Rides Too Scary for a 2-Year Old

[jc040404]

Since his first birthday, we've taken our little one on anything without a height requirement. He's never had an issue with a thing. At a few months past his second birthday now, his MK favorites are actually Pooh, POTC, and Haunted Mansion. Like most of these kind of questions, it's going to depend on your child. Only you know what might scare your child. To be honest, I think if you make it seem scary or put too much into trying to keep them from possibly getting scared, your child is going to think it is.

 

[Suellen]

My kids must be strange. Nothing bothered either one of them up until last trip DD5 opted OUT of HM ~ she said she was too scared but had ridden it before on that trip and again after ~ so who knows.

Some are obvious as they don't meet the height requirement anyway. We took them on anything they are big enough to ride on. DD was 3 when she rode ToT, TT and 4 when she rode Mission: Space.

 

[danielephant]

snow white scared me when i was little i was 5

 

[Hannathy]

To be honest, I think if you make it seem scary or put too much into trying to keep them from possibly getting scared, your child is going to think it is.

I so agree with this. A 2 yr old has no preconceived idea of what the ride is like. They only know what you tell him. If you say don't be afraid they will think I should be afraid. If you say lets go ride this ride it will be neat. I think it may be dark or loud OK but don't tell them not to be afraid. Before I came to the Dis I never heard of all the what should my kid ride questions. I always though they just rode everything and that is how they learned what they did or didn't like not me pre-choosing for them.

 

[Amy162]

Bugs Life - scared the heck out of my girls (2 and 4 at the time). We had to get up right away to leave, and my 4 y/o screamed like crazy when the cast member came towards us with a flashlight to help us out - she thought they were a bug coming to get us!!
After that one, she would not go into a dark theater for the longest time (not even movies here at home!)

Little Mermaid at DHS scared her then, but that was after the bugs life catastrophe, and we haven't tried it since, maybe on this trip.

I would also recommend bringing ear plugs, they were a lifesaver on our last trip, we were finally able to enjoy all of the fireworks shows, and she even wore them on a few of the rides that were loud. (she really doesn't like loud noises at all!)

I still haven't tried haunted mansion with my oldest, but my 5 y/o rode it with me last trip, and said she doesn't want to do it again!

You may be able to go to youtube and watch many of the rides with your 2 y/o, this can really help prepare them!

Have a great trip!!

 

[disneyloverforchrist]

We have already started talking to our two year old about our January trip and get him excited! I really think most of it is in how you present the situation to them. If you act scared, of course you kid is going to freak out! We will be avoiding Stitch's Great Escape-that was the ONLY ride in Disney that made me cry (that was when it was alien encounter) and probably bugs life.
Our son is also fairly easily distracted so I plan on using that tactic some. Like during the Great Movie Ride Alien scene. If I bust out a toy and start smiling and talking to him I think we should get through it just fine, my goal is just to not let him look up!!!

 

[danielephant]

HAHAHAHA! The last time my parents took up to MK we got on alien incounter, and my mom is clausterphobic and she was wigging OUT! and then my little sister who was 8 at the time was crying her eyes out...my dad brother and i thought it was awesome and dad and my brother did it again, but i stayed out with the chickens and we went to toon town, which was fun too lol (I was 15 or 16...cant remember)


But i REALLY want to ride it as stitch...I LOVE LOVE LOVE that movie!

 

[SnackyStacky]

I think it depends on the child - especially where in the 2-year-old year he or she is. A child who has just had a second birthday usually isn't phased by much, whereas the 2.5 year old, or 2 year old who will be 3 within a couple of months will be spooked by a lot more.

My daughter doesn't flinch at the sight of witches, mosters or other visually scary stuff. She's cool with the dark too. But loud noises are her kryptonite.

You know what's "scary" to my 4 year old? Taking the cart over grooved flooring at the grocery store! The reverb makes it even louder and she covers her ears and cowers everytime that cart makes noise!

