Is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train a Scary Ride for Sensitive Kids?
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for Highly Sensitive Kids: a Ride Review and Rating
Are you planning a trip to Disney World and wondering if your highly sensitive, sensory sensitive or anxious kids will enjoy Seven Dwarfs Mine Train? Or will they be scared and have meltdowns instead?
Look no further!
Here you’ll find a thorough overview of one of Disney World’s popular rides—Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Maybe some of your kids’ triggers are sudden noises, noise level, darkness, bright or flashing lights, speed, or “scary” visuals. Sometimes, these seemingly minor things can cause sensory overload meltdowns in our sensitive family members.
If you don’t like spoilers and it’s your first time going to Disney World, STOP READING NOW! The reason for creating these ride reviews and ratings in the first place is to make sure there are NO surprises that will throw off you and your family. But continue on if you’d like all the details about Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and want to find out if it’d be a scary ride for the sensitive or anxious members of your family.
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Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride Info
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, also sometimes referred to as 7DMT in Disney abbreviations, is a rollercoaster found in the Fantasyland section of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It first opened on May 28, 2014. Since then it has been one of the most popular rides at Magic Kingdom as indicated by the long wait times. It is also one of the attractions at Magic Kingdom that use the Lightning Lane Single Pass (where you can pay extra to bypass the standby line). So, this clearly shows that Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is usually in HIGH demand!
It is themed after the beloved dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It feels like you are racing through a diamond mine on a rustic mine train. Inside the mine, you’ll get to see glittering jewels and see all of your favorite dwarfs whistling and singing while they dig. The audio-animatronic technology used for the dwarfs make them look super realistic!
This coaster travels both outdoors and indoors. There are also two on-ride cameras that take pretty epic pictures and videos of guests. You’ll need Disney’s Photopass to access them.
There is a minimum height requirement of 38 inches (97cm) for this ride. If you’ve got taller kiddos, this could be one they are tall enough to ride at the age of 2 or 3 years old! My son was one month shy of 3 when he was able to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It’s a really quick ride, as the duration is about 2 minutes, 50 seconds long. This ride is NOT recommended for expectant mothers.
While it IS a roller coaster with a height restriction, is it really that scary for sensitive or anxious kids? Let’s break it down and figure out if this ride will be an enjoyable one or totally unpleasant for your child.
Sudden Noises 2/5
Highly sensitive kids who are going on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train may experience some sudden noises. When the ride enters the dark mine, you will suddenly be surrounded with the noise of the dwarfs singing “We dig dig dig dig dig dig in our mine the whole day through…”, which could be experienced as a little startling at first.
Those of you who are familiar with the song know that there is a little alarm bell that goes off before the dwarfs start singing “heigh ho, heigh ho! It’s home from work we go!” That’s another instance of a sudden noise to be aware of when riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Other than this dark indoor mine section of the ride, sensitive or anxious family members shouldn’t have to worry about any other sudden noises.
Noise Level 3/5
Loud noises can be overwhelming to people who are highly sensitive, sensory sensitive, or anxious. The noise level on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is fairly loud but it’s not throughout the entire ride. Like most Disney attractions, the volume of the audio effects seem to be pretty high. You’ll mainly encounter that when the dwarfs are singing inside the dark mine.
The only other loud noises you’ll experience are the typical sounds of the rollercoaster tracks and other guests screaming in excitement! If your child is easily bothered by loud noises, make sure to prepare ahead of time with noise canceling headphones or ear plugs.
Related: Disney World Packing List for Highly Sensitive or Anxious Kids
Darkness 3/5
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is themed to look like…you guessed it…a MINE. So, yes, you will experience some darkness. The queue is mostly outdoors but the last section right before you board is indoors, dark, and cave-like. It’s also very dark in the section where you see the dwarfs working and singing. But overall, the ride weaves in and out of these dark caves, so you won’t be in darkness for a long time. Rides like Frozen Ever After or Peter Pan’s Flight are all indoors and really dark throughout, but it won’t be like that for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Some highly sensitive or sensory sensitive children are extra fearful of the dark. So, just be mindful of those specific sections when you’re inside the mine. Sometimes a grown-up’s reassuring hand to hold is helpful to get through those dark parts.
Bright & Flashing Lights 2/5
There are highly sensitive, sensory sensitive or anxious kids who are bothered or scared by bright and flashing lights. It is common for all their senses to be more heightened, and this includes their vision. For Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the only section where this might be a problem is that indoor mine scene with the dwarfs. There are tons of shiny bright jewels within the darkness of the mine. This could be overwhelming for some sensitive eyes.
Also, if you ride this attraction during daytime hours, it could be a little bothersome for some when the ride moves suddenly in and out of dark areas to the outdoors. The outdoor sections in the daylight could definitely be experienced as really bright when you’re coming out of those dark mine areas.
