Rides that allow 3 year olds, but are really too scary?

[Calla]

Snow White jumps to mind as an example. I want to create a list since we are traveling with my 3.5 year old's grandparents and uncle, so that they also know which rides to walk past if they are with her. We'll be visiting all the parks. What other rides would you say she should skip even though she is big enough in terms of height?

 

[maxiesmom]

Pirates has been known to scare some people. The ride is fairly dark, filled with pirates and skeletons. Plus there is a drop that is pretty small, but it is totally in the dark.

The Tiki Room may be scary to youngsters. I know that whenever I have seen it, a few kids start crying, and some people usually end up leaving. However, some people fidn the Tiki Room boring, so they may be leaving for that reason. But again, it is kind of dark, and it is loud in parts.

The Haunted Mansion may be one for your daughter to skip too.

You know, I'm hoping that you don't plan on just skipping all of the rides your daughter wouldn't like. The adults can always take turns going on the rides, while the ones who wait outside do other things. Of the two rides I mentioned, Pirates and the Haunted Mansion are classic Disney. It would be a shame for all of you to miss them.

 

[scoolover]

It's tough to be a bug. A bugs Life.

 

[RockNRollerGator]

I know when I was that age I was terrified of the Pirates and refused to look at the Pirates while on the ride.

 

[Yen Sid]

I know my son who is 3, be 4 next month has been going on Pirates and haunted mansion forever and loves both rides. He went on Tower of Terror last month for the first time and loved it, he is waiting for a few more inches so he can try Expedition Everest next, it just depends on the child.

 

[kadesha]

Probably Snow White's Scary Adventures, Haunted Mansion, It's Tough to be a Bug, and maybe The Great Movie ride. Last yer my 3 and 4 year olds got scared when the gangster came and when we went through the Alien scene.

 

[Fantasmiss]

Yeah, skip "It's Tough To Be a Bug", I think she'd be terrified.

 

[CindyCan]

I agree with It's Tough to be a Bug. We took our kids on their second trip, and at 5, 7 & 8 they freaked.

Also, if she's 40" tall, she'll be able to ride alot of the bigger rides. My son, who rode ANYTHING that he could at 3 (including Tower of Terror), made this comment after riding Dinosaur "I think I'll wait till I'm older to do that one again". (Now he loves it, of course.)

 

[grumpalina]

my then 4 year old was even scared of Nemo & Pooh rides, so it really does depend on the child. To prep for this trip, we're looking at photo spoilers of the insides of rides to help her calm her fears.

 

[Mrs. Toaster]

It definitely depends on the child and their usual fear levels. I will second the Tiki Room though. My 3 year old still talks about the scary lady that came out in the middle of the room!

 

[TDC Nala]

Probably Dinosaur at AK.

 

[Fantasmiss]

I would DEFINITELY avoid TOWER OF TERROR and DINOSAUR!!!!

I agree with It's Tough to be a Bug. We took our kids on their second trip, and at 5, 7 & 8 they freaked.

Also, if she's 40" tall, she'll be able to ride alot of the bigger rides. My son, who rode ANYTHING that he could at 3 (including Tower of Terror), made this comment after riding Dinosaur "I think I'll wait till I'm older to do that one again". (Now he loves it, of course.)

 

[2cats1kid]

Definitely Dinosaur.

And while a child may be brave one time, it doesn't guarantee they will be the next time. My DD rode ToT ("that was awesome") at 7, but was petrified at 9 and is already refusing to consider it for the next trip (she will be 11 next time). She also did Dinosaur at 7 and sobbed all the way through it at 9. So you can never be 100% sure how they will react, I don't think.

 

[lilybrooke14]

It's Tough to be a Bug completely terrified my almost 3 year old (frankly, DH and I weren't fond of it either). She still talks about those scary bugs.

On a side note, though not particularly scary, Mickey's Filharmagic is really LOUD! Lound enough that she didn't really enjoy it like I was hoping she would. So some kiddie earplugs or earmuffs might not be a bad idea.

 

[chartle]

Don't forget Ellen's Universe of Energy.

At least 4 or 5 times they explain that from this point on (after the "preshow") that the ride is 36(?) minutes long from now and is very dark and very loud.

When I was there the last time, a child maybe 3 started to cry and panic as we loaded the vehicles. The CM came up to them and the parents of course said he'll be fine.

A manger CM then did the standard procedure of asking the child if they wanted to ride and telling the parent that they needed to hear it from the child. He said he didn't want to ride and they did exit the ride with the parents making only a bit of fuss.

 

[chasemi]

Fantasmic! We went last year with my 4.5 year old and almost 2 year old and they were both cryinng by the time the dragon came out. It's very loud, plays very scary music, and is full of all the villians, including a huge fire breathing dragon.

 

[mrbudyhed]

It's tough to be a bug! and Mickey's Philharmonic were way too loud and scary for the 3, 4 and just turned 5 year old in our group. We were just there this past week...the squirting water and fans sealed the deal-we had to leave just a few minutes into both of them. The 4 year old in our group had to leave the Tiki birds also. Last year my just turned 4 year old was not scared in Pirates of the Caribbean and only required a little reassurance in the Haunted Mansion. I guess it depends on the kid, but the those 3d movies are very intense. If you try them I would be prepared to leave.

 

[Tink888]

I think it really depends on the child. Here's a list of what scared my son when he was 3. We avoided TOT altoghether.

AK
Dinosaur (loud & dark)
Tough to Be a Bug (some of the special effects)

Epcot
Honey I Shrunk the Audience (large 3-D snake)
Maelstrom

MK
Snow White
POTC and Haunted Mansion (we told him what to expect, he was nervous at first, but liked them afterwards)

 

[MickeyNicki]

Our niece was three when we first took her to WDW and the only ride she was scared of was HM....we showed her the movie before our trip so she knew what to expect and was all ready to go on it until the scary CMs freaked her out.

She loved Stitch, which shocked us because it is dark and scary, but as long as she was holding onto my arm she was ok.

 

[MarkFL]

When I was 3, I went on the old version of Snow White and loved it! When my sister was 3, she went on it and we had to leave the park. The newer version is much less scary but still has the witch, so you might want to stay away from it.