Scardy Cat DS, need ideas

[BratTink]

Ok, not my son. My friend's son who I'm going to Disney with in Oct. I'm tagging along on their family vacation (grandparents, my friend, her son and 2 nephews, 11 and 13). He'll be five when we go and he's pretty much scared of everything, especially the unknown. Has let us know that he is NOT getting on an airplane so we tell him we're taking a bus and hoping for the best. My question is what rides in MK should we start with to not scare the h*ll out of him? I really want him to see the beauty and magic that is Disney, but don't know how to start. He doesn't really like the dark either and just because the bigger boys like it does NOT sway him at all. So again I turn to you at the disboards to help me.

 

[Fionasmommy]

I can't really be of much help with the rides, since we haven't been yet! But my DD is also a bit of a scaredy cat, so what I'm doing is planning other activities for her. Don't get me wrong, we're definitely doing the Parks (planning on rides like Dumbo, Peter Pan, etc.) but I've booked several kids activities too, like the Pirate Cruise and Grand Adventures in Cooking.

That way there's always something new and fun to do, and at about $28 for each activity I think it's a great deal!

 

[Bambi5826]

how about the teacups? except for the covering over the top, it is very open, not very fast, and the spinning is left up to you.
With it being so open, he could see the whole ride before you even get on.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

We have a scaredy cat, too. DS5 may be the only little boy on the planet who LOVES Captain Hook, but HATES Peter Pan's Flight! He just doesn't like dark places where he can't see where he is going. I say start with Dumbo and Aladdin's Magic Carpets, the Railroad, the Swiss Family Treehouse (what 5 year-old boy wouldn't love a treehouse like THAT?! ) and the Riverboat, then move up to the Jungle Cruise, Tea Cups and Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. I would DEFINITELY avoid: Snow White and Stitch!

I agree with a PP that said start him out in open rides (notice the theme above). I highly recommend Bob Sehlinger's "Unofficial Guide to WDW." I'm sure you can check one out of your local library. There is a great section on "Disney, Kids and Scary Stuff" that's been largely the same for the last umpteen editions, so an older version should be good if that's what you are reading the book for. Me, I buy and read every new edition, but I'm a geek.

One other suggestion is to get him some foam earplugs (yes, here I go again on the earplugs ). We bought some foam earplugs on a string (love the string--makes'em easier to keep up with) for DS and used them EXTENSIVELY on our two trips to Disney last year. The foam ones you just roll between your fingers to squish, then insert them gently into the ear (can't get too far--don't worry), and hold them about 5 seconds while they decompress. DS just really did much better when he only had one sense overstimulated. I don't know who decided that all attractions need to be as loud as a rock concert, but the WDW attractions are LOUD! We also used them for all the nighttime shows.

Good luck!

 

[MareSINY]

Keep him away from POC. It may take some work but you should try to get him on the Pooh ride. My niece wouldn't go on it, down right refused for several trips. We kept showing her the DW website and the rides, and the last two times we went back not only did she go on, but she LOVED it. She kept saying it was her favorite ride.

 

[disnut8]

I think I can help. Our granddaugther was 5 this first time we took her to Disney World. Magic Kingdom was the first park we hit. Not a great option. She didn't go on anything. Well, the first ride we did was Pirates of the Caribbean. She latched onto me like there was no tomorrow. NOTHING in the dark was even mentioned. Haunted Mansion, out. Peter Pan, out. Small World - she screamed. Even the Tomorrowland Transit Authority was a bad idea. She thought she was going on Space Mountain. We gave up.

And then we had a great time. Do you know how much fun it is to have the other three go and ride Space Mountain while you take a five year old to the Rose Garden next to Cinderella's Castle and have her run around and just be herself? Or when we went to MGM the next day and we all took turns doing Twilight Zone (don't pass up the oppoturnity to use the younger one's pass for a FastPass - just give it to someone else in your party). My husband said that half hour with his granddaughter was wonderful. She didn't mind she wasn't riding anything.

