Haunted mansion do they ever use the 'ageing portrait' room

[daveyk]

As several people stated, its in the first room, as you first enter the building.

The challenge is entering at the right time; it depends on the crowd level and where you are relative to the door opening to let people in.

If you're near the end of the group, the stretching room likely will already be open, and you'll walk right in.

If you're in the front of the group, your chances are better, but if the park is busy (but not VERY busy) and they're using both stretching rooms, you may go right into the stretching room and miss it.

Your best bet is to kind of let traffic go around you a little to "place" yourself in the right spot; try to get near the front 1/3 of the group, and linger in the foyer as the group enters the stretching room. Then, enter the stretching room after everyone else. You can also ask the CM if you can enter the stretching room with the next group if you want to stay a little longer.

The painting will change over the course of a minute or so; its got (I believe) 6 images that it decomposes through.

 

[itsmetigress]

As several people stated, its in the first room, as you first enter the building.

The challenge is entering at the right time; it depends on the crowd level and where you are relative to the door opening to let people in.

If you're near the end of the group, the stretching room likely will already be open, and you'll walk right in.

If you're in the front of the group, your chances are better, but if the park is busy (but not VERY busy) and they're using both stretching rooms, you may go right into the stretching room and miss it.

Your best bet is to kind of let traffic go around you a little to "place" yourself in the right spot; try to get near the front 1/3 of the group, and linger in the foyer as the group enters the stretching room. Then, enter the stretching room after everyone else. You can also ask the CM if you can enter the stretching room with the next group if you want to stay a little longer.

The painting will change over the course of a minute or so; its got (I believe) 6 images that it decomposes through.

OP isn't talking about just the picture changing though, they are referring to the speil that is supposed to go along with it. OP I go pretty frequently at various times of the year and now that you mention it I don't remember the last time I got to see it, we always go right into the stretching room.

 

[daveyk]

oops. My bad.

I did hear the spiel on a visit last year, but don't recall hearing it when I went in March... I'm wondering if its currently turned off?

But as I said before, if you linger a bit, you might catch it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Most of the time, they are now trying to move guests through quickly, so you don't get a chance to stand and watch the portrait change and listen to the full narration. Yes, years ago they used to do it differently. If you are there when it is not crowded you may still get to see the full narration and portrait change, especially if they are only cycling through one of the two stretch rooms.

 

[magicbob]

IMO, cutting the pre-show seriously compromises the flow of the story.

I agree 100%! I always looked forward to the door slamming and hearing "Welcome, foolish mortals..."

 

[wdwislife]

Hmm, I don't remember ever NOT seeing it but I must have at some point.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

thanks for all the replies. DH has never seen it (and he's been coming to WDW with me since 2000), so i wanted to know if that part of the attraction had been retired or was just used during busy times,

We go in September every year which is one of the slowest times of the year, also went in early Feb last year when it was slow and it was used. They don't stop you in that room as much as when its busy but the effects are still going on as you walk thru. I would have to guess as others have that you are in the back of the pack and miss most of it as the group is already heading to the stretch room by the time you get there.

 

[BarbieGal457]

Oh my gosh! I totally forgot about this until reading this post. I haven't seen it in use in quite some time though. I do remember it as a little girl, as it scared the lights out of me! I can actually remember cowering next to my grandma and mom and holding their legs because I was so frightened. Maybe next time I'll try to hang back and see if I can catch it!

 

[littlelaura]

i didn't even know there were 2 stretching rooms......

 

[littlelaura]

OP isn't talking about just the picture changing though, they are referring to the speil that is supposed to go along with it. OP I go pretty frequently at various times of the year and now that you mention it I don't remember the last time I got to see it, we always go right into the stretching room.

Yes, thankyou. I probably didn't make that clear. in my post i was refering to the full effect pre-show (both sets of doors closed, full narration and picture changing), rather than the picture just ageing in the background.

 

[itsmetigress]

We saw it today! We went to check out the new que this morning. Me, DD and DS were the only people in the room, I remembered to grab some video after it had already started.....it's only a few seconds long