Someone defend Tough to be a Bug to me

[ckb_nc]

I am writing our trip report from our last minute trip last weekend. We did Tough to be A Bug for the first time ever this trip. Here is my premise:

I have been going to WDW since I was 9 and I am 46. I have memories of great attractions long gone and attractions I wish were still there (Mission to the Moon/Mars >>> Stitch). I have not liked attractions (Mission:SPACE to me was a clear miss given the intensity). But Tough to be a Bug is the only attraction I have experienced at WDW that I consider offensive. Here is why - it should be for kids, it really should be. But the story line is scary, dark and intense. The effects are scary. My memory of the ride was the wailing of kids drowning out the soundtrack.

Disney does some great, amazing stuff but this is the first attraction I can remember ever that I would tell someone to never, ever do. Mission:SPACE is one that I would recommend with caution. But this one is simply an avoid.

Defenders?

 

[Allison]

I like it.

 

[summerlady]

I like it, my family likes it. We don't have any really little kids, though.

 

[Disneylover99]

We've been to it 4 or 5 times. I've never heard or noticed crying kids before. My kids were 3 and 6 on their first trip. I didn't think it was scary or too intense. We love it!

What did you expect anyways? It's tough to be a bug.

 

[nicolita3]

You probably wouldn't have liked alien encounters then...

 

[Disneychick75]

I am writing our trip report from our last minute trip last weekend. We did Tough to be A Bug for the first time ever this trip. Here is my premise:

I have been going to WDW since I was 9 and I am 46. I have memories of great attractions long gone and attractions I wish were still there (Mission to the Moon/Mars >>> Stitch). I have not liked attractions (Mission:SPACE to me was a clear miss given the intensity). But Tough to be a Bug is the only attraction I have experienced at WDW that I consider offensive. Here is why - it should be for kids, it really should be. But the story line is scary, dark and intense. The effects are scary. My memory of the ride was the wailing of kids drowning out the soundtrack.

Disney does some great, amazing stuff but this is the first attraction I can remember ever that I would tell someone to never, ever do. Mission:SPACE is one that I would recommend with caution. But this one is simply an avoid.

Defenders?

I agree it's too scary for a lot of kids. In all of our trips, we've gone to ITTBAB twice and I don't care to go again. It's a shame too because I enjoyed the movie.
Sorry I can't help you.

 

[Planogirl]

I warned DS about some of the effects and held him on my lap during the part where he could get "stung". He was fine with it.

Not every child is scared of the same things. He was terrified of the witch in the Great Movie Ride.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

I liked it!!! I saw a lot of posts on here that this ride is scary to kids, etc. But when we went back in January, I didn't hear one kid cry or scream. I could see how it could be scary to some kids..but not offensive! Same with Haunted Mansion...some kids are probably scared of it..some aren't I wouldn't say to avoid it...never know until you try!!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I am a full grown adult with a spider phobia. I skipped this attraction for 2 vacations. Another vacation I got brave and did this attraction. I found that the spiders in this attraction were too large and way too cartoonish to be scary.
I actually felt silly that I avoided this in years before. I absolutely love this attraction now.

I feel that if the parents know that they have a child that is bug phobic, then they should not take them in there. They should explain that it is a scary one, but that all the bugs are NOT REAL.

And don't forget .... most of the children's stories that we grew up with have their own dark sides, too. Most children are able to handle it.

P.S. I always lean just a little forward when I think it might be time for the bee "sting".

 

[POOHsie]

Waiting in line to enter ITTBAB, over many visits, I never encountered kids who refused to go in bc they were terrified on a previous visit. And I can't imagine every kid in line is new to the show. My DD was terrified of coaster rides 'til her late teens. But ITTBAB made her giggle at the special effects once she realized they were cheesy tricks. A kid's reaction could also mimic its parents' approach to bugs in real life. Some adults are OK with bugs to some level, some are squeamish and make a big fuss.

