GMR and kids

[Noah's Helper]

Our daughter (age 4) is a big fan of The Wizard of Oz, so I'd like to take her on the Great Movie Ride. But I know she wouldn't like the Alien section at all. Any suggestions on how we could get her through the scary parts of this ride? If I cover her eyes, will the sound still be scary?

I haven't been on this ride in years. What is just before Alien that can cue me to be ready?

Do you think your suggestions would work for my wife too?


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Ben

[RainbowBrite5486]

As you come up0 to the Alien Part, the girl is on the left hand side holding a sort of a gun... cover eyes then!! The alien will be following very quickly. As far as I can remember, you just hear air and loud noises and emergency bells. Hope this helps!

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[Piglet822]

I don't know when you last here but the alien has been moved. He is still in the attraction but does not come out of the ceiling anymore. You could probably distract your daughter during that part of the ride by pointing to the left (the alien is on the right) or offering a piece of candy or something. Hope this helps.

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[PolyGirl40]

Hi Ben,

Personally I think my little one would be more scared if I covered his eyes. It would make him feel anxious and he would think Mommy is scared and protecting me from evil or something.

I just explained to him that the Alien is just like the little toys we see at Toys R Us, but a bigger scale. He did fine. He was more afraid that we were really being kidnapped by the gangster

When he was 3, he saw the wicked witch and assumed she was talking just to him. He had to call his Nana when we got back to our resort room, to make sure his dog was okay.

You can plan and plan, but those little minds can go into uncharted territories sometime. I'd just make light of the ride and she will too. You know her calming effects best

Happy Planning ~

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Carol, aka PolyGirl40
INTERCOT Staff Member
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"To get to the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain."

[frakers]

Actually, there are 2 aliens. The one in the ceiling is for the folks in the first car. The on in the wall only comes out for the folks in the second car. No, it's not very noisy, except for some air hose type noises and a constant alarm/siren. Not loud like on a firetruck, but it, along with the atmosphere and narrator's voice tone, could scare small ones. Like was said earlier, when you see Sigourney Weaver on the left of your car, you're there.
And if your in the back car next to the car doors on the right, don't let them look right. But heck, they may love it. Maybe....

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[Jared]

I personally was never scared of GMR, even when I went on it for the first time when I was 3 years old but my two younger siblings who rode GMR for the first time at age 7 and 3 both found no trouble with the alien. Personally, I don't think they even realize what it is and it is possible that they don't even notice it. I wouldn't reccomend covering your child's eyes but if you think he or she will be scared, try distracting him and have him look at you, instead of the walls and celings. Sound-wise there is nothing but some alarm bells and some "air" noises. What your child might find scary is the gangster. Some kids will really think that the gangster is real. Remind him before the attraction that the whole thing is just make-believe, even though it might seem real at some points. Have a great time!!

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[Minnieskirt]

I worried just like you about the Alien section, but the gangsters are what got to my daughter. We sat directly behind the guide's seat and she screamed as soon as the action started and didn't stop until the end....sorry fellow passengers. It was our first trip and she was 4. Now she is 7 and still doesn't like it but just holds on tight to me and does it for the Wizard of Oz. Our first attraction ever at all of WDW was Tough to be a Bug in Tree of Life at AK. She still won't do that one....too intense for her.

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[PolyGirl40]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Minnieskirt:
Tough to be a Bug in Tree of Life at AK. She still won't do that one....too intense for her.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Sounds normal to me !
It gives me the heebie-jeebies too

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Carol, aka PolyGirl40
INTERCOT Staff Member
[email protected]

"To get to the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain."

[This message has been edited by PolyGirl40 (edited August 22, 2001).]

[Jared]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Minnieskirt:
Our first attraction ever at all of WDW was Tough to be a Bug in Tree of Life at AK. She still won't do that one....too intense for her.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Completly agree, It's Tough To Be A Bug is one of the scariest things in WDW for me even! Everything I've read says that it is fine for anyone. Shows how much they know, I don't think anyone can be trusted except fellow Intercotees.



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[MNNHFLTX]

When my son was younger and we went on the GMR I would just keep aware of where the aliens are going to appear (it's fairly obvious--you see a dark, gaping hole in the ceiling or wall) and then show him. There's something about knowing where something is going to appear to take away the "surprise" effect. I had also told him ahead of time what to expect, that nothing in the ride would touch him and nothing was real--it was all done with animatronics (or robots, as we called them then). Except for the outlaw and gangster, of course.

I'm with the other posters, though--my son was much more startled by the gangster shoot-out scene than the alien scene.

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Beth--
"attitude is a little thing that means alot"

[dulyjs]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I personally was never scared of GMR, even when I went on it for the first time when I was 3 years old<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Okay, now I really feel old.

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