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Spooks and Frights That Might Surprise You at Disney

Most of us are aware of the big scares at Walt Disney World. We are prepared for The Haunted Mansion, Expedition Everest, Space Mountain, and Tower of Terror. But some experiences at Walt Disney World can fright and spook. These are ones we aren’t always prepared for and can catch us off guard.

As we prepare for Halloween, we thought we’d share some of these experiences with you. You can prepare for your trip’s sneaky spooks and frights. Or maybe choose to skip out if you so desire.

bugs life
Disney

It’s Tough To Be a Bug- Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The first experience we will warn you about is in the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s Tough To Be a Bug is a 4D show based on A Bug’s Life. Flik is hoping to teach humans about being a bug.

There are a few reasons why this experience might be frightful for some. First, if you fear bugs or spiders, this will be one that you will want to skip. There are a lot of both in the show, and it seems very real.

Second, it gets rather intense. When Hopper, the giant grasshopper animatronic, crashes the party, the overall show goes from nice and light to very dark and scary. This can be a lot for little ones.

Don’t get fooled into thinking this show is all jokes and silly entertainment. Be prepared and think about if you want to see it.

Soarin in Epcot
credit: Disney

Soarin’ Around the World- EPCOT

We personally absolutely love this ride in EPCOT. For us, Soarin’ Around the World is truly magical as it takes us high over different unique icons from around the world. For others, this might not be so wonderful.

If you fear heights, Soarin’ Around the World might be one you want to sit out. Once safely buckled into their hang glider, Guests are lifted high into the air, so they are in front of the 180-degree, 80-foot IMAX screen. This can be terrifying for those who are not a fan of being high up in the air.

What makes it so great is that you genuinely feel like you are gliding through the air. You might not find this fun if you aren’t a fan of being high up or gliding high up.

Ask to sit in one of the lower levels if you want to try it. These don’t lift as high up in the air when the ride starts.

Mission Space
Credit: Disney

Mission Space: EPCOT

Those prone to motion sickness know that skipping Mission Space is probably in their best interest. You might not know that if you are not a fan of tight spaces, Mission Space might also be a ride that you should skip over.

Guests are in a tiny ride vehicle for Mission Space. Once they are buckled up for the mission, the screen moves closer, making the room smaller. There is a lot of air movement on this ride which helps both with motion sickness and the small area, but be aware of this concern.

Mission Space spends a lot of time warning Guests about motion sickness before the ride; however, there isn’t any information about being claustrophobic. Be aware of this before deciding you are going to try out the mission.

Tom Sawyer Island
Credit: Disney

Tom Sawyer Island- Magic Kingdom

It might seem strange that a wide-open island could bring fright, but it is true. Even during the daylight, the many caves throughout the island can provide some good scares.

Narrow passageways lead to small caves and corners full of mystery. Not only does Tom Sawyer Island cause some stress as parents try to keep up with kids, but the many different caves and hiding places can be super scary.

Pirates of the Caribbean
Credit: Disney

Pirates of the Caribbean- Magic Kingdom

It isn’t just the fear of pirates that can make Pirates of the Caribbean full of fright and spooks. There are a few scenes throughout the ride that can be slightly intense.

The first one is right away before getting your picture taken. The skull, music, and narrator make the stage a little creepy. The fighting scene is also intense. As all the canons go off between the two ships, it can feel like they might be coming right after you. It is loud and has a lot of commotion, which can overwhelm many.

Finally, the fire scene can also bring a little fright to some. If you have little ones who aren’t old enough to understand, pretending, seeing, and smelling fire can be unnerving.

We love Pirates of the Caribbean, but we can also see how it can be super overwhelming to some.

Tiki Room
Disney

Enchanted Tiki Room- Magic Kingdom

Personally, there are a few reasons why this iconic attraction brings us some spooks and frights. First, you might be slightly stressed out if you are not a fan of the feathered friends featured in this show. As birds are the central part of the show, those who aren’t fans might want to skip the show.

Next, during the show, there is a slight thunderstorm. If you aren’t prepared for this, it can catch you off guard and be a little unnerving. Be aware that it is coming, and let little ones who might not like storms know ahead of time.

Those are some of the attractions that cause some spook and frights during your Disney vacation that you might not have been aware of. We hope that by sharing them with you, there won’t be tears or fears.

Jennifer Retzlaff

Jennifer became a lifelong Disney fan during her first trip to Walt Disney World in 6th grade. From that moment, Disney became a big part of her life. She quickly started to introduce her love of Disney to her family with a Disney honeymoon and then family trips when her youngest was 18 months old. She loves the magic that Disney brings to people through theme parks, cruises, and adventures. As a teacher, she tries to bring Disney magic into her classroom to help kids believe that “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It.” She is also part of the Magic Vacation Planner team as a personal travel advisor. With this team, she can now help others plan magical vacations. She loves bringing her love to Disney to readers with How to Disney.

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