First ride, is she right?

[Californiacicle]

When I asked my son (turning 5 on our first park day) what ride he wanted to ride first he said HM. Every time I've asked him since he hasn't changed. This, although different from my usual touring, is actually going to work well as we will probably miss rope drop due to being at Surf's Up for his birthday breakfast. I figured we would focus on that area of the park and not worry about FL at all that day.

When I discussed it with my mom, who will be with us, she said she thought it wouldn't be a good idea because if he got scared it could throw off our whole trip with him not wanting to ride anything else. She thinks we need to start with a "less scary" ride.

I have had him watch the ride through videos a few times. The first was about 6 months ago and he was scared of the host in the elevator. After we talked about it he seemed ok and then fast forward to a week ago he was dead set on riding HM first.

What do my fellow DISers think? Is she right?

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I'm not good with the acronyms here but I think HM is Haunted Mansion and FL Frontier Land, yes?

If that's the case, there is no elevator operator nor elevator on HM. Do you mean Tower of Terror? On HM there is a foyer in which it gets larger. Is that what you're talking about?

I'm not sure which part it is that he's scared of. My 5 and 3 year old have ridden this ride numerous times - from a year on up. I jus always remind them that everything is pretend and mommy or daddy won't let go either way.

And as far as FL being saved for another day - it's only about a 2 minute walk from HM. You can do both.

 

[Californiacicle]

I'm not good with the acronyms here but I think HM is Haunted Mansion and FL Frontier Land, yes?

If that's the case, there is no elevator operator nor elevator on HM. Do you mean Tower of Terror? On HM there is a foyer in which it gets larger. Is that what you're talking about?

I'm not sure which part it is that he's scared of. My 5 and 3 year old have ridden this ride numerous times - from a year on up. I jus always remind them that everything is pretend and mommy or daddy won't let go either way.

And as far as FL being saved for another day - it's only about a 2 minute walk from HM. You can do both.

I might have got the acronym wrong but FL meant Fantasyland, and yes the Haunted Mansion. The host is the guy who is hanging from the ceiling at the end of the stretching room, sorry to confuse.

We have 5 days so I'd rather not enter the madness of Fantasyland and wait in super long lines on that first day, especially since we'll be entering after rope drop.

 

[Geemo]

I'm not good with the acronyms here but I think HM is Haunted Mansion and FL Frontier Land, yes?

HM is the Haunted Mansion
FL is generally Fantasyland

I say go with what the birthday boy wants. If he has watched the YouTube videos, then he knows what to expect and you know what might bother him.

As you are entering a portion he's a little hesitant about, remind him, you'll protect him. Hold his hand and keep him close in the "Stretch Room". Distract him for the part(s) you know he might not like.

On the last trip my DGD(10) didn’t like the ghost theme of the TOT. She’s okay with the ride action, just not the ghostie stuff. When we took off to DCA for the day, in her chinch bag was her MP3 player and hot pink earphones. When we got to TOT, she put on her earphones, cranked up the music and had a great time on the ride. Go figure….

Geemo

 

[dblaettl]

This ride scares a LOT of children that age... but then again my son loves getting scared. If this is his choice, then by all means make it the first ride. If it DOES end up being too much for him, tell him of less scary rides in Fantasyland and hit up Its a Small World, hopefully at that time you can start easing him into the scarier stuff. Be warned, MANY of the rides can actually be scary to kids, I'm not sure if its the sheltering/helicoptering nature that has changed but a LOT of kids these days are very sensitive to the scary aspects of these rides, and not in a good way.

 

[Vintage Mouseketeer]

When I asked my son (turning 5 on our first park day) what ride he wanted to ride first he said HM. Every time I've asked him since he hasn't changed. This, although different from my usual touring, is actually going to work well as we will probably miss rope drop due to being at Surf's Up for his birthday breakfast. I figured we would focus on that area of the park and not worry about FL at all that day. When I discussed it with my mom, who will be with us, she said she thought it wouldn't be a good idea because if he got scared it could throw off our whole trip with him not wanting to ride anything else. She thinks we need to start with a "less scary" ride. I have had him watch the ride through videos a few times. The first was about 6 months ago and he was scared of the host in the elevator. After we talked about it he seemed ok and then fast forward to a week ago he was dead set on riding HM first. What do my fellow DISers think? Is she right?

You're correct. The Haunted Mansion has an elevator, the "stretching room", the expanding pictures amuse my 4.5 yo DD and there is a "ghost host" which is not that scary, but what can be is when people scream during the hanging scene. That's sometimes startles DD too, but I try to warn her and tell her to join in. I usually carry her during this part because when moving from the elevator to the Doom Buggy area it is dark and gets a bit crowded and eliminates the fear of becoming separated.

I also play a game of find the Raven, he is in a lot of the scenes through out the Mansion and takes your mind off the "spooky" .

At the end of the day you know your child best, and let your son know he can change his mind and doesn't have to ride if doesn't want to.

 

[Drusilla99]

I agree with above, if the bday boy wants to ride it first, ride it first. If it turns bad,then you've learned not to ask him in the future. Kids can be so funny, and different things will set them off,even on something we think is totally tame. If he does start freaking out, just stay calm, your getting upset will just make the whole experience seem worse to him than it is. I've even told mine to shut their eyes on certain parts of rides, just cause I know what will set them off, & then tell them when to open...if you know what to predict, it could help.

 

[JillyBean1899]

There isn't really anything that jumps out at you during the ride, except when you get to the cemetery. There are a few ghosts that pop up unexpectedly from behind gravestones. Those always get me the first time I ride on a trip, but they're the only "startle scare" type stuff in there.

