Wuzzle Part of Pooh Ride - Scary???

[Wendybird55]

I haven't been on many of the Fantasyland rides in a long time as they usually have the longest wait and I figure to leave them to the kiddies. I tend to only ride them when the lines are empty or during a late night park event.

Anyway, this trip I plan to hit most, if not all, of Fantasyland because I will be with my almost 2yo son! I was looking at the Pooh ride on YouTube the other day and forgot all about the Wuzzle section. It looked kinda dark and scary to me for a 2yo).

We've taken DS to amusement parks this summer and he loves the carosuel and spinny rides like the tea cups and flying rides like dumbo. He even went on a small log floom and loved it. (He wasn't too crazy about a small rollercoater we went on so I'm thinking twice about Barnstormer).

Anyway, he's never been on a "dark type" of inside Disney ride. I was thinking Pooh would be great as he knows all the characters - now I'm not sure.

Anyone with POOH experience with a little one? Did the wuzzle section scare any of your kids? I may take him on it, but I wouldn't want it to be one of his first rides if it can be scary. Id' rather not have him get scared the first time out and ruin it for other rides.

Thanks

 

[ireland_nicole]

My kids are kind of "scaredy cats" LOL so here's what I did for DS and DD; we watched the video together, and I sang the music with them. THen, when we were in the ride, as soon as the song same on, I started singing with it, and saying "yeah, my favorite" and making comments every so often like, look at the cute heffalump, awww...ykwim. Anyway, it worked a treat. I think if we're really positive about an experience, it can influence our kids a bit. This year we need a new challenge, I'm thinking HM

 

[xDressedinlove]

My kids are kind of "scaredy cats" LOL so here's what I did for DS and DD; we watched the video together, and I sang the music with them. THen, when we were in the ride, as soon as the song same on, I started singing with it, and saying "yeah, my favorite" and making comments every so often like, look at the cute heffalump, awww...ykwim. Anyway, it worked a treat. I think if we're really positive about an experience, it can influence our kids a bit. This year we need a new challenge, I'm thinking HM

That sounds like something I'd do for my brother


To be honest, it scares me [and I'm 20] but I'm terrified of the dark and animatronics

 

[MissMagnolia]

My children have been going to WDW since before they were one and they have never been frightened in Pooh (and my now 8 yr. old DS is very hesitant in rides). It is more bright neon hephalumps and woozles on black walls.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I don't find it scary at all, DD rode it at 3 and had no issues whatsoever.

 

[dudelydude]

I took my DN6 a few years ago and she was scared and cried. I was un-prepared for it. I love the idea of watching the video ahead of time and singing when you get to the scary part of the ride. Great idea.

 

[kenny]

I think it depends on your child. maybe start with IASW and Peter Pan.

We took my dd at 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. At 2 1/2 we tried Pooh and it scared her. Now given she did not know the characters much (had seen pooh but was not in to him yet) and the ride did break down in the rain part (she is scared of thunder). Also she was not too fond of the bouncing honey pot in the Tigger section.

At 3 1/2 she refused to ride Pooh because she remembered it from the last time. She did however ride, Snow White, Pirates and Haunted Mansion several times each, so go figure.

We are going back this year, she'll be 4 1/2 and LOVES Pooh now and she does want ride it this time.

It is kind of freaky so I would see how he does on some other "dark" rides first. Maybe show him the video on YouTube first. Good Luck

 

[Rora]

My kids are kind of "scaredy cats" LOL so here's what I did for DS and DD; we watched the video together, and I sang the music with them. THen, when we were in the ride, as soon as the song same on, I started singing with it, and saying "yeah, my favorite" and making comments every so often like, look at the cute heffalump, awww...ykwim. Anyway, it worked a treat. I think if we're really positive about an experience, it can influence our kids a bit. This year we need a new challenge, I'm thinking HM

This is a great idea! Children imitate what they see. If you act really excited about the woozles and heffalumps then I think your child won't be as scared.

I do not like this part of the ride and I am 22 years old. It's very circus-y in my opinion and I hate the circus. Pooh is my favorite ride in Fantasyland but I get a little antsy during this part .

Again, if you seem excited when your child is riding it with you, I don't think there should be a problem. Before hand, talk about how much fun it's going to be and how much you like the Heffalumps and Woozles.

Good luck!

