[alextina]

Hi all,

DH brought up and interesting point last night and it got me to thinking so I figured I would ask what everyone here has experienced. So here it is in a nutshell. We just got back from WDW in May DD is 20 months old and rode everything that did not have a height restriction, there was no crying or screaming ex. HM no problem, POC no problem. Well next year she will be 2 1/2 years and I am wondering at what age did all of your children begin to be scared of the rides in the dark or any rides for that matter? Or maybe they were never scared? Please tell me I am trying to prepare myself for either not going on my favorite rides or possibly having to ride them by myself.:nooo:

[wdwspider]

I have taken Nicholas twice. Once at 18 months and once at 2.

At 18 months nothing phased him and he just reacted to It's a Small World and the dog in PoTC.

At 2, the dark sections of Transit Authority and Pirates made him tense, but he was fine everywhere else.

I am curious as to the age that fear becomes more driving in children's minds as well.

I remember being 5 and scared to tears on Snow White's Scary Adventure. However I rode everything else so it was the witch and not the ride that got me.

Nick has not been phased by any characters at this point, just the dark. That seems to be a good sign.

[LRTJS]

Just took DGD last Aug. She rode everything, SM, ToT, that she could. She turned 6 while we were there. She loved it all except HM. She refused to look up and kept her head buried the whole time. I had shown her a web site before we left that was almost a virtual trip through HM. She couldn't wait to get on but afterwards said she would not go in again. My own kids were never scared of anything, at any age! I think it is an individual thing.

[KarenT]

My daughter just turned three in April. She was at WDW when she was 9 months, 18 months, 2 1/2 and 3. The first three trips no problem went on everything she could. However after she turned three she became scared or rides that are dark on the inside. No peter pan, snow white, bug's life or anything similar.
She also does not like fireworks anymore, so we watched them for the hotel, the last time we were there.
Every child is different so people may have different experiences. However 3 was the magic number for us!
Karen

[ssn]

For my DD 2 yrs old was the age things became scary. You would've thought she was being attacked when we went to the Rainforest Cafe a few months ago!!! We were so shocked at her reaction to the noises and the animals! As an infant and young toddler she loved everything...then all of a sudden, she jumps at everything! Last week we went to Finding Nemo - after seeing the shark she jumped in my lap and had her face buried until we finally left after an hour!!! WDW in a few weeks should be interesting - I will go on Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, but I think Snow White and It's Tuf to Be a Bug are definately out! Don't want to tramatize her too much!! Like was stated before though - it definately depends on the kid, just try a few tamer rides and work your way up!!!

[tinkerbell]

our oldest granddaughter was never scared on any of the rides ..but barbie had problems with HM from about 2 till she was 4 .. actually when she was three she was ok to ride it as long as she had one of her mickey's to hold on to .. she just wouldnt look at anything. at 4 she decided that it wasnt that scary but it still wasnt something she would ask to ride.

[jen brown]

I think it depends on the child totally. My oldest never seemed to get scared and his first trip was 1 1/2 years old. We have twins who were 9 mos their first trip and now they're 4 and up until now they were scared of almost everything and we usually go to WDW or DL at least once a year. Me on the other hand was scared of the Haunted Mansion at 9 years old. I think it helps when you expose your kids to the characters they will find inside the rides and prepare them. And if you ever videotaped the rides when they were younger and not scared, show the tape whenever possible so they can see what their reaction was the last time they rode the rides.

[BuzzLightyear]

We have done the same as you alextina. Our little guy went at 16 months (not afraid of anything) and again last month at 28 months (again not afraid of anything)

Guess we'll see what age 3 brings when we go next year.........

[fanatic720]

It definately depends on the child or teenager lol. Rides that had no effect on me when i was younger at times can give me the chills at the ripe old age of fourteen. Etiher way, if they get spooked jut hold their hand it helps more than you think

[amandaw]

I have 2 girls. Last summer, when they were 7 and 8, the only rides they would go on were in Fantasyland. Everything else was too scary. And they are REALLY scared of the characters. They run screaming from them! I have wondered if there are any other kids that old still scared of Mickey and Minnie!

[DisneyAnne]

Originally posted by ssn
For my DD 2 yrs old was the age things became scary. You would've thought she was being attacked when we went to the Rainforest Cafe a few months ago!!! We were so shocked at her reaction to the noises and the animals!

I had to laugh at this... when my now 6 year old was 3 1/2 year old was terrified of RFC... He cried and cried. We had them move us to another area with no monkeys. Just when he got comfortable, the storm came through and he fell apart! He loves the place now... claims the previous never happened! HA!

[LRTJS]

When we took DGD into Tought to be a Bug she said "Oh no, not another one of those glasses things!" The 3-D things really scared her, so she just didn't wear them. I hated she missed some great stuff but she was not scared.

[Belle's Momma]

Our DD will be 2 in December and we have been "in training" by going to Chuck E Cheese, the zoo, and spending lots of time walking and riding in her stroller. I'm hopeful that if she isn't scared of the more realistic Cheese Mouse, she make quick pals with Mickey. :)

[BDavis932]

Originally posted by Belle's Momma
Our DD will be 2 in December and we have been "in training" by going to Chuck E Cheese, the zoo, and spending lots of time walking and riding in her stroller. I'm hopeful that if she isn't scared of the more realistic Cheese Mouse, she make quick pals with Mickey. :)

There is a really great video that your DD would enjoy watching. It's Beach Party at Walt Disney World. It show Mickey and the gang singing and dancing with lots of kids. My DD has loved it since she was about 18 months, and she still enjoys watching it at 3 and 1/2.

Maybe for her to see other kids with playing with Mickey, it will show her that he's nothing to be scared of.

[BDavis932]

Both of my kids have love all the rides and WDW at all ages.

My DS has been to WDW at the following ages: 2, 3 1/2, 5, 6, and 7.

My DD has been to WDW at the following ages: 9 mo, 2 1/2, 3 1/2.

One tip on the Haunted Mansion that worked well for both of my kids is I told them if something scares them, to scare them back and yell "boo!". This last trip, through the grave yard scene, as the spooky guys pop up, our DD yells "woogie boogie boogie" at them! She thinks it is so funny to scare them back!