We all know that Disney World is the happiest place on earth. It’s the place to bring your kids, your little niece, and even the whole family for a magical experience like no other. But what happens when a “family-friendly” attraction turns out to have a dark twist?
Two popular rides come to mind when it comes to false advertising and I’m here to unpack the specifics with you. But do these attractions really need their own trigger warning? Let’s dive in and find out.
2 – It’s Tough to be a Bug
It’s Tough to be a Bug in Animal Kingdom is an older attraction that gives you an up-close-and-personal perspective on, well, a bug’s life. It has no height requirement, but this attraction is NOT suitable for many young children.
Granted, Disney does have warning signs alluding to its frightening nature, but they are easy to miss. In my opinion, this attraction could do a much better job of letting guests know what they’re in for beforehand. It was certainly made for kids originally – but be prepared for some major sensory overload!
Why Does It’s Tough to be a Bug Need a Trigger Warning?
It’s Tough to be a Bug is very scary. While Disney certainly markets this attraction as campy, family-friendly fun, it’s a genuinely scary experience that I can’t recommend to young or sensitive riders at all. While it’s definitely an Animal Kingdom classic, I feel that it has a somewhat dated unabashed intensity that you won’t find on most modern Disney rides.
Be prepared for intentionally scary visuals (mostly creepy crawlies, some of which are menacing and villainous) as well as significant moments of peril. You will be blasted with loud noises, flashing lights, massive smoke effects, sprays of water, descended upon by huge spiders hanging from the ceiling, and even poked and prodded by your own seat a couple of times.
This attraction is NOT for sensory sensitive guests, and I, personally, wish Disney did a better job of advertising that.
Aside from the basic practical and visual effects, the premise and narrative of this attraction are also scary. Throughout the show, you’ll be “accidently” shot at by “poison quills,” and finally sprayed by “acid” and then a stink bug.
The lighthearted fun is quickly over, however, when Hopper arrives to give you “a taste of your own medicine.” In the second half of the show you’ll be “swatted” by a huge fly swatter, “sprayed” by bug poison, “stung” by hornets, and “jumped” on by black widow spiders. A giant chameleon shows up to chase Hopper away (thankfully) but the show has one more trick up its sleave. Before getting up to leave, you’ll feel the “beetles, maggots, and cockroaches” crawling under you as they leave the theater first (another practical seat effect).
For more specifics on It’s Tough to Be a Bug, go check out my in-depth ride review here! Also, if you’re looking for a visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from Pete McDevitt Show:
1 – The Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion is a classic spooky dark ride attraction featuring 999 happy haunts – with room for one more. There is no height requirement, but this ride may not be the best for some younger children or those prone to sensory sensitivity. Most importantly though, I would also put a major trigger warning out there for those with trauma related to suicide or hanging.
Why Does The Haunted Mansion Need a Trigger Warning?
During the pre-show sequence, the ghost host offers you “a chilling challenge” to find your way out. He goes on to state “of course, there’s always my way” before the lights go out and a skeletal body is revealed hanging from the rafters. In my opinion, Disney could do a MUCH better job of offering trigger warnings for this sequence and I feel that it’s a serious disservice to guests with trauma related to suicide.
Aside from this, The Haunted Mansion is intentionally scary all around. Unlike most rides at Disney that may have a few spooky elements here or there, this ride purposefully attempts to frighten its guests – albeit in a fun and campy way. Filled with loud ghostly noises, screams, “haunted-house” theming, eerie illusions, scary characters, and a morbid focus on death, this ride pulls out all the stops to spook its guests.
However, it should be noted that the first half of the ride (approximately 5 minutes of its nearly 8 minute run time) is a much more dark, traditional, haunted-house experience. The last 3 minutes has a lighter tone as you enter the graveyard and are serenaded by (still-spooky) but sillier ghosts and characters. While not as overtly “scary,” this scene is still loud and overwhelming – making it a definite problem for those with sensory sensitivity.
For more specifics on The Haunted Mansion, go check out my in-depth ride review here! Also, if you’re looking for a visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from 4K WDW:
What do you think? Do you agree with my 2 Popular Rides that Really Need a Trigger Warning at Disney World? Don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know!
