Wishes for a kid afraid of fireworks.

[teacup princess]

Hi. We are a party of seven (4 adults and 3 kids). All REALLY want to see Spectromagic and Wishes except for my 4 y.o. who is afraid of loud noises. How loud are the fireworks? Or where would be the best part of the park to view them so that they can be seen but not heard?

I'm picturing myself chasing him while he runs aimlessly through the park covering up his ears-I'm getting really nervous about the thought of this. I was hoping there would be someplace the others could view while I can take this child indoors and behind plate glass if need be. Any ideas?

 

[senecabeach]

Watch Spectro near the train station...then...exit the park and take the boat over to the Poly and watch the fireworks from the beach !!

 

[Corryn]

I just wouldn't tell him....I'm THAT kinda parent

But seriously, is he in a stroller? Will you be holding him? Maybe you can bring along a set of those headphones, the ones that go directly into your ear like the kind you use with an mp3 player.....but no matter what and even when you think you're far enough away from the fireworks, you still feel the percussion (I love that!).....

The last time we went to MNSSHP and we wanted to watch the fireworks show at the end of the evening, we hung out in Tomorrowland, I think it was the Noodle Station. There's no one around, there are tables and chairs and if he wants to run, it's kinda confined (two ways in and out).

Unless you totally leave the park, you're going to see/hear the fireworks. But why ruin the trip just because of him? Being a family is all about being together and "tolerating" each other - give and take......If you don't learn that as a child, you'll never learn it. I could go into stories, but I won't......If the rest of the party wants to stay and watch, then be firm with the 4 y.o. and tell him to just "suck it up". Maybe he'll learn that the firework shows really aren't going to hurt him and that they aren't that bad.

Good Luck and have fun

 

[Robo]

Hi. We are a party of seven (4 adults and 3 kids). All REALLY want to see Spectromagic and Wishes except for my 4 y.o. who is afraid of loud noises. How loud are the fireworks? Or where would be the best part of the park to view them so that they can be seen but not heard?

Two words...

EAR PLUGS.

(And I'm not kidding!)

You might want to demo them at home before you go, so he'll know how they work and be used to them.
You can buy little foam disposable ear plugs at drug stores, etc.




to the DISboards, teacup princess!!

 

[pxefig]

When we went last year with my 3 yr old who hates any type of loud noises didn't have any issues with them. I think because it's more than just the moise- the fireworks are pretty and sparkly and they go along to music, so it's not just random loud bangs. So I would try. You never know. Sometimes kids can surprise you. I would bring along ear plugs or headphones (you even you have him listen to Wishes on the headset).
Short of leaving the park, there isn't any way of avoiding the noise. If he starts crying...well, I doubt he'd be the first kid to cry at Disney World... Just move him im a Main Street shop or in a restaurant or whatever. Just be sure you have a plan of how to meet up with everyone after the fireworks. The place will be packed.
But most of all, have fun. You'll be at DISNEY WORLD!!!!

 

[GazerBeam]

When I was a kid, I had similar problems. For me it was the startling nature of things, not so much the loud so earplugs wouldn't have helped me much. It wasn't until I could predict when the bang would arrive based on the flash that I could handle fireworks.

Try some desensitization tactics before the big night at the MK if you have time. Watch wishes from var far away, such as near the ferry dock at the TTC or the beach at the poly. If that goes well, you could try it from one of the more remote locations in the MK.

GB

 

[disnut8]

Watch Spectro near the train station...then...exit the park and take the boat over to the Poly and watch the fireworks from the beach !!

That's what I was going to suggest. You really can't hear too much of the fireworks from the Polynesian beach.

Earplugs are also a great idea. I would be a little careful, though. He might want to start wearing them for anything he THINKS will be loud.

Just thought of something - why don't all members of your party "wear" earplugs? He will think everyone is just like him. The others can quietly remove theirs once the show starts. He'll be looking at the fireworks and won't notice.

 

[labattblue]

If the rest of the party wants to stay and watch, then be firm with the 4 y.o. and tell him to just "suck it up".

Great advice!

 

[Snoella]

My daughter cannot handle any loud noises. I am not only worried about the fireworks, but some of the attractions. I have already told her that she will be wearing ear plugs and she seems quite happy about it. I bought her neon pink ones from the drug store, so she loves them.

 

[MomtoGKC]

My kids don't like fireworks because of the noise. We saw some from our balcony at BCV and they even thought that was too loud and made me close the door! Here I am thinking how lucky we got that we can see a few of the Epcot fireworks and they won't let me outside!

