HM alternate entrance

[DisneytheKid]

ditto

If you don't think he can handle parts of the attraction, wait until he's older to take him.

 

[Patrick in Oregon]

Ugh...the teenage screamers. I think next time one of them is behind me, I'm going to turn around and scream in their face when the lights turn back on.

Yes, there is another way into HM, as a matter of fact, I think it is even referenced at some point during the ride....it's the same way many of the happy haunts that are there now got in, but please...don't use that method...not for many, many, many years.

 

[Jazzheffa]

Yes, we were able to bypass that room. DS has a sensory processing disorder so he can't handle loud screams. He was 4 at the time. We asked the cast member nicely and he took us around the cast members entrance, off to the left. We ended up in the room where you enter the buggies. I remember going up a bunch of stairs. This was 2 years ago. Happy to report that DS is now able to go on that ride and handles it just fine.

That's awesome!

I'm not bad, I was drawn this way!

 

[ktaggie]

Was at DL last week and pleasantly surprised to not have guests screaming their heads off in the stretching room. Maybe it was too early in the day? Not sure, but it was nice. I don't mind a little scream here or there, but some people sound like they are dying.

We did not have any at DL in July either. I was glad.

 

[LittleToni]

Nothing better than the wild imagination of a child hehe. I would suggest that you all watch the HM ride on the Internet so nothing is left to the imagination Type it in a search and plenty will appear. I think if they visually know what to expect it will be much less fearfull, much more fun, and less stress on all when there

LT

 

[Hoku]

Thanks to everyone that provided kind and compassionate responses.

 

[Sally_fan]

When my ds was 4 almost 5 he fell in love with the HM but the stretch room was a little intense for him in the evening ( more teenage and young adult screamers) but he still wanted to ride and solved the problem on his own. He waited until right before the lights go out and closed his eyes and plugged his ears, then happily went onto the rest of the ride over and over. I wouldn't try to bypass part of the attraction, if he wants to ride explain what goes on it should be his/her decision.

This is pretty much what my daughter did when she was younger as well. She sometimes shut her eyes, she always covered her ears & held onto either me or my hubby's hand & she was good to go.

 

[DBMC]

I just warned each of my kids that the lights would go out, and that people would scream. I told them if they thought it would scare them, to close their eyes and cover their ears. And of course I made sure to have a hand on them so they knew I was there. It scared them a little, but they were fine on the rest on the ride. Now they all love it.

The only time I ever had an issue on that ride was on a grad night. There were tons of obnoxious teens, and they kept screaming and yelling obscenities the whole ride. My kids are by no means sheltered, and have heard plenty of bad words, but they don't need to hear that at DL. Plus it was just really annoying.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I took the opposite approach - telling my young kids to scream and me screaming along with them. I figure since people are going to be screaming - better to join in so my kids know they aren't really scared than have them freaked out by other people. If you can't beat them...

No way. We are in the "they are annoying camp" and will happily stay there. Not joining the screaming teenagers and overgrown adults who insist on hurting everyone's ears for anything! We are not one of you, and will never be.

 

[interstate70s]

I guess the best tip would be to ride HM early in the day before the teenagers get out of bed!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Thanks to everyone that provided kind and compassionate responses.

As far as I could see, they were all compassionate. The thing is--I have a child who is on the Autism spectrum and is very sensitive to noise and other stimulation--so I knew this ride was not appropriate for her until she was much older. Someone said that--and I really do agree with them. It is perfectly okay to skip this ride. I went to Disneyland for two years and pretty much only went on 2 rides with my girl. We went on those rides over and over, but it was limited. She gradually grew into other rides, and now at 15 the ride that use to scare her to death (Pirates) is now her favorite. There are still rides we will probably never go on, and that is fine. Pick and chose what is appropriate for your child, and that is the most compassionate thing of all.