Which MGM show is less scary for little ones?

[DJmommy]

We are trying to decide which show would be best to try first regarding the scare factor for our timid 6 year old son and not to thrilled with loud noises 2 year old daughter:

Lights, Action OR Indiana Jones?

I have seen IJ before but so long ago I don't remember much about it. My son would probably think the car show was cool so we were thinking about trying that one and if either of them have a problem with it we won't even go to the Indiana Jones show.

Let me know which one you think is MILDER? for lack of a better word.

I am not one of these parents who worries about doing EVERY attraction. And I sure don't want to traumatize my kids. This is their FIRST trip to WDW and I want it to be filled with wonderful memories, not scary ones. There will be many more trips to come when they are older and can appreciate some of the other attractions.

Thanks!

 

[goofy's friends]

We opted out of the LMA because we heard that someone catches on fire and I knew my sensitive kids wouldn't get over that!!!! The IJ was OK, but they didn't understand it and kept looking at us to see if all was OK. It is outdated and really not worth the time, we didn't feel. They didn't do the airplane thing, but did have things blowing up and lots of surprises.

 

[DJmommy]

Wow, thanks for telling me about the stunt person catching fire. I really haven't read too much about it, but that could be very scary for the little ones. Maybe we should skip both then?

 

[Rella Bella]

I agree and if they scare easy don't do "A bugs life" at AK or "Stich" at MK... those both totally freaked our son!

 

[Steffy]

If you do Playhouse Disney, Muppets 3d, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, the parade, Millionaire Show and the Walt Disney story that will fill your day and you will have a marvelous time. Especially Playhouse Disney. The little kids REALLY love it.

 

[DJmommy]

Thanks Rella Bella, I had already ruled those both out along with Honey I Shrunk the Audience.

Steffy, that's pretty much what we planned to cover. Really looking forward to the parade as my kids love Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. and oh Mary Poppins. Can't wait to see all the characters. I hope we will be able to catch the Incredibles, too. And even though my son has never seen the Power Rangers, he thinks they're really cool too.

 

[MommytoMJM]

LMA is much less scary than IJSS.....IMHO

ETA:

Yes he catches on fire, but there is a movie about how it is done and he gets up and takes a bow.

and the Incredibles have been movbed to the lobby of the Timekeeper at MK, Chcken Little and Abby Duck are at the animation studio

 

[jeast]

Mermaid, muppets, beauty, PLAYHOUSE DISNEY, parade, power rangers. That will take your whole day, with a 2 and 6 year old.

I just got back with a 5 and 2 yr. old. My DS5 is also rather timid. He LOVED muppet 3d. Laughed like a loon. So did my DD2. Playhouse disney was first in their hearts, though. And fantasmic was a huge hit. A long wait, but they loved the show.

 

[DJmommy]

Hey Jeast,

I've been on the fence about Fantasmic, I have an ADR for the Fantasmic dinner package but I was going to see how the kids fared with Wishes and Illuminations first before deciding whether I need to cancel it. Were your kids scared at all? Did you prepare them for it?

If we did try it ( I would love to as I have never myself seen it ), but we were going to try and sit in the back at the edge of a row and if they were scared just leave. My kids have seen a lot of the Disney movies, with the exception of Snow White as my son has been scared of the "witch" just from reading the story, and both have not been afraid of watching them on TV.

How scary are the special effects? And how would you describe them? Is it really dark? Any info you or anyone else out here could provide would be really appreciated!!!

 

[kareneast]

We are trying to decide which show would be best to try first regarding the scare factor for our timid 6 year old son and not to thrilled with loud noises 2 year old daughter:

For your 2 yr old that is not to thrilled with loud noises; I would suggest that you bring some earplugs or if she doesn't like stuff in her ears, ear muffs, to muffle the loud noises. I've seen a lot of kids at WDW with them on during fireworks, or shows that get loud.

 

[engle]

We just got back. I love every inch of disney. We had 6 kids with us...5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13. All of them and us adults HATED the stunt show at MGM. SOOOOOOOOOOO Boring, unless you're into cars which NONE of us are. Indiana Jones was much more fun and interesting. I thought I would die of boredom at the Lights Motors Action.

 

[ReadingBelle]

I think of those two I would recommend LMA. Indy can be intense, especially with the fighting and the shooting. Most of LMA is just stunt driving, which looks pretty cool from afar. I agree on the ear plugs recommendation; they definitely take the edge off. Or you could bring a walkman or ipod with the kids' favorite music.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

My nephew had issues with loud noises as a kid, but the only ride he couldn't tolerate because of his condition was Honey I shrunk the audience. He was so motivated by the rides, that he wanted to overcome his condition.
I think you should introduce your kids slowly to the rides, and see how they do. Certainly the Bug's Life show can be scary for little ones and adults, but it is really fun too. For either of these rides, you can hold a small child in your lap, and reduce the impact of the show significantly...it also helps if you warn you kids - not saying"this ride is going to be scary," but rather something more upbeat -like, "We're going to learn about spiders on this ride, and get a little wet. Won't that be fun?" There are signs posted which tell you what will be on each ride, and you can always ask a CM, or send one person to preview a ride.

For me, I was always scared of drops...but the best thing for me was to repeatedly go on Pirates when I was little, becasue each time I went on it I was less scared. I was confronting a fear in a safe place. The draw of the ride motivated me to conquer my fear.
WhenI was in Farnce, there was a young girl sitting behind us on the Priates there. She was scared and crying a little the whole time (The Paris ride is more intense then WDW). We felt bad and tried to comfort her a little, since it was obviously their first time on the ride. Near the end there is a skeleton, and the boats were backed up a little, so our boat stopped. The girl really started wailing, and the parents said, "Don't worry the skeleton is only make believe. HE won't hurt you." To which the girl responded, "no it isn't that...I can see the end of the ride. I don't want it to be over already!"

 

[binky503]

We just got back and my girls loved Beauty and the Beast, The Mermaid and had a great time at PLAYHOUSE DISNEY.

 

[ainmama2001]

DJ, if your son is scared of the witch, then Fantasmic may not be a great idea. It's based on villians battling Mickey in a dream. All the villians are highlighted in some way. What I would do is to get the soundtrack and play it for him. If you give him some insight before he goes, he might not be on sensory overload. The sights AND sounds of some of the effects can be a bit much for little ones, especially ones not fond of the villians, IMHO.

 

[DJmommy]

Thanks so much to all for your input and suggestions. I didn't even know there was a soundtrack to Fantasmic. I will check it out. Not sure if we will do the Fantasmic show or not as I will have to make that determination after 4 good days at the park and how the kids do overall with the other rides, shows and fireworks.

I have tried to prepare the kids as much as possible, from memory and from reading guide books and all of your posts and other parents' suggestions, so that this will be a Magical trip for all of us. Need to show DH how much fun WDW can be.