My eight-year-old daughter is scared by things. She can't go to school on Halloween because the costumes scare her; we can't go to a mall around Christmas time because she is scared of Santas. Her younger brother was given a singing and dancing Elmo but we had to just hide it in a closet because it terrified her. It is only a foot high, but anything animatronic scares her. So why in the world would we take her to Disneyland? Well, as long as we stay away from characters in costume and rides with animatronics she is ok. We went last April and it was a success. She was a challenge. The first ride I took her on was the Storyland boats. She saw the whale and refused to go on the ride. I tried to talked her into it and she just cried uncontrollably. I finally dragged her onto the ride and she loved it. Every ride was the same, me trying to talk her into it, her crying and not wanting to go on, the ride ending with her screaming, "that was fun I want to do it again!" She even did Thunder Mountain Railroad and loved it. We went on it five or six times. We were only there for three days, arriving at 5:00pm the first day and leaving at 11:00am the third day so it was really like a day and a half. This time we are driving down on Saturday, going to the park Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and driving home on Wednesday (December 3-7).

One of the reasons we are going back so soon is that I felt like I didn't take her on enough of the rides she wanted to go on. I guess tried to push her onto rides I liked. Plus her older brother didn't help. One ride that she really wanted to do that I said we would do was the Dumbo ride. I always said later and we never went on it and she talks about that frequently, "Daddy wouldn't let me go on the Dumbo ride."

She loved: Thunder Mountain Railroad, Autopia, Grisly River Run, Mulhuland Madness, Jumping Jellyfish, Storyland Boats, Casey Jr. Train, Souring over California

She hated: It's Tough to be a Bug (we had to run from the place), Star Tours (she made it through, but the robots in line and the robot that drives the ship scared her)

She is a very girlie girl. One of her favorite things to do is dress up as a princess, that and keep changing which princess she is dressed as. I read about the restaurant at DCA and that will be perfect for her. She will be nervous, but she will like it too I think. That will either be a disaster or huge success, not something in between.

So I told all this for a reason... I wondering if anyone has any suggestion as to what to do with her. I have always tended toward the rides like Pirates and Splash Mountain, the kinds of rides she would not go on. I'm thinking there is a whole world of Disneyland that I don't really know about and I'm hoping for some suggestions.

Thanks for any thoughts. Oh and I'm excited too. Space Mountain has been closed every time I have been to Disneyland in the almost thirty years since it opened. I have never been on it.

Well I was younger when my first visit to WDW, but I used to be like that...I was afraid of every ride, and I mean EVERY ride except Autopia (which I can't remember how it's named at WDW)...I was afraid of characters; there are tons of pics of my sis with the characters, mine there's not even one. Fireworks scared the hell out of me!

I guess that you must be very persuasive about why you go to DL, and tell her that everything that she'll see it is jut the disney magic, and nothing will do anything to her. Somehow talk to her and make her feel confident about being there and that you are there right at her side.

Of course, go gradually and don't force her, cause she'll get more nervous, on an extreme case, that way she can develope a trauma with all thing DL.

I have been thinking about this one.
If she can handle fast, or somewhat fast:

-Rides at Bug Land
-Tea cups
-carousel?? (Would those be considered animitronic??)
-Tom Sawyers Island
-Redwood creek challenge (where they do the Bro. Bear show at DCA, it's an outdoor play area, not just the show, which I would assume you would not want to do. It has costumed bears.)
-Meet the princesses at the castle
-Astro Orbitor
-Mark Twain riverboat
-Those space rockets on Paradise Pier that are over by the jumping jellyfish (sorry, don't know the name right now. They are silver though.)
-Sun Wheel (non moving)
-Turtle Talk with Crush (??) (It's not animitronic, but it is just like a movie.. like Nemo, nothing comes out at you at all, like in It's tough to be a bug.. you just get to ask Crush questions, and he answers. It's cute!)

That is all I can think of right now. My son was like your daughter, and this is the stuff I could take him on, and he wouldn't freak out, but he was fine with characters and animitronics.

