Haunted mansion and Jack Skellington?

[Superhappyjen]

Hi, I'm wondering how much Jack Skellington is involved in the Christmas decorated Haunted mansion? Last summer my 8 year old learned about a scary guy named Slender Man while he was visiting his dad. He can't even watch Nightmare Before Christmas now without getting freaked out. I know he'll love HM but will we be able to get by Jack Skellington? Thank you!

 

[bumbershoot]

It is all about the movie so Jack is everywhere.

HM purists sometimes hate the NBC overlay (which lasts from September to very early January) because the normal ride is nearly obliterated by the movie stuff. I disliked it at first but now I realize that Skellington makes the ride feel safer for my son (kids are so different!) so I have an appreciation for it.

 

[spellhex]

It's a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, so he's pretty much all over the ride.

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

Hi, I'm wondering how much Jack Skellington is involved in the Christmas decorated Haunted mansion? Last summer my 8 year old learned about a scary guy named Slender Man while he was visiting his dad. He can't even watch Nightmare Before Christmas now without getting freaked out. I know he'll love HM but will we be able to get by Jack Skellington? Thank you!

As PP mentioned the ride is themed for Nightmare Before Christmas so there's lots of Jack everywhere.

Have you tried to explain the differences between the characters to him? Perhaps watch the movie with him or maybe a clip from it on YouTube and the like. What's This would be a good introduction as it's more about Jack discovering Christmas and how magical and mysterious he finds it. I can definitely understand why he would be scared of Jack. I prepared my littles before going by watching the movie together (we are watching it now actually lol).

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

ohhhh no. I've seen adults scream wildly playing Slender. And I can totally see the likeness to Jack.

As others have said, Jack is REALLY everywhere in the ride.

If you'd like to judge for yourself, this youtube video from this year might be helpful (spoilers obviously). The end of the stretch room might be particularly tough (approx at the 2 min 45 second mark), as well as coming down into the graveyard (around 8 min 45)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaTU0_VP31A

Personally, I really dislike the overlay. I'm kind of a HM purist, apparently

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, it's pretty tough to escape seeing Jack Skellington in HMH. I would watch a YouTube video to get a sense of the ride and whether or not you're little one would be freaked out.

[SPOILERS for the ride - albeit most of this is "known" because it's the same from year to year]
-Jack himself appears at the end of the stretching room. This year uses video projections, which can be kind of scarier than the old static face.
-There is a portrait of Jack in the hallway. He alternates between his black outfit and the Santa suit. He's also nominally visible in the first portrait (Santa sled).

(These are from last year and they've changed slightly with the addition of the Zero-effect, but the main idea is the same.)
-There is a portrait of him in the attic. I think it's on the left side, near the end.

-There is a full sized audioanamatronic figure at the entrance to the graveyard. It's where the gravedigger is normally located. This one you really can't avoid seeing because the cars all swing to face him.

-He's visible (in outline) in the Santa sled in the moon by Sally on the escalator ride up.
-There is also a scarecrow in the line queue area (outside). It's not Jack, but it has kind of the same build.

-There are also figures of him outside on the entrance to the ride.

 

[Axlcat]

HM purists sometimes hate the NBC overlay (which lasts from September to very early January) because the normal ride is nearly obliterated by the movie stuff.

Sorry to those HM purists out there, but this makes me very happy. Just 2 more days!

 

[Superhappyjen]

Thanks for all of the info. We've been talking A LOT about Slender Man and such. Thank you teenage step brothers! I will definitely run the video and stuff by him.

I'm glad I'm not the only one a little bit bummed by the holiday dress up. I'm finally getting the kids to DL so I can't complain too much!

 

[DharmaLou]

Sorry to those HM purists out there, but this makes me very happy. Just 2 more days!

Me too - it's my favorite thing about holidays at DLR! I'm going to be so bummed when I go in January and it's back to the regular HM!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Me too - it's my favorite thing about holidays at DLR! I'm going to be so bummed when I go in January and it's back to the regular HM!

I too prefer the Holiday version. Mostly because its less scary for my kids.

 

[jason41483]

Oh Slender Man...

I can't play that game without covering my eyes.

But yes, it's basically a Slender Man ride if that's what your child relates him to.

 

[bleeps]

Golly -- said with good intentions -- there are so many other great rides at DL, that if your son is the least bit hesitant then just skip it. As others have said, Jack is ALL over the HM overlay. I am one of those easily scared types who LOVED the NBC overlay and who otherwise really does NOT like HM -- both my son (15) and I feel that the regular HM is just unpleasantly disturbing.

 

[SMD]

There is also a meet n greet between the HM entrance and the NOS train station. Jack walks from there to a break area by the NOS bathrooms every 20-30 minutes.

 

[allsaintsatx]

Like the last poster just said, there is a meet and greet and although slightly "creepy" (he is the Pumpkin King after all!) Jack is super nice and friendly. We met him on November 2nd and he engaged my DS9 in a lovely conversation about what he was for Halloween and what he might go as next year. He was very sweet and if you did that first it might sooth him a bit!

But, be warned… (SPOILER ALERT) the stretching room has a fairly realistic projection on the ceiling with a loud smashing sound and Jack "coming at you" 3D style! It was kinda sorta intense, so much so I was surprised my DS9 wasn't put off by it!