How scary is HM?

[buggy2727]

It's been a long time since I've been so I can't really remember / judge. DH said that DS (8) will be fine, I say no. He's not really afraid of things I just don't know if it would be too much for him. DH thinks being in the room before the ride is worse than the ride itself. Again, I don't really remember. Thoughts? Maybe have him watch the movie that was based on the ride? I don't think he'd be scared by that...

 

[cbrown1007]

My 5 year old loved it. Still talks about it.

 

[rwdavis2]

IMHO, not too scary but you should be the judge. Is he normally a scared kid?

 

[mm1971]

Agree that for kids the stretching room is the only scary part. My DD won't look up and blocks her ears when the thunder happens (kind of loud). It is dark in the room so as long as he is not afraid of the dark it should not be an issue.

The ride itself is not scary and our kids were never afraid, even when young.

However, you know your child best. Maybe show him on youtube and let him decide.

 

[knovak]

My daughter who tends to be afraid of things LOVES Haunted Mansion. In fact it's 1 of get favorite rides. The room before the ride scared her some when she was little (she's 11 now) but we would just hold her if onto her until we were out if the room.

 

[amomma23]

My 4 year-old loves it (has since she was 15 months!) DS7 thinks it's OK. My 11 year-old son refuses to ride. So basically, I'm no help at all. There's nothing gross or truely terrifying, more spooky, if that makes any sense? If your DS wants to ride it, I wouldn't hesitate for a second. If he sees it and has second thoughts, I wouldn't force it.

 

[whatisgoofy?]

While ultimately, you're the best judge of how your child will respond...most people don't find the Haunted Mansion scary at all. It does have thematically creepy elements...but most people (kids included) find it more cool, than frightening. There is no gore, and while some of the "ghosts" are grotesque...it's more cartoonish than gross or scary. In the opening stretch room before you get on the ride...there is a moment where the lights go out, thunder claps, and a hanging body is revealed above the ceiling...it's very fast, and most kids don't realize what they're looking at. The ride is also filled with humorous elements that also take the edge off. Does your child like movie monsters, or ghost stories? For what it's worth, on our last trip, our 9 and 7 year-olds rode it for the first time, loved it, and rode it twice more. It's a great ride, with some fantastic effects (some cool updates too, if you haven't been in a while)...hopefully your family will enjoy it.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

My DS is very afraid of the dark. The ride doesn't bother him a bit but the stretching room does scare him. Not enough to not ride though. He just hides his face so he doesn't know the lights go out. I have to say I don't enjoy it either. If he isn't normally scared of things, he should be find but your judgment will be best.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

It's a completely subjective experience that will vary from kid to kid. I was terrified of it when I was six, wary of it when I was eight, and it's been my favorite ride since I was 14. I would recommend letting the kid ride; worst case scenario he doesn't enjoy it and can close his eyes.

As an aside, the Haunted Mansion movie may not be the best gauge. I think a movie like Ghostbusters may be a better indicator of what he can handle. Plus, it's just a great movie!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I agree with everyone. The ride is not scary. Stretching room can be scary, but maybe if you prepare him, he will be okay for that.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I have been riding the HM since I was a child, my kids have been riding since they were 3 and 5....never, ever scared of HM. LOVE that ride.

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

I think 8 is old enough to handle HM. When my brother was 6 he was scared of everything, Snow White's Scary Adventures and HM had him in tears but the next trip we took he wasn't afraid at all (he was about 8 years old).

 

[Stefne]

Scary is completely subjective and there is really no way to know if he'll like it until he tries it. Neither of my kids scare easily so we decided to give it a try for the first time with them last summer. My 5 year old thought it was the greatest thing ever, but my 9 year old was completely unhinged. It absolutely terrified him for whatever reason. I don't think he'll be trying that one again for a while...

 

[doctornick]

My youngest rode when he was 3 years old and was fine. But as everyone has said, it depends on the child.

By the one thing I will add is that children feed off their parents. If you present it as a scary ride and something that they won't like, they will react in kind and be more frightened. If you indicate that they can handle it and that it isn't that scary, then they will be more likely to enjoy it. It is important to set the right tone going in. Just IMHO.

 

[JenniferinFL]

Haunted Mansion is my 3 year old daughter's favorite ride. She always asks for the "spooky-spooky" ride and tries to copy the maniacal laugh in the stretching room. Which usually makes the adults laugh.

BUT, conversely, I was afraid of the ride as a 10 year old. I've seen plenty of older children frightened of the ride. I just wouldn't lead with it if your child isn't accustomed to rides. Even for an older child, if they haven't been on many rides in the past, start with the easy stuff and see how they do.

My best friend put her kids on Thunder Mountain railroad as their very first ride ever. Those kids are still afraid of Under the Sea and they are 8 and 6.

Honestly, if you start out with the easy rides and gauge reaction you should be fine. I have an adventurous kid, but, I myself was a chicken. It's really going to vary and you won't know until you start trying some.

 

[Networth]

It's really not like a haunted house it's more "whimsical" if you will. You never feel violated or in any danger like at HHN's. The worst part as mentioned is the stretching room's ending(don't want spoil it) but the ride it's self piece of cake. Dancing ghosts, not killer demons.

 

[donnajherren]

It was our (then) five year old's favorite ride. She must have dragged us on it half a dozen times.

And then it gave her nightmares. Of course. LOL

 

[henry72]

As an adult, I don't find it scary but my kids on the other hand...last time they were just turned 7 and 4. They rode it but didn't like it. I think it was the whole "ghost" thing. Right now, they are 8 and 6 and say they don't want to ride it on our upcoming trip. I showed them some photos off the internet. We are just going to play it by ear whether we ride or not.

 

[frozengurl]

The only part my DD 6 is "afraid" of is the talking floating head... It's more like a crystal ball with a talking "witch" like person.

 

[AppleSister1]

I totally agree that kids feed off adult energy. Several years ago, I went with my sister's in-laws. Her niece was 4 or so. She was very timid and very shy back then (in fact, she would only talk to me by whispering questions to my sister, who would then ask me said questions, and I would answer.) We took her on HM with some trepidation, but my brother-in-law held her hand the entire time and continually whispered with her and pointed out how "cool" things were. Things like "look, don't tell anyone, but this room is really an elevator and we are going down" and "I wonder how they make those ghosts dance" and "coming up is the graveyard and it's all not real…I wonder how they do that?". She LOVED it! In fact, after a day or two she had even warmed up to me and insisted and on riding HM with me, and spent the whole ride holding my hand and whispering "spoilers" in my ear so I wouldn't be scared. She's 8 now and still loves that darn ride.

So…your attitude will mean a lot. A warning: sometimes teens and adults scream in the stretching room (in good fun.) If this will freak him out, hold his ears or pre-warn him that it's all in good fun.