Pirates for yound 3 yr old

[crl]

My newly turned 3 yr old loves pirates. What are my best choices for seeing or doing anything pirate like? Also, is the Pirates of the Caribbean too much for a little guy?

 

[verlee]

My ds3 went on Potc and had a little trouble. He wanted me to hold his ears at the beginning but was fine most of the ride. He says he liked the ride, especially the battle between the two ships. He was splashed by a cannon ball! Now, ds6 did not like the ride at all and I doubt we could get him to go on it again. But, he is a naturally cautious child, not adventurous like ds3. It is in mho a little scary. We did not intend to take the boys on the ride but there was no line at all, dh and I could not resist.

Where are you staying? The CBR has pirate themed rooms?? They look neat except for the huge skull and crossbones on the curtain between the bathroom and the bedroom. I think I would have to keep that open.

 

[disneybridetobe]

DD did POTC at 14 months! She's a brave li'l thing though. It really depends on your child.

 

[dancin'girl]

My 2 year old did not like POC.
We debated over whether to take her on it - with all the strollers parked out in front I thought it might not be too bad. Well, right off the bat when the boat moved through the floating pirate projection, she was completely freaking out!
Some little ones may not be phased by it, but keep in mind that it is not a cutsey, kiddy pirate ride. With the darkness and skeletons and such, it can be scary for young children. You know your child best.

 

[Elmo888]

When DD#2 was 2, she did fine on POTC. However, when she was 3, we had to skip it (DH and DD#1 went on and I missed it!). She has always been "anti-Pirate", so it just depends. She didn't like the dark cave that you walked down to get to the POTC!

Also, there is a Pirate's Tutorial at certain times right outside POTC. He might like that (it is outside and not dark). (DD#2 wouldn't even sit and watch while we tried to kill time with DH and DD#1 on POTC!)

There is a Pirate Adventure, too, but I think that they have to be 4 (and potty-trained). (I thought that there was a Pirate Cruise, but I can't find details. Maybe it is the same thing!)

http://allears.net/pl/grandadven.htm

 

[DISNEYNV]

My DS was 13 months when he went on POC and loved it too

Now my DD also was brave at that age, but this past trip (she was four) she showed some apprehension, but loved it after we went on. There is a small drop and some loud booms from cannons and gun fire. It's also mostly in the dark...a dark ride I would reccomend it though and if he is afraid I would try Peter Pan. There is a pirate theme in that ride as well. Try to find out where Captain Jack Sparrow appears for autographs if he still does...let me know if you spot him Captain hook and Peter Pan and Wendy were there signing autographs when we were in Disney this past December. Didn't see Jack though.

 

[Perditamarie]

If you can make it through the very first part, it is a really fun, interesting ride. You can hug your DS and huddle together and before you know it, you are through the waterfall looking entrance. When we went last Sept, the projection of Davy Jones was not playing.....it looks and sounds scary at the beginning and is dark, but after a hug and a dip, you are through!

 

[crl]

Thanks for the info. It's been so long since I've been on Pirates because DD (who is our oldest) is afraid of everything. But I think some days my son is fearless! Instead of being upset about a cut on his eyelid, he was happy when the doctor told him he got to wear a pirate patch.

 

[Manda]

My 5 1/2 year old has been riding it since he was 2 (and he has a tendency to be scared of startling or scary things). It's one of his very favorite rides there, but there are concerning bits for some little kids. He pushes through the scary parts because he loves the rest of the ride so much.

(spoilers ahead, LOL)

The first part is the scary part and then it goes down a little drop and it's all singing and silly. The trick is getting through the first part.

They show a scary face on a curtain of fog that you kinda ride into and for little kids who don't understand, they are kind afraid they are running into the scary face. Once I showed him that he could wave his hands and the fog blew away, he understand that the scary face wasn't actually there.

The next scary-ish part goes past a simulated thunderstorm - so there's lightning and thunder sounds. It's quick though. I distract him with something else. LOL.

And then there's the scene with the huge pirate ships. They simulate cannon balls exploding in the water next to you. Usually, he's so busy looking at the huge ship that he doesn't care; but, occasionally, one explodes (just a water geiser really) near the boat and it just makes him jump for a second. Again, I had to explain to him how this actually works (that it's only pretend and not cannon balls falling from the sky) to make him not worry.

After that (and it's really a short segment of the ride), it's all fun.

 

[EricaG]

My (almost 3 at the time) son loved "the Cap'n Jack Spawwow wide" as he called it. But, he's never really been scared of stuff--not really afraid of the dark, loud noises, thunder, much of anything. On the little drop at the beginning, I screamed both times we rode it, and he didn't make a peep--just looked around. He liked the song a lot and was sining it after the 2nd time we rode.

When we were there in Oct., just outside the ride entrance, there were two CM's playing Captain Jack Sparrow and another pirate and giving lessons or something on being good pirates. They got kids involved and did about 10 minutes or so I guess. It was cute and in no way scary. I'm not sure how often they do those, though.

 

[moxiecola]

We went around Halloween in '04 and the boys (I have 4) all dressed like pirates for MNSSHP. The next trip they went on the Pirate Cruise that departs from the GF. 3 is too young still for that one but maybe your next trip...reservations are required. My oldest son is 12 (which is the cut off) and he really didn't enjoy it...just too old for it

 

[crisi]

My daughter was fine at two, my son needed to sit between Dad and Grandpa at three. She was fine at four and he slightly spooked at five. Now at nine my daughter doesn't like it, but at ten he does....

 

[DebRMN]

LOL Crisi.........that will about sum us up!

at 3.5 & 4.5 my twins LOVED it. LAst year(at 5.5), they were both getting freaked by the 'atmosphere' in line (dark, dungeony)
My dh was having a fit because they did fine the years before (he just doesn't get it sometimes *insert eye roll*).
Our last day at MK, they did finally ride again (one last chance, as they have always been huge pirate lovers).

We'll see what happens this year
it really all just depends on the child.....play it by ear & go with the flow!