Is Haunted Mansion too scary for a 6yr old?

[mz525]

Depends on the kid. My five year old is afraid of the dark so we avoided it with her. My 3YO niece said she wanted to go and screamed the whole time.

 

[Disneychick75]

I was always a scaredy cat and until I was 50, I would close my eyes in the cemetery scene. My daughter has loved Haunted Mansion since she first rode it at almost 3 years old.
Show her a youtube video in the dark. If she sees it in a lit room, it won't be the same. Play it by ear. If you get into the stretching room and she's frightened, you can ask to leave the line once the doors open.

 

[BostonEd]

Can anyone expand* upon how you skip the stretching room? I have a couple kids who would probably be OK in the main part of HM, but I could definitely see them freaking out in the stretching room, to the point they wouldn't get on the ride.



* No pun intended.

 

[smiths02]

My oldest didn't like it at 4 and 5 years old. He was fine by age 9 (the next time we went). My nearly 3 year old twins were fine the first time...my daughter is especially scared of things (she was scared that her teacher read Where the Wild Things Are), but was okay with Haunted Mansion. We watched it on YouTube and let her know what to expect. She still thinks the ghost hitting me at the end was funny.

 

[smiths02]

Also to add, I grew up near Disneyland, and it was always one of my favorites...I don't remember ever being scared of it.
I was surprised that my older son was scared at 4 and 5. By 5, though, it was easy to reason with him and he finally did it for me (it was only my son and I as DH had returned early to work)...because I could not ride it unless he agreed. He realized it wasn't so bad.

 

[DavidNYC]

Haven't read all the responses but my guess is I'll be agreeing with a lot of people by saying no, it's not too scary for "a" six year old but you have to know "your" six year old. Best thing is watch a you tube video of it. It's more "spooky" than scary and is actually funny and cute at times. But different kids like different things. When my daughter was 5 she loved Tower of Terror but didn't like Haunted Mansion - go figure.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've been going on it since I was very young, long before videos existed. I've always loved it! I HATE the idea of showing someone a video of a ride before going! IMO, it defeats the fun of going in person. It is also likely to have the opposite of the intended effect.

As others have said, the ride is not especially designed to be scary. It has some amazing visual effects! The stretching room has always been one of my favorite parts!

As others have said, it depends on the attitude of both the child and the parent. It is not good to dismiss a child's concerns, nor is there benefit in teaching children to fear new experiences.

Overhyping the ride before you go just encourages fear. It is like the quote, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." The best way to instill fear into a child is to make an issue of it before you arrive. Ugh!

Right now, the child doesn't fear what they've never seen.

It is much how the media and politicians operate. Ah...it is snow season, when every passing snowflake is hyped for maximum effect!

 

[momof2n2]

my almost 6 year old would tell me she wasn't scared...
until bedtime

LOL

 

[skuttle]

My 3 and 4.5 year old went on it during our last trip. They were a little scared at first. I think they were better once we hit the ballroom scene and started seeing the ghosts. I just explained that it was all pretend and nothing could hurt them. They didn't cry, but not sure i could have gotten them back on it!

 

[Timshar2]

My grandkids almost 3 and 6 loved it in December. As for me that small talking doll on the door just at the end of the ride creeps me out a bit but not the kids.

 

[W.E.D.]

For those riding, remember to hang out in the shrinking room as long as you can. The gargoyle candle-holders talk to you.
At least they still did in '11. I learned that from the DIS before our last trip. They started whispering "get out!" Right before the CM told us to move along.

 

[Tissa]

My son was 8 on our first trip and he just heard Haunted Mansion and said NO! TOT had him crying his eyes out. I finally got him to ride Haunted Mansion when he was 12 and he had a crush on a girl that wanted to ride. Now at 20 he is fine LOL

 

[msmama]

My son is a pretty big scaredy cat and he likes it, but he's been riding since he was a baby.

And I think the stretching room may be his favorite part, partly because I've told him that it's okay to scream - once, not too loudly and only if other people do it first. Also, he's never actually looked up to see the "host" hanging from the rafters. We whisper about the silly pictures too.

 

[5Hfan]

Youngest has been riding since he was a baby up to and through age 6. He is not scared he says, but prefers to only ride in the day time so we come off the ride into daylight.

 

[BostonEd]

Can anyone expand upon how you skip the stretching room? I have a couple kids who would probably be OK in the main part of HM, but I could definitely see them freaking out in the stretching room, to the point they wouldn't get on the ride.

I think when I bumped up this medium-old thread, no one read past the first page. Anyone have thoughts on my query? Thanks.

 

[Angel Ariel]

My daughter is 6 .... i am wondering if haunted mansion will be too scary for her. we are going as a family of 5 her older brothers are 9 and 10

It depends on the child. My daughter rode the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay at Disneyland this year - she's 3 y/o. I was concerned she'd be afraid. She loved it. Even giggled in the stretch room. We ended up buying her a small stuffed Zero to take home as a souvenir. I think we rode it 3 times on the trip, and she loved it each time. Yet there are 6 y/os I know who may be a bit more iffy. All depends on the child.

 

[DisneyCAL]

My five year old twins liked it. My son didn't like the first room you go into because the lights go out and everybody seems to like to scream (a noise issue for him). But the loved the rest of the ride and thought the ending to be funny. We also let them watch go pro videos of the ride on youtube and the movie prior to our trip, so they realize its a ride and pretend.

 

[Chelle's Belles]

My son HATED the stretch room. He completely freaked out and we had to exit. *However* you can skip the stretch room and meet your party as they exit to get on their Doom Buggy. Just ask a CM and they will guide you. The actual ride is more silly than scary.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

My 1yo went on it a couple weeks ago and was pointing at things and giggling. She's not afraid of noises or the dark. She was fine with the stretching room. Obviously an older child is more aware of what is scary or not, but my DD actually enjoyed it. I know next time we go (she'll be 2.5yo) she could be terrified of it. You don't know til you try.

I've been riding it since I was a toddler and I was never terrified of it. Every kid is different though.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Another tip! Buy the theme park album that has grim grinning ghosts on it. My parents played the cassette tape for me and my sister before our trips when we were young and it helped us familiarize ourselves with the songs and rides before we went. My mom swears it helped us not be scared. We did this with our DD too.