YES, I know . . . almost three seems WAY young for Pirates, but he really really wants to go. We've warned him that there is a "scary" drop in the water, but he says he won't be scared (RIGHT!). Is there a place in the Blue Byou that you can see the drop, or is it hidden? I can't remember. It would be nice to show him what he's getting into before we have to console a terrified kid the rest of the ride.

He's not scared of much that he knows isn't real . . . he's seen bits of the movie and was fine with it, but then he freeks out at Pygmy goats at a fair this past weekend . . . random kid. If he can see what is coming and we can talk about it first, then he might be ok with it.

Anyone have suggestions?

I don't think you can see the drop in Blue Bayou ( I couldn't).
I really think he would be fine on Pirates. I would take him.

YES, I know . . . almost three seems WAY young for Pirates,

Why does it seem way young? My almost 3-y/o has no problem with it. It all depends on the kids. My older two were more reluctant but usually if we could talk them into it, they got off of it without a problem. I don't advocate forcing kids on rides they are really afraid of (and yes, Pirates CAN be freaky for kids - talking skeltons, canons, etc,) but I don't assume the Pirates ride is too much for a 3-y/o, especially if he WANTS to go on it.

Anyone have suggestions?

The drops really aren't that much. I would just tell him ahead of time that there are drops (which you have) and then talk to him (quietly so you don't disrupt other guests) during the ride just to let him know when it's coming up.

He sounds very enthusiastic to ride it, so I wouldn't make a big deal about discouraging him.

Adrienne

ETA: No, you can't see the drops ahead of time.

Are you going with anyone else? I ask that because maybe you can go on the ride by yourself first, find where the drop is about to take place and then take him on the next round where you KNOW where the drop is. Then you can tell him, this is where the drop is at, then it will be smooth sailing.

I want to say the drop is right after Davy Jones, but I can't really remember. We usually on go on this ride once or twice, but I plan to do it a couple of times when we are there for the 2 1/2 days.

Mine started going on Pirates before they were 1. It's really not very scary. It's my 2 year olds favorite ride. I think he'll be fine.

When I took my son to DL he was almost 3. I made a point of showing him and his then 5 year old sister the videos of POTC and the Matterhorn from www.visionsfantastic.com a number of times before we went. This was VERY helpful. DS chose not to ride the Matterhorn but DD did and would have freaked completely if she did not know Harold the monster was there.

As for POTC, my son did not want to ride but as DH and DD took of to go on the ride he had a major "I want daddy!" freak out. I said, OK you can have Daddy but you have to go on the ride. So we ran, caught up, went on the ride and everyone loved it.

Show your son the video and leave it up to him if he rides or not. I think it will be fine!

Another thing - I believe you can hear the boat in front of you scream with the drops. That can be your cue to warn your son they are coming.

Mine all rode from infancy on. Now, even our service pup rides. It's fun going past the line and seeing parents with little kids telling them "See, even the doggie can ride, you can ride this!"

Don't take a crying kid on the ride though. He won't enjoy it, and neither will the people around you.

Now, even our service pup rides. It's fun going past the line and seeing parents with little kids telling them "See, even the doggie can ride, you can ride this!"

Picturing your pups riding POTC just made my day. Thanks for that:D

My kids LOVE Pirates! Of course, they are my kids so they don't have much of a choice on this! DS is 4 and DD is nearly two. DS was 12 days on his first Pirates ride, DD was 18 months! I must echo the PPs that say 3 is definately not too young for a kid who really wants to ride! The first drop comes right after the talking skull that tells you "it's too late to turn back now". Once you pass it, count to 10. By four you're dropping, by ten, you're done! (I'd even say eight, but it depends on how fast or slow you count.) That drop is completely dark. You will hear the boat ahead of you scream and you will hear the water rushing. The second drop isn't far after that one, it's completly lit up and you will hear it coming. It's one count longer, if memory serves. (I haven't had to count it for some time now.) So if you have to go to 10 for the first drop, it will be 11 for the second. Then there's the long climb at the end of the ride, and an insignificant "drop" after that. If you hear someone screaming on that one, it's my brother, he can be wierd like that!

