Small Children and MGM

[MomofQuintNNate]

I have a 6 and an 8 year old (both boys). My 6 year old is fearless but my 8 year old has some sensory issues and can be quite fearful. We were in MK last Dec. and went to Lilo without knowing anything about it and he still has nightmares about it. This is my second trip as an adult to Disney, I fell in love with it last year, but I have never been to MGM. The guidebook I have says that children who don't like "intense" rides shouldn't go to MGM. Is that true? Would it be a waste for us to go? I hate to short change my 6 year old but I don't want to scare my 8 year old to death either. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Robo]

The guidebook I have says that children who don't like "intense" rides shouldn't go to MGM.

I have never seen a guidebook warn anyone away from an ENTIRE Disney THEME-PARK (just certain attractions) so I'd double-check that.
(Please name the Book!!)

But, here is a quick list of major attractions (off the top of my head) at MGM.
I've said "No" to the ones that have sudden frightening scenes or themes.

Tower of Terror = No.
Rockin' Roller Coaster = No.
Great Movie Ride = No. (Alien monster, Wicked Witch, Fire and Gunshots)
Star Tours = Not Scary, per se. The Robot pilot (Pee Wee Herman's voice) is just befuddled and fun, but the ride is very energetic, rough and kind of loud.

Muppet Vision 3D = Yes. Great fun!
Beauty and the Beast •On Stage = Yes. Kids love it!
Little Mermaid (Live Show) = Yes. Kids rule here, too.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground =Yes. Just try to get 'em to LEAVE.
Bear in the Big Blue House = Yes. Preschooler's heaven.
Character Meet 'n Greets = Yes. You know the drill.
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular = Probably OK, don't sit down front.
Again, its loud but there's LOTS of actors of running around and having a good time.

Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Driving = You decide. The car's engines are pretty LOUD and there are a couple big fire effects. But its outside in a HUGE arena. Don't sit down front.

Fantasmic! = Pretty INTENSE (Don't sit down front.) The arena is GIGANTIC... you can sit about 70 feet from the action so you won't be overwhelmed.
Explain that there will be some witches and a DRAGON (fire-breathing variety) and it will be LOUD. (But we're sitting way back HERE, so nothing can get US!)
After all, Fantasmic! stars Mr. MICKEY MOUSE and he seems to always win !
The audience (FULL of kids of all ages) seems to LOVE this show.
(Me too!)
Big Fireworks and amazing in every way.

 

[TikiGoddess]

We just got back. I have two boys too. Age 2 and 4. There were some things that were a little scary, but I think there is a lot there they would like. The Muppet 3D movie was a big hit w/both my boys and there is nothing really scary in it. Little Mermaid was cute, although there is Ursula in it (the sea witch) don't know if that would bother him...didn't bother mine. The Playhouse Disney show is good and very harmless. Also we really enjoyed the animation studios stuff. It has Mushu (from Mulan) in it and is really funny, not scary at all. And you get to meet Chicken Little and Abby Mallard afterwards, both really sweet. The parade is good also. You might go and enjoy a half day there. Things too scary were Tower of Terror, Star Tours (scared my oldest, he still thinks we were really in outer space), and Indiana Jones bothered him for some reason...I think it was the fire and explosions. Our lunch at Prime Time was great and the boys loved it. There are also quite a few chances to encounter characters if they enjoy that. Hope this helps!

 

[kilee]

I would first really do some research on each and every ride and attraction. It sounds as if the issue may be alittle more severe if your child is still having nightmares from a year ago. Therefore, you'll want to be extra careful.

What other rides did you go on that weren't an issue?? How about anything 3D?

 

[Schmeck]

What is Lilo at MK? Do you mean Stitch Encounter? I don't think Lilo is in that ride at all though...

I know a lot of our friends with little ones skipped MGM/Disney Studios when they visited WDW, but my kis loved it - the HISTK playground is great, and the little mermaid show is sweet. If you sit in the way back, on an end, it's pretty tame. Muppet 3D has a few explosions at the end.

 

[egoldber]

I have a 6 and an 8 year old (both boys). My 6 year old is fearless but my 8 year old has some sensory issues and can be quite fearful. We were in MK last Dec. and went to Lilo without knowing anything about it and he still has nightmares about it. This is my second trip as an adult to Disney, I fell in love with it last year, but I have never been to MGM. The guidebook I have says that children who don't like "intense" rides shouldn't go to MGM. Is that true? Would it be a waste for us to go? I hate to short change my 6 year old but I don't want to scare my 8 year old to death either. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My DD has a hard time with attractions that are dark or have loud noises. At MGM, she enjoys The Little Mermaid show, but finds sections of it scary (the rain storm, when Ursula is out, the "battle" at the end). She is freaked out by Philharmagic, so we have never even tried the 4D show at MGM.

The Beauty and the Beast Show should be great. Nothing intense at all there.

Your DS is probably too old for the Playhouse Disney show, but if not, thats a good show.

