is haunted mansion scary?

[Toad_Passenger]

DD was about 2 1/2 when I took her on the HM for the first time. I really think she was too young to really grasp what was going on around her. She thought it was funny, saying "Knock, Knock" to the bulging doors, etc. She was waving to the ghosts and kept looking for a "bone man" (skeleton).

She'll be 4 on our next trip in 2011, and I don't think we'll be able to get her to go on. She's becoming more aware of her feelings and the things around her, so the concept of being "scared" by a haunted house may make her a bit more timid this time around.

I'm sure it's been said many times, though. You know your own children, I knew my DD could handle it the first time, but now I've seen some changes, that will make me a little hesitant next go round.

 

[SDSorority]

this sounds like a dumb question, but i'm asking it anyway. is hm scary, or is it more about the illusions? I'm asking because we have a ds6 and dd2 and don't know if we should do this attraction with them. dh dragged us on the haunted house at knoebels and the poor kids were terrified...ok, and me too! thanks for your thoughts

OK first of all, I'm a HUGE wimp. When I was 3 I could NOT handle this ride. AT ALL. I still get scared in the stretching room when the lights go out, and in the graveyard scene when some things pop up from behind the gravestones. THAT SAID, DH loooooooves this ride and listens to the audio in the car all the time.

I ride this ride without hesitation. BIGGEST WIMP EVER. When I was little- it scared me to death. So honestly, watch it on youtube before going, and watch the Haunted Mansion movie with Eddie Murphy. It's fantastic, and there are things in the movie that you can look for in the ride (I know I know it's based off of the ride in DL, but still...).

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I think Haunted Mansion can be scary, depending on the child. Other rides to watch out for:

Snow White's Scary Adventure. I feel like a lot of people ignore that 3rd word, which leads to a large amount of small-child terror.

Stitch. WAY scary for little kids. And you can't even hold them when they get scared because you're all strapped down.

See- I sort of think the opposite. Snow White is mostly just panted wooden cutouts. I've never been scared of it, except I'd agree that the dark forest is a little like something out of a classic 'forest' nightmare. To me though, seeing that it was obviously just painted cutouts helped me get over any fears I may have had of dark forests. I sort of feel like seeing the word "Scary" set it up in folks' minds to be "scared." Just like those signs on the highway that say "traffic jam ahead" cause traffic jams to form. (Any "Alert" causes the same reaction, even if it has nothing to do with traffic)

As I said before, if you read the DIS long enough, you will see that a certain number of folks are scared of EVERY ride at WDW. I was seriously surprised by the number of folks who refuse to ride the rockets- another ride I've been going on since I was little, and never had an issue.

(in response to a different poster) Stitch has had a height requirement since it opened as Stitch. I'm not positive, but I 'm fairly certian it did in at least one prior incarnation: ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. I can't recall back to Mission to Mars. As Alien Encoutner it had the same shoulder restraint, so never minding the ride content - just to fit the shoulder strap you had to be a certain size.

On the original topic - Several folks have mentioned specific elements, like the pop-up ghosts that may be a bit scary. The hitchhiking ghosts at the end are funny looking, but the idea is that they will "haunt you until you return." The idea of ghosts following you after the ride is over may be slightly scary to some kids, but only if they are really paying attention to that part of the audio and the idea of being followed. This is true for good parts of the ride - it's easy to 'miss' one of the details that might be 'scary,' since there's often multiple thigns going on at once, and kids tend to live in the moment. One of the scariest parts in the hanging corpse at the start, but you move on quickly enough. As I said before, I've been going on this since I was little myself and never been scared.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I rode this when I was 5 or 6 and liked it until the end, when there's a ghost in the doom buggy with you. I remember being scared, but my mom said I was terrified and kept crying that the ghosts were going to come home with us. She also said I had quite a few nightmares, but I don't remember those.

I wasn't necessarily a scared child - but the thought of ghosts following me home was really awful. I ride it now without worry, of course.

 

[iteachlit]

Snow White is mostly just panted wooden cutouts.

Decency strikes again!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think this is another one of those "depends on the kids" answers. DS and DD have done the HM since they were 15 mos. old. Last trip they were 3 and 4.5yrs, and loved it. DD3 has consoled more than one 7yr old child, though, assuring him/her that "it's ok... it's all pretend".

On our last trip, the only thing about HM that upset DD was that there wasn't one in each park... she wanted to "ride it next" even when we were at AK!

Whenever we talk about our next trip, when they will be 4 and 6, the first ride they talk about wanted to go on is HM. They think it's great fun, and fully understand that it's the work of Disney magic...

 

[IZLove13]

Okay, take my opinion with a grain of salt, please. I have never been on the attraction before, though I feel like I know most everything about it. I've watched every video and read every forum and every website. I plan to ride it in the near future, but this is what I know about it.

