Which rides are scary??

[mickeyluv'r]

A ride being "scary" is so subjective that it is impossible to say what will frighten your particular child. I remember when DS11 was 2, he rode all sorts of rides with no problems and only got scared on one ride, Winnie the Pooh! Go figure!

Honestly, about 95% of the attractions have the potential to be scary to someone depending on what someone is afraid of. Your best bet is to get a book as PP mentioned and check out all the descriptions. Another suggestion is to have someone in your party check it out first and see what they think.

I'd say, 100%. I've honestly heard of 'someone' being scared of practially every ride at WDW here on the DIS. A recent thread even revealed that a good number of adults are afraid to stay at the Boardwalk hotel! Go figure. (A clown face at the pool.) A HOTEL!

By far the best approach in our family has been to give the kids coping strategies over flat out avoiding any rides. If a child REALLY doesn't want to ride something we don't force them, but we always leave the choice up to them -rather than predisposing them to be afraid to try any attraction. We try to strongly encourage them to try everything once, after giving them a quick, honest description of what the attraction has. I'm not being critical, just stating what works best for us. More often than not, they end up not being afraid of what we/they think they will fear. The things that end up concerning them are usually - as the above poster said - things we'd never consider 'scary.'

Also, their likes and dislikes sometimes change dramitcally from one year tothe next. Something that bothers them one trip is of no concern the next. Conversely, something they were previously fine with, concerns them a year later. Simply teaching them to hold a hand or close their eyes can go a long ways. Letting them know that they don't have to do an attraction twice also is quite powerful in reassuring them.

For the most part, the kids in our famly are all FINE with Dinosaur. My adult sister hides her head, but the kids are fine. they may close their eyes, they may ride just once - but each trip they are willing and interesting in riding it at least once.

Last, one thing I feel strongly about. WDW is a great place to challange one's fears and have fun. I've been going to WDW since I was a small child and speak from experience. Before I went on SM, I thought I would hate it. Once I finally went, I loved it. Confronting rides I thought I'd dislike was very empowering for me as a child, and even going on new thrill rides as an adult. I don't love the orange side of M:S, but I was okay with riding it several times. I don't have a strong desire to go back every visit, but I'm so happy I've been on it.

(Actually, of all the attractions I'd consider avoiding with small kids - M:Space orange is one attraction I'd maybe avoid. The green side is fine.)

I also realize that what I said is easier for us, as we've been to WDW many times. If you haven't been then use a tour guide or read online descriptions to get a sense of each attraction to help you and your child decide what's best. No matter what though, I do think it's wise to let the child be a part of decision process.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I had to laugh when you said EE because of Yeti!! I wish it were true - if I even get a glimpse of him these days I consider myself lucky!

Figured if I didn't include it, they'd have that darn thing up and running again.

 

[Brit_Jude]

I'd say, 100%. I've honestly heard of 'someone' being scared of practially every ride at WDW here on the DIS. A recent thread even revealed that a good number of adults are afraid to stay at the Boardwalk hotel! Go figure. (A clown face at the pool.) A HOTEL!

By far the best approach in our family has been to give the kids coping strategies over flat out avoiding any rides. If a child REALLY doesn't want to ride something we don't force them, but we always leave the choice up to them -rather than predisposing them to be afraid to try any attraction. We try to strongly encourage them to try everything once, after giving them a quick, honest description of what the attraction has. I'm not being critical, just stating what works best for us. More often than not, they end up not being afraid of what we/they think they will fear. The things that end up concerning them are usually - as the above poster said - things we'd never consider 'scary.'

Also, their likes and dislikes sometimes change dramitcally from one year tothe next. Something that bothers them one trip is of no concern the next. Conversely, something they were previously fine with, concerns them a year later. Simply teaching them to hold a hand or close their eyes can go a long ways. Letting them know that they don't have to do an attraction twice also is quite powerful in reassuring them.

For the most part, the kids in our famly are all FINE with Dinosaur. My adult sister hides her head, but the kids are fine. they may close their eyes, they may ride just once - but each trip they are willing and interesting in riding it at least once.

Last, one thing I feel strongly about. WDW is a great place to challange one's fears and have fun. I've been going to WDW since I was a small child and speak from experience. Before I went on SM, I thought I would hate it. Once I finally went, I loved it. Confronting rides I thought I'd dislike was very empowering for me as a child, and even going on new thrill rides as an adult. I don't love the orange side of M:S, but I was okay with riding it several times. I don't have a strong desire to go back every visit, but I'm so happy I've been on it.

