You can't be a proper Disney hero until you've endured a certain degree of horror. Hercules definitely earned his 'hero' ranking in the movie that bears his name, and he suffered to get there.
His experience with the hydra was the worst of his challenges. It eats him, but he's able to behead it from within. In response, the creature just grows one hundred more heads, much to the terror of viewers. It's still scary to watch this scene now!