Haunted Mansion

[Disneynut4ever]

Can someone explain to me exactly what happens in the Haunted Mansion? Some people tell me it's scary, other tell me it's comical. We are not a family that enjoys haunted houses - like during Halloween -- people screaming and jumping out at you, etc. Is this what the Haunted Mansion is like?

 

[2Xited4Disney]

I highly suggest the Movie Haunted Mansion that came out a few years ago with Eddie Murphy. The acting is dreadfull but it really gives a good view to the story line (minus Eddie Murphy's family) It also shows many aspects of the ride in the movie.


Haunted Mansions bark is worse than its bite

 

[Deb & Bill]

It's not gory or bloody. It's not horror. It's comically spooky. Think Addams Family type spooky. There is so much to see, you have to be constantly looking on your first trip through. You'll be riding in a doom buggy (holds two, maybe three persons if one is small). You'll travel through the haunted mansion. As you ride through, you'll see and hear spooky things. Once again, no chain saws, no bloody bodies or parts of bodies, no trauma.

At the end you'll have some hitchhiking ghosts who will want to go home with you. You'll hear creaks, moans, etc.

 

[maggiann]

no, it is not scary. you get in these cars and ride thru the mansion. you see ghost and stuff but its not scary

 

[MOMOFMNM]

It is not spooky, scary, bloody type ride...it is a slow moving, aparition type ride where you see ghosts all through this old house but the music is not scary or loud and it IMO is not frightning at all, if I remember correctly most of the ghosts are smiling and dancing and fun type ghosts. My 5 yo scaredy cat dd rode it and liked it!!

 

[kittythepoohbear]

Disneynut4ever, I can't believe you have been to WDW so many times and haven't gone on the Haunted Mansion! (Then again, it took me over 20 years to get on Space Mountain! LOL!)It is a great ride, one of the best Disney has ever created. The Haunted Mansion is not scary, although some very young children get scared of the effects. The overall atmosphere is creepy - a lot of darkness (although not pitch black), thunder, shadows, etc.
There are no live actors in the ride - only special effects and audio-animatronics. Some of the animatronic figures pop out at you, but it is very fun house like. Nothing is popping out at you wielding a chainsaw and nothing ever touches you. You sit in your doom buggy for the entire ride. If anything ever gets too intense, just close your eyes, but keep them open for the ballroom scene and see if you can spot the hidden Mickey.
It has some comical moments, like the final graveyard scene, and is all in good fun. You and your family should enjoy it very much!

Have Fun!

Kat

 

[GlennI]

We didn't think it was scary at all, not your traditional Haunted House. Its more of a Magical Ride through the house... But not scary in the least.

 

[Disneynut4ever]

Do any of the ghosts jump out at you unexpectedly? What is the first part like, before you get in the cars? I heard it was really dark.

 

[disneyaggie]

I love the HM -- but find it pretty eerie.

The only part that I know of something jumping out at you is a part where the ghosts pop up from, I believe, a couple of tomb stones, while shrilling at the same time.

 

[runner26.2]

Comically haunted is a perfect description. It is not terribly dark, you can always see what's around you which is the whole point. You are on a guided tour through the mansion where you get to see all the ghosts and goblins that live there. It is quite entertaining and funny. It is certainly not scary to preteens, teens or adults. Young children might be scared before it starts, simply because of the presentation and the fear of the unknown. However, if you hold their hand and laugh they will be fine. Our 3 & 6 year olds loved it.

No one jumps out at you, screams unexpectedly in your ear etc.

If you're concerned go on it alone first and you will see.

 

[thotfulspot]

The Haunted Mansion is my absolute, hands-down favorite attraction at WDW. I have easily gone through it a hundred times (over many, many years) and I can still always find a new detail.

You are shown into the Portrait Chamber, and there is a moment of pitch blackness at the end of the show there. Nobody jumps out at you, and the (dim) lights come back on after a very short time. You walk through to where you step into your Doom Buggy, and from there you ride through the house. The effects range from agreeably spooky to fun spooky, and as others have noted, there isn't any gore or horror at all. No live characters lunging at you from dark corners, for example.

