6 Disney World Attractions That Might Be Too Scary For Little Ones
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World with young children who might be experiencing theme park attractions for the first time, you may be worried about attractions that have the tendency to frighten tiny tots. Trust me when I saw that I’ve been there and have had moments where I’ve had to console my crying preschooler from the odd ride that they just found too intense. With this in mind, I’ve come up with a list of 6 attractions you may want to steer clear of if you have small children that frighten easily!
1. DINOSAUR- Animal Kingdom
All kids love dinosaurs and on the surface, this attraction located in the carnivalesque Dinoland USA section fo the park may seem relatively innocuous. However, looks here can definitely be deceiving. This is a ride that some tiny tots may find downright terrifying. It features lots of dark (nearly black) moments, a ride vehicle which jostles you around in the darkness quite a bit, flashing strobe light effects, and big animatronic dinosaurs who tend to pop out at moments where you may not be expecting it! This ride is thrilling and fun but I’ve also seen upset kids almost every time I’ve climbed on board. If you have children that are afraid of the dark or haven’t ridden a lot of bumpy attractions you may want to give this one a second thought.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean – Magic Kingdom
Though most of the major moments in this beloved Adventureland attraction are downright funny when a ride has the motto “Dead Men Tell No Tales” there’s also an element of danger that might frighten little ones. The boat ride starts out taking you through lots of dark and foggy scenes featuring skeletons as well as a dark drop, and cannonball fire. Though things calm down quickly the minute weary travellers enter the village, those initial moments can be a bit intense. If visiting with very small children give it some thought or even a reassuring snuggle or two when you’re on the boat.
3. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – Hollywood Studios
Disclaimer, I’ve been on this ride several times and I find it completely terrifying. I’ve seen a lot of small kids (aka brave souls) tackle this attraction with courage and bravado but I’ve also seen lots of very upset preschoolers at the end as well. The Tower of Terror is incredible at immersing guests in the surreal and spooky world of The Twilight Zone. It definitely boasts the most frightening line queue in all of Disney as you wander through a very ominous looking lobby. The Cast Members are also completely in character as the formidable Elevator Operators adding to the eerie feeling. By the time you board the lifts, you’ll definitely be having second thoughts so imagine the effect this may have on little ones. The attraction also has moments of complete darkness, strobe light effects, scary images and then there’s the feeling of free falling. It’s not for the faint of heart regardless of age so give it some thought if visiting with small kids.
4. It’s Tough To Be a Bug – Animal Kingdom
This one has no height requirement and is hosted by the loveable Flick so looks can be a bit deceiving. Many people (grown-ups included) find insects of any kind to be squeal-worthy and you’ll encounter them in abundance during this attraction. The show is designed to educate kids on the characteristic of different types of creepy crawlies. There are moments in It’s Tough To Be a Bug where the theater goes dark, spiders descend from the ceiling, strobe lights are used and even your seat moves to mimic the feeling of bugs crawling underneath you. If you have squeamish kids you may want to warn them ahead of time of give this bug adventure a miss.
5. Haunted Mansion – Magic Kingdom
On the surface, this classic Walt Disney World attraction may look super cartoony and fun- and it is! However, small kids may find some of the 999 Happy Haunts that call this attraction home a bit creepy. There are lots of skeletons, scary effects and an axe murdering bride in the attic that has definitely struck me as being suited to slightly older children. If your little ones don’t like things that go bump in the night. Give Haunted Mansion a miss until they’re slightly older.
6. Splash Mountain – Magic Kingdom
Though for many adults, a ride on Splash Mountain is the perfect way to start your Zip A Dee Doo Da Disney day, little kids may not feel the same! As a matter of fact, I’ve seen many teary-eyed preschoolers come ride’s end. Splash Mountain does feature a few scenes that are dark and can be downright scary meaning that “The Laughing Place” may have the opposite effect on leary children. Also, the climb and the big drop, at the end, can make anyone week in the knees particularly little ones. You may want to gauge how they do on some of Disney’s other attractions before tackling this mountain!
You’ll find that many of Disney’s mountains didn’t make our list. We agree these are terrifying too however, height requirements do mean that kids need to be slightly older before tackling the coasters. We recommend trying out small coasters like the Barnstorm in Storybook Circus at Magic Kingdom before moving on to Expedition Everest at the Animal Kingdom!
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