WDW Attractions for the ride phobic, staunchly (think Footloose) religious?

[kvnchapman]

At MK Winnie the Pooh, Jungle Cruise, Peoplemover, Speedway, Dumbo, Mickeys philharmagic, tiki room, Peter Pan maybe (this is elevated), laugh floor

At AK Safari, And the shows here

At Epcot Nemo, living with the land, figment, spaceship earth, Ellen's energy adventure (Dinos ok?), Mexico boat ride

HS do the shows, TSM maybe, muppet vision

Hopefully that will give you a fair amount to do, maybe she will warm up to stuff once you get there!

I agree with all of these suggestions, except Ellen's. She can also enjoy the playgrounds with the boys, character dining, parades and fireworks. Don't forget the boat rides (one in DTD, one in Epcot, Riverboat in MK and the Jungle Cruise), Tom Sawyer Island and Swiss Fam Treehouse. Looking around the grounds, looking for Hidden Mickey's, and pin trading for the kids would be lots of fun and pretty unobjectionable. The Phineas and Ferb adventure in Epcot's WS is lots of fun, too. And the countries are neat to explore.
There is A LOT to do, for all sorts of people.

 

[doug74]

She can also enjoy the playgrounds with the boys, character dining, parades and fireworks

The kids are too big for playgounds (9 year old might still be into it, though).. And we don't have any sit-down restaurants booked (we're QDP)..

There is A LOT to do, for all sorts of people

Agreed, there's been great suggestions so far..

 

[Dixiemom]

Great Movie Ride would be great, just don't let her see the alien (even though it isn't scary).....The train at MK is a favorite of ours just to unwind and relax, plus you get to see a lot of things that you wouldn't get to see normally. I'll bet she'd even like the Tomorrowland Speedway

 

[doug74]

The train at MK is a favorite of ours just to unwind and relax, plus you get to see a lot of things that you wouldn't get to see normally. I'll bet she'd even like the Tomorrowland Speedway

Just looking at those now, as it happens..

 

[KellyNY]

How about wizards game at MK. I know wizards, spells are out but technically it is more magic, like magic of Disney and not magic like in HP spells. If she would do it she could spend a lot of time playing while you ride. It is free and interactive and you can pick cards and let her decide how she feels about it.

 

[doug74]

wizards game at MK

I've never heard of it.. Googling now..

 

[kvnchapman]

The kids are too big for playgounds (9 year old might still be into it, though).. And we don't have any sit-down restaurants booked (we're QDP)..



Agreed, there's been great suggestions so far..

Take a look at youtube vids of the playgrounds: Honey I Shrunk the Kids and The Boneyard. They are pretty cool. I have 5 boys, ranging from toddler to just turned 13, and even the older ones like to hang there a little bit. Are you staying onsite? Is so, it opens up transporatation options and possible pools, depending on resort...

 

[doug74]

Are you staying onsite? Is so, it opens up transporatation options and possible pools, depending on resort...

Yes, Pop Century.

 

[mousermerf]

Just a note..

I used to work at the Universe of Energy. It's a ride/show hybrid hosted by Ellen Degeneres (very publicly a lesbian) and depicts the big bang theory and also has Bill Nye the Science Guy (who is prominent in the news for his comments against the belief of creationism recently.)

Working there I had people walk out of the pre-show angrily and say "How can you show this to children! It's a family park!" and once on the ride portion - where you're seated in a traveling theater with 500 other people - had someone stand up and begin shouting "It's LIES! All LIES and God will never forgive you!!!" during the middle of the big-bang sequence.

So just keep that in mind..

And on a similar note, Amish, Mennonites, and other "strongly religious" people often go to Walt Disney World. You work there long enough you start to notice the people who umm.. don't dress like everyone else, or lack of a better explanation. Strike up a conversation and you learn that they go because they want to learn about how the outside world views things. Sort of the same as going to Buddhist Temple while on vacation in Asia for most of us. They see it like a cultural museum. Understanding another viewpoint doesn't mean you have to agree with it.

 

[fla4fun]

I would have to go with having her review some attractions in advance on You Tube to see if she would be frightened, interested or offended. But as many posters have said, it's simple enough for her to do some shopping or resting if you and the sons want to experience more thrilling rides. I'm not a thrill ride fan either, and I have no problem doing a little shopping or people watching while others ride the coasters. I do enjoy the live shows, the parades, the fireworks shows, etc., and at Epcot you can spend a large part of your day with shows and shopping.

Sometimes we can work something up in our minds that is much different than the actual reality - especially when it comes to theme parks. It's so much easier these days to put any fears to rest before arriving at the parks than it used to be. You might imagine that a ride would be over the top scary only to find that it's a lot milder than you thought. Or sometimes it's all about your placement in the ride. I can handle BTMRR if I sit in the front row because it's not as fast and jerky - but I can't stand riding in the back of the train at all. For people with milder cases of "height fright", the back row of Soarin might be fine, while the front row that goes up the highest would be bad. Often, these less thrilling seats are easier to get because people are clamoring for the seats with the greatest thrill.

I hope your compromises allow all your family to have a great trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

Regarding Pele, they brought back the old, original Tiki Room and I don't recall seeing Pele when we went there a couple of weeks ago. Wasn't she part of the Iago/Zazu version that has been retired from WDW?

