November

Sometimes I wonder whether Disney's rides and shows are created more so for adults than for children. Let me explain. Most Disney rides and attractions are on adventurous themes and foucused on good vs evil, death, beauty and the grotesque etc.

All rides, shows and attraction have happy endings but the impact given by Disney's special effects many a time intimidates and frighten children. It may very spoil your children's vacation in Disneyland.


Why?

Well, there are rides with burning towns, ghouls and ghost arising from their graves, evil witches cackling, all done in the name of fun. Sure, they are fun rides and shows for adults. What about children with young minds that cannot distinguish fantasy from reality?

They will be scared stiff and bawling in the night from nightmares.


Moreover, a very common theme in Disney rides and attractions are bones. Yes, bones.

There are bones everywhere. Human bones, dinosaur bones, skeletons, cattle bones and human skulls. For example, there is a pile of human skulls at the headhunter's camp on the jungle cruise, scores of skeletons sailing and a huge display of .

More skulls and bones can be seen in Peter Pan's flight, Big Thunder Mountain Road and Snow White's scary adventures. Even in The Animal Kingdom, an entire playground is made up of giant bones and skeletons.

The special effects and monsters in Disney MGM studios are even more frightening and sinister given the sophisticated special effect techonology there.

If your children are scared of the evil witch in Snow White's Scary adventures, than exposing them to Disney MGM studio's earthquakes, gun battles and the creature from Alien in the Great Movie Ride may reduce them to tears of fright. This isn't their idea of fun in their dream Disney vacation isn't it?

While most children take Disney's macabre rides in their stride and are easily comforted by their parents, there will be sensitive children who will be scared out of their wits and have recurring nightmares for many nights to come.

There may even be some psychological scars for some. Parents should therefore be sensitive to their children's reaction and discuss with their children how they feel.

Assessing children's ability to handle the rides and shows requires, patience, understading the children and experimentation on the part of the parents.

Some parents or older siblings make matters worse by ridiculing and teasing the children or even go to the extent that the children's trepidation is spoiling the family's fun. Can you imagine how the child can cope with the double whammy emotionally?

A Disney vacation for the family is meant to be fun, adventurous and a time for happy family bonding.

Try to prepare the children and get them ready for the thrills and spills before heading to Disneyland so that they are able to understand and be prepared for what to expect. It will be no longer be a memorable holiday when tears and fears are involved in a .