We've never been to Fantasmic and I'm considering it this time, but I'm not sure.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I, too, was wondering what Lilo at MK was... if she means Stitch ride- boy that's an extreme one for a child that has sensory issues.

 

[disnut8]

Go to MGM and do the things that your son can do. Do NOT do Sounds Dangerous as it's seven minutes in total darkness. Total darkness. What are the sensory issues? We had a five year old who, at the time, was totally afraid of the dark. We she did do was Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones, the Honey I Shrunk playground, the Backlot Tour, the Animation tour, One Man's Dream, the Great Movie Ride (a little scared of the Alien but then you get to the Wizard of Oz - just don't sit up front because you'll be next to the Wicked Witch), the Muppets, got autographs from Buzz and Woody at Al's Toy Barn, and loved the Green Army men. She would have like Beauty and the Beast but we didn't have time. Did the kid swap on Rock N Roller Coaster and Twilight Zone. Didn't bother with Millionaire because she probably would have beaten the pants off of us.

I wouldn't avoid the park at all. Lots of things there.

 

[henrylovespooh]

We have young preschoolers and MGM is the park we visit the least. There's just not much for us. The only things my kids like is the Beauty and the Beast Show, the Playhouse Disney show, and the Little Mermaid Show (it is dark and Ursula can be frightening). We had to leave the Muppet Movie (they were a bit freaked by the 3D stuff, it has loud parts and a loud explosion at the end.) My husband goes on the Star Wars themed ride and hopes to get on Rock and Roll Roller Coaster someday.

If we do go there, it's only for a half day or less. We go first thing in the morning for some character photos, try to see the few things we like and then leave. It's a nice park to walk around in. We ate lunch at Sci-Fi last March and DH and I loved it but the kids were scared because it was dark in there and they were worried something bad would happen. We'll have to wait until they're older to go back.

 

[Nancyg56]

We are taking DGD who will be 4 to MGM the first full day of our trip. I planned the attractions that did not seem to carry a "warning lable", the ones that ROBO posted. This post is a good reinforcement that we were not overly cautious. Thanks to the OP, as I was beginning to think that we were worrrying too much. DD just canceled the FDP, as she worried about nightmares.

So, do you think about 1/2 day? We are going Jan 2nd. When the little one is done...we're done.

 

[minkydog]

I love the Indiana Jones stunt show but it scared my son half to death. he has severe developmental delays. We sat in the very back, but I guess he couldn't understand what was happening and went into panic mode. My DH had to leave the show with him screaming bloody murder.

Needless to say, we skipped Fantasmic

 

[jtdl]

My DS4 had two favorite rides in all of WDW and 9 months later he is still talking about them - The Great Movie Ride and Backlot Tour. I'm not kidding, those two rides were his absolute favorite! He is somewhat scared of the dark (he screamed and cried during the entire Stitch Encounter thing at MK), but since it wasn't pitch black on the Movie Ride it didn't bother him. On our next trip, we would like to skip MGM totally, but being as those two are his favs we will have to spend time there for him to ride them each a couple of times!

 

[DisneyFreq]

Definately skip Indiana Jones. I'll never forget the first time we took my brother. I think he was about 4 or 5. He was pretty apprehensive at that age but he wasn't the emotional type, very laid back! And then the first explosion happened and he was screaming bloody murder. My dad had to take him out of the theatre. Everyone was looking at us like "if you knew your kid was like that, why bring him in here?" But it was as big a surprise to us. When he was a baby, the ONLY time he cried was when he was hungry. We still don't understand what was so upsetting to him!

 

[MomofQuintNNate]

Thank you all for your wonderful information! I am so glad I found this site.

I do have to backtrack and say that I got a bit confused with my information. The guidebook which I loved and used when we went last year was the Unofficial Guide to DW. I bought an updated version, the Mini Mickey, and I actually was reading the section on the Animal Kingdom when I posted my original post. Although it didn't say don't take small children exactly it did say the Tree of Life was too intense for small children as and that AK was not laid out well so it can become cramped. I got my parks mixed up. Sorry, still earning my ears.

It did say that some of the MGM things had the explosions and things you described so I bet that was where I mixed them up. I think I have myself together now. I am not sure that I still know exactly if I will go to MGM or hit MK for a second day but I do so appreciate all your comments, keep them coming if you have more! You can never be too informed !

Thanks!

 

[bigmerle1966]

Definately skip Indiana Jones. I'll never forget the first time we took my brother. I think he was about 4 or 5. He was pretty apprehensive at that age but he wasn't the emotional type, very laid back! And then the first explosion happened and he was screaming bloody murder. My dad had to take him out of the theatre. Everyone was looking at us like "if you knew your kid was like that, why bring him in here?" But it was as big a surprise to us. When he was a baby, the ONLY time he cried was when he was hungry. We still don't understand what was so upsetting to him!