The scariest effects are the ghouls which periodically shoot up from behind tombstones with a shriek (if you keep your eyes open, you'll always be able to see them coming, so they shouldn't be a shock), and the bride in the attic, which is only scary because it's frightening that they would take the original, subtly creepy effect and bathe her in day-glo colors with a garishly beating heart and just ruin the mood, but maybe that's just me.

Don't miss the ghost under the table in the ballroom, and if you decide to join them, don't forget your death certificate.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When you are in the stretching room, they gather you tightly into the center of the room. The "Ghost Host" tells you a bit about the house and gives you a chance to look at the portraits in the stretching room. At one point, the lights go out briefly and there is a scream. Then the doors to the loading area will open and you'll get into your doom buggy. They will show a body in the ceiling (way up high) but it's hard to actually make it out, so a little one shouldn't have to much to think about. They'll be more worried about the lights being out for that brief moment.

 

[iliketoby]

Some little kids get scared. Yes, some love it, but some get scared. It is a dark place that you ride through. There are ghosts, and a cemetary where things pop up (not at you, but they pop), and there is screetching, and a big crystal ball with a head in it. There is a hall of knockers where the door knockers bang around. It CAN be confusing & frightening if you don't have the sense to realize it isn't real, which some little ones don't.

A friend of mine calls her mother a child abuser for taking her on it at age 5 (she was terrified & still remembers it!) I've seen kids scared to death, being dragged by parents toward the doom buggy. An adult who is scared has to be a bit off their rocker.

My 3 kids went at early ages. Two were fine, had fun. My scaredy-cat (he was such a big baby!) was nervous and clingy - definately didn't enjoy it.

 

[Hugpug]

The only real dark part of the ride is the beginning before you get in line for the doom buggy.This the part that scars little children the most. After that is really fun and at all not scary

 

[UrsulasShadow]

No one jumps out at you, screams unexpectedly in your ear etc.

WELLLL, not all the time, anyway!

When I took my family in April of 2003, we arrived at night, went to MK, and immediately went to the HM (because it's our favorite). Visibility on the approach was a little too dim, and made my kids a little nervous (what with the cemetery theming and all). When we got to the doors, the CM LEAPED out of the darkness, SCREAMING in my DD14's ear! I guess the young fella thought it would be cute to scare the **** out of her. Poor thing melted into tears. Did I ever get into the li'l creep's face! Don't think he'll do that again real soon.

Okay, so that was an isolated incident, and I really doubt anyone would deliberately do that to a younger child. All in all, the ride is a blast, and not very convincingly scary.

 

[GGOOFY1]

Some little kids might get scared because of the dark. You sit in a moving car that takes you on a tour of the haunted house. Nothing comes close to the car. No blood, no chasing with chain saws like you might experience in a haunted house during halloween. A must see.....

 

[moniot]

I agree with both sides. It can be scary for younger kids or the nervous type. Of our group of 7, ranging from 6 to 13, only one of the 11 year olds, a real nervous kids, got scared. This was before he even got to the doom buggy and he had been on it before. Go Figure. Any one there the middle of Feb. 2005 that had to walk around a kid throwing up I send my apologizes. He just got himself to worked up. For the most part the ride is great and not movie theater scary. Dark in some places. Sudden noises and things banging but if you can keep your eyes open and look ahead you can see everything coming up. I second the suggestion about you going ahead of the kids if you are at all concerned. Only you can be the best judge.

Leah

 

[marc1477]

Its not what you would find at a regular haunted house. Its not really bad. I loved it when I was little and would go on it repeatedly. I still do. Its not really that scary.

 

[bytheblood]

I do not think it is scary, but if I was a small child under 10 I probably would.

 

[james15]

I have a 7 year old who is scared of his own shadow and did fine with it the 1st time matter of fact it is his favorite ride now.Really is a neat ride like someone else said who notice something differnt everytime.