Haunted Mansion for kids?

[JaxCon]

What is a good age for this? It doesn't seem to have a height restriction.

 

[mjmcca]

Both my kids did it on the last trip DS is almost 4 and DD is 2.5. They seemed to like it.

 

[GEM]

I think it just totally depends on the kid and their personality. We took my one year old on it in May and he loved it. Now, of course, he wasn't really old enough to understand "scary". One of my little cousins has loved it his whole life (he's 8 now) and another (10 years old) still won't go anywhere near it. Some kids are timid and some aren't scared of anything.

 

[mes]

My first trip to disney was whenI was 4. The only thing I remember from that trip was being scared to death on that ride. I was a big scaredy cat though.

 

[DisneyPete]

At 5 yrs. old, my oldest son was afraid to go in. By 7 he couldn't wait to try it and we rode several more times that trip. My younger kids were 5 and 3 at the time and they both enjoyed as well. So, it all depends on the child.

 

[all4fun]

Any age can ride it. Like the pp said it all depends on the temperament of your child. On our last trip, which was our first time with ds, 13 mos, we learned that while he was fine on PotC and in HM, he was terrified in Mickey's Philharmagic, mainly because of the extreme volume and the other "special effects" of the show. That trip was definitely a learning experience for us.

 

[BlessedMomOfTwo]

We had disasterous results when our little ones (3 & 5) wanted to go on HM on our trip last year. I think they would have been fine on the ride. However, we never made it to the ride. They were totally spoooked when they turned out the lights as we were entering - it gets super dark. A bunch of people around us starting screaming (all in fun I think) and that really scared my littles. I felt so bad for them. We had to take them out. I wish there was a way to skip that part.

Just wanted to give you a heads up.

Carol

 

[GEM]

Hey all4fun - We have a miracle baby too! Our Little Paul was 1lb and 7oz. Sent you a pm.

 

[ppony]

We went last Dec when our son was 3 and a half. He was a little scared in there but he insisted on going in. THEN he insisted on going on again and again. Each time he hid his eyes less and less. He talks about it all the time even now. He wants to go back and that's his favorite ride I guess. So I agree, it totally depends on the child! if your child is more adventerous and like skeletons and Halloween, tey just might be of the mindset to like the ride. My son loved to be scared but hje's not one that takes risks if that makes sense. He's very cautious but when it comes to scarey stuff, he's bonkers excited! Hmm, taht also goes for roller coasters and such, he LOVEs them! but we can't get him to run in a huddle on the soccer field. Go figure!

You be the judge. Many rides have ways of getting scared kids off of them but I'm not sure about this one due to how it's set up. So make a good judgement call because you may not be able to get off for a bit. Good luck!

 

[alicenwonder99]

My youngest kids were fine with it when they were 15 months and 3 years. Then we went again when they were 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 years old and they wouldn't go on it. My 2 1/2 year old was afraid of everything! So, we spent alot of our trip on IASM and the Carosel.

I would try the "tame" rides first and build up to HM. If your child makes it through Snow White, then Pirates, I would say HM is fine. It's that beginning "stretch room" that is scariest.

Mary

 

[don8life]

leave it up to them. I have found when I took my kids on something they were unsure about and didn't like it they wouldn't try anything else. Ruined it for other mild things that they would have loved had they not been on something they weren't crazy about first.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

My boys were "just 2" and "almost 4" on our last trip and both loved it. Normally my now 4 year old is the biggest chicken in the world but he did enjoy it. My 2 year old is a big daredevil and isn't scared of anything but our vaccum cleaner.

I prepared DS 4 that it would be dark etc. (he doesn't like dark but does OK on the rides if he has his pen light flashlight with him. He knows the rules are he can only shine it on the floor or our feet). What I did was tell him that it was his job to scare the "ghosts" before they scared him so he spent the whole ride giggling and saying "BOO! I got him Mom!" at everything in there. That worked well for us and he wanted to ride it again.

 

[rileyroosmom]

Went this May with my 7 year old who really doesn't show fear. While waiting in the pre show room(forgot the name) he got soooo scared! Like a previous post said, didn't help that some people were screaming and the CM was walking around the outside of the room banging against the walls as he went. I had to grab him and ask for the quickest way out. Had to wait for the show to be over first. By then I was holding him and he was crying and really upset. You think you know your kid, but this showed me you never really know!

 

[TDC Nala]

When I was a kid, I loved it. My nephews (5 and 3) went on it in May. The 3 year old didn't care one way or the other except about the dark, which he didn't like. The 5 year old was annoyed that it wasn't the Tower of Terror.

My friend will absolutely not take her children (5 and 2) on it until they're older. She believes it will totally freak them out, especially the 5 year old.

So it depends on the kids, and you know your kids best. You could try them out on Pirates first, there's some darkness and scary stuff there. If they don't like Pirates the HM is probably a no go. My nephews were mildly interested in Pirates.

 

[AlwaysEeyore]

Just got back today w/DD 2-1/2 and Haunted Mansion was her favorite ride. We made fun of all the ghosts before, during and after the reide so she really enjoyed it. She didn't like any of the rides in fantasyland.

 

[chilis]

DD4 has already put her foot down and stated the "we will not be going to that haunted house!" It's one of my faves, so I guess I'll just have to leave her with DH while I go by myself!

Lisa

 

[DiaDeGuadalupe]

It definitely depends on the kid, I think. My DD (now 3) liked the Haunted Mansion at DL when it was all done up with the Nightmare goodies, and she liked it at MK, too

The Snow White ride was another story in itself. She was really scared, and covered her eyes (even through the cute parts with the Dwarves).

 

[JaxCon]

Thanks all - I think we will try it. He loved the haunted house with scooby doo at Paramount.

 

[2Disneybuggs]

My Ds was 5 when we went last year. The HM was the first ride we passed that morning and there was no wait. We just zipped him right on. I had given him a small flashlight to carry. He used it in the first room walking to the doombuggies. He doesn't like the dark but he sat with me and was fine. Of course now I mention the HM and he says he doesn't want to ride. Im hoping he will be brave on the night of MNSSHP because I think he will enjoy it again. Otherwise I'll have to ride alone with my 2 yo DD but I'd really like Dh there too!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I agree it strongly depends on the child. My DS wanted to go so badly but he got as far as the walkway back. He heard the noises coming from the ride and quickly changed his mind. We're determined to get him eased back into thinking about the ride. Maybe we should have tried to prepare him more.