We tend to avoid Dinosaur and Tough To Be A Bug. She does just fine on Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

[shaniadobie]

[
So far, I'll avoid:

A Bug's Life
Snow White's Scary Adventures
Pirates of the Carribbean
Fantasmic

Any others? I'm debating going to the Little Mermaid show.[/QUOTE]

I say that the only way you will know is let them experience.. When my DD was 2 on our first visit we let her do EVERYTHING she could and has no fear of any rides. Each child is different but I think that if you limit the child then they will be fearful of things that are totally fun !!!!

 

[Jennasis]

I disagree with so many on your list. The dinosaurs in Ellen are scary? where? when?

My DS went on all of those when he was 2 except for Dinosaur in AK wasn't tall enough and Stitch wasn't tall enough.

We warned him about the alien on the great movie ride but he loved almost all the rest of it especially the Wizard of Oz and Tarzan!

I don't think Pirates is scary at all, When is it scary?
Snow white is flat wooden shapes they aren't even dimensional.

I really don't get how most of these rides are scary. Even haunted mansion isn't scary.
He went on everything he was tall enough for.

Fantasmic was just loud at times but he just covered his ears if it got too loud.
I would take him on everything and if he doesn't like it don't go on it again but you could have a little guy like mine who liked everything and you would end up missing a lot.

As a child, the witch from Snow White terrified the hell outta me. So much so that to this day I start to have anxiety attacks whenever I see her (in art, pictures, on billboards, in character and on the ride). I still GO ON the rides...cause I'm a big girl now, but at 34 I still have to force myself not to freak out.

I even get a little heart-racy when I see anything to do with Snow White, the Seven Dwarves etc...

 

[IZLove13]

As a child, the witch from Snow White terrified the hell outta me. So much so that to this day I start to have anxiety attacks whenever I see her (in art, pictures, on billboards, in character and on the ride). I still GO ON the rides...cause I'm a big girl now, but at 34 I still have to force myself not to freak out.

I even get a little heart-racy when I see anything to do with Snow White, the Seven Dwarves etc...

I see what you mean. As a little kid, I hated that ride so much. It was kind of jerky to me (and from then on, I couldn't do any ride that jerked forward suddenly.) and any part with the witch scared me so much. I was really hesitant to ride any other dark rides after that. I can ride it now, cause it would make me feel dumb if I didn't at this age. I just get a little nervous about it. Just be careful what you put your kid on. I also really hated Pirates, and It's Tough to Be A Bug. (I couldn't go to see any 4D movies for years after. It was just a really bad experience.) But I was scared of everything when I was little. Only you really know what your kid can and can't do.

 

[minniefan65]

DS8 still "gets nervous" in Bug's Life, the Haunted Mansion, and the Great Movie Ride but loves TOT and RnR. He is very visual. He loves the Everest ride but hates the Yeti. In any 3D type thing we just have him take off the glasses if it gets to be too much. None of the three older kids had problems with these ride so go figure.

 

[TLSnell1981]

At 2, my daughter was a little spooked by the "heffalumps and woozles" section of the Pooh ride.

She was also terrified of the Little Mermaid show in DHS.

She liked Pirates, though... loved it, in fact. So you can never really tell...

So, true. My DD was terrifed of Pinocchio, but not of Freddy Krueger. She explained that "Freddy wasn't real". (and no I didn't allow her to watch, but the babysitter did)

We are taking our 2 year old DGS to WDW this month. His first trip was to DLP and he wasn't afraid of anything. Who knows, things may change this trip.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

In Magic Kingdom, I would avoid:

Astro Orbiter (Height)
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of Caribbean
Snow White
Stitch's Great Escape!

Epcot:
Ellen's Energy Adventure (the dinosaurs are scary!)
Maelstrom (the trolls can be scary)

Hollywood Studios:
The Great Movie Ride (Alien scene and some of the gangster scenes can be scary)
Sounds Dangerous (most of the show is in the dark)

Animal Kingdom:
DINOSAUR
It's Tough to be a Bug (very cute for adults, can be scary with the bees and spiders for kids)

Have a great trip!

This is so subjective. My kids and nieces enjoyed all of the attractions you have listed at the age of 2 (except Dinosaur - I don't know any 2 year old big enough to ride it?).

