Minimum Age For HM?? Need experienced riders w/ kids advice....

[KevinM]

I know every child is different, but what age do you think is too young for the HM? I don't think it's scary, but I haven't been 5 in a long time.

How did your children (4,5,6) react to it?

Thanks

 

[Terry S]

My childern have been going on HM since they were 3 and 4. I did a great deal of explaining before the ride about pretend things that would pop up and about the dark. I also explained that nothing would touch them. Then during the ride, I kind of talked them through the ride and "teased" the ghosts that popped up. They both loved the ride then and wanted to go back on after we got off. They have also ridden it several times a year since then and they are now 7 and 8.

 

[mickeyschickie]

We took our 20 month old daughter on it and she loved it, but she was afraid in Peter Pan...lol...you just won't know until you try it! Have fun!

Nicki

 

[justKim]

My DS, who was 4/almost five last spring, was very nervous before going on the ride. We gave it a miss the first time around because he thought the building looked too scary. After some coaxing and a confidence boosting trip on Pirates, he road HM and loved it. We are going this month and he is looking forward to it

BTW, my 1 year old DD also enjoyed the ride a lot.

Good luck!

 

[GMS]

My little ones also always enjoyed it, however they aren't timid and didn't really know about "ghosts" to begin with, so they just thought it was a funny ride. We talked about how the things were "dark" or 'funny" but never said "Scary". In fact the ONLY thing at WDW my 4 yr. old didn't care for was ITTBAB at AK.

 

[Tiffany]

I know every child is different, but what age do you think is too young for the HM? I don't think it's scary, but I haven't been 5 in a long time.

How did your children (4,5,6) react to it?

Thanks

It realy depends on the person. I friend of mine is 34yrs and she will not go in the HM. If you child is not affraid of the dark and does not scare easly go for it.

 

[lazarru]

When we went last yr, daughter was 2 1/2, son was 4 and both loved it.

 

[zippehsmom]

My oldest DD went one HM when she was 2 1/2 and again at 41/2. She loved it both times, and was so proud of herself for riding. We did explain about those "silly ghosts" that would try and sneak up on her. We had fun trying to spot all the ghosts first.

zippehsmom

 

[Sarahsal]

Years ago I took my then 18 mo old dd on HM. She would have been fine, except when the entrance room went dark a group of teenage girls started screaming. Once she got over that she was fine.

 

[paigevz]

My son loved it at both 4 and 6, but he was terrified of Pirates at 4. My 10 month old fell asleep on it!

 

[DrTomorrow]

My DS is 24, so it's been a while, but here's my $.02.

- You know them better than anyone. Does a thunderstorm on a rainy night send them under the covers? Can a harmless "Boo!" send them to tears?

- Some preparation will be quite helpful - it's often the unknown that children fear the most. For example, stressing that nothing / no one will touch them can make them a lot less afraid.

- I'm not a big fan of coaxing and convincing; IMHO, that serves the parent, not the child. If they kid doesn't want to go, the HM will still be there when they're older.

- This a request from those in the Doom Buggy next to you - or in the same Pirate Ship: if you think that you're going to have to reassure your little one for the entire ride, wait until they're older. I realize that Disney is for all ages, but I've had HM and PotC rides ruined by parents reassuring a young child throughout the entire ride. Hearing "Oh, there's another funny pirate! Hi, Mr Pirate"; "Oh, there's a silly old ghost - go away, you bad ghost" every 10 seconds is NOT fun for the rest of us.

 

[InstImpres]

One suggestion, if you have a digitial camera, have it out and ready to go. My niece (3) loved the ride, the next day, it wasn't for her. We spent the rest of the ride reviewing our picures on the back of the camera, she came out of the ride all smiles!!!

Sandy

 

[Dogslider]

Our 3yr old grandson wanted to do HM first on our last (his first) trip to Disney. He loved it, so much so that we lost count on how many times we rode it on that trip. The thing I think has the most scare potential is when the lights go out right at the begining. I warned him about this and that some silly people might scream when this happens. By the end of the trip he was consoling some other little guy in room about being in the dark.

On a side note Will, unlike my own sons is very outgoing and in to all the spooky stuff. I don't think any of my sons would have fared so well.

Pam

 

[bdcp]

My two boys at 3 1/2 and 6 loved it. They're grown now, but that was their first time and they thought it was funny. I think some parents go a little far about what they'll take their kids on just because they want to do it, like the 4 year old on Alien Encounter (Currently Stitch) who totally lost it and had to be removed, but HM is very mild. Of all the times I've been on it I don't remember hearing any child get upset.

We did tell them beforehand that it was pretend ghosts and tricks so they weren't surprised. Don't take a young child on who isn't prepared for what they'll see or they may react out of pure emotion, which usually means lots of screaming and crying which may upset other children and definitely puts a damper on the ride for whoever is sitting with the scared child. Not to mention you'll have a hard time getting them on just about anything else that involves going into a building of some kinds.

 

[clm3]

My then 4 and 6 yr loved it. In fact they said they want to ride it again. They both rode with my husband last time while I rode with my 12yr. They can't wait to ride it and see the ghost riding in my car. They thought that was so funny !

Now Dinosaur is a totally different story !!!!!!!

 

[capthooksmom]

My DS, 3, was fine with it. Snow White was another story!

 

[foodrocksluver]

Okay, I'm going to tell you how it was for me. I just asked my parents and they said I was 6 when I first decided to get on HM. I remember when I was smaller than that and they would try to take me and my niece who is 7 months loder than me on it. One time we got to the door and we saw the guy at the door and he sared the living daylights out of us so we wouldn't go on. The next time we got in the door but then we looked up and saw the cobwebs and ran out crying. I dont know how long it took my parents to try to get us on but obviously being 4,5, or 6 was too young for me.

 

[Lesley]

My son was afraid at 4yo and 5yo....I think he rode it when we were at WDW for his 7th birthday. My older dd rode it when she was little....until she got to be almost 3 or so. Then she became scared. She is still in that phase at the age of 4 years, 9 months. The baby had also been in the Haunted Mansion with me....but it wouldn't surprise me if she doesn't want to once she becomes old enough to be scared of it.

I think if they can approach the mansion and get through the entrance area without a problem they'll do fine on the ride. If the howling wolf and the spookiness of the mansion doesn't bother them the ride shouldn't be a problem. I know the first time I rode it (at the age of 20) I was more scared before the ride than when I was riding it!

 

[TXMommy]

The stretching room was what scared my kids the most (they were 8 and 5 the first time they rode). I had explained everything to them, but when the lights went out and the guy said, "There's no way out!" they freaked! They did ride the Doom Buggies, tho, and were fine by the end of the ride. They will definitely ride again this next trip now that they know what to expect and they are older.

 

[YourMajesty]

I took my boys on it as babies ( 14 months and 20 months). Usually at this age they seem to do ok. They are now 4 1/2 and 7 and have not been on it again by choice. They do not like the dark. When we go in March 05 I'm thinking DS 7 might give it a try, but I will not try to talk him into it. Dh and I can ride one at a time until they are ready. My 4 year old would freak out. He still refuses to go back to the movies as they are too dark and loud. He is not ready for many rides(mostly indoor) at WDW but he loved all the play areas like Tom Sawyers Island, Donalds Boat, dinosaur dig etc.... and many of the outdoor rides. He did try splash mountain and tells me he would like to try it again. At his age it's kind of hit and miss. He was very scared of Peter Pan's Flight...we had just gotten of the Winnie the Pooh ride. It's hard not to be disappointed when they get scared or freak out but it's true that the rides will be there another time when they are ready for them!