 

[sugarnspicex4]

This is one of my favorite attractions and I'm really bummed that it will be closed for renovation during our visit in July! I love the animatronics (Hopper), the surprise "4-D" elements and the tables-turned effect as the bugs try to give the humans "a dose of our own medicine" shall we say (trying not to spoil things too much). Yes, it's a little creepy, but in a fun way... most of us are squeamish at the sight of bugs, but sometimes confronting our fears in a safe, controlled environment can have a cathartic effect in a way that is ultimately exhilarating.

My oldest daughter was 5 when we first saw ITTBAB and she hated it because of the "surprise" effects. But the next time we went back, at age 7, she thought it was great and has loved it ever since. But then we've always encouraged her to get out of her comfort zone and experience things that she has initially been afraid of.

 

[Jfsag123]

I absolutely hated this attraction. HOWEVER, both of my kids were fine with it and say they would see it again, so no, not universally scary for young kiddos. I, on the other hand, will be waiting outside next time.

 

[Hannathy]

I've also never been in a show that kids were crying or screaming. My kids have never had a problem with it My DS was 2 the first time he saw it.
The effects are supposed to be scary! not everything has to be over the top happy and cartoonish for kids. It's good for them to be exposed to different emotions and story lines!

 

[MmmSuite]

Can someone explain the stinging to me? I just keep reading that you get stung but is it in your back or butt? Does it hurt?

Sorry to derail! I'm so confused. lol

 

[SkyMedik]

Can someone explain the stinging to me? I just keep reading that you get stung but is it in your back or butt? Does it hurt? Sorry to derail! I'm so confused. lol

During part of the attraction, you are poked in the back to simulate a sting. It's a a little stick thingy that pops out of the back of your seat. Some find it to actually be painful if you're leaning back. I guess it depends on your tolerance level. For me it's more of a surprise and not painful. I like the ride and think it's cute, but another reason some people dislike it is because they claim the smell effects (sprayed like air freshener) clings to their clothing, won't wash out and causes asthma/COPD flair-ups. I personally think that's quite a stretch, but some take it VERY seriously. It's definitely a ride I would not miss; partly because there's not much else to do at AK ;-)

 

[Robo]

ITTBAB is my second-favorite 3D experience at WDW (following Mickey's PhilharMagic.)

 

[pad406]

We love it, kids were 6&8 first time and DS is a real wuss. Got a bit of a shock at 2 of the 'surprises' but generally loved it

 

[bluwater]

Both of my kids love this. They're older now but even loved it as toddlers. They also loved RnRC and ToT at a very young age. Every kid is different. They always understood that everything WDW is pretend and meant to be fun....and this wasn't a place where they'd actually be harmed.

 

[2Tiggies]

ITTBAB is my second-favorite 3D experience at WDW (following Mickey's PhilharMagic.)

I rank it ahead of TSM!

I have never noticed kids crying during the show but I have seen a few being shown to the exit by a CM with a flashlight. I was one of these parents when DD was 6. I hadn't realized when I took her to see it that she had not seen the movie. We watched it, she could identify the characters, we went back and she loved it. Sometimes, referring to children in particular, if they know who [some of] the characters are, they know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. This has a far heavier weighting in how they cope with it than we sometimes realize. I learned something that trip.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I remember crying at the sunset dinosaur scene in universe of energy, just the easy going one with the long neck brontosaurus looking ones... I agree that kids can cry at various things. Speaking of GMR. The slimey alien scene did a number on the RnRc riding 8 yr old with us, not crying buy definitely freaked him out... Although the spiders dropping down is definitely when the wailing starts. We heard one girl call AK the bug place and that she didn't want to go back. So maybe if they took off the cheesy spiders dropping down, the rest isn't a big deal and the stink bug is funny. but its notnecessary either. Premise is supposed to get u to realize how life as a bug can be hard, so they make you feel like the size of a bug for a few mins with big spiders etc. Maybe that's the lesson, appreciate how a bug's life can be hard and there are other bigger mean bugs out there and maybe the kiddies will learn to respect all the creatures including bugs. We always enjoy it but we always prepare for the screaming when its spider time...