That was challenging. OH! I don't blame your daughter for not liking It's tough to be a bug. I went with my adult friend, and it freaked us both out. She is SOOOOOOOOOO afraid of spiders!! I just freaked out at the stuff that was touching me.. too creepy for me. Plus, I HATE HATE HATE bees!!

Hope that helps.

That's the thing about having kids - you have to take life at their pace, IMO. So you wait another few years before going on Space Mountain, eh?

There is a kinder, gentler, lovelier DLR for your sweetheart of a daughter. It's around every corner if we slow down just a little and literally stop and smell the roses.

Actually I'll be doing both, the Space Mountain side and the side for my daughter. Our 11-year-old son can't wait for Space Mountain and Tower of Terror, etc. My wife and I will trade off being with him and being with our daughter. This is why we are going back so soon. Last time we were there for a day and a half and it felt so rushed, like we were running from place to place and didn't have time to stop and see what else there was. This time we have three full days. Last time I let my son's desire to do everything take over. We were running back and forth between parks and getting fastpasses. This time will be much more sedate, at least that is the plan.

That is a great list of attractions up there and exactly what I was hoping for, thank you.

Lisa Perkis wrote an excellent article (http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock/ak050614lp.htm) about dealing with anxiety issues in children, targeting specifically theme park issues.

Adrienne

She hated: It's Tough to be a Bug (we had to run from the place), Star Tours (she made it through, but the robots in line and the robot that drives the ship scared her)
There should be some way to get word out about "It's Tough to be a Bug." Trevor and I like to go in, sit in the back and before the show starts we each throw out a number and see who is closest to the number of kids that will be taken out screaming when the black widows drop down. Last time I was sitting next to a very brave little girl who really wanted to stick it out, she figured out that I'd seen it before and when the spiders started I told her "this is the last scary thing..." but she just couldn't get through that one.

But if your daughter can get past that (physically, I mean by walking into Bug Land again, she should really enjoy the rides in there.

-TLMt

My daughter was scared the whole enterance to "It's Tough to be a Bug". That cave you walk through, the area where you wait for the doors to the theater to open. The whole way I had to carry her and her face was burried in my chest. There was no line so we were able to zip through it, but she very bravely held together through that. Then the second the show started, she turned to me with, "I want to go, I want to go." The second we stood up there was a CM escorting us out. We saw nothing of the show.

I glanced at that article and I can't wait to read it, thanks.

Omigosh...the first time my little girl experienced "Tough to be a Bug," I wasn't with her. I left her with our friends while I went to get fast passes for everyone for Soarin'. When I returned, all of the girls -- aged 4 to 6 -- were sobbing. I couldn't believe it! My daughter could hardly talk, she was crying so hard, but she tried to tell me what had happened. All I could get was something about spiders.

Turned out my friend's husband decided to pass the time by taking the girls inside while my friend waited outside with their youngest. Apparently, the kids grew more and more frightened, and when the spiders came out, they all ran screaming from the show. (Whoever picked four that day would have won -- LOL.)

I kept thinking it couldn't be THAT bad, so I went in alone to check it out. I did see all of the warnings in the queue, but I think people assume it can't be as bad as it sounds, especially given the location. Yikes! Can't imagine what that must be like for a little kid; it's pretty overwhelming! Later that day, I heard a woman complaining about the same show to someone on her cell phone.

We did try it again on a later visit, and she made it through -- sitting on my lap, with her feet up. I've never been able to get through the show myself, though, without leaning forward in my seat to avoid the special effects...
=(:o)

Lisa Perkis wrote an excellent article (http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock/ak050614lp.htm) about dealing with anxiety issues in children, targeting specifically theme park issues.

How did I miss that article? Really superb.