Liz :cool:

I have been taking my son on this ride since he was 1.5! A trick that we have to make the drop less scary is to have the child sit between two adults if possible. Have them take their feet and push agaist the floor/seat in front of them (hope that makes sense). This will keep them from feeling like they are going to fall foward when they hit that drop. This works like a charm for our son. Also, I warn him....."here is comes. Get ready".

Oh, and my 2 year old is the one screaming "Everybody...hands up" before the drop :p

Thank you, everyone!! This makes me feel much better. I love all the great suggestions. We didn't get to go last year because we went to DLR just before they opened POTC again. He was totally bummed last year that we didn't get to go. I'm sure things will go fine - maybe Mom's just more afraid than he is (about his reaction, not the ride) ;)

I'll show him the video - that's great!! We'll count, we'll hold our feet to the floor, and I'm sure he'll be sitting between us. Can't wait! :)

37 days left! WHEEEEEEE!

My 5 year old loves Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Mullholland, etc. but hates Pirates. The drop doesn't bother her but the "Scary People" and voices and cannons scare her to death.

My three-year-old daughter loves Pirates. The first time she was on it, she was about 2 3/4. She sat between me & Nonni (Grandma). We were both quietly warning her that it was going to be really dark, and that we would go down really fast, but that she didn't have to be scared. She patted us both on the thigh & said, "It's OK, Guys." She loved it.

I was concerned about how she'd react to the "real" HM (first time had the Halloween overlay) -- no worries there either. Then again, she doesn't seem to be fazed by much.

Isn't it funny how kids can react to things? My son hates HM for one little reason.....when your buggy spins and turns backwards. He hates that part of the ride. Nothing else bothers him.

Oh gosh, Pirates is a great ride! DS nursed through his first trip at 1, then his second trip at 2 sat glued to my side, biting on my shirt, but his eyes were WIDE open just taking in everything and loving it...big smile at the end. :)

I'm pretty sure we're going to be going on a zillion times on our upcoming trip after he's 3.

I feel that the actual MOVIE is too adult for him (for a long time to come), but the ride is just great fun! :p

And I feel the drop is NOTHING, you can just tell that you will be going down a little bit, and it will be fast, but you have to go down to get into the river. :)

When my son was 1 and 2 he did just fine on Pirates. Haunted Mansion freaked him out much more and he would ask me as we got on other rides if it had any ghosts on it.

I can remember going when I was 3...it was my favorite ride. All I remember from then is how it was nice and cool in there, and a little bit about the lighting. But I know I loved it. I don't think he's too young. My youngest wouldn't ride, but she wouldn't ride much of anything our first family trip. *sigh* There really are emergency "I changed my mind" gates at the enterance of every ride.

Do have to add that Pirates really scared my daughter at almost-3-and it was the FIRST ride we went on at WDW that trip, so then she was nervous. I didn't even think she might find it scary-if I had, we might have worked up to it. The things that freaked her out the most were the cannonballs splashing nearby...and the animatronic crab on the beach. Kids are, as you said, totally random. Your boy sounds like he has a lot more experience on rides in general, so I imagine he'll be fine.

Do have to add that Pirates really scared my daughter at almost-3-and it was the FIRST ride we went on at WDW that trip, so then she was nervous.

I regularly recommend that parents start with 'easy' dark rides. At Disneyland that would be Pooh and Peter Pan. It helps to start with Small World, too, because that's a boat and an indoor ride.

Build up to Pirates, Mansion, Snow White & Pin-o-chIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Adrienne

Another thing to keep in mind is that many kids are afraid of things at 3 that didn't bother them at 1 and 2. They are more aware at 3 that there are things to be afraid of, if that makes sense.

I sit my son on my lap or close next to me, and whisper in his ear throughout the ride. I warn him of things coming, and when there are screams or something scary, I let him know that it is part of the show and supposed to happen and everything will be alright - no one gets hurt. Reassuring him seems to work.

Oh, and I have also taught him that rides are an appropriate place to scream if he's scared! He says "whee" all the way down the hill - and thinks its fun. He knows its safe because I reassure him and hold on to him, and so, he relaxes and has fun.

I had the same worries our first trip. But, my husband said (and it turned out to be true) how are we going to know what his limits are unless we try things? If it turns out he gets scared, you talk him through it, get off the ride, and you know not to go back on the ride.