Rides/shows that are not kid appropriate

brenda1966

DIS Veteran
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Aug 25, 2004
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Have just started reading the book recommended here about US/IOA. At WDW I know which rides scare kids (Snow White, Bug's Life Movie), but at US it seem the scare potential is far greater!

Now that DD is nearly 9 we can really do everything at WDW. But at US, I am reading that some shows are "PG-13", like the T2 and Horror makeup show.

Are there certain things you would avoid with a 9 year old? I don't want to frighten her. She can visibly see the roller coasters and decide on her own that she doesn't want to ride, but some of the indoor things and shows are a big mystery.

Of course I want to do it all, but I don't want to be up nights with a kid having nightmares. Is there a recommendation, like for WDW, that suggests you try this first, and if the kid survives intact, try the next item? :laughing:
 
Yeah Horror Make Up is PG-13 because of the blood shown (fake) as well as the sexual innuendo during the show. T2 has some gunshots during the show. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey has some frightening moments, because of the way the ride vehicle is, the effects are literally like 3 feet from your face. These include spiders and dementors.
 
I would say it all boils down to how your child reacts to things. My kids have been going to US/IOA since they were 5 and have done everything they were tall enough to do, and seen any of the shows they were interested in seeing. Personally, we LOVE T2. But, my kids have also been raised around all things Halloween and Horror related too so they don't scare too easily. How does she do on the Haunted Mansion, or POTC? If she survives those, then she should be ok on many of the rides at US/IOA as well.
 
She's been riding HM and POTC at Disney since she was 2, so those don't really scare her. But, to me, those are really not scary, in your face kind of things. Are they a fair comparison to something like T2? I have no real concept of what T2 is like since I have not been to see it.

DD is fascinated by blood so I'm thinking the Horror makeup thing will be fine. Most innuendo goes right over their heads so I'm not worried about that.

I'm thinking Jurrasic shouldn't be any worse than Dinosaur and that Jaws should just have one jump moment? It's been a long time since I've been to US in CA.
 

If she doesn't like loud noises like fireworks then I wouldn't do T2, the content will go over her head though as far as being actually scary. It is more serious than scary.

If she has read the Harry Potter books or seen the movies and understands it, then it won't be scary either (womping willow, dementors, spiders etc).

For my daughter (13) she didn't like Space Mtn. because she didn't know what she was getting into, while she absolutely loved Harry Potter's FJ. That being said, she loves Spiderman also, but doesn't do coasters at all except The Mummy, which she loves!

If you are worried about the sexual content, you will get a healthy does of flirting and innuendo at Bettle Juice also, but it really depends on you how you take it.

With all that taken into account, my son would ride everything, see everything and loved everything at 9. So really depends on the child....
 
T2 is basically a little stage show type of thing with some excitement.

If she's not grossed out by blood and loves dinosaurs then I personally think she'll be fine with any of the rides. Besides, iirc I think you two could walk through the lines and look around and if she decides it's too much make a quiet exit.
 
Terminator caught me off guard the first time I saw it. I don't think it was scary, just surprising.

Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue also has a parental discretion notice, but that's just for the innuendos and the pyrotechnic displays that are loud and could startle.

I think she'd be fine with most of the stuff at the parks. Maybe check out some youtube videos for things you aren't sure of?

And definitely don't miss the Horror Make-Up Show! ;)
 
Sounds like Poseidon's Fury might have a few scary/tense moments (wrath of Greek gods/demons and all...) Any opinions?
 
We did the rides with a 7 year old at US and IOA in the summer - well all the ones she was tall enough for with no problems. But this kid was upset as she could not ride the FJ, Hulk or Rip Ride Rocket due to being too short - she is fearless and loves all rides. At Disney she also rode Everest, Disnosar and Tower of Terror with no problems. My 16 year old Niece did not care for T2 and Spiderman much as she really does not like any 3D or 4D rides. This is due to being scared at age 7 on It's Tough to be a Bug during her first visit to Disney. Niece would really even like to sit out when we all go on Muppet 3D but she will ride the most scary rollercoasters. My 16 year old Stepson does not like rollercoasters or noisy rides but loved FJ but he waivered near the end of the line on if he was actually going to go on. So it really does depend on the child and adult for that matter.

For each ride with the 7 year old (and the teenagers) we clearly explained a lot of what would happen. For example with Dinosar we told her its dark, the ride is bumpy and rough, the type of seat (lap bar, overhead bar etc), a scary dinosar will jump out at you near the end and then based on all the information a decision was made by the indivdual to ride or not. There was no coaxing or forcing anyone on, we don't do that.

I like what a previous poster suggested with watching the Youtube videos, I would add do it together with your child and make the decision together on if the ride is a possibility for your trip.
 
Sounds like Poseidon's Fury might have a few scary/tense moments (wrath of Greek gods/demons and all...) Any opinions?

I'm Greek, so I find nothing frightening about Greek God's. The walk through is very entertaining and one of my family's favs.
 
Like a PP, I can give you a 7 year olds opinions. We were just there a couple weeks ago. She did everything she was tall enough (50") for except T2 because she had no interest and The Horror Make-up Show which none of us made it to. She's not easily scared, but is bothered by loud noises.

The only ride that really upset her was Revenge of the Mummy. She was fine with the coaster part and the theming, but it was REALLY loud and she couldn't block her ears and hold on at the same time. She did OK on Forbidden Journey (although I cried :sad2:) but she didn't choose to ride again. I would def. not start w/ either one of these. She also didn't care for the Jurassic Park River Adventure or Jaws. She was fine with Poseidon's Fury, but she was able to block her ears on this one when she needed to.

Her favorites were Spiderman, Simpsons, Men in Black and Jimmy Neutron.

My 11 year old loved EVERYTHING and I didn't feel that anything was inappropriate for him.

I guess a 9 year old would fall somewhere in the middle. :confused3
 
My DS did the Jurasic ride when he was 6 and loved it, this year he will be 10 and DD will be 8 and she is desperate to stretch to reach the 54" so that she can go on everything including The Hulk, FJ, etc.

4 weeks, 4 days till our trip to WDW and US/IOA

DH:yay:, DS:woohoo:10, DD :cheer2: 8, :laundy:ME!

1st WDW & US 1992
Then 1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 All at villa's.
 
What is the height requirement on FJ? My son is a very small 7 and had trouble getting on things at Disney last year....so I am just worried that he will not be able to ride the things he would like to.
 












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