the great movie ride with young kids?

[mtemm]

has anybody gone on the great movie ride with young kids (ours are 4, 2, and 2)? I'm thinking it will be a bit scary for them, dh doesn't think so. what has your experience been?

 

[stacy6552]

I havent been since it was referbished, but I would not have taken my kids before. When in doubt, ride it first.

 

[bluejasmine]

I dont remember it being refurbed in the last several yrs..Did I miss something? My kids have been riding it since they 5 and 2, there are a few scary parts like Aliens and maybe the shoot out but other than that it has always been a must do for my family..

 

[bicker]

None of the rehabs have ever effected any significant changes to the nature of the attraction. There are some scary parts. Our DN1 didn't notice them (some if it is psychological), but our DN6 was a bit freaked, but, afterwards, enjoyed having been scared. The biggest issue, as with most every indoor Disney attraction, is that it is loud. Ear protection may be the best investment you can make for your trip.

 

[BTown]

My niece really liked this ride (she was 4 last time she was on it). Honestly, I think the word scary may be a bit extreme, but I think it depends on how easily spooked your kids are. My niece, she had a toy laser gun from the Stitch ride, and would just shoot at the alien when it poped up. She actually seemed to enjoy that part the most. Of course, at the same time, I remember watching Mickey's Philharmagic and hearing kids her age start crying any time it got dark in the theatre.

 

[susykt4]

We went on this with DD4 and DS2. They loved the Wizard of Oz scene, but otherwise were kind of scared by our loud guide, the LOUD gunshots/gangster scene and the Alien scene. It didn't scare them enough that they didn't want to go on other rides or anything, but we skipped it our past trip when they were 5 and 3. If your kids are especially sensitive to loud noises, you might want to skip it. Otherwise, they'll probably be fine.

 

[fanofdisney]

Our son was 4 last year when we went, and he did fine. There were a couple of kids crying, though. It depends on how easily your kids scare, and if you can distract them to other things if you think something may frighten them.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I wouldn't do The Great Movie Ride with young kids. Some parts are very scary. There is a fight scene with loud pops from the guns, and a building catches fire in the western scene. The Alien part is also very frightening. The alien pops out from the ceiling and wall, which could easily startle any person. And there's the Indiana Jones/mummy movie scenes. There are plenty of parts that would frighten small kids.

But if your kids are fearless, then go ahead. It is a great ride, and there are scenes from Mary Poppins and Wizard of Oz and a short movie clip at the end full of popular movies that little ones enjoy. I have seen little ones on the ride, some are fine, while others are terrified.

 

[puddleduck]

Ear protection may be the best investment you can make for your trip.

You are so right with this one. When we arrived at DW in Dec. my 3yo ds could take most of the rides and sights, but the noise level really bothered him. I am packing several packs of earplugs for our Nov trip. I have found that w/ small kids, the loud noise seems to bother them way more than the ride or sights.

 

[timandlesley]

I went with my 5 year old and he was terrified. He thought the shots were real and we were going to die, I felt so bad for him. I kept whispering to him telling him it wasn't real. The Alien freaked him out to. After we got off he swore he wasn't scared and said he loved it, but I'll never forget that look in his eyes when they started shooting (bad mom )

Lesley

 

[KimWDW]

This was the only ride my son was scared of last year. He was 3.5yo. He loved the Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Soarin', etc. The Great Movie Ride scared him, I believe, because it had real people in it. When all the "people" are anamatronic, he knows it's pretend. But the Great Movie Ride mixes pretend people with real people and he didn't understand that everyone was ok and it still wasn't real. He was freaked out when the man turns into a skeleton in the Indiana Jones room. He kept asking about it all day and we explained it was pretend but he said, "NO! The man was real!"

 

[liznboys]

We've decided not to take our boys on it yet. Well, I decided...my dh wanted to take them on but I said no. I think the scary factor coupled with the loudness factor would bother my guys. I'm sure some little ones are ok with it though.

Ok, I also have to admit that the Wicked Witch scene FREAKS *ME* out!!! I guess I still haven't gotten over my fear of her.

BTW, there's video of some of the ride here on the DIS:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/video/greatmovie.wmv

Or go here and scroll down:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/pictures.htm

 

[mandy200587]

I love this ride but I'm 19 years old and still cover my eyes during the Alien scene. It's the only part I don't like.

 

[liltoot]

Every child is different but one of my favorite memories at the Great Movie Ride was of a little girl who sat in front of us. This happened about 10 years ago. She had blonde curly hair was the size of a peanut and standing on her daddy's lap. When we came around the corner of the Wizard of Oz section the look on her face was priceless. She wasn't afraid but it all became a very real place for her. It was precious. When the witch showed up she actually looked mad at her. My husband and I watched her instead of the ride. I don't know who she was but she's a teenager now and I never get on that ride without mentioning her to my husband.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

We took my DD when she was 20 months old on it and it scared her so much. During the gun shoot out she was trying to climb out the car.

I felt horrible and it ruined the whole day ( it was the 1st ride she ever went on at Disney). It even snowballed into the next show (the muppets) she was scared of the fireworks (because of the Great Movie Ride).

I was so disappointed. Now that the kids are older 5 & 8 they loved it, but I think its too intense for a 2 year old.

BTW, on her next trip when she was 4-- she wasnt scared of anything.