Toddlers and fireworks??

[olivia's mommy]

I have been thinking of what it is going to be like to take DD to see/hear the fireworks when we go on our trip! She will be 18 months old, has never seen/heard them before. Sometimes she can get scared or loud noises and other times she doesn't even flinch. So I just want to hear about some of the experiences out there, good or bad. I don't think she will even be able to stay up that late but I guess we'll see!

Thanks!

 

[gibsontrio]

My dd2 SCREAMED her head off every time a firework shot off, her first run of fireworks. Her second time she hugged me tightly but she made it through. I removed her the first time so I didnt ruin it for the rest of the people.
I think you should give it a try (if she will stay up that late) Hey ! Give it two tries!

 

[Tator Tot's Mom]

We took our son and daughter each whe they were one- The first time we watched from inside less noise- they liked the colors- next time we went outside- they got used to the noise when they understood it was what was making the nice colors in the sky! I say go for it- if the child hates it- people will move so you can remove the screaming child.

 

[nytimez]

My 2-year-old has a high tolerance for everything in the parks -- except the fireworks. Wants nothing to do with them.

 

[emma'smom]

My dd didn't like the fireworks at 18 months, nor at 2, nor at age 3. She actually goes into "escape mode" and runs for cover. Even the minimal fireworks at the daytime castle show freak her out. We've learned to duck into a store or attraction during the fireworks. DH once went around IASW with her three times until the fireworks were over. Now that's dedication to his DD's well-being!

 

[LadyShea]

My DS loves fireworks. We were in Fantasyland during Wishes, the supposedly loudest place, and he was simply in awe. He was 21 mos at the time. We had taken him to our 4th of July fireworks twice before Disney, and we were on a boat right under where they were shooting them over the river, and the first time he slept through them.

However, he cries from applause or cheering...even if simply after singing Happy Birthday. We couldn't see any shows at WDW

It really depends on the kid.

 

[snoopy5386]

My DD has seen fireworks at 3 months, 1 year and 18 months and has been fine every time. IMO WDWs fireworks aren't super loud (with the exception for the end of Illuminations.) We bought child hearing protectors when she was 3 months old and bring them with us.

 

[Msslaydbug]

I have always loved the soundtrack to Wishes and my daughter has liked it from an early age. She liked it so much we pulled it up on YouTube when she was fairly young and she loved to watch it over and over.

I was so worried when she was going to actually see it in person that it would ruin the entire thing for her.

Nope ! She loves fireworks - she doesn't even flinch at the sounds. I've always wondered if she was not ever meant to be a kid scared of fireworks or if we desensitized her to them beforehand by letting her watch them on youtube over and over again ( they actually got downloaded onto my ipod and that's where she watches them now).

She is 3.

 

[jjhardy]

Since you don't leave for 3 months try her out at your local 4th of July fireworks. That will be a good test of her reaction. Doing the July 4th will also help you decide if you want to even push to stay at the park for the fireworks.

If she doesn't do great on the 4th you can stand near the exit at WDW and if she freaks again just leave. Since she will be older at WDW she may react differently but she may not.

 

[olivia's mommy]

Since you don't leave for 3 months try her out at your local 4th of July fireworks. That will be a good test of her reaction. Doing the July 4th will also help you decide if you want to even push to stay at the park for the fireworks.

That's a great suggestion! We are in Canada so we are going to do a test run on July 1st, Canada Day! And I think the youtube thing is also a good idea...thanks!

 

[laughinplace199]

We were at WDW last month. Here's how my 18 month old handled the fireworks...

He slept right through them!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I'm resurrecting this thread so I can hear more experiences. My DS will be 32 months old for our Oct trip and he's seen fireworks in WDW before; but he was 10 months, 11 months, and 21 months. I think the last time he slept thorugh most of them.

We tried some small fountain fireworks at home over Memorial Day and he was none-too-happy with them. So we tried again on July 4th and we talked about them when he heard them but couldn't see them but when he saw them, again not happy. I think the ground fountains bothered him more than the aerial ones.

We brought shooting headphones with us and I wore them, then Daddy, and he thought that was funny and he wanted a turn - but didn't like them and wouldn't wear them for the fireworks (of course).

We have some fireworks on video and he's watched them, but you don't get the real effect - the precussion that you feel when you're there. We're going to keep trying and maybe watch some from afar before we try in the parks.

Where are some good viewing places from a distance? We'll be at VWL for a couple nights then SSR. I don't think you can see them from VWL but there's a beach at the Poly right? How do you get to that beach anyway?

Anymore advice/experiences?

D4D

 

[two-foxes]

We went with the Peltor Kids hearing protectors. DS watched the MK fireworks and slept through IllumiNations at 6 months with them. We are headed back to WDW in August and the Peltors are coming with us. We may try the fireworks with out them, but the Peltors buy us all a bit of comfort and piece of mind.

 

[dsneygirl]

Ds loves Fireworks. He has been to WDW 5 times and seen all the shows several times. Hasn't fazed him one bit. He did really well on Canada Day as well. Your DC might just surprise you

 

[design_mom]

My DD was frightened of fireworks, so we were prepared to run for the gate if she hated Wishes, but she actually got down and danced to the music. She was mesmerized by the whole thing.

My DS hated costumed characters when we went to WDW. We spent the first day avoiding them. Finally DS said, "Hey... I thought Mickey Mouse lived here? Why haven't we seen him?" So off we went to Toon Town and he walked right up and hugged Mickey.

Disney's just "different."

If you don't think your child will like something, I'd definitely make an exit plan... And I wouldn't force anybody to do something they were uncomfortable doing (rides, etc.) but I wouldn't skip anything until you know for sure they don't like it. My kids have really surprised me.

 

[cerberus]

My girls loved our local fireworks this year, almost 16 month old and tthe other will be 3 in August. We also took them both last year, the youngest was 4 months old and she slept through it and the other was~2yo and loved it. I think it just really depends on your kids and how they react to everything

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Those ear protectors mentioned ealier, Peltor - is there something special about them? I'm going to pack the shooting headphones just in case.

D4D

 

[solgent]

My daughter wears the Peltor ear protectors. They are made for kids. We got them from Amazon.

I don't know what shooting headphones are.

 

[two-foxes]

Those ear protectors mentioned ealier, Peltor - is there something special about them? I'm going to pack the shooting headphones just in case.

D4D

I don't know if they have a different level of decibel protection, but here is a link to them so you can take a peek. The only special thing that may be different from the shooting headphones is the kid-fun color.


http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/product/Peltor-Kid-Earmuffs.html

 

[mamaLori05]

Both my kids love the fireworks. dd's first time seeing them was when she was 2 months old, and several several times after that. ds's first time was when he was 7 months in Disney. The latest time was this past fourth, where both kids fell asleep during the extremely loud and extremely bright big finally!! Apparently it wasn't big enough for them . Both kids have always loved watching the colors, ect. They were never scared, however we never made a big deal of it either. We never told them it was going to be loud or anything. We just said we were going to see fireworks, went, and that was it. Good luck and hope your little one loves the fireworks as much as my kiddo's do. Then again.....I LOVE seeing fireworks and have to be right under them so that they shake the ground. Maybe they just get their love for them from me!!