Warnings for the "scary things" in shows, rides **possible spoilers**

[Sharlag]

My oldest son (age 10) has some anxiety issues, and would benefit from some warnings on the scarier aspects of the rides and shows.

I know the ITTBAB has the spray and the pokey thing in your back, right?

Can you help me with other warnings I should issue to him to help him enjoy his experience more? I'm mostly concerned with sudden, surprising occurences or real-looking attraction aspects that might startle.

Examples might include:
* A dinosaur suddenly approaching you (I've seen that described on a ride but can't remember which),
* Sudden darkness,
* Hills on rides that look really tall but aren't (we won't take him on anything very big)... stuff like that.

Thanks!
Sharla

 

[BevS97]

Ellens energy adventure has dinosaurs, as does the dinosaur ride.

I can't really think of a list of the top of my head, but we usually ask the CM before we enter the ride if there is anything dark or scary and they are great about giving you a briefing. If my dd knows in advance, then she is usually pretty to ride, but she doesn't like surprises.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would check before doing any of the 3-d shows as they often have other "surprises" like sents, air puffs and such.

IIRC the WDW for kids by kids (written by birnbaum?) has GREAT and detailed descriptions of the rides. I remember my neices scouring the book I think it would be perfect for your situation.

The Haunted Mansion has things that pop out by the end but that may not be a good choice anyway.

There may be more information on the disabilities board and there is a disabilities guide that may have the information you need.

Have a great trip.
TJ

 

[lovesdumbo]

The Figment ride in Epcot has a blast of air at the end that is very sudden.

 

[iluvtig2]

(1) The thunder/lightning on the Winnie the Pooh ride.
(2) Will ride Pirates, and likes it, but doesn't like the first scene with cannon ball explosions and splashes next to the boat
(3) Rode Haunted Mansion once, and will not go near it now.
(4) Calls bugs life "the really bad show"
(5) Didn't like Kali - The intense fire and the soaking wet
(6) Didn't like Great Movie Ride

Has not even tried some of the others, like TOT, etc. Sees them and just won't go

Just be prepared to change plans and use the "chicken" exit. We have done this more than once.

iluvtig

 

[cardramblues]

All kids are different, but my 3yrDD loved Haunted Mansion. We took the "look and laugh" approach. Also, bringing a very small key chain flashlight helped with some of the dark rides.

Here's my recommendations on some rides:
MK:
Pooh - Some dark, not much loud noise but there is thunder in once scene, but should be a good choice.
Peter Pan - Most kids love this ride, not a lot of noise and a lot of stimulation flying over london etc.
SW Scary - My wife jumped on this ride. I laughed the rest of the day.
Pirates - Learn the song and sing along "yo ho yo ho...." make it fun. One cannon shot, no biggie.
Mickey's Philharmagic: Great show, but loud. My daughter had no problem (but she didn't wear the glasses;-)
Haunted Mansion: Keep in mind, these are "happy hauntings".

Epcot:
Test Track: Not scary and a lot of fun,,,goes fast but no sudden movements.
MS - Keep walking
Figment's - One "surprise" my DD got a kick out of.

MGM
ToT: Probably not...
RnR: Not even

Don't make a big deal out of the rides before you go on them. Start at Winnie and work your way up. DONT SCREAM! The only time my kids were scared is when my DW screamed...LOL. If noise bothers them, bring some ear plugs.

Let me know if you have questions about specific rides.

HAVE FUN!

 

[Sharlag]

Thanks for your insights.

I might get the book for kids... he's a reader.

Sharla

 

[ahutton]

To add to someone else's note... The Great Movie ride has a section where you go through the ship from Alien. The Alien jumps out of a couple places. One time we were in the front seat next to our hijacker (that would be scary too for many kids) and the Alien came down from the ceiling right on top of us. I'm pretty sure at one point bad language may have come out - it startled the daylights out of me, and others I was with too.

I don't suggest any of the 3D movies for anxious kids, but I've not yet seen Philharmagic, maybe that one is okay?

 

[HopperFan]

My DD (11) hates the AK Bug 3d and EPCOT 3d Honey I shrunk the audience (and she is not afraid often). If your feet are down, it feels like rats are running by and at one point a snake comes out at you (even I close my eyes). I agree the 3d can be intense. Mickey's Phil wasn't scarry to me but the music is very loud. Some kids don't like Snow White - although we think it is bogus and skip anyway.

 

[LisaZoe]

My DD, almost 3, and I just got back yesterday. We didn't go on rides that I knew would be too intense for her - plus she's too short for most anyway. Of the ones we did go on, these are notes on those that your DS might want to know about (ones not mentioned already):

Disney MGM:
Sounds Dangerous - this is mostly in the dark. You hear what is going on but can't see anything (I think the CM told us you're in the dark for about 7 minutes).

Magic Kingdom:
Philharmagic - some water sprays the audience but I don't think there was anything in the show that was frightening.
Pirates of the Caribbean - there is a small "drop" early in the ride that is in the dark. It's not someything that would scare most kids but since it is in the dark and unexpected, itz can be unsettling.

 

[Sharlag]

Thanks, Lisa!

I recognize you from a discussion we had on pin trading!

How was your trip? Did you pin trade? What was it like?

Sharla

 

[LisaZoe]

Our trip was a lot of fun but very tiring! The best advice from these boards was to take an afternoon break. My DD didn't need it as much as I did. The heat and humidity sapped my energy more quickly than I'd expected.

We didn't do any pin trading. With the humidity, I didn't want to wear anything extra - even the lanyard We did buy a couple pins... and my DD had two fall off her lanyard within hours so I bought locking pin backs for next time - probably at Disneyland.

 

[margiemc]

These are things that scared DD:

Tiki Room - Also has dark parts and thunder & lightning. When DD was about 5, she wanted no parts of that.

Little Mermaid show - Ursula was big and noisy. I think this also had the thunder & lightning.

During Spectromagic, the bat from Fantasia (can't remember his name)opens his wings and smoke comes out. She was not happy with that!

My DD is now 7 and still wants no parts of the Tiki Room, Snow White or the Haunted mansion.

 

[kupperman]

Don't go near Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom. That is the ride that has dinosaurs popping out from every direction.

 

[crisi]

There are some other guidebooks about WDW with kids - Birnbaums is for kids and is very good (a lot of it is written by kids), but there are some targeted at parents. I can't remember the one we had, but it was good. I'd really recomend getting a guidebook targets for people with kids, something with detailed ride descriptions - spend an hour at a bookstore and get a good one. You probably won't be able to collect all the information you need here (I would have never remembered the rainstorm in Tiki Birds! By the way, rainstorms happen in the Rainforest Cafe as well, scaring a lot of toddlers - or older children with sensory/anxiety issues) and a guidebook will have it all in one place.

 

[Soupermom]

My DS (7) HATED HISTK and would only go on ITTBAB after my daughter and I screened it and told him what would happen; he will not go on HISTK again, but ITTBAB--yes.