How Scary Is The Hm?

We took DDat 2 and DS at 1 and happened to get stopped in the cemetary for a wheelchair to unload, right next to the corpse popping out of the coffin. We have been back several times since then and cannot talk then into going back. We are headed back in NOV. and I am hoping to get them on it this time (they are 5 and 7).
 
My daughter was 5 on her first HM ride. I knew about the hanging body in the pre-show. It freaked me out as a child at Disneyland. I decided I didn't want to deal with explaining, or trying to explain that to her. So I just distracted her and wouldn't let her look. I didn't look either, so not sure if it is the same as Disneyland. She rode it the first time with my parents. They told her it was fun to scream back at the popping ghosts. It had been a while since I had ridden the ride. I was a little concerned about the coffin that has a hand coming out of it. Having had some deaths in the family, I thought that may be confusing or scary for her, thinking that her grandpa may be doing the same thing, etc. She handled it really well. I was prepared to answer all her questions. I asked her a million questions after the ride to make sure she wasn't scarred for life. A few days later, we were back at MK for the MNSSHP and she wanted to ride again. So I guess it all turned out ok. I think you just need to know your kids.

Since she did so well, we decided that we would let her see the Haunted Mansion movie. She asked to see it. Now that freaked her out. I tried to laugh and remind her it was like Disneyworld. No nightmares, but her eyes were huge during the movie.

I figure she will need something to discuss in therapy, might as well be Disney!! Ha Ha.
 
Thanks EsmereldaX! My DD just saw it and still wants to go! What a great idea!
 
My guys loved it when they were 4.5 yo and they disliked it on our last trip (where they turned 8). I guess that they get old enough to understand that it is supposed to be creepy and that bothered them. Even though they didn't like it, they were both old enough to understand that it wasn't real. They didn't freak out and start screaming or anything like that. They just closed their eyes when they didn't like something. It even broke down and while we were in there. Luckily, we just had to stare at the piano! My point is, I don't think you have to worry about having a hysterical child on your hands. However, don't count on her loving it either. Good luck!
 

WE had an unusual experience on HM the very first time. My oldest DD (now 18) was then 5, was fine until the car behind us, filled with high school or younger college kids??? began fooling around and making scary noises.

This so messed with my DD's mind at the time,that to this day...at 18 years of age...she STILL will NOT go on HM!!

It was really unfortunate & I have NEVER had that happen another time. WE were so busy trying to comfort our DD & get the other 2 younger ones out, we were never able to let the kids understand what they had done. So you sometimes have other things that will add to any scary ride that you can't control.
 
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Originally posted by SamanthaL
Thanks EsmereldaX! My DD just saw it and still wants to go! What a great idea!

Glad it helped!

~Sheri

ps. Your kids are adorable! :)
 
Originally posted by poohlover
My oldest DD (now 18) was then 5, was fine until the car behind us, filled with high school or younger college kids??? began fooling around and making scary noises.

I've noticed that sometimes people will scream in the stretching room right after the body appears. They scream along with the recorded scream. It bothers me. It doesn't scare me, but it does tend to frighten children because it makes it so much louder and abrupt. One time, I was riding the HM in the evening, and it was relatively uncrowded. The room was not even half full. Well, this family had two small children who seemed to be handling everything fine until a group of teenage girls shrieked. After that, the two kids were terrified and started to cry. I've only seen this happen a few times, so I'm sure it is not the norm.

Personally, I love the HM; it's my favorite ride. I agree that the pop up ghosts could frighten children, but I feel the rest isn't too scary. Of course, I faintly remember being scared of it when I was much much younger. I had to hold my dad's hand to get through the stretching room, but I made it.

VelvetGloves
 
I agree with the above poster, about going during the day. At night, it can creep a kid out before they get there with the mood lighting, the sounds of wolves and the lightning strobes. During the day, it looks like just a fairly ordinary house (in DL) or just a shade creepy on the WDW side.

The soundtrack for Disneyland's HM does have a long scream that on the CD they panned from left to right and then a loud crash. I don't remember this being in the Disney World version, but it probably is. It's been awhile since I've been on it. I think it's to distract you from the door opening to the Doombuggy loading area, maybe even to hide the noise of the motors.

I have heard people scream and in the tape I have of it, someone yelled "I can't breathe" when the Ghost Host mentioned the "No windows and no doors"

The story does get a bit creepier as the ride goes on, showing the different styles of two different imagineers that took different approaches on funny versus scary.

My best advice to any parent is not to force the kid into it and be aware of their phobias (dark, height, ghosts) and keep that in mind when taking them on it. I've seen so many parents drag a kid on a ride because they believe they'll really enjoy it only to see the kid miserable or freaked for the better part of the day. The point is, know your kids, and think of it in their eyes, rather than your own. Missing a ride is not as bad as having them freaked out all day, unable to enjoy other rides.
 













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