Is Fantasmic scary for young children?

[mindflipper]

The Disneyland version is much more frightening than the DHS version. At DHS, you are farther away from the action which may help psychologically. For one thing, you don't get the loud BOOM of Captain Hook's pirate ship (Columbia) like you do at DL. I always remember kids starting to cry after that noise.

But the BOOM from Governor Ratcliffe's group at MGM is also extremely loud. I've heard it many times while in Epcot! Only reason I don't jump anymore is because I plug my ears and know it's coming.

I still prefer the DLR's battle of Peter Pan vs. Captain Hook in that part of Fantasmic over the Pocahantas sequence at MGM/DHS.

[MadEye]

The Disneyland version is much more frightening than the DHS version. At DHS, you are farther away from the action which may help psychologically. For one thing, you don't get the loud BOOM of Captain Hook's pirate ship (Columbia) like you do at DL. I always remember kids starting to cry after that noise.

But the BOOM from Governor Ratcliffe's group at MGM is also extremely loud. I've heard it many times while in Epcot! Only reason I don't jump anymore is because I plug my ears and know it's coming.

I still prefer the DLR's battle of Peter Pan vs. Captain Hook in that part of Fantasmic over the Pocahantas sequence at MGM/DHS.

I'm still biased as I've never seen the DL version... yet.

[mindflipper]

I still prefer the DLR's battle of Peter Pan vs. Captain Hook in that part of Fantasmic over the Pocahantas sequence at MGM/DHS.

I'm still biased as I've never seen the DL version... yet.

Having seen DL's first, I felt underwhelmed when I saw MGM/DHS's version. And DL has been some upgrades recently into theirs (even though the new dragon has had a bit of "performance issues").

[Amy]

I still prefer the DLR's battle of Peter Pan vs. Captain Hook in that part of Fantasmic over the Pocahantas sequence at MGM/DHS.

I'm still biased as I've never seen the DL version... yet.

Having seen DL's first, I felt underwhelmed when I saw MGM/DHS's version. And DL has been some upgrades recently into theirs (even though the new dragon has had a bit of "performance issues").

Well, I haven't seen Murphy in the DL version yet, but I think the dragon in WDW's version is pretty darned impressive!

[mindflipper]

MGM/DHS Fantasmic Dragon is version 1.0, while DLR Fantasmic Dragon (a.k.a. "Murphy") is version 2.0; DLR has the "upgraded" version...when it works.

[Amy]

MGM/DHS Fantasmic Dragon is version 1.0, while DLR Fantasmic Dragon (a.k.a. "Murphy") is version 2.0; DLR has the "upgraded" version...when it works.

But isn't DLR Fantasmic Dragon 2.0 so much smaller than the DHS version? What makes the newer version better...when it is working that is

[mindflipper]

In the YouTube videos DLR Fantasmic dragon doesn't look that small. Dragon 1.0 isn't as large as you think. It's the typical "looks can be deceiving" thing for which Disney is famous.

[Brian845]

This is along the same lines as my original question. Is the Great Move Ride too scary for young children? I'm concerned about the Aliens part in particular...I know they would have given *me* nightmares as a young child!

[theBIGyowski]

This is along the same lines as my original question. Is the Great Move Ride too scary for young children? I'm concerned about the Aliens part in particular...I know they would have given *me* nightmares as a young child!

I know that only some of the guests in the cars actually see the Alien...the rest is just suspense. I can see how that would be scary for a child, but thankfully it is only one small part and is quickly followed by Raiders of the Lost Ark and our trusty CM defeating the gangster/outlaw.

[mindflipper]

This is along the same lines as my original question. Is the Great Move Ride too scary for young children? I'm concerned about the Aliens part in particular...I know they would have given *me* nightmares as a young child!

I know that only some of the guests in the cars actually see the Alien...the rest is just suspense. I can see how that would be scary for a child, but thankfully it is only one small part and is quickly followed by Raiders of the Lost Ark and our trusty CM defeating the gangster/outlaw.

I remember when the ride first opened the Aliens used to come out more at you than they do now; it seems like all they do now is just light up and stir briefly. I think they toned it down some time ago to make it less frightening.

[Amy]

This is along the same lines as my original question. Is the Great Move Ride too scary for young children? I'm concerned about the Aliens part in particular...I know they would have given *me* nightmares as a young child!

I know that only some of the guests in the cars actually see the Alien...the rest is just suspense. I can see how that would be scary for a child, but thankfully it is only one small part and is quickly followed by Raiders of the Lost Ark and our trusty CM defeating the gangster/outlaw.

I remember when the ride first opened the Aliens used to come out more at you than they do now; it seems like all they do now is just light up and stir briefly. I think they toned it down some time ago to make it less frightening.

I agree. I don't know that it would be too terrifying for the kids, especially if you forewarned them.

[momeja]

Speaking as a mom, I think TGMR is such a strange ride. The alien is very scary - music, strobe effects, darkness - but you have to get through it to get to the Wizard of Oz, which is just about the best little kids' moment at DHS. For the first few years, I just made sure Adi closed her eyes through that room. It was either that or skip the Wizard.

[Amy]

Speaking as a mom, I think TGMR is such a strange ride. The alien is very scary - music, strobe effects, darkness - but you have to get through it to get to the Wizard of Oz, which is just about the best little kids' moment at DHS. For the first few years, I just made sure Adi closed her eyes through that room. It was either that or skip the Wizard.

Did she do okay with the gangster scene and the temple scene? I would think those might be a little scary for youngsters.

[momeja]

Good question. I don't remember her being overly frightened by either scene. However, there are some differences with those scenes because they're brightly lit and don't have the strobe effects. I seem to remember that the gun sounds were a bit scary to her. She's not an easily scared child. I never would have taken either of the other two into TGMR when they were her age (she was 6 the first time she rode it). But darkness scares her, so ToT had to wait until she was older. Even then, ToT was freaky to her the first time she rode it, and she loves drop rides.

[mindflipper]

I always thought of the TZ ToT as being the "HM with a big drop at the end".