They ruin the Haunted Mansion for me!

[greyno]

My DH and me have been to DL every year for the past 10 years. The Haunted Mansion is one of my absolute favorite rides, but it is usually spoiled for me and it gets worse every year. It happens while everyone is in the elevator and the Ghost Host(?) is announcing that there are no windows or doors. The Ghost Host says there is always his way out, and the lights go out and you can see the guy hanging above you. Usually when the lights go out, most of the people scream in mock terror and it just makes my blood boil. I don't know why, but it is very upsetting to me. Is it just me, or is this bothersome to others??

 

[WDW2002]

What about this is so upsetting?? It is just part of the fun. Why not join in??

 

[renessa]

I think that everyone plays along and that is what makes it more fun. I can't imagine if the CM's didn't do their part and play along. They are what make the ride great!!!!!!!!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Upsetting?
I was disappointed because at WDW you really can't see the hanging figure. If you are lucky and use your imagination, you may see a shadow at WDW. (At least when I was there in January.)
Sounds gruesome, doesn't it?

 

[greyno]

I guess I am just a party pooper. I remember being about 5 and going in the Haunted Mansion when the lights went off. My Dad reached down and squeezed my hand and I knew that everything was going to be fine. I remember that everytime, and maybe that is why the screaming upsets me. It contradicts my warm and fuzzy memory. When I have children, I want them to have a good memory of it as well and I worry they won't because of the screams. But, I guess if it doesn't bother anyone else I just need to get over it!

 

[dbond]

I'm not sure you can do anything about the screams. It's part of the ride for many. the CM's at DL usually do a much better job of encouraging the screams as well. I think they are much more in character at DL than at WDW. I've been on that ride so many times at both locations, but sometimes the CM's even spook me into screaming! On our last visit to DL. the CM in the elevator made eye contact with me as the doors were closing. I knew that he had something up his sleeve, but he still got me. When the lights went out, he maneuvered his way silenty to where I was standing and when the lights came back on his face was not 5 inches from mine. Needless to say, I screamed. LOL! They have a lot fun with it. I guess they can probably tell who the veterans are too and they have more fun trying to see if they can spook them. I'm sorry the screaming bothers you, I find it amusing and fun to watch the people that seem to be riding for the first time.

 

[Judy from Boise]

a family of screamers here too, the scream can BE part of the fun memories, especially if you coach them prior to riding the first time.

 

[madaboutmouse]

The last time we went to DL is the first time that our three girls all went on the Haunted House. It took some fast talking on our part to get them all on the ride. I had forgotten about the screams until just before, so I warned our youngest and told her to scream along with everyone else. BTW, our girls were 10, 8, and 6 years old. This was the first time that all five of us went on the ride at the same time. I think it is a fun thing to do but I am sorry, greyno, that it is annoying to you. Nothing worse than being at the Happiest Place on Earth and not like a certain aspect of it.

Mary

 

[Uncle Buck]

It's "everybody has a laughing place" not "everybody has a scary place."

The whole thing is intended to be tongue-in-cheek. Hence...
<li> term "Doom Buggies"
<li> humor in the "stretching" pictures (in most cases, men in their underwear isn't a scary thing)
<li> hitchiking ghosts
<li> CM's corny jokes

Everything about WDW and DL is a show about getting us away from the reality of our everyday lives and taking us to a a make believe fantasy land. Thanks to Walt and the Mouse, we all get the privlidge of playing along.

 

[doombuggy]

greyno: I am sorry that the screaming bothers you. I never really thought about it, but here's an idea: maybe some people think the dangling dummy is going to fall? I first went when I was 6, so I don't remember my first reaction, only that I loved this ride (can't you tell?!)
Don't let this stop you from going again, and again and again and again..........

 

[princessKT]

The only thing that ruined it for me was the HUGE amount of people there these past two days. When you would get out of the elevator, the WHOLE hallway was packed with people. They were saying over the intercom "Please move in all the way, there are more people coming shortly". What?? It's just not the same when you can't walk with a few friends by yourself...

 

[stlrod]

Greyno--you are not a party pooper. The way some kids (meaning 14-16) behave on that ride is absolutely deplorable--they scream and run for the doom buggys as soon as the doors open. This past summer, a bunch of overindulged kids knocked my 8 year old daughter down and almost trampled her. Then, we got separated from my wife by the same group on the moving sidewalk. The children and I were in one car and my wife in another. The youngest was crying over the separation (not the ride--she had done it lots of times.) To make matters worse, those kids screamed throughout the ride. When we got off, I caught up with the kids and made a pretty big spectacle of myself as I chastized them in public. One girl just stood there and laughed. I was so angry that about the only thing that would have made me laugh at that point was seeing that little Brentwood brat hanging from the ceiling at the beginning of the ride.

 

[chloesmommi]

When I initially read your post, I didn't think it was a big deal. However, having just returned from DL, I understand what you are talking about. My 4-year old has gone in the Haunted Mansion at WDW at least twice without any problem; she loved it. At DL, the screaming (by what I believe are groups of local teens) was out of hand and uncalled for. She was so upset that she cried through the whole ride. In any event, live and learn. Haunted Mansion won't be on our itinerary unless we're in WDW.

 

[supercarrie]

As a local teen, I am sorry so many of you have had problems with teens on the ride. As for me, I don't always scream in the room. When we are herded into the room, I look around and see who the audience is. I have been on it several times with all adults and teenagers. Then, I would scream. However, if I see little kids at all, I won't scream or do anything that would harm them. I remember going on it when I was little (probably 5) and being so terrified due to the screaming in the dark, I wouldn't go on it for YEARS. But then again, I see little kids go on it all the time who walk into the room going "I can't wait til the lights go off so I can scream!!." Honestly, this happens.

And as for the running down the hallway to the buggies, I never do that. I may try and get near the wall that opens into the hallway, but I would never trample over anyone to get there. I am sorry that so many teens act this way - it really gives a bad reputation to us.

 

[DisneyFanGuy]

I always compared the experience to the Rocky Horror Picture that I used to go to when I was in college (20 + years ago....yikes!) Playing along is part of the fun.

I actually prepared my kids for the screaming part before we went in. It gave my 8 year old some control as he was pretty scared the first time. They all really had fun with it.

At WDW the cast members are NEVER in character like at DL. I have always wondered why. I have even seen them completely out of costume at WDW. It changes the experience. Too bad.

Anyway, I never took any of this too seriously. To me, it's classic entertainment and I LOVE it, screaming and all!

 

[greyno]

Yeah!! Someone out there agrees with me! Thanks stlrod for your summary--it is the obnoxious teens who do ruin it because they are not doing it "tongue-in-cheek" as someone pointed out. They are doing it to simply be obnoxious.

My husband and I were in Disney land last week (kind of surreal but we still managed to have some fun). We rode the Haunted Mansion twice before it was closed for reburbishment. The first time, only one teen screamed and she cut it off very quickly because she was the only one screaming. I think she felt like an idiot. The second time there were no screams. One little girl had one of the Disney toys that light up and as soon as the lights went out she flicked it on pronto. It was really cute.