Overall, the mansion doesn't seem very scary. At least, not in the usual haunted house sense. Zombies and monsters and corpses don't pop out at you screaming. Instead, it's more as though you are riding through the rooms of the mansion, without a lot of interaction and scares that make you feel like your heart just stopped. The only things that may seriously frighten your child are the pop-up ghosts in the graveyard, the hanging body in the stretching room (as well as the lightning effect), the bride, and the hitchhiking ghosts. You may not have to worry about the stretching room, as I have heard of families skipping it because of their frightened children. Since the WDW stretching room is not an elevator to the attraction like it is in DL, you can ask a CM if you could skip it and they with most likely be quite happy to help you. If your children decide they are too scared to ride while in the queue, you can ask to be escorted to the chicken exit. Don't force them on if they seem really scared. Show them videos of the ride. There are some really great videos out there if you just do a little work. If they seem a little worried when they are about to ride, just remind them that it's all pretend, like on Halloween. Mickey Mouse would never let them get hurt! If they freak out on the ride, tell them to close their eyes. The graveyard scene with all the ghosts might scare them, so just show them that the ghosts are having fun. I've also heard that if you wish to avoid the pop-up ghosts, you should sit on the right side. If anyone can confirm that, please do. I forget where I heard that, but it might be a little outdated.

Again, I have never been on the ride. This is just me passing on what I've read and what I've seen in videos. If you want more in-depth informations, go on doombuggies.com

 

[Cuchman]

My family has a term for it - it may actually have come FROM riding the Haunted Mansion - we call it "Fun Scary."

We use it all the time now, especially for Halloween related things. It allows the kids to distinguish between "Fun Scary" stuff - like light hearted ghosts, ghoolies, and such - and "Scary Scary" stuff - like scary movies, gore, and startling fright stuff.

In terms of movies, it is the difference between, say, Casper or the Haunted Mansion movie and Friday the 13th or Halloween.

So - the ride - definitely on the FUN side.

That being said, there were still moments where someone cowered a bit and hid under Dad's arm until they were like 5 or 6. But overall, mostly fun.

 

[EastonCat]

My dd 6 and dd 2 both think it is "spooky" and "funny" and not "scary". They like to ride it, and asked for a repeat on our trip in June.

 

[txtara]

Haunted Mansion is my favorite ride! I always let my kids know what is going to happen so they are prepared....and that works for mine. You know your kids best and what they can handle.

 

[SGB13]

First time my 2 tried it, DD was 8 and loved it. DS was 5 and we took the exit door before the stretching room. Next time, when DS was 7 he made it thru the stretching room and was waiting in the line for the doom buggies when he decided he was not going on. At 8, he decided he was not even going in. We had tried the videos and everything. He just hates the spooky voice in there.
Just be prepared to use that exit door before you get in the doom buggy if you need too.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Okay, take my opinion with a grain of salt, please. I have never been on the attraction before, though I feel like I know most everything about it. I've watched every video and read every forum and every website. I plan to ride it in the near future, but this is what I know about it.

Overall, the mansion doesn't seem very scary. At least, not in the usual haunted house sense. Zombies and monsters and corpses don't pop out at you screaming. Instead, it's more as though you are riding through the rooms of the mansion, without a lot of interaction and scares that make you feel like your heart just stopped. The only things that may seriously frighten your child are the pop-up ghosts in the graveyard, the hanging body in the stretching room (as well as the lightning effect), the bride, and the hitchhiking ghosts. You may not have to worry about the stretching room, as I have heard of families skipping it because of their frightened children. Since the WDW stretching room is not an elevator to the attraction like it is in DL, you can ask a CM if you could skip it and they with most likely be quite happy to help you. If your children decide they are too scared to ride while in the queue, you can ask to be escorted to the chicken exit. Don't force them on if they seem really scared. Show them videos of the ride. There are some really great videos out there if you just do a little work. If they seem a little worried when they are about to ride, just remind them that it's all pretend, like on Halloween. Mickey Mouse would never let them get hurt! If they freak out on the ride, tell them to close their eyes. The graveyard scene with all the ghosts might scare them, so just show them that the ghosts are having fun. I've also heard that if you wish to avoid the pop-up ghosts, you should sit on the right side. If anyone can confirm that, please do. I forget where I heard that, but it might be a little outdated.

Again, I have never been on the ride. This is just me passing on what I've read and what I've seen in videos. If you want more in-depth informations, go on doombuggies.com

I can't imagine doing that much, er, prep before going on a five minute attraction!

You are sort of correct, but not entirely. There are popping ghosts on both sides. If they are a concern the best thing to do would be to cover or close your eyes for teh graveyard scene....but I suppose if it's your first time on the ride it might be a challenge to realize you're entering the graveyeard scene until you are already at the popping ghosts, as they are kind of near the start of the scene, which starts when your doom buggy goes downhill.

In any event, something that helps me put it all in persective is to think about how long each attraction lasts. The whole graveyard scene is about 30seconds tops. I don't know offhand the duration of HM, but I imagine the cast members do.

As for bypassing the stretch room, you can do it if you are in a scooter and can't stand - I think that's the general protocol - but mostly it's not advertised or anything. Disney's generally pretty strict about bypassing ANYTHING. And if you bypass the stretch room, then you miss one of my favorite parts of the attraction - the exterior! The 'blood' red roses alone are an amazing detail.

It's discovering for myself the tiny details that make WDW amazing.

 

[Mickey Gator]

I remember taking my son on the ride when he was younger and he would hold on to me for dear life. He is now 17 and thinks he is to cool for WDW but he still keeps coming at least 2-3 a year. If your child is scared of the dark then the HM could be a a little daunting.