Would it be too scary for a 4 yr old boy who is pretty rambunctious (sp?) but also doesn't like loud noise? I've heard it is great..... any opinions?

Thanks,
Kathy

It is loud at times, and I think rather overwhelming. The first time my daughter saw it, she was 6 or 7. She and the other little girls we were with all ended up crying and had to be taken out.

However, some people love it.

You essentially experience life through a bug's eyes, and get a surprise visit from Hopper (the bad guy from 'Bugs Life') and a lot of other bugs. Not sure how much info you want, but I will say don't go in thinking it's just happy singing muppet-like bugs...:eek:

What Tinkermommy said. SPOILER ALERT Also at one point you are "stung" in the back. (This is done using a selonoid in the back of each seat). I think if you tell the child it's pretend it might help. Only you know your own child. It's not a nicey nicey show - the bad insects fight back. You'll also get sprayed with fly spray - (just that disco smoke stuff) and don't forget the screen is in 3D so stuff comes at you in your seat. Otherwise, a great show which older kids and adults enjoy. If you do go in then head for the far side of the seats then if you do have to leave it will be much easier on all concerned.:)

It's Tough to Be a Bug (which I absolutely love to death, and will never turn down an offer to see!) is....

3D, 4D, fun, dark, funny, loud, louder, scary, flashy, noisy, blowy, amazing, stinky, wet, pokey, misty, cold, scary again, massaging, funny, mildly educational, b-movie camp, classic good triumphs over evil storytelling, lovable, informative, cute, creative, clever, hilarious, entertaining, climactic, highly repeatible (IMO), musical, sarcastic, imaginative and deliciously magical... ;)

.....and the only place at the DL Resort where you can pretty much guarantee that sometime during the short showtime (and every show) that at least one child (or timid teen or adult) will run screaming in sheer terror towards the exit.

My 4 yr old daughter who loved Tower of Terror, Space Mtn, BTMRR, etc.. did NOT like "It's a Bug's Life".

SPOILER ALERT
Luckily for us we had someone with us who had seen the show before so warned us, I picked my daughter up part way through it and had her sitting on my lap so that none of the "4D" stuff that happens to your seat would affect her. She was still pretty scared but to her credit she didn't cry and didn't want to leave early. And then we left the movie and went and rode Chew Chew and everything was good and happy again ...

My nephew was 6-7 years old (can't remember) when he first saw this and the last time he saw this. He is now 9 years and will not step foot into the theater. He thought he was going to die when he was sprayed with the spray can. My sister had to run after him when he bolted for the exit. It feels very real and can be very intense for the little ones. I hate it even, but I have a phobia to black widow spiders and they come down over the audience and freak me everytime I see it. I have seen it 3 times I think. I would, as someone suggested earlier, sit towards the back and see how he reacts to it. If he gets scared, you could make a quick exit without affecting the show for others.

I have 3 kids, 15, 11, and 7 and none of them like It's a Bug Life. We went and saw it when they were much smaller and it's left a lasting impression on them and they talk about how much they disliked it every time we walk past that area at DCA. I suppose it just depends upon the child.

It is intense, but I've found a few "tricks" to turn down the intensity: Sit way in the back of the theatre, have your child remove their 3-D glasses, and have them sit on your lap. As Mousefaninqueue pointed out, you then remove the tactile senstations that occur during this show. Also, just gives your little one the security of Mom, Dad, Auntie, or whomever is holding them. If you sit towards the exit doors, you can always "escape" if you need to. My own kids loved it, and we've never seen anyone leave during a performance, but being prepared is half the battle!

It is intense, but I've found a few "tricks" to turn down the intensity: Sit way in the back of the theatre, have your child remove their 3-D glasses, and have them sit on your lap. As Mousefaninqueue pointed out, you then remove the tactile senstations that occur during this show. Also, just gives your little one the security of Mom, Dad, Auntie, or whomever is holding them. If you sit towards the exit doors, you can always "escape" if you need to. My own kids loved it, and we've never seen anyone leave during a performance, but being prepared is half the battle!

I couldn't agree with you more about the 3D glasses. Removing them does decrease the intensity of the show.

Its a real good show and that is why I have seen it multiple times even with my phobia of the black widow spiders, they are HUGE! :eek:

It's worth checking out just for the animatronic figures that interact with the film. They're the newer AA with really realistic, smooth movement. Very cool!

That being said, yeah, the show is pretty intense for kids.

Note: The attraction is called "It's Tough To Be A Bug." Usually, exactitude of attraction names doesn't matter (Matterhorn, Matterhorn Bobsleds, to-may-to, to-mah-to) but in this case it's a hint.

There are also warning signs, one I remember with a scary-looking Hopper warning that it's intense.

It is intense. One bug -- a 3-D Audio-Animatronic figure -- expresses skepticism that a bug on the screen can shoot acid, and gets zapped and falls down screaming. Then the bug on the screen "notices" the "intruders" and shoots "acid" at the audience.

Hopper illustrates the life of a bug when he shows a person spraying a bug bomb at the audience and when the fog fills the room he instructs the hornets to attack (pointy things poke you in the back) and black widows to attack (spiders the size of basketballs drop out of the fog). This is when most kids freak out.

There's also a comedy moment when the announcer asks for people to stay put so the bugs can leave and you feel them moving under your seat. Not your chair, your seat, if you know what I mean, and I think you do.

Keep all that in mind as you make that go-in-or-pass-by decision.

--t

What Tod said. Particularly in the spoiler box.

I saw the original in WDW-AK, back in 2000 or 2002. It's been in DCA since the place opened, and I've found no reason to repeat it. For Disney 3-D stuff, I think I'll stick with MuppetVision, PhilharMagic, and the ever-popular HISTA.

I just looked at the calender at Disneyland.com and "It's a bug's Life" is going to be down our whole trip in may!!! i was really looking forward ot seeing it.
It also doesn't list mulholland madness as being down, But i thought it was going to be. Hope i don't miss out on both of them:( :(

My kids are disappointed that this attraction will be down the whole trip. We were looking forward to the attraction except our 3 year old.