Too scary for 22 month old?

[LilAnn]

I love going to WDW but this will be the first time we will be going since we've had our DD. She will be 22 months when we go and I wanted thoughts on what you think will be good rides or too scary? I already have Dumbo, Aladdin's Carpet ride, the Pooh ride and It's a Small World on the agenda for her. Are POTC and Haunted Mansion too scary? I love both and haven't been on HM since it was redone. Any other thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! We can't wait to see her at WDW!

 

[Ashlander]

We went on both of those rides with our young kids and they were not scared. We talked to them the whole time and if they seemed a little freaked out then we would laugh and say isn't that silly/funny. My 2 yr old was more afraid of Minnie and Mickey than she was of the house with flying people

 

[LilAnn]

Thanks for the comment! Were there any rides that they particularly loved?

 

[LWatson]

Oh no. Our 14m old (at the time) and our 3yr old both loved both of those rides. We kept our little guy off the 1st time on POC just to see how the oldest did w/ just mommy and he did fine, so we took on the little guy next and he laughed. He fell asleep both times on HM. Oh but make sure they dont look up in the stretching room because that is the only thing that startled my oldest. I didnt even remember it being there from when I was a kid, so I didnt know not to let him look up.

 

[micheleq]

The Unofficial Guide to Disney with Kids has a whole section on rides and a kid-friendly scale -- they list the "fright factor" with each ride.

I thought my DD4 would be scared of POTC, but I told her they were "silly pirates" and she enjoyed it just fine. DD2 loved everything she went on!

 

[Kae]

I would like to suggest ear plugs. We use the soft ones from the drug store. I helped alot. At that age my kids did not like It's tough to be a bug, at all. And I did not take them on Snow White.

Kae

 

[Mrs.Toad]

my kids were fine on HM and PoTC at that age. It wasn't until they were a little older that they decided that stuff was scary. My oldest also thought the characters were scarier than those rides, in fact, she always has, and she's 11 now!

 

[Disneychix]

We took light up stuff on HM and POTC (like a fan and light up necklace) for DS to keep focused on for the dark parts of the rides. HM he didn't love but POTC he enjoyed. He loves boats though so the water and boat had something to do with it.
We didn't try going on Snow White or Peter Pan. DS fell asleep on IASW! Don't know how that can happen

 

[abouley]

In my experience at 22 months they aren't really scared of POTC or HM! They don't really seem to grasp that these things might be scary. It was closer to 3 with my DS that he got afraid of these rides.

Pretty much all the rides without heigh restrictions were fine at that age! You might just start out with some of the more timid rides and then work up to see if the noise or dark or anything seems to be frightening. I think a lot of it is our reaction. Don't even suggest that it's scary just laugh and say isn't that silly etc!!!


Alison

 

[Trinity524]

Okay, here's my thoughts...

I am glad that you posted because my son will be 22 months at the time we go in September. He last went when he was 10 months and rode everything he could with no issues... however, each child is different. I have a niece about the same age as my son and she is completely different. I think I have an advantage because my husband has been watching scary movies with my son since he was born. Not my choice, but the cheesier the better for my husband when it comes to his favorite Horror films. When someone jumps out to "scare" your child, do they scream in delight or in horror? Only you know your child, but the ear plugs definetely help not only children, but adults in Disney...

Good luck!

 

[LilAnn]

Thanks for all the help so far! My Dh and I have been debating on whether they were too scary. I guess we will just play it by ear! We want to go to Sesame Place or some other amusement parks to see how she will react to the characters. I figure she will be scared of them! I wasn't even thinking of Snow White - the witch scares me in that ride!

Were there any rides/activities you think are a must? I just can't wait to see her reaction when she sees Lighting McQueen. She loves Cars!

 

[puffkin]

My DS has been riding everything he was tall enough for since he was a baby. We were there in October and he was just over 40" so he got to do a lot of the big rides too.

Fast forward seven months to our May trip. He is now 3 year 2 month. He rode pretty much everything, but there was definitely some "fear" starting. He was fine after the ride, but was a bit afraid of some of the rides and we had to convince him that he had ridden that ride as a little "baby" before and wasn't afraid. I just don't think that kids really develop a sense of fear until they are about 3. It really helped that he had already done most of these rides before he developed the fears so that he either remembered them a little or we could show him pictures of him doing it before.

 

[two-foxes]

DS rode everything at 14 mos with not one issue of fear, then back at 20 months, it was a completely different ball game. He hated Peter Pan, Toy Story Midway Mania, Buzz...although he did just fine on HM and had a bit of apprehension on PoC. He loved Dumbo, though, despite his fear of Lumpy on Pooh! So, I guess my point is every kid will be different on every visit...often the only way to know is to try the age appropriate rides and see what happens!

 

[kpadalik]

I told my DD when she was younger to say BOO! to the things that scare her on the rides (witch on Snow White, ghosts on HM, pirates on POTC) and it worked very well. It really lightened up the "scary factor" and she loved BOO'ing so much she would usually end up with the giggles!

BTW, you can probably add Buzz Lightyear to your list of non-scary rides. It's really fun and not scary at all!

 

[kimcat1]

We just got back with our just shy of 2 year old. She did most everything and it was great but she was terrified of Ellen's Energy in Epcot. Too dark and too much loud noises. Other than that, she was fine.

 

[poegirl30]

Last May, our 2 yr old did fine on POTC and HM too. I think it just depends on your child's personality.

 

[LORI522]

My son was 22 months during our WDW trip last Dec. He had a blast! The only ride that scared him was POTC but he loved HM. He was also a little leary of the Snow White ride. Have fun!!!

 

[blum74]

Last year my 4 year old was spooked by Snow White. She went on it clutched to me at first then after realizing nothing was going to happen to her she went on it again later and kept her eyes open.

My 8 year old doesn't like Peter Pan b/c she's worried we'll fall. So different unexpected things will scare kids of all ages.

Haunted Mansion was too scarey for my 4 year old last year. Took her on it this year, clutched to me, face buried in me and once we got off she said it was ok.

I tell my kids nothing will touch them, nothing is real, etc to ease their dark ride fears.

 

[LilAnn]

Thanks so much to everyone for all the advice and ideas! I think I will look into those light up toys to have handy just in case. I hope she enjoys some of the rides, although I was already planning on skipping Snow White since the witch scares me!

 

[TheAngelForever]

My little guy turned two during our recent trip to Disney May 9-15. He loved It's a Small World, Dumbo, Flying Triceratops and a few other rides. He was NOT happy with the Haunted Mansion. When the elevator went down he curled up on hubby's shoulder and fell asleep from fear. He did something similar when waiting on line for the Pirate's of the Carribean. You never know how a child will react and they may warm up to things with time. Good luck!

Oh - as someone else mentioned ...my little guy was petrified of Ellen's ride in the World of Energy as well. VERY loud and long (especially when it broke down when we were on it.)