Although in my mind, Disney World is most certainly NOT a scary place, there are some scary elements to be aware of if you're heading there with small children.
There are some obvious scary things that parents are prepared for like thrill rides intended for adults. A few off the top of my head are the Tower of Terror, Mission: SPACE, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster...
But there are a few rides that you think of as family friendly that just might make smaller ones a bit nervous. I love the Haunted Mansion, but as a kid that one can be a little spooky. Check out one of my favorite videos of Luke's reaction when he was 3.
And it's not just my goofy little kids that have been known to be nervous on this ride. I love this picture while on Haunted Mansion - Ryan looks a little nervous. But check out the kid in the Doom Buggy next to us. His Dad just decided it was too much and covered the kid's face. Hilarious! (Maybe not to the kid). I would still recommend this ride to families, but just know it's dark and spooky and think about if your child could handle that.
Another potentially scary part of the parks is the noise of the fireworks shows and parades. Andrew hid from us once (causing ME to be terrified) during a parade because he didn't like the noise. And he likes looking at fireworks but the noise bothers him. Wish I'd have thought back then to take ear plugs along to help him enjoy these parts more. If you have one that is nervous with loud noises, plan ahead and take those ear plugs.
Dark areas, even those that have no scary elements, can bother a lot of kids. We let the boys take tiny flashlights with them the first time they went and if they got nervous in a dark part of the park, they could turn them on for a minute to calm their nerves. I would also recommend taking a nightlight for your hotel room as those are either pitch dark at night or you have to leave the bathroom light on which seems super bright!
Security can also be an issue for some children. Something about the officers in uniform and everyone crowding around can cause anxiety. Mention it to your child ahead of time so that they are prepared for it. And once in a while, there will be a security dog on duty. If your child is afraid of dogs, letting them know that one may be nearby may help.
Of course, I've seen tons of kids that have a complete meltdown when approached by Characters. The good news is that most characters now have Meet-and-Greets and are rarely just out wondering in the parks. But once again, just prepare the child in advance. The characters are awesome though about realizing that the child doesn't want to be approached and you'll probably not have any problems in this area!
Please give me a call if you're thinking about a Disney trip. I have a list of rides and how my kids handle them that can certainly help when you're planning. And remember my services are always FREE to plan and book your trip!!