With children that age it is hard to tell. My DNeice has been to WDW quite a few times and was scared during some of the shows she liked before. We went to a lot of the 3D shows and I had her cowering next to me for most of them. I think it had a lot to do with the reaction of some of the other people around us. At Honey I Shrunk the Audience during the scene with the mice there were grown men screaming and yelling behind us. And at It's Tough to be a Bug when the spiders drop from the ceiling a girl in front of us screamed and jumped on the person next to her.

 

[Whosemom]

Looking at the list you got from the first poster, I just want to add that the explosions at Indiana Jones are a bit much, Little Mermaid is dark the whole time (people dressed in black are carrying flourescent fish puppets, its a black light thing). And a giant NO to fantasmic. They project all the classic bad guys on sprays of water that just tower over you. My unflappable kids were flapped!

All that being said, MGM day is always one of our favorites. Maybe because we aren't rushing to see as many things. We just really enjoy the atmosphere there.

 

[unixadm]

MomofQuintNNate,

Sounds like you went on the Stitch ride at MK.....DEFINITELY NOT for children.....and I can understand a child getting a bit freaked from that.

We have 4 and 3 YO boys. Our 3 YO is definintely scared of rides in the dark and hates loud noises. We learned this when we took him on Pirates of the Carribean in May (On our first day). After that, he would not get on any ride that was inside for the rest of the week!

We just went back and he still had some fear issues...he wouldn't even stay in "Carousel of Progress".

Here is a list of what rides we did see that I think are good for kids with fear issues:

MK:
Small World
Mad Tea Party
Dumbo
Winnie the Pooh
Goofy's Barnstormer (over 35")
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (over 40" - roller coaster)
Mickey's Philharmagic - (if they are afraid of the dark or movies, I would avoid)
Enchanted Tiki Room - (a short scene where the lights go out, otherwise harmless)
Country Bear Jamboree
Carousel of Progress (again, my 3 YO just didn't want to stay, but it is fun)
Astro Orbiter - (surprisingly, my 3 YO LOVED this one....it is like Dumbo, but high up in the sky and faster)
Buzz Lightyear - (My 4YO loves this, but 3 YO was less than happy)
Indy Speedway (Always a fun ride for the kids)
Cinderella's Golden Carousel

AVOID: Stitch Ride, Pirates of Caribean if they don't like dark, Peter Pan's flight if they don't like the dark, Splash mountain for the big drop, Haunted Mansion if they don't like the dark.

MGM
Star Tours - (40" or taller) - 4 YO LOVES this ride - Flight simulation, so may be slightly too intense for some kids)
MuppetVision 3-D - Same as Micky's Philharmagic....stay away if afraid of dark or 3-d movies
PlayHouse Disney on Stage - Fun for ALL ages
Power Rangers meet and greet - Both my boys went crazy to meet them.
Lights, Motor, Action Stunt show - Both boys loved this - the ending does have some explosions, so my DS3 was a little scared of those.
Honey I srhunk the Kids Play Area - Our kids could have played there all day
Beauty and the Beast show - Fun for the whole family

AVOID: Rock N Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones if they don't like explosions and shooting, Great Movie Ride (shooting, Alien attack), Little Mermaid (DS4 was terrified of Ursula, said he would never go in the show again), Fantasmic (Mickey verses all the Villians...dark, loud, and scary)

Epcot
Soarin' - (40" or taller) - DS4 LOVED this...rode it 4 times!
Test Track - (40" or taller) - DS4 LOVED this as well
Journey into the Imagination - a couple of spots where the lights go out - DS4 liked it, DS3 would not go on.
American Adventure - GREAT show - as long as they don't mind movies, it is a must see.
Various movies in China, Canada, France are all good

AVOID: Universe of Energy (Dinosaurs and dark), Mission Space (VERY intense), Norway boat ride (quick drop and dark), Honey I Shrunk the Audience (4-D movie with some scary scenes)

AK
Festival of the Lion King - A must see show for the whole family
Tarzan Rocks - Haven't seen this but heard it was good
Kilamajoro Safari - Good for the whole family - A little bumpy ride, but nothing really bad.
Dino Play area - DS3 and DS4 both loved this area

AVOID: Dinosaur (dark, loud and scary dinosaurs)

Hope that helps

 

[egoldber]

Here is a list of what rides we did see that I think are good for kids with fear issues:

Thanks! That was very helpful!

 

[MomofQuintNNate]

Wow! That pretty much covers it. Thank you so much. I am feeling more and more like I am able to figure this one out. I am so excited about this trip and all of you guys are making it that much more exciting! I can't wait.....But I have to

Looking forward to Dec 16th

Thanks again to everyone for you input!

 

[Nancyg56]

Wow! That pretty much covers it. Thank you so much. I am feeling more and more like I am able to figure this one out. I am so excited about this trip and all of you guys are making it that much more exciting! I can't wait.....But I have to

Looking forward to Dec 16th

Thanks again to everyone for you input!

Have Fun! Please post a report when you return. We are going in Jan and I would like your impressions of the rides and attractions, as well as the length of time you spent in MGM. I think that 1/2 day, based on the suggestions for child friendly attractions, but I have a terrible sense of time.