Go to the Boneyard at Animal Kingdom. Do things the five year old wants to do at some point. The five year old's favorite thing? Epcot's World Showcase. Floored us all.

Just take it one attraction at a time.

 

[BratTink]

I think I can help. Our granddaugther was 5 this first time we took her to Disney World. Magic Kingdom was the first park we hit. Not a great option. She didn't go on anything. Well, the first ride we did was Pirates of the Caribbean. She latched onto me like there was no tomorrow. NOTHING in the dark was even mentioned. Haunted Mansion, out. Peter Pan, out. Small World - she screamed. Even the Tomorrowland Transit Authority was a bad idea. She thought she was going on Space Mountain. We gave up.

And then we had a great time. Do you know how much fun it is to have the other three go and ride Space Mountain while you take a five year old to the Rose Garden next to Cinderella's Castle and have her run around and just be herself? Or when we went to MGM the next day and we all took turns doing Twilight Zone (don't pass up the oppoturnity to use the younger one's pass for a FastPass - just give it to someone else in your party). My husband said that half hour with his granddaughter was wonderful. She didn't mind she wasn't riding anything.

Go to the Boneyard at Animal Kingdom. Do things the five year old wants to do at some point. The five year old's favorite thing? Epcot's World Showcase. Floored us all.

Just take it one attraction at a time.

You hit the nail on the head. All of the rides are just too dark for little kids. He LOVES pirates but I think the ride will terrorize him. Someone already told him about the carnitore juming out in the Dinosaur ride in AK and he told his mom "I'm not going there". I think maybe Pooh will be a good start along with the open rides. Our first day (evening) will be MGM and Fantasm so hopefully that will get him excited.

Thanks for advice. You guys rock!

 

[MissMagnolia]

I am worried about the same thing - my DS is 6 and I am already prepping him for our trip the end of August (we've been watching and rewatching all the specials on Disney the Travel Channel puts out - gotta love TIVO !).

Word of advice - ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LET HIM RIDE DINOSAUR in AK!!!!! No matter how much a boy who is 5-7 LOVES dinosaurs this is not the ride for them! I was petrified the last time I rode it - jerky, dark and the Carnitaur jumps out at you everywhere. If members of your family want to ride, let him hang out in the gift store at the end of the ride or better yet (for $$$ sake) go over to the Boneyard in Dinoland USA and play. He will LOVE that - guaranteed!

 

[disnut8]

Word of advice - ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LET HIM RIDE DINOSAUR in AK!!!!! No matter how much a boy who is 5-7 LOVES dinosaurs this is not the ride for them!

Have to agree here. That was another one with the five year old. She loves dinosaurs. Wanted to especially go on this ride since she didn't get much other stuff in. She was so excited in the queue line. And then she saw it. A dinosaur skull. She freaked. This was right when the doors opened for the preshow. Which I never saw because I was trying to calm her down. The girl bolted out of that area and practically ran everyone over! But remember this - you can always exit before the ride. My husband took her out and everyone else rode. After that and a trip to The Boneyard, she trusted us so much more.

And BTW - her last trip at the age of 6-1/2? She loved Dinosaur, rode Twilight Zone (didn't like it but survived) and did every single dark attraction we did.

 

[Torjohnson]

Yes, we spent a lot of time searching for exits the first coupla of DL trips with our son.(even the talking moose at Bear Country scared him) I guess the best advice is to not push them. There are plenty of cool open rides, characters, and eye candy.
and don"t forget to see the magic in their first time eyes.

 

[BratTink]

Yes, we spent a lot of time searching for exits the first coupla of DL trips with our son.(even the talking moose at Bear Country scared him) I guess the best advice is to not push them. There are plenty of cool open rides, characters, and eye candy.
and don"t forget to see the magic in their first time eyes.

I'm such a child myself when it comes to disney and I really hope he is able to see the magic and have a great time outside of swimming at the hotel.

Thanks so much all of you here. I'm so happy I found the disboards and I'm not alone in my freakness (is that a word) about Disney.