 

[rotlex]

Just came back from a trip with out daughter, 8, and son, almost 2. You really, really can't tell at 2, IMO at least. For reference:

He loved Pirates - we must have ridden it 25 times
He loved the Haunted Mansion - rode a LOT
He loved just about everything else he was able to ride, EXCEPT, Snow White's Scary Adventure, LOL. Seriously, he freaked out while riding it. No idea why, as I would have thought that Pirates or Haunted Mansion were a no go.

Like I said, you can't tell, LOL. On the other hand, our daughter, 8, rides everything under the son, including Dinosaur, which just a year ago she was scared to death of. This year, she wanted to try it again. I asked her a dozen times if she was sure, and she said yep! Well, we round up riding it like 4 times in a row. It's now a favorite of hers, and a nightmare for me, hehe. The noise level in there drives me nuts!

 

[dkoerner27]

my nephew (3) went on all of those things except dinosaur (wasnt tall enough). he loved all of them but stitchs great escape, and he wasnt scared of it, he didnt like it because it didnt move.

 

[kinghorse]

When my daughter was that age the only ride that really scared her was Snow White in Magic Kingdom. They have a scary witch.

 

[Eliza'sMom]

I would just play it by ear. At 20 months, my DD randomly freaked out at the Festival of the Lion King in AK. She was terrified and DH had to take her out. She also hated Pirates of the Caribbean and acted a little scared on a few other rides and at Voyage of the Little Mermaid. We decided, based on those reactions, to skip Haunted Mansion, Great Movie Ride and Snow White. It was weird, given that she had no frame of reference for finding these things scary, but she did.

We went back for her 2nd birthday and she had no problem with anything, although we took her on Pirates while she was asleep. But she was just fine during Haunted Mansion and didn't act scared once. She sat and played stickers during the Great Movie Ride and didn't even notice the shooting going on around us in the gangster scene

My one tip is to have something to distract your kiddo if he does get a bit apprehensive. We had snacks and stickers on us at all times, and they usually helped to redirect her attention. On Pirates, we had her look for the doggy and other animals from room to room, and that calmed her down in there.

ETA: Oh, and both times, she HATED Journey Into Imagination. It is dark in there and they blast loud noises and nasty smells and a big gush of air at you. She wanted out. We will skip it this time.

 

[brandylouwho]

It can be so tough to figure out what might trigger fear in a 2 yr old. My youngest has never been fearful of anything at WDW (as an infant, 19 mos & 2yrs old). She isn't fearful in normal life either.

My eldest, on the other hand, has a whole list of WDW fears. Some truly terrified her. Most just made her nervous and we got through them. I am mean and make her go on attractions that have no real scare factor, but I don't force her on rollercoasters or scary rides like Dinosaur.

ITTBAB-took off the glasses and buried her face in dad's chest at 2 1/2 yrs old.
HM-flipped out in the queue and took the chicken exit at 3 1/2. Still will not try this at age 6.
POTC, was apprehensive after the ride started. I had her keep a lookout for the dog in the various scenes. This game worked.
Pooh-the blacklight dream scene bothered her, but she got through it.
Maelstrom-she overheard a friend talking about this one and thought it sounded scary. I forced her to try it and she survived.
Soarin'-she won't try.
SSE-she mistakenly thought this was Space Mountain or Mission Space when she was 4. I had to convince her it was not thrilling in any sense of the word. She loves it now.
Great Movie Ride-I warned her about the alien and covered her face for that part. She was fine.

Sometimes I wonder if we'll EVER get her on a thrill ride. Maybe once her little sister is big enough, she'll try some due to the peer pressure.

 

[hellokittiemama]

when my daughter was 2 (almost 3) the haunted mansion was one she kept saying "again" "again" too!!! She loved the floating head of all things!!!

At age 4 we visited twice and one trip she didn't want to go on HM at all. The other she went on but was fearful. We'll see what she says when we go in a few weeks.

She is already talking about how she was/is afraid of splash mountain. Things she is afraid of my son loves!! Last trip we split up a lot. I think this trip we are going to try to do more as a family which means give and take.