I recently wrote about some attractions at Disney World that are great for toddlers. The idea was sparked by a memory of my 2½ year old son flipping out during Mickey’s Philharmagic. Who know that would scare him?! I was really surprised by how many of the attractions that I didn’t think would scare him, really did! If you’re planning a trip, here is a list of attractions that you may want to think about twice before attempting with a little one. (Keep in mind; I’m not listing any obvious attractions like roller coaster style rides.)
Magic Kingdom
Mickey’s Philharmagic – Even though it’s in Fantasyland, this 4D movie (thank you Disney for that cool invention) has loud music, moments in the dark and water that squirts on you during the movie. Not great for a little one.
Peter Pan’s Flight – Now, this is a very slow and very tame ride, but portions are in the dark, so you may want to avoid it if your little one is afraid of the dark. We had no problems with my 2 ½ year old, but it’s worth giving a second thought.
Animal Kingdom
It’s Tough to Be a Bug – Disney does a pretty good job of warning people about this attraction before they enter with toddlers and I have to agree. It’s another 4D movie with water squirts and a few funny for adults (but scary for kids) moments towards the end.
Primeval Whirl – This fairly tame roller coaster may be the perfect introduction to your child to roller coasters, but it’s still pretty fast and may scare little ones. There is a height restriction though which stops any child shorter than 48” from riding.
Hollywood Studios
Studio Backlot Tour – My 4 year old panicked after the first explosion at the beginning of this attraction. We didn’t make it past the outdoor area that shows the special effects during a movie. Who knows what would have happened if we’d actually made it onto the tram.
EPCOT
Journey into Imagination with Figment – This is a slow moving ride through the Imagination Institute with one of my favorite characters, Figment. It’s got bright colors, fun music and times of complete darkness and others when air is blown into your face. It’s not too scary, but it may startle a little one.
Maelstrom – This is considered a family friendly attraction in Norway, but there is a decent size drop during the ride that may scare children.
So, there are plenty of attractions to consider before jumping on with a toddler. I’m not suggesting you avoid them completely because your child may love them! And, keep in mind that Disney does a good job of restricting access to scarier attractions with height restrictions and warning signs outside before you enter.
What do you think? Anything you feel you have to avoid when traveling with a toddler?
Amy
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