Sensory kid at Haunted Mansion-WDW..question

[disneydreamer74]

So my DD will be 10 yrs. old on our trip. She loves all things Monster High, Haunted Mansion, and Nightmare Before Christmas. The thing is..she has never rode HM!! She has been in line..seen all of the lovely theming..but once she went to the stretching room she bolted. She cannot handle the sound of thunder or lightning! A neighbor of mine told me she was able to bypass that part of the ride when she shared with a CM that her son had sensory issues. She said the CM walked them past that and unto the loading area. Has anyone else experienced this? Does this sound feasible? This is a dream for my daughter! If it is possible I would like to ask a CM to do this.

 

[gap2368]

Yes I do it all the time just tell the CM when you go in the first room that you need to skip the stretching room

 

[SueM in MN]

There is a bypass to an alternate boarding area that is accessed from the stretching room. Guests with mobility devices do go thru the stretching room and the bypass because the boarding and unload are in different areas. Boarding in the alternate allows them to load and unload at the same spot and allows the moving walkway to be stopped or slowed if needed.

There are several 'stretching rooms' with the door to the bypass area in different spots after going thru the stretching room. Ask the CM at the entrance and when entering the building. There is no guarantee because it may depend on staffing. If they can do it, expect that you will walk thru the stretching room after the 'show' has ended and guests are going into the boarding area. It's possible they may have you use the regular boarding area or the alternate area.

You may also want to look into other alternatives, such as sound deadening ear protectors like these:
https://amzn.com/B0015V1VX8
Many kids with sensory issues involving sound wear them. Sometimes just knowing they are available to wear if needed is helpful.
There are a lot of noises on the ride that could be problematic besides just in the stretching room. There is thunder and lightening on the ride itself in various areas and the graveyard scene at the end is very noisy with sudden loud screams and things popping out at you.
Here's a good video to preview:

 

[disneydreamer74]

Thank you! This is good information! She has noise reduction headphones to wear on certain rides so I will have her bring them along for the ride. I think the elevator and thunder/lightning is too much for her to process at once, so I will ask for accommodations!

 

[gap2368]

WDW hm dose not have an elevator

but like I said just ask to by pass the stretching room I have never had any problems with doing this at all.

 

[SueM in MN]

No elevator at WDW

 

[SueM in MN]

WDW hm dose not have an elevator

but like I said just ask to by pass the stretching room I have never had any problems with doing this at all.

Other people have, or were asked to come back, so hope you don't, but be prepared in case you do.

 

[book_junkie]

Just be warned that there is lightening and thunder in the first part of the ride as well, which you can't bypass. You're already in the buggy, and going down the hallway looking at pictures. The thunder/lightening makes the pictures reveal their secondary natures. I don't remember any other scenes with it other than that first one, but there's no guarantee.

 

[gap2368]

Other people have, or were asked to come back, so hope you don't, but be prepared in case you do.

Good to know I do not like the ride that much so do not do it that often