Here's a few more ideas:

In Disneyland:
• Any of the Main Street Vehicles
• The train from Main Street to Tomorrow Land (but get out there; the rest might scare her)
• Tarzan's Treehouse
• Any of the Riverboats
• Peter Pan's Flight (this would be one to talk her into)

In DCA:
• Golden Zepher
• Jumpin Jellyfish
• Orange Stinger

Try to find some of the spontaneous "entertainment" that happens around the park too. The trash can trio is great, the Christmas Carolers will be out, and by all means, slow down and have fun. Sometimes the funnest part is just taking in all the scenery and the way the park is decked out in holiday decorations and the freedom to be spontaneous.

How did I miss that article? Really superb.


Thank you, Helen.:) And thanks AK for the free advertising.:D

For the record, I have never taken my Char to see It's Tough to be a Bug, and I don't plan to. I think it's way too intense for young children--even my older daughter hated it. TLMt, I agree that there should she be more warnings about that attraction--especially since it's placed in A Bug's Land where the attractions are geared towards the young kidlets. I think that's what throws parents off--they figure it's on the same level.

We have learned to do the small stuff at DL for years and years since we have dealt with a lot of anxiety issues. There's a season for everything, and I don't worry about missing out on the big attractions. Eventually the kids will grow up and we can enjoy them together or they'll go off with their friends and DH and I can enjoy them together.;)

Here's a few more ideas:

In Disneyland:
• Any of the Main Street Vehicles
• The train from Main Street to Tomorrow Land (but get out there; the rest might scare her)
• Tarzan's Treehouse
• Any of the Riverboats
• Peter Pan's Flight (this would be one to talk her into)



With Tarzans tree house, there is a part that startles you. The leopard thing makes a loud roaring noise.. so if you don't think she can handle that, I wouldn't go on it. Just a little word of caution.

For the record, I have never taken my Char to see It's Tough to be a Bug, and I don't plan to. I think it's way too intense for young children--even my older daughter hated it. TLMt, I agree that there should she be more warnings about that attraction--especially since it's placed in A Bug's Land where the attractions are geared towards the young kidlets. I think that's what throws parents off--they figure it's on the same level.

Don't. Get. Me. Started.

Before Bug's Land it was the only attraction in that area. Disney promoted this ride as something to take children under 2 on. I have warned every parent I've ever spoken to about DCA about this attraction.

Adrienne

Here is something that is fun and not scary, making chocolate chip cookies. My daughter, 4, had so much fun and it's free. It's sponsored by Nestle and you get free samples at the end. Does anyone have a link to more info?

I have an 8-year-old daughter who sounds similar. What scares her and what doesn't is highly idiosyncratic (at least it seems so to me): I don't know if the idiosyncracies are parallel from one kid to another or not.

She loved Pirates of the Caribbean, but hated Pinocchio. She liked the plunge on Splash Mountain, but refused to go on it a second time because something about the themed/dark part scared her. Generally, she liked "thrill" rides (though scary while they're happening, as they are even for adults) but not particular themes.

Her explanation for the paradoxes was that animatronic characters who "interact" with you scare her, but characters who you just watch do things don't. I'm not sure that makes a ton of sense. I think a more likely explanation is that she doesn't like overly compressed and immediate storyline "drama," in which likable characters are in peril, even though they are saved at the end.

Her favorites -- multiple rides on each -- included:
California Screamin'
Space Mountain
Grizzly River Run
it's a small world
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Pirates of the Caribbean
Orange Stinger
Jungle Cruise
Matterhorn
Mad Tea Party

She also liked:
Enchanted Tiki Room (in which animatronic birds talk directly to you, so go figure)
Peter Pan's Flight
Storybook Land Canal Boats (once I convinced her to overcome her fear of - you guessed it - the whale)
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Mulholland Madness

Did not like:
Pinocchio's Daring Journey (unchallenged least favorite, as she noted at least a dozen times)
Snow White's Scary Adventures
Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Roger Rabbit's Car-Toon Spin

She survived Star Tours and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and didn't complain about them, though I don't know if she really enjoyed them. She did not like the robot in the line at all. She refused to go into Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Forget Tower of Terror. Our one big crisis was when she expressed passing interest in going on Indiana Jones a second time, but then turned and ran about 20 feet after passing the guy who takes your FastPasses.

