Volume at the parks

[twitch]

I'm sure I'm alone in this observation, but my wife and I are increasingly finding that the volume level at the parks are set a notch too high for comfort. I'm mostly talking about things like parades, WOC, F!, etc... but also some of the rides: guardians, screamin', the end of BTMRR, etc.

I don't think I'm turning into an old grump... it just feels like things are running louder than they need to. It's to the point where we've actually discussed some sort of high-quality in-ear hearing protection....

Anyone else? Or am I just finally getting old?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

If it's just that you're getting old, then so am I. DH and I have noticed that the background music is sometimes too loud to comfortably enjoy also.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Your discomfort while others enjoy the volume/sound is normal with aging and starts well before people are considered old (excluding those unwanted commentaries from kids and teens). Ears have a protective mechanism that helps to prevent damage from loud noises, but that reflex weakens with age. When the inner-ear tendons work properly, loud-ish noises are tolerable, but those same sounds are painful to those who's mechanisms aren't working as well.

I'm only 46 and I notice sounds are more painful now than they were a decade ago, and starting to consider some mild sound baffling to soften the acoustic blow.

 

[JenniBarra]

I, too, have seemed to observe that some of the shows seem louder than they had been so who knows? If you are thinking of purchasing ear plugs, you might want to consider a product like Hearos High Fidelity. They have been designed with musicians so they can bring down the overall volume but do not create the muffle that you can get with standard foam ear plugs. I personally use Etymotic Research ones, which is very similar. (My husband started out with a pair of those as well, but, due to forgetting them or misplacing them, he started using a pair of Hearos instead.) I use then whenever I attend concerts but still tote them around in my purse on a regular basis because I find them sometimes helpful in other contexts as well.

 

[DLgal]

Stuff is definitely louder. My son has autism and wears Peltor ear protection. He has been having to use them more than he used to. He's only 11 so it's not age related for him.

Big Thunder and GoG are seriously ear damaging loud. It's ridiculous.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I feel like a lot of the rides are way too loud. Including Winnie the Pooh! I'm 40 by the way but I've always had sensitive hearing.

 

[lildreamer101]

I think the sound of the rides plus the screaming on the thrill rides hurts my ears. Eek!

 

[cruisehopeful]

It's really loud and then people scream louder than the music/sound effects. I keep forgetting to buy ear plugs, but this thread reminded me so I am ordering some on Amazon right now.

 

[ashley0139]

I have not noticed anything like that. Everything sounds normal to me, but it sounds like I'm the weird one.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

I did not notice anything particularly loud on my last trip a few months back when my Son and his school band marched down MS. Maybe I am used to loud things attending band rehearsals and performances the last couple of years. I will be back in the parks in a few weeks for some solo half days and will see if I notice anything loud. I am 47 and have fairly sensitive hearing.

 

[Indiana Scott]

We too, have found the volumes excessive and often walk away from parades, shows and such because of it.

 

[figment_jii]

I haven't noticed that anything sounds really all that much louder, but I do notice that the volumes do see louder when there are fewer people present. I wonder if they set the volume (at least for shows and parades) to a level where they think it's needed to be heard when there is a full crowd watching the show. So then, if the crowds are lower, the volume seem a lot louder.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I am 71 and lost a bit of my hearing many years ago and having to deal with decreasing hearing. We were just there last week and when they did get loud, I just walked away. How do you adjust the sound to make everyone happy in and around the stores so everyone can hear? Aids are $1000 plus per ear? You are very lucky to have good hearing or were never around loud explosions, very loud aircraft engines, etc.

Jack

 

[GeneralTso]

I dunno---I expect it to be loud, and it is, so it doesn't bother me.

 

[Marsh215]

It's loud. Every parade and show is too loud. I think it needs to be this way for a consistent experience for everyone and in doing so it's a little to loud for most, perfect for some, and to quiet for very few.

 

[goooof1]

I have "moderate" hearing impairment (and I'm "old") and DL can be very LOUD....especially some of the rides......Indy, I am looking at you!! (haven't been on GOTG yet)..... I can't really wear hearing aids there because it's so loud and if I do, I have to take them out and plug my ears with my fingers on those loud rides!! haha

 

[bumbershoot]

Back in 2007 it was loud. This is nothing new.

During the times that things get quiet around you is when you notice the fake ambient noises. Those just amp it all up.

 

[smartlabelprint]

It's always been loud IMO. You've got the music, crowd noise, ride noise, show noise, etc. But...I never noticed it before we had kids with sensory processing disorder.

The first baby we took was 5 mos and very preemie. Couldn't figure out why couldn't eat.

We took an NYC trip and one of the free guides suggested we get the earphones for the subway. But I don't think we ever managed to find them before our trip. Got them in Amazon. Thankfully we figured it out before we took my oldest to DLR. We use the headphones now. Even the street noise is so loud for kids. Now this is a big reason we take hotel breaks.

My sis said she saw a tiny baby at a concert recently with no ear protection!

 

[hootey]

You are not alone, they turn the volume UP cause too many young people are nearly DEAF. Next time you are at Walgreens or a drug store pick up half-dozen cheap foam EAR-PLUGS. Put them in your main travel bag when you get home. When traveling on business or pleasure, I put a set in my pocket every morning. Work great during DL parades, opening kick-offs at USC or Denver, or taking a nap on the LAX to Atlanta flight. Try it, you might be amazed how often you reach in your pocket for your ear plugs

 

[Shanti]

Going to Disneyland for the first time in November. Been to WDW lots of times and noise never seemed excessive. For vets of both locations, is Disneyland louder than WDW?