Please help me calm my son

[MamaLema]

I need to know if there are any clowns at WDW? I mean ANY.
My DS who is 7 has a deathly fear of clowns since he was a baby. I don't mean just a little. He hyperventilates and needs to breathe into a paper bag or he just about passes out if one is even near him. We can't figure it out since he has been like this since about 6 months.

Please help so I can make this trip enjoyable.

 

[DisneyPete]

Other than POFQ I have never seen a clown at WDW. Hope that helps.

 

[GEM]

If you don't see Cirque Du Soliel and you don't stay at the Boardwalk (big old clown slide at the pool), I think you'll be ok.

Oh. There are also lots of jesters at Port Orleans French Quarter, and they are kind of like clowns.

Also, there may be some clowns on the Dumbo float in the MK afternoon parade, but I can't remember for sure.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

I don't know of any clowns in the parks.

Do not stay at the Boardwalk. The main pool has a large clown.

 

[MamaLema]

I saw a thread where someone posted a pic of that pool at the Boardwalk and it got me thinking about it. Looks like we don't have to worry.

 

[BevS97]

My dd doesn't like clowns either - doesn't sounds as bad as your son, but she's definitely not a fan. I can't think of anywhere at Disney that she has run into one - I think he will be fine.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Not clowns, but clownish....

My DD used to be scared of the Heffalumps and Woozles portion of the Winnie the Pooh ride...I'm not really sure why, but it is kind of clownish - bright colors and patterns and such, striped and polka dotted animals with big noses, things like that. Not sure if that helps, but thought I'd mention it. You might want to keep a paper bag in your backpack, just in case


Good luck!

 

[fizz13]

What about Jo Jo from Playhouse Disney? Strictly speaking she is a clown and only pops up at MGM in the parade and occasionally you can meet her in the park. Hopefully he will be familiar with this character.
Claire

 

[Schmeck]

Have you taken him to see a therapist? Hyperventilating over clowns sounds very serious - as he gets older, and is in school, etc, you wouldn't be there with him if somehow he was surprised by a sudden clown appearance (like a parent dressed as one for a birthday party, or a performer at a school assembly/play, etc)

The 'living statues' at World Showcase, (Italy?) and the French Mime are very 'clownish' too.

I hope your son has a great time at WDW, and doesn't get frightened by any situations there. Will he be OK with the characters?

 

[BlessedMomOfTwo]

I'll admit I am adult who is afraid of clowns (lifelong fear). I can totally relate to your ds. My dd is also afraid of them. I don't recall seeing any clowns in our week at Disney World last year. Dd was afraid of the mimes, though.

JoJo is like the only clown I like, BTW. I think she is adorable and doesn't look too clownish to me.

Have fun!
Carol

 

[frstimer128]

JoJo is at Disney now, right?

Good luck helping him with his fear. That must be so awful for you both to have to deal with!

 

[Gomez Gang]

I agree....watch out in Epcot in World Showcase,,,,,,those masqueraders in Italy scare many kids. They are neat to watch but sometimes they even freak ME out! LOL!

 

[Barbday62]

Jojo is at MGM. Actually the times she comes out of her trailer is on the schedule when you enter the park you get these schedules. We didnt get to see the parade but heard shes there too. We went the day Charley hit so the park was only open until 1PM. My grandaughter loved Jojo too.

 

[MamaLema]

Schmeck, I did want to take him to a therapist at one point but the doctor said he will eventually grow out of it. Well he hasn't-he's 7. And yes, it does affect him at school when it is Halloween he has stayed home every single year from school and has never been trick-or-treating in his whole life even though we encourage him every year.

And the living statues are something we will be avoiding.

However on the bright side, he's not scared of characters at all-just those clowns.

 

[epcotfan]

Originally posted by Gomez Gang
I agree....watch out in Epcot in World Showcase,,,,,,those masqueraders in Italy scare many kids. They are neat to watch but sometimes they even freak ME out! LOL!

The masquerade characters no longer perform in Italy anymore.

I don't know what hotel you are staying at, but you probably want to avoid the Boardwalk since the hotel has a clown slide:

 

[epcotfan]

Forgot to add that Drew Carey's Sounds Dangerous at MGM has a clown in the film at the end.

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

I'm an adult who hates clowns, too. I don't need therapy-everyone else does. Have you ever really looked at a clown? They're CREEPY! The fake orange hair, the painted on expression, the ghostly white face... MamaLema, I think your son has a lot of common sense!

My kids tease me about it now, but we're staying at the Boardwalk next year and there is no way I'm going down that slide.

We just got back and saw JoJo at MGM and I don't think she's (he's?) scary. She was with Goliath the lion and they looked pretty cute.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Is there anything in the 3-D Muppet Movie? I have some vague memory possibly of something clown-y. Maybe it was just a bunch of characters with muppet type noses. Anyone?

 

[briarberry]

Just a warning, Spectromagic has clowns. They are on floats and part of the floats and some walk around. We were just there two weeks ago.
I have taught Kindergarten and Grade 1 for over 20 years and fear of clowns is not that unusual. I have run into many kids who are afraid of clowns. Relax, he will outgrow it or eventually learn to cope with it once he's old enough. My own daughter hated Santa Claus for years - it was a beard thing!
Have a great time - we did!!!!

 

[Taratink]

What a terrible thing to deal with. To become so afraid. I hope that you can avoid all the clowns and that you have a wonderful time.
Tara