 year old boys and am wondering about the intensity of some of the attractions at MGM. I've read in some books about them, but would appreciate a parent's or someone who has been there's point of view...I am wondering about the Backlot Tour, The Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Star Tours and LIghts, Motor, Action. Noise doesn't seem to bother them. I know they are not ready for Rock and Roller Coaster or Tower of Terror and I am thinking No for the Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey. Can someone tell me a little bit more about these and/or rate them from mild to most intense?

Thank you so much.

It really depends on the child. We took our niece who was 4.5 to all of these attractions except LMA (because it wasn't there yet). She loved them all. On our next trip we took a 5 and a 6 year old and they hated the Great Movie Ride and Indiana Jones because they were scared. They didn't like the dark, they didn't like the noice, they especially didn't like the snakes and skellitons in the movie ride. MGM was our first park and they cried the next day when we said we were going to go to MK and ride more rides. Those kids we should have started in Fantasyland first (and not Snow White)and then gradually worked up to scarrier rides.
 
/
Most of Sounds Dangerous is in complete darkness. The first time I did it, I got a little uncomfortable because of the claustrophobic effect. This is probably one you would want to skip (even though I personally really like it).
 
Here's my advice:
Backlot Tour - Should be fine
The Great Movie Ride - Only the Alien scene may be scary, depending on if the Alien that comes from ceiling is working.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - Should be fine
Star Tours - Should be fine for 7 year old
LIghts Motor, Action - Should be fine
 
My daughter went back when she had just turned 5. The only thing she didn't enjoy was the alien sequence in the Great Movie ride; however, my wife and she just hid under a windbreaker I think.
 
im like everyone else, I really think it depends on the child.
My DD had just turned 4 when we went down for her Birthday.
She really didnt like the great movie ride. (scared at the shoot out and the aliens)
She loved Indiana Jones and LMA, probably her most favorite attractions in all of Disney.
We Didnt do Startours or the Drew Carey Ride.
 
a lot depends on the child but ( haven't seen the motor car one) the rest are fairly mild. my somewhat timid 8 yr old( then) had no problem with any of them(our youngest was never afraid of much so she's not a good comparison for most kids :) )
 














Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top