What rides might be scary for kids

[lily2521]

I know this can vary from child to child, but I'm just wondering overall, what might or has been scary for your kids?

I'm putting together our touring plans, and we're definitely avoiding these with our DD (6):

Dinosaur
ITTBAB
Great Movie Ride

I'm wondering if I need to add any 'rides to avoid' to our list. I know some kids might be scared of different things (heights/fake Dinosaurs/speed/roller coasters, etc.), and I'm sure age makes a difference too, so I'm just wondering overall what your experience has been.

 

[Robo]

I know this can vary from child to child, but I'm just wondering overall, what might or has been scary for your kids?

I'm putting together our touring plans, and we're definitely avoiding these with our DD (6):

Dinosaur
ITTBAB
Great Movie Ride

I'm wondering if I need to add any 'rides to avoid' to our list. I know some kids might be scared of different things (heights/fake Dinosaurs/speed/roller coasters, etc.), and I'm sure age makes a difference too, so I'm just wondering overall what your experience has been.

Stitch's Great Escape

And, to a lesser degree:
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
Small sections (loud chanting tiki masks and storm) of the Tiki Room

 

[MainMom]

Haunted Mansion-My son didn't like it at 6, my daughter loved it at 6.

 

[GovieMom]

When our DD was that age, turned out she was scared of Haunted Mansion. DH talked her through it though, which helped. She also wouldn't go on any coaster-type rides.

 

[3Gsandme]

My scaredy cat didn't care about the Great Movie Ride. She was just bored. She HATED Haunted Mansion and cried during Journey into Imagination. We didn't even try Pirates with her because it's dark and I figured she'd hate it. My 8 year old (7 at the time) didn't like Haunted Mansion either. We didn't try either of the two little girls on Stitch. I think we'd have had a mutiny. We didn't do Animal Kingdom, but I would have skipped both of the attractions you listed.

On Haunted Mansion, we just encouraged little dd to tuck into our side and close her eyes. She made it through and then we 86'ed all dark rides. Otherwise, she's fearless and rode every thrill ride she was tall enough to get on.

 

[clambert1273]

My 7yo DD... well she is an odd one... LOVED stitch and kept wanting to do it over which we said no because it was lame lol She said her favorite was 7DMT and she even rode Expedition Everest. She said it was fun but scary and wouldn't do it again LOLOL She also liked Big Thunder Mountain... so as you can see - she is odd. She also loves Pirates. She also rode Dinosaur and thought that was pretty cool and really liked Primeval Whirl *shrug*

We had to convince her to go on Haunted Mansion but once on it -she was fine. She absolutely REFUSED to ride Tower of Terror or Rockin' Rollercoaster. She wouldn't ride Space Mountain either.

 

[lily2521]

When our DD was that age, turned out she was scared of Haunted Mansion. DH talked her through it though, which helped. She also wouldn't go on any coaster-type rides.

My scaredy cat didn't care about the Great Movie Ride. She was just bored. She HATED Haunted Mansion and cried during Journey into Imagination. We didn't even try Pirates with her because it's dark and I figured she'd hate it. My 8 year old (7 at the time) didn't like Haunted Mansion either. We didn't try either of the two little girls on Stitch. I think we'd have had a mutiny. We didn't do Animal Kingdom, but I would have skipped both of the attractions you listed.

On Haunted Mansion, we just encouraged little dd to tuck into our side and close her eyes. She made it through and then we 86'ed all dark rides. Otherwise, she's fearless and rode every thrill ride she was tall enough to get on.

DD loves coasters, she won't be tall enough for the bigger ones at WDW, so that's not something we have to consider.

Pirates will be closed while we're there, otherwise that one would be on my list too!

For the haunted mansion, I'm going to show her a YouTube clip before we travel and decide from there, that one is on my maybe list.

I watched a clip the GMR and I think DD would be scared of the shooting, and the alien part

I thought Stitch looked kind of dumb, so we're skipping it

 

[lily2521]

My 7yo DD... well she is an odd one... LOVED stitch and kept wanting to do it over which we said no because it was lame lol She said her favorite was 7DMT and she even rode Expedition Everest. She said it was fun but scary and wouldn't do it again LOLOL She also liked Big Thunder Mountain... so as you can see - she is odd. She also loves Pirates. She also rode Dinosaur and thought that was pretty cool and really liked Primeval Whirl *shrug*

We had to convince her to go on Haunted Mansion but once on it -she was fine. She absolutely REFUSED to ride Tower of Terror or Rockin' Rollercoaster. She wouldn't ride Space Mountain either.