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks for the input.
Whenever we take DS on a ride or do something new with him DH and I always make it seem fun and happy. I think that's what got him thru the small rollercoaster we went on this weekend. I looked at his face and I thought he was oging to cry, but I kept laughing and going "weeee" and such and he got thru it OK. he didn't cry or scream, but he didn't laugh as he did on other rides.

I think we'll start with Peter Pan and IASW then work up to Pooh. He knows and loves all the Pooh characters and I think that will help. At his age I don't think the themes or characters will scare him (like the witch in SW or ghosts in haunted mansion) because he doesn't really know what they are -I think more likely sudden loud noises or suddenly going from light to dark - abrupt changes in the environment might startle him more.

He's a bit of a daredevil and likes to have fun, so I'm sure he will have fun on the rides. I guess I just need to re-familiarize myself with the fantasyland rides so I know when to be "cheery" for him on the ride. Thank goodness for Youtube. I've been searching the rides I haven't been on in awhile - I'm looking forward to enjoying Fanstayland with my son - I don't think in the amost 20 times I've been to WDW that I've ever been on Dumbo! Now I will go with my son!

 

[SammieG]

pooh isnt scary at all...peter pan is far more scary imho (and thats not very scary at all.. but its very dark)
the hefalumps bit is good fun.. not dark at all.. brightly coloured and cute with the happy hefalumps and woozles song

 

[shoppgirl]

I thought what could be so scary about Pooh? We love Pooh in this household. I took my 4 year old on this ride.......she cried hysterically throughout the entire ride. The first part of the ride is fun (Tigger bouncing), but then when we get to the dream sequence it freaked out my daughter. AND it WAS DARK!!!!!! My girls are afraid of the dark and still sleep with night lights. Same with Peter Pan....it got REALLY dark...pitch black in there. It was not scary motion wise, it was the darkness that freaked out the girls.

 

[Inda]

The heffalumps and woozles portion of the ride really freaks me out. My 2 yo DS thinks it's fine .

 

[ireland_nicole]

O.K., I'm giving out all my super secret soon to be patented sure fire anxiety busters here but I'll give ya one more. On the dark rides, (and queues); I find the smallest maglight or other penlight to be indispensible. Now, do not point it at walls, other people, etc. (it will negatively impact their experience), but you might be amazed at how much it will sooth a child to be able to hold a penlight at the floor in front of them (probably due to a combination of control, distraction, and the security of a light).

O.K., I'm done now

 

[wendyinaustin]

O.K., I'm giving out all my super secret soon to be patented sure fire anxiety busters here but I'll give ya one more. On the dark rides, (and queues); I find the smallest maglight or other penlight to be indispensible. Now, do not point it at walls, other people, etc. (it will negatively impact their experience), but you might be amazed at how much it will sooth a child to be able to hold a penlight at the floor in front of them (probably due to a combination of control, distraction, and the security of a light).

O.K., I'm done now

That is a GREAT idea fellow Austinite! My 2.8 DD watched the Pooh ride on youtube and the woozle part freaked her out. We'll give your idea of watching it another try before we go and then I'll bring a little light with us. She went on the ride last summer without any problems but little kids' fears change so quickly. We won't make her go on it, of course. We thought she would be able to handle the characters this trip but she freaked out at Chuck E Cheese the other day when he came out.

 

[ireland_nicole]

That is a GREAT idea fellow Austinite! My 2.8 DD watched the Pooh ride on youtube and the woozle part freaked her out. We'll give your idea of watching it another try before we go and then I'll bring a little light with us. She went on the ride last summer without any problems but little kids' fears change so quickly. We won't make her go on it, of course. We thought she would be able to handle the characters this trip but she freaked out at Chuck E Cheese the other day when he came out.

Hey, that "rat" freaks me out, too- I took my kids once and he came up behind me and, well, I haven't been back yet

 

[wendyinaustin]

Hey, that "rat" freaks me out, too- I took my kids once and he came up behind me and, well, I haven't been back yet

Yeah, this one was pretty creepy too!

 

[dudelydude]

I took my DN6 a few years ago and she was scared and cried. I was un-prepared for it. I love the idea of watching the video ahead of time and singing when you get to the scary part of the ride. Great idea.

Whoops...I am so sorry. It wasn't the Pooh ride that scared her....it was Peter Pan...how could I goof that up? I guess I somehow flipped it in my mind. Anyway, if people are advising you that this could be scarey and have good advice to prevent that, use it. It will make your day go so much better.