Hi there
I haven't ever been to DCA and we are planning a trip in May. My oldest son will turn 7 while we're there. My question is about "It's Tough to Be a Bug". I don't think I understand the attraction. From what I've read, I gather it's a multi-sensory movie (a la "Honey I Shrunk the Kids, which I have seen) with thnigs that touch you/spray at you/whatever while you watch a movie about bugs. I myself have a major bug phobia so I'm happy to do something else with my toddler while my husband sees it with my older son. From other posts it sounds like many kids are scared (not trying to be sexist, but it seems like it's always girls), but I just want to actually understand the full nature of the thing. Are the bugs real or animated? And if the latter, are they cartoony or realistic? Is there a story line per se? Feel free to "spoil" as much as you want---like I said, I'm not going in there!

You are correct in that it is a multi senorsory experience. Part of the show is animated and on the film screen, but there is also a very large anamtronic Hopper that appears and launches an attack on the humans in the audience. Somewhere about that point in time anamtronic spiders drop from the ceiling. It can be a bit overwhelming for those with a bug phobia and young childern.

As far a those that might become scared it really depends on the person. The first time we took the children, the youngest was three and never batted a eye. He thought the whole thing was cool. The six year old (girl) lost it and started screaming about 15 seconds behind her 5 year old brother. The Hopper bug just terrified the poor boy. They never made it to the spiders dropping from the ceiling.

I took both of the older childern out of the theater and we encounter a 16 girl who was still shaking, she had left less than half way through the show.

Year before last we went back to DL and DCA. The youngest (now 5) and oldest (8) thought the show was really cool. The middle one (7) sat through the whole thing on my lap with his eyes closed, never peeked. He hates that show.

So it really just depends on the individual.

I agree with what Tink said. The show is probably the most sensory-driven 3-d movie in all of Disney. There is a lot of interaction and some of it can really freak a person out if they are phobic. At the same time, the show is a lot of fun and the 3-d effects are great.

If you ever get to see the Travel channel program on Animal Kindom, they spend some time talking about the attraction and explain a little about how they came up with the ideas used in the show. Who knows.... you may want to give it a shot after seeing some of the behind the scenes magic.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned, and I'm not sure the original poster is aware of, is that the film is based on the Pixar movie "A Bug's Life". It is hosted by Flik (the main character from that film) and eventually the film's villain, Hopper, causes most of the mayhem. The show has a similar tongue-in-cheek tone to the original movie.

The basic storyline has the bugs from the movie putting on a stage show that is supposed to give the audience a "bug's eye view" of what it is like to be a bug. Hopper eventually interrupts and decides to try and give the audience an idea of the dark side to being a bug using a giant fly swatter, can of bug spray, etc. During this part of the show, in-theater effects are used as some of the more "mean" bugs like bees (little plastic knobs in the seat spring out to make it feel like a sting), spiders (which drop from the ceiling), and a stink bug (piped in odor effect) come into the show. Hopper appears as a pretty sophisticated animatronic.

Most of the bugs in the film are more cartoonish than realistic, but it still is a pretty intense show and probably not all that suitable for bug-phobics or particularly skittish children. The 3D and in-theater effects do make it a more intense experience than seeing "A Bug's Life".

-Jeff

Jeff,

Isn't there also a part where a poisonous bug sprays the audience?

I don't like this attraction at all. My primary issue is that it's misrepresented to the guests. I don't think that Disney does a proper job of warning parents what the attraction involves and misleads guests.

Adrienne

I don't like this attraction at all. My primary issue is that it's misrepresented to the guests. I don't think that Disney does a proper job of warning parents what the attraction involves and misleads guests.

Adrienne


Ding Dong. Nothing more to add--I agree 100%.

Ding Dong. Nothing more to add--I agree 100%.

