Rides to Avoid with Little Mr and Miss

Walt Disney World is so magical for little ones because they BELIEVE. Their joy is pure and simple; they have no doubt they are hugging Mickey or curtseying to a Disney princess. This very innocence that suspends reality and makes Winnie-the-Pooh real to children means that the proverbial monster-under-the bed is real also. In a place where Imagineers bring fantasy worlds to life, there are bound to be some attractions that spook small children.

There are some obvious attractions that should be avoided but there are also less obvious ones. Here’s my list of Walt Disney World attractions that upset some small children.

Magic Kingdom.

The Haunted Mansion. The Haunted Mansion’s 999 haunts may be happy but little kids may instead see ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, and special effects that cause a shiver to run up their spines on this dark ride.

Pirates of the Caribbean. Part of this boat ride takes place in the dark and there are some special effects that may unsettle sensitive children such as a wavy image of Davy Jones appearing on a waterfall and the cannon fire.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures. The name says it all. The Wicked Witch is a prevalent character throughout the ride. The Disney rumor mill is churning out the possibility that a new Snow White attraction will be built as part of the Fantasyland attraction. We’ll have to wait and see.

Stitch’s Great Escape! The shoulder harness that restricts movement and adds to a sense of foreboding is reason enough to skip this ride. The show takes place in the dark during Stitch’s Experiment 626 era; that is, before he is the cuddly alien you grow love at the end of Lilo & Stitch. There is a 40 inch height restriction so only older preschoolers would be able to experience the attraction.

Epcot

Ellen’s Energy Adventure. This approximately 45 minute attraction is a great way to cool off but the darkened theater and realistic looking, sounding, and moving dinosaurs should have parents reconsidering taking small children on this attraction.

Maelstrom. Guests explore the traditions and lore of Norway past on this boat ride. The trolls, giant polar bear, and a close encounter with the precipice of a waterfall may be a bit too intense for small children.

Soarin’. This ride is amazing and the long waits are a testament to its popularity. With a height requirement of 40”, younger preschoolers will not be able to ride this attraction. There is nothing overtly scary about this attraction unless your child has a fear of heights. Soarin’ has a rise of 40 feet and a very realistic sensation of hang-gliding that may be disconcerting to children.

Hollywood Studios

Studio Backlot Tour . This long attraction starts with loud special effects such as gunfire and concludes with a close encounter with an earthquake, explosions, and fire at Catastrophe Canyon that may be too much for young children.

The Great Movie Ride. This attraction takes guests down Hollywood’s memory lane with a look at how movie genres have evolved. A gangster scene with gunfire and a scene from the movie Alien may scare kids.

Sounds Dangerous–Starring Drew Carey. This attraction is open seasonally and may seem like a good place to cool off and rest your weary bones since the wait is typically short. However, most of the show takes place in complete darkness and features sounds that can be unnerving in the dark.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™. This ride has the feeling of free-fall, eerie elements, darkness and the word terror in the attraction name. Let’s get down to it – I’m scared to go on this ride with a 40” height requirement so I have to caution against it for taller preschoolers.

Animal Kingdom

DINOSAUR. I love this ride but my children aren’t ready for it yet. DINOSAUR is a very loud and intense experience. Not only is the ride itself very jerky but the fierce dinosaurs are very realistic.

It’s Tough to be a Bug! My son has a fear of insects so although my husband and I never missed this attraction pre-kids, we now avoid this entertaining show. Fake bees and spiders appear unexpectedly in this 3-D attraction and some little friends make a hasty exit at the conclusion of the show.

The thing with Walt Disney World is that it is a very personal experience. For every ride that is a fan favorite, you’ll find detractors. For every ride that kids love, you’ll find a few that shy away. As parents, we know our children best. If you think the ride may have elements that scare your kids, err on the side of caution and skip it. There’s always next trip.

Related articles

• Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers (2012) for eReaders (chipandco.com)
• What Is ‘The Best Seat In The House’ At Walt Disney World? (chipandco.com)

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