Haunted Mansion

[taraaplin]

What kind of ride is it? Do you walk through it or is it a ride? What is the "scariness"? How do you think a just turned four year old would fare? He will not be riding dinosaur yet as a comparison because it would be too intense and scary for him. Please help me decide if he will be okay for haunted mansion.

 

[kaetra]

You are in a cart called a "Doom Buggy" that drives you through the ride. Lots of skeletons, ghosts, etc. By comparison Dinosaur has things jump out to terrify you. There's really nothing like that on HM, but a few of the characters are fairly creepy.

Check out some youtube videos of the ride.

 

[chris1212]

Just took our almost 4year old on HM and she did fine. Was a little scared, but an arm around her and she was fine. She went in dinosaur the day before and loved it, as a comparison.

 

[cariann77]

It's not scary. The scariest part is before you board. You're gathered in the pre-boarding area, creepy cast member talks, walls stretch to reveal some images that some find disturbing and then it goes pitch black. I'm bringing my 2-year old on and that's the only part that I'm worried about.

 

[Rose77]

I also recommend showing your kids a video of the ride to see how they react. I have a 2 yo and a (very sensitive) 5 yo. I showed them the video after explaining to them about what to expect, but they both got scared watching it. We've decided to skip the ride this year and wait until they are older.

 

[tinkerbella16]

I wouldn't call it scary.. I'd say it is more of a fun scary than a terrifying scary ride. A lot of kids will get slightly frightened just by the darkness alone, as with other attractions in wdw. When we took my 3 year old cousin, he was afraid of POTC, Jungle Cruise, HM only because it was dark not really because they were scary rides.

 

[Micca]

It's possibly the best attraction on property. If you decide it's not going to work for your 4 yr. old, try to do a kid swap if possible and experience it for yourself.

 

[Figment4EVA]

Depends on the kid. I was definitely going on it at age 5, and I might have done it at 3 but I can't remember. There is only one part that scared me as a child, and that is when you first enter, before you get on the ride. A group of people is herded into a room that has pictures on the walls. The room is actually an elevator and the pictures stretch out and reveal funny/creepy characters. Then the room goes black (I think there is a thunder noise) and up above on the ceiling is a large spider or something. That always scared me. I still wanted to ride the ride, so I would compensate by having one of my parents hug me and cover my ears while I closed my eyes until the elevator part was over. The ride itself is a bit more whimsical. But that's just me - all kids are different.

 

[chiisai]

It's not scary. The scariest part is before you board. You're gathered in the pre-boarding area, creepy cast member talks, walls stretch to reveal some images that some find disturbing and then it goes pitch black. I'm bringing my 2-year old on and that's the only part that I'm worried about.

Agree. Preboard is creepy. Covered DD's eyes and ears for the stretch room at DL last year; she was 4.

 

[perditax]

As a kid I also found the stretch room the scariest. They shut you in there.

 

[glocon]

I agree that the stretch room will probably be the scariest- it was for my son when he was five. It is also dark and quite loud. But there is an emergency exit if you have to leave because he's scared- at least before you get on the doom buggies.
it's a great ride so you can try....

 

[larryz]

This may be more information than you wanted but...
http://www.doombuggies.com/

 

[ShayBells]

My DS has been on it since he was a baby. Worst part for most is the first part. They tell a story than the room goes pitch black. He doesn't like that. We warn him every time and he holds a glow braclet and I tell him the lights will go right back on. On the ride part Ive always tried to make it funny. Point things out and give it a humorous twist. "Look at that door knocking all by itself. Isn't that silly?" Stuff like that. He's always loved the ride part. I would say try a YouTube video and you'll be able to tell than whether to risk trying it or not.

 

[taraaplin]

Thanks. We will most likely skip it for him this year. He is terrified of insects and spiders and I don't want to have him go on to cry and be terrified in the beginning. It would also not be great for those in elevato with us. My two will go with me and we will rider swap for hubby! Thanks!

 

[JZCubed]

Depends on the child.

My kid dislikes Haunted Mansion, but was somehow OK with Tower or Terror.

She really does not like the elevator (stretching room) and finds the portion leading to the dining room to be frightening as well.

Of course, last time we rode, we were stuck for about 5 minutes in the cemetery....the promise of ice cream assuaged the tears.