As do I!! My husband swears that he is going to take our kids in there for the show (4 & 2). My son, who is 4, is completely terrified by bees, so much that he stands as still as he can when they are even near him! I HATE bees, and freaked out when the bees came and "stung" you. My daughter will probably freak out, seeing as though it is VERY sensory.

Although, I must admit, it is VERY well done, and I especially love the end where the "bugs leave".. but, I still don't like it. I will probably not go in there again!!

I am a huge bug-o-phobic...especially bees. I went on it once in Florida and although my husband warned me to lean forward (and he covered up the seat) during the sting segment, I still don't like the show. Cute, sure. If you aren't afraid of bugs it's probably not a problem. I've yet to go on the DCA attraction.

It's a strange one....

Our youngest son was 5 or 6 the first time he saw Tough to be a Bug at WDW....and he thought it was funny and neat. However, this is the same kid - who on the same trip - got so freaked out at Honey I Shrunk the Kids that he quite literally tried to climb under the seats, then freaked out and clawed his way towards the doors on his hands and knees:eek:

One good thing is if it doesn't agree with your kid you can always up and leave. I'd hate to be "trapped" in an attraction with a freaked out kidlet!

our three year old liked it, and our 1 1/2 year old didn't seem to mind it either...we had them both in laps, so they wouldn't feel some of the effects and neither of them wore the glasses...that might be why they liked it...oh yes, daddy covered the 3 year old's eyes when the spiders came down from the ceiling.

Isn't there also a part where a poisonous bug sprays the audience?I believe it's the stink bug that sprays you, releasing a stinky smell into the theater.

thanks for all the info, everyone. I think we will be skipping this attraction.

It has been several years since we tried this attraction. No doubt we will not try it again. My son was probably close to 10 at the time we saw the show. He was not particularly scared but I would say it could be very intense for smaller children. What he HATED was being poked in the back. He said it actually hurt. I do like the Bug's Land rides for small ones but I would never recommend this attraction to anyone.

I believe it's the stink bug that sprays you, releasing a stinky smell into the theater.
Actually, the stink bug part just smells. There is one that spits "deadly acid." The character was a small, runt-looking kind of character.

My almost-five at the time LOOOOVED it (as did I)! My seven year old liked it except when the fog came out into the audience. I thought the bugs were all very "cartoonish" and not at all scary, but my thirteen yo daughter (very girly-girl) did NOT like it..... ewwwwww bugs !

It's a bit more "extreme" in it's thrills. If you have a kid who LIKES getting a little scared, it's really cool.

But it's way more scary a film than the film it's based on. That's what I don't like about it. It's creepier than a bug's life.

So in that way, I'd say, see Muppets instead!

We were there last weekend with another family who had never seen "bug" their kids 7, 5, and 1 loved it. Surprized the heck out of me since it took a couple of viewings for our kids to "appreciate" it. Really reinforced the whole every kid is different theory...;)

Last time I saw this attraction I didn't have kids yet and really liked it. Next time we're taking our three girls (6-6-2) and even though I'd love to see it again, I'm concerned that they will get scared, especially the youngest one, who will be days from turning 3. We might try it though, and if any of them get scared we'll leave ...

I did this attraction once and that was enough. My preschooler hated it, my 7 and 9 year old "tolerated" it and I got poked in the butt by some stinger! It actually hurt! Never again.

Last time I went on this attraction with an adult friend (about a month ago) they had a new sign out that was very big in the middle of the walk way that you can't miss!!! Warning about the show before you walk in. It was a new sign and they warned you in the spiel before we went into the show that "Some potions of this show are very loud and some special effects may be frightening to younger children so parents please exercise discretion before entering the theater" Also when we were inside the theater they spieled to sit on the far right of the theater if you have a small child so you can exit easier and how to exit the theater if little ones became frightened so I think that someone complained and they are doing a better job warning people before the go into this show.
I have a 13 year old that will go in but not wear the glasses because there is just to much sensory input for him and a 10 year old that will tolerate it but does not enjoy it so I never take them why take them if they don't enjoy it.