Spiders in WWOHP

[mbh106]

We're going to Universal for the first time next week and I just read somewhere that there are spiders on FJ. My eleven year old is so excited for all the thrill rides and WWOHP, but he is terrified of spiders! Can someone please elaborate on the spiders on FJ and any others that we might encounter in the parks?

 

[Seeker615]

They are pretty big spiders. If you have seen any of the movies there is a "king spider" and it's offspring. They are in the part where it is dark and forest-like and they spit water at you. It is a quick scene and if you know about where they are going to show up you can shut your eyes. They are animatronic.

I don't recall spiders in anything else...

 

[schumigirl]

Yes they are pretty awful on the ride. I`m not bothered by spiders but didn`t like that bit.

I`m sure I saw some for sale somewhere......or was it a display in DA?

There are also spiders in a scene on the Shrek ride.

 

[LizEN]

I'm terrified by real life spiders, but only found the ones on the ride creepy. I'm sure it's because I was expecting them and knew exactly where they would be on the ride after watching vids on YouTube. It was worth spoiling some of the other surprises to be sure I would be able to ride this one--I'm not normally a thrill ride seeker. But-you could have someone pre-watch a video and only show him the spider part and a bit of what leads up to it to minimize spoilers. It really is a great ride.

 

[mbh106]

They are pretty big spiders. If you have seen any of the movies there is a "king spider" and it's offspring. They are in the part where it is dark and forest-like and they spit water at you. It is a quick scene and if you know about where they are going to show up you can shut your eyes. They are animatronic.

I don't recall spiders in anything else...

Yikes! They are animatronic? Do they move toward you and if so, how close do they get? Would it help to sit in the back row?

 

[jjas]

There is no back row. You sit 4 people across on a bench of sorts. There are dividers between each of you so you can't really see each other.

 

[vrajewski10513]

I agree with the PP, if you think it may be an issue you can always youtube the ride and see how he feels about it. Although, seeing them in person is def a bit more intense than seeing it on the ride. But, I will add, its a fairly small portion of the ride. Maybe you can watch the ride video and see where the spider part starts so you can prompt him to close his eyes during that part?

 

[mbh106]

I'm terrified by real life spiders, but only found the ones on the ride creepy. I'm sure it's because I was expecting them and knew exactly where they would be on the ride after watching vids on YouTube. It was worth spoiling some of the other surprises to be sure I would be able to ride this one--I'm not normally a thrill ride seeker. But-you could have someone pre-watch a video and only show him the spider part and a bit of what leads up to it to minimize spoilers. It really is a great ride.

I'm scared of real life spiders as well, but anything not real or even real but in a case at the zoo I'm fine with. I'll have to watch the video to see what they're like. If I tell him there's spiders he'll probably refuse to ride. If the part is very short I may just have him close his eyes for that part. Otherwise he and I can skip the ride and wait for the others.

 

[mbh106]

So are Shrek and FJ the only videos I need to check out?

 

[vrajewski10513]

Most of the time they do offer just a walk through option for Hogwarts, so you can still experience the queue without riding the ride too.

 

[angshewas]

I'm scared of real life spiders as well, but anything not real or even real but in a case at the zoo I'm fine with. I'll have to watch the video to see what they're like. If I tell him there's spiders he'll probably refuse to ride. If the part is very short I may just have him close his eyes for that part. Otherwise he and I can skip the ride and wait for the others.

If he's a Harry Potter fan it would really be a shame for him to miss this ride - it is utterly fantastic. Has he seen the movies? I thought the scenes with Aragog in Chamber of Secrets were way worse than the ride. It's only a very short part of the ride.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

I`m sure I saw some for sale somewhere......or was it a display in DA?

Absolutely they are for sale. Pretty sure they are in IOA, but they are also in the store in Knockturn Alley (inside of Diagon). The alley is dark, the store is dark, and then you've got plush mini-"acromantulas" sitting there. Shudder.

Watch the video, and look/hear for the queues right before the acromantulas. (that's what Rowling calls them, and since my phobia involves using the S word, I use acromantula instead) Since you can't really see the person next to you, this is what we do. First, I have to put on my "I'm a grownup hat". So I keep my eyes open. We arrange ourselves in our assigned seats so I'm closer to them than DS is. (I think they approach from the left, so if the phobic person can be more to the right of the "bench" it's better) When they are about to show up, I squeeze DS's knee. Once they are gone I squeeze it again. I haven't been on the ride in awhile for some reason, so I can't remember the exact queues. With the knee squeezes he knows what he is supposed to do.

Little warning. If the ride stops moving and you haven't yet squeezed his knee the second time, make sure he knows not to open them yet. We got to deal with a ride stop RIGHT THERE. On our backs, with THEM right there. Shudder.

 

[mbh106]

I've watched a few videos and the part with spiders does appear to be short but very intense. It's hard to tell, but do they just hang there or do they drop toward you?

 

[hydrotony]

The FJ spiders move up and down, not sideways toward you but you are moving on the bench seat and it can appear that they are moving toward you.

 

[cgattis]

And one other note...the ride pic is in the spider scene Took me three rides to get a pic with my eyes open LOL. The knew squeeze idea from PP is exactly what I was going to recommend.

 

[Seeker615]

I hate spiders too but these didn't really bother me too much. They don't get up in your face. I don't recall the biggest one really even moving.

 

[MsHook]

It's not too bad & they're only there for a second. Just tell him to close his eyes. If Ron Weasley can do it, so can he!

 

[mbh106]

Thanks for all the info and tips, they were very helpful! Crossing my fingers and we'll see what happens.