(Actually, of all the attractions I'd consider avoiding with small kids - M:Space orange is one attraction I'd maybe avoid. The green side is fine.)

I also realize that what I said is easier for us, as we've been to WDW many times. If you haven't been then use a tour guide or read online descriptions to get a sense of each attraction to help you and your child decide what's best. No matter what though, I do think it's wise to let the child be a part of decision process.

 

[IZLove13]

It really depends on the kid. HM isn't very scary (it's my favorite in all of WDW, actually) but it might seem to be if you're six years old. Just remind her that all the ghosts are having fun. I suggest seating your child on the right side of the doom buggy as, in the graveyard scene near the end, there are a few ghosts that jump out at you a little. If I remember right, there are less pop-ups on the right side. I know there's at least one on the right, but there's definitely more on the left. Also, you may wish to ask a CM upon entering if you could skip the stretching room and they will escort you to the loading station.

I would also worry about POTC for some frightening scenes, Peter Pan for the sensation of being up high, Soarin for that same reason, Snow White because of scenes with the witch, Ellen's ride for the dinosaurs, Dinosaur because I've heard it's very loud and jerky, It's Tough to Be a Bug. I was traumatized on Tough to be a Bug when I was around her age.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Oh, my niece at one point when she was very little was alittle scared of the big polar bear on the Norway ride (you are going backwards at that point).She would brave he ride because she loved the big troll in the gift shop (we ddin't tell her about walking in through the exit to see it.)

So I held her in my lap and told her in advance we were going to growl right back at that bear. She was alittle unsure, but when I did it she copied me.

After that, she wanted to ride again! It was instantly one of her favorites! She had conquered her fear!

Another cute story....I've told this before but it's sucha classic. Dh and I were onthe PotC i PAris, which is a bit more intense than WDW's. The grl behind us was expressing concen thrhough the whole ride. As we boarded, her parents had been kind of talking her into riding it.

Near the end, the boats were getting backed up, like they often do on WDW's boat rides. So we were stopped, but you could see the end of the ride. All of a sudden the girl bursts into tears. The parents are saying, "What? What? What is is dear?" "Are you afriad of the skeleton over there?"
"No," says the little girl, "I'm crying because the ride is almost over and I don't want to get off!"

Go figure!

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

I have bungee jumped, skydived, im getting married (now thats scary haha), can do the powerflush toliets, roller coasters, the Drop Zone at Canada's Wonderland any roller coaster you throw at me... but I cant manage to keep my eyes open during dinosaur... that ride scares the beejezus out of me one time i opened my eyes at te wrong time and saw the dinosaur trying to eat me... i have nightmares.

Oh Typhoon lagoon's wavepool scares me too... I have a fear of drowning whereas Ill go in water over my head etc the wave really creeps me out i find it unnerving... and surreal

 

[Rhonna]

Dinosaur because I've heard it's very loud and jerky

For most people it's not the loud and jerky, it's the Dinosaurs that seem SO real and reach out to eat you! The Indiana Jones ride in DL is the exact same type ride of track and vehicles but it doesn't scare me. Dinosaur does. And it's the ONLY disney ride that does! I still go on it though. lol

 

[DISNEYFOS]

We subjected the kids to Its tough to be a bug this last trip only because stupid me forgot what it was like. (last time I was on it was about 12 years ago before children). I was horrified.. I thought it would be cute with a little bit of scary...The whole thing was scary. bug spray, bees, Kids were screaming. My 6 year old wouldn't stop talking about how she's never going on that again...my 3 year old was just stunned. We got thru it..but Geez..talk about tramatic.

 

[gillep]

DH and I just saw it's tough to be a bug this week and it is the only attraction that I have been to that their were multiple screaming crying children throughout almost the entire show!!! Personally I thought it was really cute and don't really understand how some people find the stinger painful (and I bruise if you touch me lightly) but I would absolutly do my research on this before taking a child you think may be frightened. Dinosaur is one of my favorite rides and if it had been around when I was really little I know that my parents would have never gotten me off it as I would have loved it then too. So I agree with others do your research and maybe try some things by yourself to best determine what your little one can handle.

 

[KJay]

I also recommend "The Unofficial Guide"- they've compiled input from tons of families with all different age children, so you should be able to get a good sense of what would/wouldn't be good for your child. The Snow White ride comes to mind- I remember reading in the guide that it was rated extremely scary by kids.