HM alternate entrance

[Hoku]

I'm certain the stretching room and everything involved with it will terrify my 5-year old. Is there an alternate entrance that bypasses this room?

 

[belle'ssister]

Good question. When my kids were five and seven the stretching room made the youngest cry and then it was all over. They let us leave after the elevator opened. No ride for us that day.

 

[Jillchristina]

I have a friend who told me that she and her daughters were able to bypass the stretching room/elevator. I would suggest asking the first cast member you encounter in the line if and how this is possible.

 

[Malcon10t]

No. There is no way to do this. In fact, the "alternate" for those in wheelchairs, you end up in the stretching room twice. There is no exit to be able to enter, since the exit has the walking escalator floor.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's a question I've wondered many times.

However....my son and I once had to take the exit, because all the so-called adults who were shrieking and screaming had freaked him out so thoroughly, and honestly that exit is WORSE than the screaming of "adults". It might have changed since then ('08...DS simply refuses HM now until Jack Skellington is in residence), but the walls were painted black so it was dark, the lights were dim, there are very few directional signs, and it's LONG. And it puts you out near the FP area, which is somewhat spooky. By the time we had found our long way out, we wished we had just ridden the dang ride.

So even if you could go in that way, it might not help any.

 

[Blue4Bayou]

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.

 

[Hoku]

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.

 

[All American]

It's a question I've wondered many times.

However....my son and I once had to take the exit, because all the so-called adults who were shrieking and screaming had freaked him out so thoroughly, and honestly that exit is WORSE than the screaming of "adults". It might have changed since then ('08...DS simply refuses HM now until Jack Skellington is in residence), but the walls were painted black so it was dark, the lights were dim, there are very few directional signs, and it's LONG. And it puts you out near the FP area, which is somewhat spooky. By the time we had found our long way out, we wished we had just ridden the dang ride.

So even if you could go in that way, it might not help any.

No kidding about the exit. It was more creepy than the ride.

ITA about the screaming -- drives me nuts! I just keep my daughter close and have her cover her ears, then I cover her hands. It's the best we can do.

 

[CamoMama]

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

 

[DizMe]

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

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[bumbershoot]

The ride is one thing. Guests acting like they are frightened is another.

Guests acting like they are frightened bother ME. I have to plug my ears because their screams hurt my ears, even when I'm riding alone. Why does their enjoyment of the ride have to *hurt* another person's enjoyment?

 

[laura&fam]

I had forgotten about the screaming adults. We talk to our younger kids before we go and tell them what to expect. Maybe it spoils it for them, but they haven't freaked out yet. I didn't know about the screamers last time though and my DS didn't like that at all. It made him very glad to get on the actual ride.

 

[ArchOwl]

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.

 

[8timesblessed]

I took my son when he was 5 kicking and screaming and after the ride he told me it was the best and was his favorite ride. I told him he has to try it one time and then he can decide. The second time he went into the stretching room he let out a screach and loved it! So you just never know with kids.

 

[jkh1978]

I was so scared as a kid in HM, and so mad at my dad who told me it would be fine to go in. Now I'm like this ride is no big deal what was I scared of. I think part of it probably was how the adults were acting... pretending to be scared, and crammed in there. I think I was naive to think that people would have fun pretending to be scared.

 

[Jkpark]

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...

 

[jkh1978]

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...

I'll have to remember that advice if we are ever able to have kids. Great idea.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We were in the stretching room when DS was about six and I told him we couldn't get out. The kid is made of strong stuff and wasn't particularly scared, but a woman next to us accused me of child abuse. whutever.

Maybe I was scaring her?

 

[jonahsmommy]

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.

 

[interstate70s]

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.