 

[Californiacicle]

You're correct. The Haunted Mansion has an elevator, the "stretching room", the expanding pictures amuse my 4.5 yo DD and there is a "ghost host" which is not that scary, but what can be is when people scream during the hanging scene. That's sometimes startles DD too, but I try to warn her and tell her to join in. I usually carry her during this part because when moving from the elevator to the Doom Buggy area it is dark and gets a bit crowded and eliminates the fear of becoming separated.

I also play a game of find the Raven, he is in a lot of the scenes through out the Mansion and takes your mind off the "spooky" .

At the end of the day you know your child best, and let your son know he can change his mind and doesn't have to ride if doesn't want to.

Yeah, I read that on here somewhere about addressing the screaming. It must have been helpful because he changed his mind soon after. I told him how people liked to be silly by screaming and pretending to be scared, that being scared was fun, and if he wanted to join in he could.

We also talked up the hitchhiking guests and how exciting it would be to see which one we get and how he could make silly faces at it.

I like the raven idea as well. Thank you.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I might have got the acronym wrong but FL meant Fantasyland, and yes the Haunted Mansion. The host is the guy who is hanging from the ceiling at the end of the stretching room, sorry to confuse.

We have 5 days so I'd rather not enter the madness of Fantasyland and wait in super long lines on that first day, especially since we'll be entering after rope drop.

Ahhh, makes more sense! LOL. I say do what he wants. Everyone will tell you differently-that it IS too scary for a 5 year old or that it isn't. Like I said, my kids have gone on it since being really young toddlers and I just have to reiterate over and over that everything is pretend and mommy will not leave their side.I don't joke with them or try to scare them any more than they might be already (can't say that I won't try when they get older though!)

If your son is easily scared maybe it isn't the best thing but honestly, it isn't that bad. Maybe he can just close his eyes during the foyer part?

 

[nikkislaght]

My son (9) went on it once. and refuses to go on it again.. not because he is scared of the ride, but because of the screaming... He has SPD and cant do noise like that in a closed area.... Mind you I cant vacuum when he is home either..
So some kids are not scared of the ride per say.. as it is not a scary ride.... if he can do Pirates then he should be ok with HM . its the crowded room and then unexpected blackout coupled with the screaming that unnerved some of the kids....

I would let him do it... and if he doesn't like it, don't make a big deal out of it.. have an ice cream, go visit a character etc, then move onto your next ride..
There will be rides there he may not like for so many different reasons ( and you too) .. we cant over analyze why on all of them...
Hope you all have a great trip

 

[YukonMommy]

I think it depends on your child. My kids have went on it starting at 18 months all the way to 11 years old (and everything in between...lol) and have never been scared. Even if he does not like it I cannot imagine it ruining the whole rest of the day, Disneyland is full of magical moments and memories and I hope you have many!

Have a Magical Time!

 

[mikana876]

I personally loved it when I rode HM when I was 5, and my son loved it when he was 3... But every kid is different! You never know until you try.

 

[GenGen22]

I think it depends on the kid. My boss just got back from DL & tood her 3yr old dd on HM & she feared that she would be scared too but she loved it. I would have done the same as you did & showed them the utube video & let them decide. Just remember that kids feed off of the way we as parents react. If we don't make it a big deal they get over it faster. When I took my dd on BMTRR for the 1st time when she was 8 in the parts I thought would be scarry I laughed instead of showing that it might be scarry. She looked at me in those parts & laughed too...

 

[bumbershoot]

He already wants to go on something with ghosts, so most of the "battle" is won right there.

"The host is the guy who is hanging from the ceiling at the end of the stretching room, sorry to confuse."

Easy to not see as a child. Just don't look up.

I would strongly advise you to bring ear plugs for him. It's LOUD and when people scream it's just horrid. It merely hurts me; it hurts and SCARES my son, even now. When he has ear plugs, it helps him out quite a lot.

But my son has never WANTED to ride normal HM. He only ever wants to ride it when Jack Skellington is there to make it safe (mid-Sep to early Jan). Your son wants to go. That's very helpful.

 

[Cholula]

Depending on how early you get to HM in the morning, the elevator room might end up not being as crowded. They may hold the room if they see guests coming up, but it usually isn't as jam packed in the morning. Hopefully that might minimize the people who like to scream.

 

[Gisele]

Depending on how early you get to HM in the morning, the elevator room might end up not being as crowded. They may hold the room if they see guests coming up, but it usually isn't as jam packed in the morning. Hopefully that might minimize the people who like to scream.

It isn't an elevator room, it is the stretching portrait room or just simply the portrait room.

 

[KeKy4]

This is my 3yo favorite ride. I think he liked that there was so much to look at. With my older son, he's more scared by the dark rides so I just point out the fun stuff (ie the lady blowing out her candles) and he does fine.

 

[Californiacicle]

He already wants to go on something with ghosts, so most of the "battle" is won right there.

"The host is the guy who is hanging from the ceiling at the end of the stretching room, sorry to confuse."

Easy to not see as a child. Just don't look up.

I would strongly advise you to bring ear plugs for him. It's LOUD and when people scream it's just horrid. It merely hurts me; it hurts and SCARES my son, even now. When he has ear plugs, it helps him out quite a lot.

But my son has never WANTED to ride normal HM. He only ever wants to ride it when Jack Skellington is there to make it safe (mid-Sep to early Jan). Your son wants to go. That's very helpful.

The earplugs are a good idea. We are going to get some anyway for the fireworks because sometimes he's sensitive to loud bangs.

 

[msmama]

My son has been to WDW many times but on our recent trip to DL he was afraid to ride just about everything (including HM). All that to say, there is plenty of fun to be had even if you're not going on all the rides!!

So, while your Mom does have a point, I don't necessarily think you have to listen to her, lol.