Have had several people suggest we pass this one up due to scare factor. Anybody want to weigh in with your experiences??

~FastEddie

It really depends on your 5 year old. Ask yourself if he/she would be frightened or upset by:

- Very loud noises
- Large spiders dropping from the ceiling
- Virtual bugs crawling around
- A cloud of fog
- Darkness

One child's nightmare is another's fantasy. For a young one who upsets or frightens easily, Tough To Be a Bug would likely NOT be a good idea. For a kid who digs such things, it's pretty cool.

We took my 5 yr old and my 2 yr old last nov and I had no problem w. either of them but I didn't let my 2 year old wear the glasses. My 5 yr old didn't even feel alot of the seat effects because she sat on a crease of the bench. My 5 yr old also liked ToT, so her not being frightened isn't saying much!

Both of my boys have liked it. My youngest was 2.5 and my oldest was 7. It's one of our must do's! You might want to try starting at Muppets 3D then Honey I Shrunk the Audience.

I did the AK version in 2000. DCA has one I've never bothered with, and I didn't bother with the AK one in 2002. Don't know when (or if) I'll get around to doing the DCA version, or whether I'll bother with the AK one in 2004.

Which is to say that my fall vacation plan for 2004 is to fly to New Orleans, then take the Sunset Limited to WDW, then the Silver Whatsis to Richmond, where I'd transfer to a Regional to Williamsburg, then after a few days there, take the Regional to Washington, DC, do a quick sightseeing tour, then hop on the Capitol Limited to Chicago, and then, a few days later, catch the City of New Orleans back to its namesake, then fly home. All in three weeks.

But back to the matter at hand, I definitely agree that one should try MuppetVision 3D and HISTA before doing Bug, especially with small kids. As I recall, in addition to the other special effects, there's an unpleasant odor, and maybe a water splashing. Depending on the kids, it could give them the giggles, or it could give them nightmares, and you know your kids better than any of us could.

I'm the sort who can sit quietly and calmly through at least the DL version of Space Mountain, more likely to yawn than to scream, and on ToT, my reaction to the drops mainly involved clenching various sphincters and holding onto the contents of my breast pocket (and walking a little funny for about half an hour afterward), but Bug had me jumping more than a little bit.

Personally, Imagination, GMR, Ellen, and Maelstrom (and yes, I do stay for the film) are more my speed than Bug is.

As Klutch said, it really depends on your kid. Our five year old would not be able to handle it. However, one of his friends probably would have been up for it at three. Best bet: take the 3-D attractions on in order of "scariness." Do Mickey's PhilharMagic first, then MuppetVision 3D, then HISTA, then ITTBAB.

I agree with Klutch. It depends on your child. I have been on with kids that have loved it and kids that have hated it. If they are okay with the bugs and the darkness then your kids should be fine, but if they are scared by those things, then they probably will not enjoy it.

Kelly

Hi,

Don't be discouraged by the cynicism of others on this board. I think this is a really valid concern. I don't like the "Tough to be a bug" shows. I don't do scary and I don't do bugs - at all. But, like the others, I think it really depends on the child himself or herself. Some kids are totally cool with it. You walk down, down under the Tree of Life, wait in a dark, cold waiting area and are let into a dark room with seats. Stuff comes down out of the ceiling, you are sprayed with water, poked in the back at a critical, exciting moment. If you or your angel babies aren't keen on those types of experiences, maybe wait a few years. But, if a wee one loves bugs and is fascinated by nature, they will enjoy it. You know your kids the best, and there is lots of time to do this attraction in the future....

Have a magical day!

My 8 year old does NOT like HISTA or It's Tough To Be A Bug. She's the queen of roller coasters (has even does X as Magic Mountain) but these 3D shows do not appeal to her at all. She will go if everyone else is and she has too, but will not wear the glasses and moves around at certain parts where she thinks she can avoid something that's going to happen. (trying not to give anything away)

My 5 year old saw it when he was 4. He sat on my lap. I had to reassure him while in the queue and during a few parts of the show, but overall, he came out okay.

Neither child is in any hurry to see it again though.

I thought it was fabulous.

Don't forget the "sting" in the back effect. If you go, you might want to put your hand over the "hole" in the back of the seat.

Personally, I would not take my 5-year-old on Bug. Not to beat the dead horse but it really depends on your kid. And like Julia, I'm not one to go on Bug, myself, so it's not a big loss to me. I've been on it once, don't have a really strong urge to go back.

Adrienne

Originally posted by julia
Hi,

Don't be discouraged by the cynicism of others on this board. I think this is a really valid concern.

Huh?

As far as the question goes, my 9 year old was fine with it. The 6 year old was a little freaked out, but she get's that way with a lot of rides so she isn't the best gage. Try Muppets first, as others have mentioned.

I think for my kids, some knowledge of what to expect helped. Certainly the Muppet 3D movie is the best gauge of whether this is something you child will even relate to. I would also add that for my kids, I would hold them in my lab (avoiding some of the affects) and tell them to close their eyes if want. Then if they really liked it, get back in line for the full effect the second time around.

My son didn't want to see Tough to be a bug the last time we visited. He is five. He loves insects; during the summer, each evening we collect a variety of insects in his insect house, in which he observes them, then lets them go. I think he didn't like the blasts of air and bad smells that are part of the show. He had the same reaction to the show at Epcot with Figment (I don't remember the name). We'll try again when he is older. On the other hand, he totally loved the Muppets 3-D and the new Philharmagic, which is also 3D. We saw both of those twice!

If you aren't sure about your child then I would suggest sitting in the rear left of the theater, far away from any audioanimatrons that may generate nightmares.

Also point out that the theater is filled with surprises but nothing to harm or hurt.

The last time I visited that attraction I remember passing several Moms on their knees explaining to their sobbing offspring, "Those weren't real bugs!!!!"

Then there were kids who were laughing as they exited the theater.

Mike

It's too scary for me!



I like it, but I don't like the scary things, and there are too many of them for my taste. I'd probably ride it more often if it was less scary.