Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
how much they actually enjoyed the experience. There is a lot of difference between
having a good time and mustering the courage to get through something.
Evaluating a child's capacity to handle the visual and tactile effects of the Disney
parks requires patience, understanding, and experimentation. Each of us, after all, has
his own demons. If a child balks at or is frightened by a ride, respond constructively.
Let your children know that lots of people, adults as well as children, are scared by
what they see and feel. Help them understand that it is OK if they get frightened and
that their fear does not lessen your love or respect. Take pains not to compound the
discomfort by making a child feel inadequate; try not to undermine self-esteem, im-
pugn courage, or subject a child to ridicule. Most of all, do not induce guilt, as if your
child's trepidation is ruining the family's fun. When older siblings are present, it is
sometimes necessary to restrain their taunting and teasing.
A visit to a Disney park is more than an outing or an adventure for a small child.
It is a testing experience, a sort of controlled rite of passage. If you help your little one
work through the challenges, the time can be immeasurably rewarding and a bonding
experience for both of you.
The Fright Factor
While each youngster is different, there are essentially seven attraction elements that
alone or combined can push a child's buttons:
1. THE NAME OF THE ATTRACTION
Small children will naturally be apprehensive
about something called The Haunted Mansion or Snow White's Scary Adventures.
2. THE VISUAL IMPACT OF THE ATTRACTION FROM OUTSIDE
Splash Mountain, The
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad look scary
enoughtogiveevenadultssecondthoughts.Tomanysmallkids,theridesarevisually
terrifying.
3. THE VISUAL IMPACT OF THE INDOOR QUEUING AREA
Pirates of the Caribbean with
its dark bayou scene and The Haunted Mansion, with its “stretch rooms” are capable
of frightening small children before they even board the ride.
4. THE INTENSITY OF THE ATTRACTION
Some attractions are so intense as to be over-
whelming; they inundate the senses with sights, sounds, movement, and even smell.
Captain EO, Muppet-Vision 3-D,
and
It's Tough to Be a Bug!,
for instance, combine
loud music, tactile effects, lights, and 3-D cinematography to create a total sensory
experience. For some preschoolers, this is two or three senses too many.
