Seating on Haunted Mansion

[GoofieRuthie]

I watched the Secrets show on WDW the other night on the Travel Channel. I noticed when they showed people loading onto the Haunted Mansion ride that it looked like only 2 people to a car. Is this the case? There will be 5 of us going (DH, DD10, DD8, DD2, and myself) and most likely I will have to ride this with my two oldest daughters. I doubt either of them will be brave enough to sit alone for the ride. I'm not sure if my husband will ride it or not but if so, do they have the baby swap for this ride? My 2yo is very courageous, but I don't know if this is an age appropriate ride for her. Any help is appreciated. Thanks a bunch!!

 

[lisajl]

There were five of us...two went in one, three in another....

 

[mommystieg]

We took our 2 y/o dd on HM and she enjoyed it. It's not as dark as some attractions and we have a sing-a-long video(Disneyland Fun)that shows several of the scenes from their HM that she watches all the time. We could have comfortably fit all 4 of us(dd 9, dh, dd 2 and me)in one seat.

 

[GoofieRuthie]

you take a child on it and they flip out? Is there a place to escape the ride? I think I might judge it by how she reacts to some of the other shows and rides. (This is a child that loves to close herself in a closet then jump out and RRARRR! at us, lol)

 

[mommystieg]

I see by your countdown it is your first trip--how exciting!! Last June was our first visit and we loved it so much we joined the DVC I would guess that you could exit before you actually board the Doom Buggy. You can probably gauge your child's reaction after waiting in line near the graveyard and what happens in the stretching room. If she isn't afraid of the dark I think she would be fine since there really isn't anything all that scary and I don't think most toddlers really have any concept of ghosts(JMHO ) This attraction is so amazing that you will forget it is supposed to be scary.

 

[lisajl]

Just a note..my 8 year old ds hated it. After we got out, he was fine. I tried to watch ahead to warn him. It helped a bit, but just be aware that skeletons pop up. Most of the ride is cute. I love the ballroom. It is great.

Have a fun time. The HM is my fave ride. Note the picture, we are in front of the HM.

Lisajl

 

[DisneyFreak43]

Hi GoofieRuthie! When we went on this ride a couple of years ago, we forgot to line up correctly and ended up jamming 2 adults and my teenage son all in one doombugy! We laughed at the time (and I still do!) . If you all ride, you will definately need 2 vehicles, just try and figure out who is going where before you hit the moving belt! As far as scare factor, if your 2 yr. old isn't afraid of the dark, she should be fine. My son started riding at 3 and loved it! I remember preparing him with " it's only pretend- everything is fake". If you end up just going with your older 2 DD's, you should be fine if they are not big for their age.

 

[GoofieRuthie]

and yes, this is a first for ALL of us. I have wanted to go all of my life and have always swore that I would get there even if I was walking with a cane!! We managed to get a huge tax refund this year, and I said "Let's go for it!!!!" Everyone on these boards have been wonderful! I have lived vicariously through everyones posts for the past few months. I sit here in tears many times. *sigh* I just can't wait!!!!!! Thanks again, everyone!

 

[grinningghost]

You can easily squeeze 3 into a doom buggy. As for the 2 year old, if she makes it through the stretch room, she will probably be okay. On our DD's first visit to the HM, at age 4, she panicked during the stretch room and cried during the actual ride.

On MY first visit to the HM, way back in '72 - I was in first grade, and I remember crying hysterically until the ride was over. I think it's an individual thing. At age 38, it's easy for me to say it's all fun and laughs, but I was a frightened little 7 year old at one time...

Good luck and have fun on your first WDW visit - you'll LOVE it!

 

[goofyernmost]

I thought I might just throw this out as a hint. If you act scared, the kids will be scared. Now, a lot of people get there jollys out of scaring people, especially kids. I think that it is cruel to do that. The haunted mansion is meant to be entertaining not really scary. My suggestion for the first trip through is to laugh at the stuff. The streach room, the graveyard, etc. Show the kids that there really is nothing to be afraid of and they will enjoy it as well. Make statements like, "wow, that's really cool" and "this is really amasing, I wonder how it is done" and the kids will take it in for it's entertainment value.

Three people can easily fit into one "doombuggy" but it is kind of important to have an adult in each one to be with the kids.

So when you do the HM again (and you will) then you can add the scary noises and Oh's and Ah's to the effect and just enhance the fun.

The first time we went on it my youngest DD was just 6 years old. She seemed to have no problem with it. When we went again (about 5 years later) she stated that the first place she wanted to see was HM. When I asked her why she said it was because she had never seen it before. I attempted to correct her and point out that we had indeed been to the ride and she informed me that this time she wanted to do it with her eyes open. I chuckled the entire trip about that one.

Have fun and don't worry, it really isn't that scary but it sure is fun.
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