5. Soarin’

This attraction is the genesis of the current article. During a recent visit to Epcot, my wife and I watched in horror as the father behind us (almost literally) dragged his son through the line queue. The boy protested the entire time, punctuating his feelings with multiple crying jags. The dad was fervent that the boy needed to face his fear and ride Soarin’.

The idea seems innocuous, doesn’t it? Soarin’ is a wonderful attraction that mimics the sensation of flight. That’s absolutely fantastic…unless you have a fear of heights.

Many kids hear what will happen on the ride, and they lose their minds. This boy was no exception. Even as his father berated and cajoled him into getting into the seat, the son resisted. He eventually threw such a tantrum that the cast members stepped in, asking the father to stop pressuring his child into riding. The father grudgingly (and angrily) stormed out. He was resentful of the fact that Disney employees wouldn’t force a kid to ride something his father wanted.

A) Don’t be that type of parent. B) Be aware of the dangers of Soarin’ if your child has shown a previous fear of heights. Otherwise, you could unintentionally create a stressful situation for a lot of people.

4. It’s Tough to Be a Bug!

Some kids like bugs. Other kids think they’re nasty, slimy critters who bite and spread disease everywhere. Plus, they walk creepy.

If your child isn’t a fan of bugs…or getting a surprise poke from their chair, It’s Tough to Be a Bug! is worst show at Walt Disney World. It’s basically ten minutes of monster-sized bugs staring into a kid’s soul. The gas that gets released during the show doesn’t help, either. It makes everything otherworldly and unsettling, like a child has been left alone in a jungle setting.

This attraction is a lot of fun when kids have the right attitude. When they don’t, it’s basically a bug-based endurance test a la Fear Factor.