How dark is the haunted mansion

[fla4fun]

But there's always room for one more...and there's been room for years...how come nobody has taken the Ghost Host up on the offer???

I plan on hanging out with my 999 pals in the afterlife, but it may be a while yet . . .

As to how dark it is, it depends on why you are asking. It's not any darker than any of the other dark rides, in my opinion. If you have vision issues, it may be difficult to see (my grandmother had issues with vision, and missed a lot of the ride because she couldn't see it). If you have children that are afraid of the dark, if they don't have issues on the other dark rides in the park (some parts of Little Mermaid and Peter Pan are pretty dark so far as lighting goes), AND they don't have a problem with haunted houses in general, they should be OK. Some scenes are brighter than others, such as the ballroom and the graveyard, while some are a little darker, like the door corridor and the seance room.

 

[cgattis]

The HM is dark, but the only time it's really completely dark is the few seconds in the Stretching Room when the Ghost Host hangs himself.

For others in this thread let's clear this up: The Ghost Host is separate from Master Gracey. And yes the Ghost Host is DEAD after the stretching room. It's his spirit narrating.
You can see the portrait of the Ghost Host in his "mortal" form in the hall of doors where the purple wallpaper with the eyes is. You can clearly see the noose around his neck from the Stretching Room:
THIS is him:

Master Gracey is the owner of the home. It is him in the magic aging portrait when you are welcomed in the the HM's foyer

This is a shot of the Master Gracey portrait in the Foyer of the HM, but here is in his "not so mortal state":

Wow!! In who-knows-how-many times I've ridden HM, I've never noticed the portrait with the noose!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

DD HATES the portrait of Master Gracey! She's been riding since she was 6, and she's 15 now. It's funny--it seems to scare her more now than when she was little. I guess she sees all the details now. Can't wait to show her the noose portrait!! LOL

 

[Happiest.Haunt_999]

Wow!! In who-knows-how-many times I've ridden HM, I've never noticed the portrait with the noose!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

DD HATES the portrait of Master Gracey! She's been riding since she was 6, and she's 15 now. It's funny--it seems to scare her more now than when she was little. I guess she sees all the details now. Can't wait to show her the noose portrait!! LOL

You're welcome. I'm such a HM addict and have done so much reading up and research on it. There's pictures of Hatty (Hatbox ghost)in that same hallway several places, one being in that shot in a frame near the "Ghost Host" portrait.

Another did you know..The 5 epitaphless tombstones on the hill along the queue are for the 5 singing busts in the graveyard scene.

1. Rollo Rumpkin is for Imagineer Rolly Crump
2. Cousin Algernon is for Chuck Schroeder
3. Ned Nub is for Jay Meyer
4. Phineas P. Pock is for Bob Ebright
5. Uncle Theodore was for Thurl Ravenscroft who was the deep voiced actor who is the bust with the broken off head. (He's also known for singing "You're a Mean One Mr Grinch and was also the voice of Tony the Tiger).

 

[scrapquitler]

Some days it seems darker than others (esp. in the graveyard scene). Now I don't know if it actually IS darker some days than others or now, but sometimes it definitely seems that way.

 

[gwbaierl]

I have detached retina and the only way I could get out was to grab my DW's arm and have her lead me out. She could see fine to get out, so it's all up to each person's abilites as to how dark it will be for them

 

[WDWFantasmicFan]

Title says it all. I'm just wondering how dark is the haunted mansion

The attraction isn't pitch black, but it is dark. The only part of the experience when it is pitch black is for a second or two in the stretch room pre-show. If the pitch black bit would scare you/your kids too much, just ask a Cast Member and you should be able to skip the pre-show.

 

[momto2js]

It is the only ride my 8 year old will still NEVER ride again!! Well that and TOT. They are a lot alike in themeing.

 

[AGoofykindagirl]

As others have said, there is a moment of total darkness in the stretching room. I had gone by myself once and when it went dark, someone beside me screamed and grabbed my arm. When the lights came on, a young man (14-16) got a look of horror on his face. I realized he was trying to tease someone standing in front of me and was completely embarrassed. I told him I was sorry "I"'screamed and thanked him for trying to make me feel calmer. The girl he was going to spook told him how nice he was and took his hand. Later that day, leaving Big Thunder, he smiled and waved, still holding her hand. I think he learned a lesson about teasing someone and was grateful I didn't make a scene about it. Anyway it gets very dark for a moment, and is low light throughout (like a theater), but it's done in fun.

 

[Dug720]

And just in case you were meaning in a *different* direction than fear... Not dark enough that I would ever be comfortable with any PDA - not to mention they have cameras all throughout the rides.

 

[DVCcurious]

As others have said, there is a moment of total darkness in the stretching room. I had gone by myself once and when it went dark, someone beside me screamed and grabbed my arm. When the lights came on, a young man (14-16) got a look of horror on his face. I realized he was trying to tease someone standing in front of me and was completely embarrassed. I told him I was sorry "I"'screamed and thanked him for trying to make me feel calmer. The girl he was going to spook told him how nice he was and took his hand. Later that day, leaving Big Thunder, he smiled and waved, still holding her hand. I think he learned a lesson about teasing someone and was grateful I didn't make a scene about it. Anyway it gets very dark for a moment, and is low light throughout (like a theater), but it's done in fun.

it's a good thing he wasn't planning on grabbing her rear!