You are correct.
Pele is no longer there. But, there are wooden Tiki gods that chant and pound drums.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Would the whole idea of "wishing on a star" to make your dreams come true, as opposed to "praying to God" for intervention cause concern? If so I would avoid Wishes too.

I don't think she would like the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game, since you are basically casting spells to defeat villains.

Do you know if she is OK with the Narnia books (a lot of religious people don't have a problem with them, but I'm not sure about JW)? If so than she can take some fantasy, and would probably be OK with many of the rides, but if she would take offense at any force at work that isn't God's hand (things like pixie dust,magical transformations, stars making your dreams come true) than you might run into some trouble.

 

[Glennie5]

I hope you don't mind me asking but did she become a Jehovah's Witness before or after you met?
As to the cell phone and walkie talkie stuff we are Canadian and we used to use the walkie talkies at Disney and had no problems with them. A few years ago we bought cheap cell phones from a Walmart in Syracuse. They are much easier to use as they are pay as you go so friends and family can call or text from Canada while we are there and we don't have any roaming charges. We just pack them away when we get home untill our next Disney trip.

 

[ariane37]

I think all the ride suggestions have been made, I just want to add that Downtown Disney would probably be a good way to spend a day if you find that the parks don't work as well as you're hoping. So many different shops, surely something to please everyone! Also want to add that I sincerely hope you and your family have a fantastic trip

 

[Lilliputian]

We're a very conservative family. Because of our views, we avoid the Haunted Mansion and the sorcerer's game in MK.

There are several rides that say a few things that we don't agree with, but we go on them. We discuss with our children our beliefs about how old the earth is and how it all started after we ride Spaceship Earth and Universe of Energy. We enjoy enough of the content of those rides that it outweighs the stuff that does make us roll our eyes.

We don't really mind the "magic" when it seems to be more accurately described as imagination. We like imagination. Even Fantasmic mentions that it's Mickey's imagination running away from him or a bad dream or something that causes all of the bad stuff. (I just saw it a few days ago, but I can't remember for sure.) There are some images on that one that I'd rather my kids not see, but they aren't super clear because they're projected on the water walls, and it's just a tiny part of an otherwise very good show.

We also don't particularly care for all of the dance parties and a lot of the daytime shows and parades. Some are perfectly fine, but others involve very loud music that isn't our style and people dancing in ways we just don't do. Those are easy enough to avoid, though. When we come across one while walking around, we just keep walking.

 

[SaraJayne]

I think all the ride suggestions have been made, I just want to add that Downtown Disney would probably be a good way to spend a day if you find that the parks don't work as well as you're hoping. So many different shops, surely something to please everyone! Also want to add that I sincerely hope you and your family have a fantastic trip

Well, unless a dragon made of Legos would offend her.

 

[doug74]

So just keep that in mind..

Wow.. Ok, noted! Pretty sure she's not that bad, though..

I hope your compromises allow all your family to have a great trip!

Thanks, me too!

I was describing 'Soaring' to her just now, and she was sounding game, so that's something.. Might change when we get there, but..

Would the whole idea of "wishing on a star" to make your dreams come true, as opposed to "praying to God" for intervention cause concern? If so I would avoid Wishes too.

LOL No, she's not THAT bad, people..

if she would take offense at any force at work that isn't God's hand (things like pixie dust,magical transformations, stars making your dreams come true) than you might run into some trouble.

Ditto.. She's more 'Footloose' than 'Carrie'..

I hope you don't mind me asking but did she become a Jehovah's Witness before or after you met?

After.. She still has hope for me, poor thing.. LOL

As to the cell phone and walkie talkie stuff we are Canadian and we used to use the walkie talkies at Disney and had no problems with them.

What brand were they, do you know?

I'll phone my travel agent (Small World) and ask how much bother it would be to get pre-paid throwaway cell phones shipped to our resort..

I just want to add that Downtown Disney would probably be a good way to spend a day if you find that the parks don't work as well as you're hoping

We only have 2 non park days, unfortunately (kids have school, I have work).. And DTD is going to be one of them.. Universal is the other, possibly..

We enjoy enough of the content of those rides that it outweighs the stuff that does make us roll our eyes.

She's most likely going to be the same way.. As long as it's not out-and-out occult stuff (witches, spells, ghosts)..

 

[kandb]

You seem like a great dad, and I understand the situation you are in with your wife's beliefs, but I would have a talk with her and tell her not to make your sons feel guilty if they want to have fun and ride some rides. I don't think your son's should be put on a guilt trip by your wife, if they want to ride the pirates ride or haunted mansion, etc. Good luck, it seems like a little bit of a hard situation to be in.

 

[KellyNY]

We only have 2 non park days, unfortunately (kids have school, I have work).. And DTD is going to be one of them.. Universal is the other, possibly..

I do not think Universal is a good idea, HP, aliens, terminator and lots of roller coasters. Maybe SeaWorld, nothing supernatural about that.

 

[stindall]

You seem like a great dad, and I understand the situation you are in with your wife's beliefs, but I would have a talk with her and tell her not to make your sons feel guilty if they want to have fun and ride some rides. I don't think your son's should be put on a guilt trip by your wife, if they want to ride the pirates ride or haunted mansion, etc. Good luck, it seems like a little bit of a hard situation to be in.