She loved the Princess Dinner at Ariel's Grotto, and liked all the characters with humans inside.

Her favorites -- multiple rides on each -- included:
California Screamin'
Didn't try it.
Space Mountain
SM has been closed every time I have been to DL since it opened in the 70s, but I don't think she would do this one.
Grizzly River Run
She loved this one. It was one of her favorites
it's a small world
She was scared and didn't want to do it, but in the end she did. She was nervous and held it together and in the end said she liked it.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
She loved it and rode it multiple times.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Wouldn't get her anywhere near this one.
Orange Stinger
Didn't try this.
Jungle Cruise
It was closed, but this is one she really wants to do.
Matterhorn
Before the first time on every ride she would cry and say she didn't want to do it. I would talk her into it, she would cry and eventually she would give in. Most of the time she then loved the ride. This one she freaked out so much in the line that we were never able to get her to do it.
Mad Tea Party
Didn't try it.
She also liked:
Enchanted Tiki Room (in which animatronic birds talk directly to you, so go figure)
She sat on my lap holding it together until the totem poles joined in. That was it, we were out of there like a flash. She still talks about that one.
Peter Pan's Flight
Didn't try it.
Storybook Land Canal Boats (once I convinced her to overcome her fear of - you guessed it - the whale)
This was the first ride we went on and boy did she cry. Yes, it was the whale that scared her. After finally getting her on it, she liked the ride.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Didn't try it.
Mulholland Madness
She loved it.
Did not like:
Pinocchio's Daring Journey (unchallenged least favorite, as she noted at least a dozen times)
Snow White's Scary Adventures
Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Roger Rabbit's Car-Toon Spin
Did not try any of these. She would love the drop on Splash Mountain, but not the trip to the drop. I actually tried to talk her into it, but that was a non starter. And HM, no way.
She survived Star Tours and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and didn't complain about them, though I don't know if she really enjoyed them. She did not like the robot in the line at all. She refused to go into Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Forget Tower of Terror. Our one big crisis was when she expressed passing interest in going on Indiana Jones a second time, but then turned and ran about 20 feet after passing the guy who takes your FastPasses.
I couldn't get her to do Honey, I shurnk the Audience and would never have dreamed of Indy. We did do Star Tours. The robots in line scared her, but thank god there was no line so we just ran past them, and I mean ran at a full sprint. The robot driving the ship scared her too.

I am going to try something different this time too. She has ADHD and takes Ritalin, but we only give it to her for school. We don't give it to her on weekends or any day she isn't going to school. We didn't even bring any along on the trip. That might have been a mistake. I have heard older kids describe ADHD as this bombardment of sensory input, like a lot of people asking you for something at the same time. They describe ritalin as taking all that noise away. For a kid like that Disneyland might be a bit overwhelming. My daughter gets really nervous in a movie theater and we don't take her to movies much because of that, but I have found that the ritalin helps a lot. So I think I will give it to her when we go to Disneyland too and see if that helps.

Turned out my friend's husband decided to pass the time by taking the girls inside while my friend waited outside with their youngest. Apparently, the kids grew more and more frightened, and when the spiders came out, they all ran screaming from the show. (Whoever picked four that day would have won -- LOL.)


Yeah, I tell you if it was me I'd have a strong talk with my friend's husband.

I'm very protective of my daughter, and I choose which attractions she experiences, with a very, very focused purpose on how to best introduce her to them so that she is ready for whatever she is likely to encounter.

I think it's paramount that she trusts us and our choices at Disneyland, and therefore trusts Disneyland as a happy place, not a threatening place.


I saw Chicken Little 3D with a daughter of a friend of mine. The girl is 6, and Chicken Little doesn't include anything too scary for a 6 year old. I had seen the film prior to this showing, so I knew it wasn't too scary. But the girl had been dragged into Tough to be a Bug and Honey before, and she associated the glasses with a scary movie. So she refused to wear the glasses, even in the happy, funny, brightly lit, musical scenes.