Yeah, RnR, EE, Primeval Whirl and Space Mountain are all out for us based on height.

I'm sure she'll love 7D and Big Thunder Mountain though.

 

[clambert1273]

Sadly she is tall enough for everything - some things we just cannot convince her to try. I am one of those that won't force the issue but do try and teach her to TRY things even if they seem scary because how will you ever know if you like it

That is how we got her on Everest. She was BAWLING when climbed on it but the minute it started backwards she was a giggling fool lol I asked her "so will ride that again when we come back" and the answer was a resounding.. NO lol but I made the point to tell her that she TRIED it and it wasn't her thing and that is OK

 

[canadiandisneynut]

I would avoid space mountain and Dinosaur

 

[philschrek]

Ours were all fine on Dinosaur at 5 and up. My 5 year old wouldn't ride Tower of Terror last year and my nephew hated Haunted Mansion when he rode it at 5 and this year he finally says he'll go again at almost 11 lol. My 5 year old was a little spooked before Haunted Mansion but enjoyed it. Pirates - the only time we've ever had a problem was last year with my 3 year old. When the cannon splashed water on us he freaked and suddenly thought it was all real lol. The older kids weren't bothered at all.

Great Movie Ride we avoid but mostly because it's kind of boring. If she's 40", my kids all loved Splash Mt at 5. I still haven't worked up the nerve to go on it lol. Big Thunder Mt is another 40" - my nephew at 5 told me it 'almost gave me a heart attack' but he liked it. My oldest at 5 loved it and can't wait to go again this year.

 

[clambert1273]

Oh splash ... forgot that one - mine loves it. My best pics come from that ride with her lol

 

[lily2521]

Great Movie Ride we avoid but mostly because it's kind of boring. If she's 40", my kids all loved Splash Mt at 5. I still haven't worked up the nerve to go on it lol. Big Thunder Mt is another 40" - my nephew at 5 told me it 'almost gave me a heart attack' but he liked it. My oldest at 5 loved it and can't wait to go again this year.

I'm not sure about ToT, for both DD and myself, that one is the only one I find to look scary for myself!

7D, Big Thunder, and Splash Mountain - I'm sure DD will love all of those!

 

[lmcarr49]

My daughter didn't have a problem with the Great Movie Ride. She was 1 1/2 at the time.

 

[UnderTheRialto]

ToT
EE (yeti)
BTMRR (bats)
Fantasmic! (Villains)
Anything Little Mermaid (Ursula)

FWIW my 3yo loves Space Mountain and isn't scared a bit. He is scared by "monsters" (not Mike and Sulley) and"witches", not speed or darkness.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

Dinosaur!

I hated that even as an 18 year old. haha

 

[Betty Rohrer]

just to show that every child is different grandson who was 4 at the time just made height for TOT. TOT turned out to be his favorite ride, rode many times. but he hated Haunted Mansion it was to boring for him

 

[DaniMoon]

Every child is different. My son had just turned 5 when we went and the weirdest things would freak him out. He panicked in Spaceship Earth. We are planning our next trip and he has already said a BIG NO to Dinosaur. It's the only ride right now he won't go on again. It's hard, he was afraid to try Haunted Mansion, but went on Tower of Terror. This time, we are going through the list of rides and if he's not sure, we watch it on YouTube, it has been a big help. He doesn't like surprises, so seeing it beforehand helps.

Also, I wish I would have thought to bring ear protection for him, even tame rides that were loud bothered him.

 

[kimieko]

My 5 yo nephew loved everything, except The Haunted Mansion. He screamed bloody murder and was honestly terrified when the ceiling started to stretch. After that he was better, but hated us for taking him on it. He loved Splash Mountain, BTMR, Stitch... He didnt try ToT and was too small for RR & Space Mountain but did pretty much everything else. It all depends on the kid. I though the would LOVE The Haunted Mansion and be terrified of Splash Mountain and BTMR so go figure. At that age, mood has a lot to do with it too.

 

[DiscoYeti]

I'm still terrified of ITTBAB as an adult.
Never again. Never.