Is Fantasmic scary for young children?

[Len90]

A lot of attractions have scarier scenes and it is all part of the experience. I don't think Alien is a scene that will make the kids cry as much as the car jacking experience. Once again these all come down to the actual child and how he or she feels about these things.

[jlpeaches255]

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.

I agree. We just always told the kids to close their eyes for a few minutes. This is just one of those times when you have to go ahead and tell them, "This is all fake and nothing here will hurt you."

[mindflipper]

A lot of attractions have scarier scenes and it is all part of the experience. I don't think Alien is a scene that will make the kids cry as much as the car jacking experience. Once again these all come down to the actual child and how he or she feels about these things.

Heck, what about adults? My cousin on his first ride jumped about 2 feet in the air, and he was 19 LOL!

[mindflipper]

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.

I agree. We just always told the kids to close their eyes for a few minutes. This is just one of those times when you have to go ahead and tell them, "This is all fake and nothing here will hurt you."

(Gasp!) You told the kids it was all fake?!? That's like telling them Santa Claus and Easter Bunny aren't real!

[jlpeaches255]

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.

I agree. We just always told the kids to close their eyes for a few minutes. This is just one of those times when you have to go ahead and tell them, "This is all fake and nothing here will hurt you."

(Gasp!) You told the kids it was all fake?!? That's like telling them Santa Claus and Easter Bunny aren't real!

I know, I know, it felt so wrong! It didn't ruin them though, they still believe in the magic.

[Peerless83]

If it was scary for your children, then Disney wouldn't have it as a nighttime spectacular at one of their parks.

[momeja]

If it was scary for your children, then Disney wouldn't have it as a nighttime spectacular at one of their parks.

True. But Disney can make mistakes about that. Just look at Stitch over at MK.

Also, I believe that Disney plans most rides/attractions for ages 7 and up, and what's no longer scary at 7 may be positively terrifying at 4 or 5. F! is loud with a lot of fire. I could definitely see how a child might be scared by it. The same children who are scared of loud fireworks on the 4th of July. That's not most children, but I think it's fair to say that those children are out there. I had one.

[Len90]

If it was scary for your children, then Disney wouldn't have it as a nighttime spectacular at one of their parks.

True. But Disney can make mistakes about that. Just look at Stitch over at MK.

Also, I believe that Disney plans most rides/attractions for ages 7 and up, and what's no longer scary at 7 may be positively terrifying at 4 or 5. F! is loud with a lot of fire. I could definitely see how a child might be scared by it. The same children who are scared of loud fireworks on the 4th of July. That's not most children, but I think it's fair to say that those children are out there. I had one.

Yeah, but Disney does warn guests ahead of time of whether or not the attraction will be frightening to young children. Just look at each attraction on the Disney site or read the information board as you enter each queue OR just ask one of the few CMs you will encounter before entering the actual attraction (start of queue, end of queue, as you get seated in the theater)

[Amy]

If it was scary for your children, then Disney wouldn't have it as a nighttime spectacular at one of their parks.

True. But Disney can make mistakes about that. Just look at Stitch over at MK.
Also, I believe that Disney plans most rides/attractions for ages 7 and up, and what's no longer scary at 7 may be positively terrifying at 4 or 5. F! is loud with a lot of fire. I could definitely see how a child might be scared by it. The same children who are scared of loud fireworks on the 4th of July. That's not most children, but I think it's fair to say that those children are out there. I had one.

Yeah, but Disney does warn guests ahead of time of whether or not the attraction will be frightening to young children. Just look at each attraction on the Disney site or read the information board as you enter each queue OR just ask one of the few CMs you will encounter before entering the actual attraction (start of queue, end of queue, as you get seated in the theater)

There have been kids that are scared silly by the MuppetVision 3D attraction. It all just depends on your child's temperament I would imagine...

[mindflipper]

I remember when I took my 18 year old cousin for the first time to EPCOT he complained about a "big drop" at WDW MK. I thought he was talking about Splash Mtn but then he told me POTC. "POTC? There's no big drop in POTC?!" I said. He was referring to the small drop at the beginning. Just goes to show you - it's all a matter of perspective. What one person may find frightening someone else may find tame.

[jlpeaches255]

There have been kids that are scared silly by the MuppetVision 3D attraction. It all just depends on your child's temperament I would imagine...

...and, It's Tough to be a Bug frightens LOTS of kids!

[NaCler]

Yeah, my kids won't do the Bugs show... Let's see if I can change that soon!

[Amy]

Yeah, my kids won't do the Bugs show... Let's see if I can change that soon!

Maybe you can convince the boys if little sister isn't along to be super scared!

[mindflipper]

Yeah, my kids won't do the Bugs show... Let's see if I can change that soon!

Maybe you can convince the boys if little sister isn't along to be super scared!

...or just bribe them with ice cream afterwards...

[kosmosworld]

If he is afraid of loud explosions, you may want to skip it. My sons were scared but it wasn't the scenery that scared them, they just didn't like the explosions.