Speed 4/5
The fast speed of some Disney attractions can feel overwhelming to those who are sensory avoiders. While Seven Dwarfs Mine Train IS a rollercoaster, it definitely doesn’t rank as one of the fastest coasters at Disney World. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train does travel up to 34mph (or 55km/h) at its fastest points. But it also has a slow section when you enter the dark mine to see the dwarves working and singing. Overall, it’s a pretty fast ride that could make those wary of speed a little bit nervous. HOWEVER, it’s designed to be a family-friendly coaster and not for thrill seekers only. If you’ve got new rollercoaster riders, this one could be a good one to try. Then you can gauge whether or not they would be okay with attempting ones that are more thrilling.
Drops 4/5
It is quite common for rollercoasters to have a few drops and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is no exception. This ride has two fairly mild drops—one at 31 feet and a bigger one at 39 feet. For context, the drop on Splash Mountain is 50 feet tall, so Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is not as intense. If your child is hypersensitive to vestibular input though, they might still experience these drops as overwhelming and scary.
Not sure if your kiddo has vestibular sensitivities? If they’ve ever been extremely upset with unexpected movements, hated car rides, or been nervous playing on swings or slides at the playground, they might struggle with sudden drops on Disney attractions.
Scary Visuals 2/5
What is considered “scary” is pretty subjective. Something that is scary to one child might not be scary to another. Highly sensitive, sensory sensitive, or anxious kids in particular can have a hard time with scenes of violence, conflict or villains. When it comes to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, there isn’t too much you need to be concerned about. The main feature of the ride are the dwarfs who many think are quite cute! Kids who are especially attuned to facial expressions might notice Grumpy’s frowning face, but it isn’t particularly scary.
The only part of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train that might be a little scary is when you catch a glimpse of the wicked queen disguised as an old lady at the very end of the ride. You will first see Snow White dancing with the dwarfs in the house. The evil queen is right outside the door of the house holding the poison apple. If your child is especially afraid of this villain, find a way to reassure them during this part of the ride. And even if they start getting upset, don’t worry — you’ll be getting off the ride shortly thereafter.
Related: How to Prepare Your Sensitive Child for Disney World
Proximity to Others 1/5
Highly sensitive and anxious kids can be overwhelmed in crowded places. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride vehicle itself allows for two passengers per row with individual lap bars. So you’ll have your own space and not be really close to others who are not part of your group. However, parts of the queue can feel a little bit crowded and enclosed, especially in the section right before boarding.
If waiting in a traditional line is really difficult for your kids due to sensory issues, PLEASE look into the Disability Access Service (DAS) pass. You can get this at guest services in theme parks or apply for virtually before your trip. It doesn’t mean you get to skip the line; instead, you’ll be given a return time based on the current standby time. This means you can wait elsewhere, grab a snack, or have the kids get some of their wiggles out.
Strong Smells 0/5
Disney typically makes their attractions, shows, and rides more immersive by appealing to ALL senses, including smell! Strong smells, even pleasant ones, can bother highly sensitive or sensory sensitive kids. It can totally cause headaches or make them feel nauseous. However, there are no strong smells to be concerned about when riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Wetness 0/5
The sensation of getting wet on Disney rides, especially getting wet unexpectedly, can contribute to sensory overload in highly sensitive or anxious kids. Luckily, you don’t need to worry about that at all on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. There is literally no chance of getting wet on this ride, unless you happen to be riding it while there is a sudden Florida rainstorm 😉
TOTAL 21/50
How do we understand this rating? A lower score means less sensory overload, while a higher score means greater likelihood of being overwhelmed and overstimulated. This is helpful when deciding which rides might cause sensory overload meltdowns in our sensitive or anxious kids.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is designed to be a family-friendly coaster, so the thrill level is not TOO high. It’s not as fast or steep as some of the other rollercoasters at Disney World, but you will still experience some drops and sharp turns. Be mindful if your child is afraid of the dark, loud sudden noises, or bright flashing lights, as that indoor mine scene has a lot of visual and auditory stimulation. Also, take note if you have a kiddo who is especially scared of the evil queen from Snow White. She’s not the star of the show, but you’ll still catch a glimpse of her.
If you have kids who love the seven dwarfs, then you cannot miss this ride! It’s not very common to see the dwarfs throughout the parks. That’s why this is a great chance to experience the dwarfs while at Disney World. The animatronics are lifelike, and if you’ve got a sensitive kid who has an eye for detail, they might even appreciate the amazing work of Disney’s Imagineers.
What has YOUR experience been like on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train? Do you love it or hate it? If you haven’t been yet, will you include this ride on your list of must-dos at Magic Kingdom?
FIND COMMUNITY
If you need extra support and community from other parents of sensitive or anxious kids going to Disney, I encourage you to join my private Facebook group!
You can ask all your questions and get feedback from a wonderful group of Disney-loving parents who are also looking to minimize the meltdowns and maximize the magic during their Disney World vacation.
And follow along with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to get updates on my latest content.
Lastly, don’t forget to download your FREE copy of my must-have Disney ride planner tool! Use it so you can easily keep track of which rides you want to avoid and which you want to try with your highly sensitive kids. It will make planning your park days SO much easier! It is an editable and fillable PDF file, but there is an option to print a blank copy so you can fill it out by hand.
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