She still loved the movie, and doesn't say it was a scary film. But she didn't trust the movie beforehand or her parents' choice of the film.

Since I had asked here about my nervous daughter, I thought I would say how it went. Pretty good. She was still nervous and we had to talk her into rides, but she ended up really surprising me regarding what she went on.

First surprise, the Dumbo ride. Really this ride was the whole reason we went to Disneyland. We had gone in April and she really wanted to go on the Dumbo ride and I used it as leverage to try to get her on other rides, "If you go on the Matterhorn with me, I'll go on the Dumo ride with you." In the end we didn't make it on the Dumbo ride and many times she said, "Dad wouldn't let me go on the Dumbo ride." This bothered me so much that it lead to this second trip in the same year. Well, when we got there she wouldn't go on the Dumbo ride. She was afraid of the mouse on the top. At the top of the ride there is a Mickey that spins around with a whip in his hands. I eventually talked her into it and she loved it.

Princess lunch at Arial's Grotto. I had told her that I had made reservations for this and she was upset. She did not want to do it and I think she was afraid. So I didn't mention it again and when it was time for our reservations we just went and she thought we were going somewhere for lunch, she didn't know it was the princess place until she started seeing the princesses. She LOVED it.

She went on many of the rides she did last time and was afraid to go on anything new. I did get her onto some new rides which she liked. But there were three big surprises. Well, one not to big surprise and two HUGE surprises. The minor surprise was the Matterhorn. I had been working on her about that ride for months. I downloaded the video from Visions Fantastic and sat with her on our couch with it playing on the tv, pretending we were on the ride. I would cover her eyes and ears when the monster (Harold as I was later told by a CM). She was afraid to do even that, a virtual ride on our couch. But we eventually got her to do it. She had a big smile on her face and said she liked it afterward, but she wouldn't do it again.

But the two huge, huge, huge surprises were Space Mountain and the Tower of Terror. This is the girl that I can't get to even walk past the Haunted Mansion. Not even over by the water looking away from it. After Space Mountain she said it wasn't scary but that it made her nauseous and she wouldn't do it again. The Tower of Terror was the really big surprise and happened because of how kind the CMs were. We walked to it with the thought that my son and wife would ride it while she and I waited outside. When we got there I suggested she try it. She emphatically said no and pulled backward trying to get farther away. We all tried to talk her into it for a few minutes and just when we gave up and my son and wife were going to ride it without us, the "doorman" came over and told my daughter that if she went in, she could leave anytime she wanted without going on the ride. She could look at the lobby and decide to leave, or go though the line all the way to the elevator and decide at that point not to go on and just leave. She said OK she would look inside. So we went into the lobby and she was fine. (There was no line at all by the way, which helped). She was afraid to go into the room with the TV and the lightning because I had told her about it. I pushed her a bit here and forced that. It scared her but not too badly. We went through the hotel basement and she was fine. We got put onto the squares in preparation of getting on the elevator. She said no and we had to step off. We to the side and my wife and son got on the elevator. As they got on, I had her look inside and see that it was just a ride with seats. She then looked up at me and asked, "Does it go really fast?" "Yes." "Does it go really, really fast?" "Yes." Does it go really, really, really fast." "Yes." "Does it go really, really, really, really fast." "Sweetheart, it goes pretty fast." "OK, I'll do it." And she said that with a smile and some excitement. She was happy with herself that she was going to do it. I told the CM and he not only put us on the next elevator, but held the other two spots in the row for my wife and son. When their ride was over, he brought them around and back on the ride with us. (Yes, they got to do two back to back rides with no line in between.) She was completely terrified by the ride. It was awful watching her face as she sat next to me. But, I was proud of her for doing it. We bought her one of the Tower of Terror t-shirts that has a big, "I survived" on it and she loves and shows off that tee shirt.

But in the end, if you ask her what her favorite ride was a Disneyland, she will say, "The Libby Lu store!" This is a store where everything is pink and glittery. It is in Downtown Disney next to the entrance to the Grand Californian. My son was appalled to even stand outside the store.