Can you skip the Haunted Mansion Preshow (Stretching Room)??

[Nole95]

I was wondering if there was a way to skip the Haunted Mansion preshow (stretching room) part and proceed to the ride. While I think my daughter will be fine with the ride itself, I think she might get a little frightened by the preshow. Will a cast member allow you to pass through if you ask?

 

[Robo]

I was wondering if there was a way to skip the Haunted Mansion preshow (stretching room) part and proceed to the ride. While I think my daughter will be fine with the ride itself, I think she might get a little frightened by the preshow. Will a cast member allow you to pass through if you ask?

Before the rehab, all you needed to do was ask to be allowed to enter via the wheelchair entrance.
That bypassed the stretching room.

If they did not change this during the recent rehab, then that's what you should ask to do.

 

[nataliela]

I want to say that the wheelchair access bypasses the stretching room and goes through a little hall? But I'm not positive about it after the refurb.
I'm sure someone else will be able to give you more detail and if they let anyone go that way.

 

[Mecha Figment]

no the wheel chair entrance for those who can transport goes into the fourer. the chicken door hallway is what leads past the stretching rooms.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have not been on Haunted Mansion since the rehab, but from what I have read from people who have, the wheelchair access did not change.
People with wheelchairs still have to bypass the stretching room and board at the exit. From what I have read, what has changed is that the regular queue has been widened so that guests traveling in wheelchairs don't leave the line until just before the other guests enter into the building. This sounds to me like it is pretty much the way it was before they added Fastpass.

Ask a CM if you want to avoid the stretching room. Depending on how busy it is at the time, they may allow you to do it right away or ask you to come back when it is more quiet.

 

[Feralpeg]

That part of the attraction has not changed. You should have no problem bypassing the stretching room.

 

[PrincessJasmine1972]

When we were there last week, we went into the wheelchair entrance(DH uses a scooter)and when we were led in by the Butler, we did do the stretch room.

 

[SueM in MN]

When we were there last week, we went into the wheelchair entrance(DH uses a scooter)and when we were led in by the Butler, we did do the stretch room.

I'm assuming though that either:
- your DH left the scooter at the exit, walked thru the back/servants hallway to the stretch room and then boarded thru the regular boarding area with everyone else
- or took the scooter thru the back/servant entrance to the stretch room and then took it back up that same hallway to the exit for boarding.

That is how it was before the renovation.

 

[PrincessJasmine1972]

He left the scooter at the entrance and went in through the back hallway and out into the foyer..

 

[disneynutz]

We were there last week and I had to use a ECV. Since I could walk short distances they had me park it by the exit and walk down a hall to the room before the stretching room. I then walked with the group through the stretching room and to the doom buggy.

 

[streudel423]

I have a similar question about the stretching room (and all of the other pre-show rooms): My mom LOVES Disney, but have severe claustrophobia and has panic attacks in dark places, especially when your packed in room with alot of people. She is so miserable when we have to go into the pre-show rooms (like the stretching room). If we explain her situation to a CM, will they let her skip it?

 

[Robo]

If we explain her situation to a CM, will they let her skip it?

Sounds like something they would do.

They don't HAVE to, but they might, if they are feeling helpful.

Its certainly easy for them to take guests in the side entrance where they have taken the wheelchairs for decades.

 

[goodferry]

They have always let us do this with our 3 year old. I knew she would like the ride, but not the pre-show, they said no problem and led us in through the handicap entrance and right to the buggies.

 

[durango kid]

Well of my experiences with Disney have been incredible and they always seem to accomodate special requests. Since this is a small one to ask, I have no doubt that you will breeze right past the streching room and on to the ride. Disney is GREAT about that kind of stuff.

 

[Twinprincesses]

It is slightly inconvienent for the staffers to take you through the back but we have done it a couple times. The stretch room scares our children but they like the rest of the ride.

 

[baby_becky716]

I have a similar question about the stretching room (and all of the other pre-show rooms): My mom LOVES Disney, but have severe claustrophobia and has panic attacks in dark places, especially when your packed in room with alot of people. She is so miserable when we have to go into the pre-show rooms (like the stretching room). If we explain her situation to a CM, will they let her skip it?

My DFH also has severe clastrophia and has panic attacks in dark tight spaces, anyways because of that he had never been inside the Haunted Mansion because of the pre-show. The last time we went, I explained the situation to a CM and they were glad to let us skip the pre-show and head straight onto the ride through the wheelchair area. They said it was no problem. So you shouldn't have any problem if you explain it to the CMs.

 

[grimley1968]

I didn't know you could do this. This is great information for parents with younger kids. Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

Whether or not they will let you skip the stretching room right then or ask you to come back later will depend on how busy it is.
If they already have a large number of people with ECVs/wheelchairs waiting at the exit area to board (which does happen at times), you may need to wait or be asked to come back later.

 

[ghtx]

Allow me to resurrect this old thread I found while searching.

Has anyone had more recent experience trying to bypass the HM pre-show to avoid potentially frightening young children? This isn't an accessibility issue, just a kid whom I think might get scared during the pre-show but not the main ride.

 

[LazyDaisy]

Huh, what a great idea!

My daughter loves the HM *ride* but is pretty scared during the stretching room. It is kinda creepy. My son gets a bit nervous but DD always hides her face in my shirt and holds on really tightly. She gets through it, though, and I never thought to skip it... but it's a good idea. I should have thought of this when we first went. As it was, the first time that the lights went out, that hush came over the crowd, and everyone could hear her very clearly annunciate in a panicked little 3 y.o. chipmunk voice "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!!!" Everyone in the room burst out laughing. Guess it could have been worse!