What with the Bugs Life Ride?

[kay1864]

I agree, it's not air. It is something in the seat that pushes out. It is rounded on the end and it doesn't hurt but it does surprise you.

When we were there a couple weeks ago, the rounded plastic "stinger" that came out of the back of the seat wasn't used. Only the bugs on the bottom of the seat.

 

[wareagle57]

I think there are rows in the back that do not have the stinger/crawling effects but I could be wrong. I remember not feeling anything when people were screaming a couple years ago, but this year when we did it, it caught me off guard.

 

[minnie mum]

IIRC, there are warning signs for this ride about its potential to frighten small children. I don't know why parents ignore them. Every single time I've been there, parents have had to remove terrified little ones during the show.

 

[flyslyw]

I took my 3.5 year old daughter to this show and it was a huge mistake.

She loved a bugs life. We watched the youtube videos of this attraction so she'd know what to expect. It didn't matter. The show is, frankly, terrifying.

The first half is fine. It's cute little 4d stuff with air/water/smells being shot at you. But even that is "scary" because we saw at least two families leave during the first few minutes before Hopper makes his appearance. So even if it's "cute" it can still cause problems for little kids.

But the tone of the show completely changes when Hopper comes out. Hopper jumps out and talks about "how bugs have been killed by humans for generations and it's time for bugs to get their revenge" or something. then a giant bug-kill spray shows up and the entire theatre is filled with "poison gas". During this time everybody is screaming, then the lights go off and there is more screaming. It's pitch black and the room is full of screams. Hopper is shouting threatening comments throughout this segment. Then the lights come on and directly above your head is a giant spider, probably 2 feet wide. There are giant spiders everywhere hanging from the ceiling, people are screaming, Hopper is yelling, etc. The show literally goes from "it's a small world" to "tower of terror" in one second.

Luckily as soon as Hopper started acting violent I told my daughter to put her fingers in her ears and I covered her eyes and hugged her, so she missed almost all of this. She was also on my lap when the bugs crawled under the seat so she missed that.

Bugs Life is entertaining but I am not going back until my kids are 6 years old at least.

No offense but I feel your horror story is a bit exaggerated. I understand this is not a very popular attraction but you make it sound like something at Halloween Horror Nights.

To the OP, small children do tend to get scared in this show. There is a part where it gets dark (not pitch black) and they fill the room with fog and some large purple spiders will drop from the ceiling and hang above everyone's head for a few seconds before climbing back up (they don't come down and touch you). There is another part where Hopper tells bees to attack and there are small levers in the back of the seats that will come out and slightly poke you in the back. A lot of people don't like this, but keep in mind it's very minimal and doesn't hurt or anything (this is still Disney World).

So yes, there are always some small kids crying because they don't like the noises and the darkness (which is completely understandable) and a few people might scream when the lights dim. But there is also laughter as some people (and kids) find it to be a lot of fun. You never know until you try.

Either way, have a great time!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So something comes out of the seat at you? What exactly happens?

If DD was on my lap and I lean forward I'd avoid this part? DD's terrified of bees

Leaning forward don't help. I move my tush forward for the edge of the seat. I freaked like an irrational toddler the first time we went as I Have a needle phobia and since it was supposed to be a stinger--my brain just went into freak out mode. So I move to the edge of the seat now. My phobia is improved, though not gone--but I have no plans to enjoy the stinger. It is a dull something--but it has been many long years and I don't quite recall what it feels like.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

IIRC, there are warning signs for this ride about its potential to frighten small children. I don't know why parents ignore them. Every single time I've been there, parents have had to remove terrified little ones during the show.

That didn't do me any good with a needle phobia when I went in my late 20s.

But I do agree. I think some parents underestimate "how bad could it be" while underestimating the reaction of their child.

I do enjoy the show. But we don't usually go anymore since we have younger folks. While it isn't a Halloween Horror nights quality scare factor--a 3 or 4yo could be freaked out just the same.

I would have never guessed a Disney attraction could reduce me to tears of a fake stinger.

 

[minnie mum]

I would have never guessed a Disney attraction could reduce me to tears of a fake stinger.

Hey, don't feel bad. TOT had the same effect on me!

 

[sarahmae3]

My 10yr. old son is terrified of bees (and really any flying insect) and so I warned him about this before we went in. I had him sit next to me and hold my hand. But he was totally fine!!! The insects are very cartoon-y so they don't seem real at all. The "sting" doesn't hurt at all, its more like you get 'buzzed'. The ending did surprise me a lot! But it didn't scare my son.

 

[AngiTN]

When we were there a couple weeks ago, the rounded plastic "stinger" that came out of the back of the seat wasn't used. Only the bugs on the bottom of the seat.

Odd. DH and I did it on our trip in early December, after the refurb, and it still had the stinger effect.

 

[emma9630]

We went with our 4yr old son and he was absolutely terrified within 5 minutes, we had to leave with him hysterical. Many more families followed us out. I think one of the insects throws pretend acid which is actually water and that sent him over the edge. I never even knew bees or spiders came out because we were long gone but that would have been even worse LOL He did fine on every other 3D experience but even now 3yrs later will not entertain the idea of going back in there

 

[slusher]

It just takes one kid to start screaming at the bugs crawling down the walls and it sets the whole bunch off, even kids who normally don't have a problem with creepy crawlies.

We have an enjoyment of the screaming kids, it really does add to the scariness of the show.

 

[disnut8]

The OP has it correct. Only she and her husband will know if the attraction will affect their child. No one else on this board will know. And maybe mother and father won't know either until the one person who will know experiences It's Tough to be a Bug and that's the child.

As for me? We took our then five year old granddaughter on the thing and, well, that was eleven years ago and my body might still have bruises on it. Took another grandchild when he was five years old and he wanted to high five the bugs! Took that first grandchild back when she was seven and she said there was no way in heck she was scared the first time.