For Wishes I did a fireworks cruise thinking they wouldn't be so loud from out on the lagoon. Well, my daughter wasn't afraid because she fell asleep from fright after acidentally seeing Captain Hook on the dock while we waited for our boat. He was on his way from the CR to the pirate cruise and he sort of startled us - not expecting to see him there and he was SO big! She freaked out so terribly that by the time we got on the cruise (which was for her birthday she wouldn't even let us eat the cake I special ordered for the boat) that she just got in my arms and passed out.

After that I didn't even attempt any more fireworks! I think I'm going to try again from the train station this year. That way if anyone freaks out we can sneak out pretty quickly.

 

[Robo]

My daughter cannot handle any loud noises. I am not only worried about the fireworks, but some of the attractions. I have already told her that she will be wearing ear plugs and she seems quite happy about it. I bought her neon pink ones from the drug store, so she loves them.

Yes, there are many louder attactions, parades and shows.

The ear plugs can solve a lot of problems.

 

[sandym718]

My DD was 2 when we went last year and she was scared of fireworks, too. I can highly recommend watching Wishes from the Poly! We stayed there and watched them a few times over the trip. Not loud at all and it helped DD get over her fear, she loves them now!! We didn't catch Spectro (will in 2009!), so I'm not sure of the time between that and Wishes, if you can get over to the Poly in time.

 

[labattblue]

My DD was 2 when we went last year and she was scared of fireworks, too. I can highly recommend watching Wishes from the Poly! We stayed there and watched them a few times over the trip.

You mean you didn't play the entitlement card on your child and tell them to "suck it up" as everyone else in the group wants to watch the fireworks from the MK(as suggested by an earlier poster).

 

[Dan Murphy]

My DD was 2 when we went last year and she was scared of fireworks, too. I can highly recommend watching Wishes from the Poly! We stayed there and watched them a few times over the trip. Not loud at all and it helped DD get over her fear, she loves them now!! We didn't catch Spectro (will in 2009!), so I'm not sure of the time between that and Wishes, if you can get over to the Poly in time.

Good advice I think.

 

[inkkognito]

Your child's reaction sounds like it could be hyperacusis. I had that same reaction as a kid and got smacked around by an unsympathetic parent; she couldn't understand that the noise actually HURT my ears. It's a different pitch for everyone. For me, it's the pitch of fireworks, gun shots and backfiring. The best thing I've found for fireworks is shooters' headphones because they are made to handle that particular pitch.

 

[sandym718]

You mean you didn't play the entitlement card on your child and tell them to "suck it up" as everyone else in the group wants to watch the fireworks from the MK(as suggested by an earlier poster).

LOL, no!! We were on our trip for our kids for the most part. And what kind of enjoyment would anyone get out of Wishes if your child is terrified and screaming???

 

[fan_of_small_world]

Two words...

EAR PLUGS.

(And I'm not kidding!)

You might want to demo them at home before you go, so he'll know how they work and be used to them.

You can buy little foam disposable ear plugs at drug stores, etc.

This is EXCELLENT advice, from someone who has BTDT (been there, done that). My DS finds loud noises like that to be physically painful (I'm like this too, to a lesser extent), and the ear plugs really help.

Also, we happened to catch Wishes just outside of the MK gates one night. It ended up being a perfect place for him. We could see all of the fireworks, but we were just far enough away that the noise didn't bother him. Plus, as an added bonus, as soon as they were over we headed to the bus lines and were one of the first on the bus back to the resort!

Maybe he'll learn that the firework shows really aren't going to hurt him and that they aren't that bad.

Or maybe he'll learn that his parents don't care about his normal-for-his-age fears or the pain that loud noises may cause him (see my comment above - it is real).

 

[Dead-metal]

We bought these for my daughter.

She's partially deaf and hates loud bangs. They cut out a lot of noise.

 

[senecabeach]

You mean you didn't play the entitlement card on your child and tell them to "suck it up" as everyone else in the group wants to watch the fireworks from the MK(as suggested by an earlier poster).

 

[ZeroMyHero]

Buy earplugs, practice using them before you go, and give the fireworks another try. I wouldn't force a terrified child to watch something just because I want to, but I wouldn't automatically assume that just because they were afraid last time, they'll be afraid this time. I have always been sensitive to loud noises and was really afraid of fireworks when I was a small child, and I had to "suck it up" because I had older siblings. I don't hold this against my parents, but I wish they could have been more understanding. Today, those older siblings are licensed pyrotechnicians, so I see and enjoy a *lot* of firework shows in the summer. DD3 enjoys them too as long as she has earplugs, just like me.