What age for haunted mansion?

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I was always terrifed of haunted houses, but never of HM. To me it is kind of a goofy and campy kind of HH. DS and DD started going on it when they were around 4-years-old. DS was never afraid and DD was only freaked at the very end when the ghost was sitting in our doombuggy. Now DD loves it. Just the shock of the first time...of all things I didn't think that would scare her, but it did. We explained it away and she was fine.

 

[TxRabbit]

I apologize if this has been suggested...I did not read this entire thread...but I have an interesting suggestion.

Consider giving your children a taste of what the ride will be like by looking at videos of the ride on the youtube website. I just learned myself that people have filmed many of the different rides all throughout WDW and have them available for viewing on youtube. Many are difficult to see because they are so dark, and this may be true of Haunted Mansion. I did a search and there are several different videos of this ride. I did not look at them for quality. Check them out. Decide if this would be good preparation for your children and give them an idea of what to expect on the ride and also decide for themselves if they want to do it.

We have been in debate about Expedition Everest for our son. I have never ridden the ride myself, but I found several videos of it and my son appreciates the idea of having a sneek peek. Also, there is something to be said for everyone having the same/similar experience over and over that reinforces the idea that it is a ride, a fun thing, the same thing, not a real thing, but a pretend thing.

Just a suggestion...

 

[3princesses+aprince]

jmsadams, i've heard of the youtube website, i'll definately look and see if we can see the haunted mansion.

I know that it's child specific but knowing that alot of other young children have survived it, gives me more hope.
Thanks for the replies!!!!!!

 

[disneywith4boys]

Try engaging the children in a hidden mickey search during the ride, it can take some of the spookiness out of it. BTW, I've been on the ride over 20 times, and never looked up to see the hanging corpse!! I had no idea!

 

[Topo Bella]

The Haunted Mansion is my 3 year old's favorite ride, in part because she watched a DVD with Sing Along Songs from Disneyland that had the Haunted Mansion (albeit the Disneyland version of it) on it. (By the way, I really recommend that DVD. It got my kids so excited to see certain attractions.)We took DD for the first time when she was 2 and she had absolutely no problem with it. Every child is different and I waited until my DS was 5 to take him because he was more likely to be frightened by the howls and dark rooms.

 

[MinnieGi]

It really is child specific. My 6 yo DD and ten trip veteran to WDW has never ridden HM and has announced on more than one occasion she NEVER will!! She is a VERY sweet little girl who can see and hear no evil - literally she quietly turns her back when the villians pass by in any of the Disney parades. She walks away from any villian character we see out for meet and greets. She knows everything in the HM is pretend but it is just too much for her. The darkness is also a really big issue for her. Now this same child does SM, BTTMR, Soarin, TT etc...and greets the "nice" characters with big hugs and smiles. I really don't think she'll ever go on!

DS is 2 1/2 and a 5 time veteran to WDW and has ridden the HM without a problem.

I myself rode the HM at age 4 and can still remember vividly being in that first room while it is stretching and literally jumping into my father's arms!!!! I hated that room, but I enjoyed the rest of the ride alot.

 

[newtowdw1]

I FINALLY, in March, got to enjoy HM. We tried it when the kids were 8 and 4, and 9 and 5. No dice.

In March, at 10 and 6, both were fine.
If your kids can handle spooky movies on TV they'll probably be ok. But my kids really aren't exposed to that, and have built up no tolerance for special effects.

And, before I get flamed, neither child was forced on, at any time. They were game, and the stretching room didn't bother them. But the trip itself creeped them out. To the point of putting their heads down and kind of moaning. It was awful!

Of course, DH didn't care, because he just ignored the scared one (whichever he got). I, however, felt the need to comfort the distressed child (imagine ). In fact, they had ME creeped out by the end of the ride!

I still wouldn't go with DD10 by choice. She's pretty sensitive and sweet which is REALLY annoying in HM!!

 

[mama4]

Ds 4 really liked the ride although the beginning did make him a wee bit nervous and he didn't like the noises (he calls it "all those scary people screaming") . Ds 2 1/2 -well, he actually rode the entire ride with his face buried in my neck. His arms and legs were completely wrapped around me. I couldn't have pried him off of me. I don't know what scared him so much right from the beginning (perhaps the noises for him as well) because I don't think he saw a thing throughout the ride from the moment we stepped through the door. BTW, I'd told my ds 4 about the ghost in your car at the end and I think that's what kept him from losing his cool - looking for that ghost! He was very interested in how it could look like there is a ghost in your car!
Oh, and we went with dsis and her 4 kids and her dd 7 wouldn't step foot in the mansion. Guess there will be no telling how your kids will take until you get there! Good luck!

 

[Ratpack]

My kids have been riding it every year since they were born. The only place that makes them a little uneasy is the first room. After that they are fine. My DS(4) calls it the Boo Ha Ha House!! I really hate it will be under refurb this summer when we go, but I guess we will have that to look forward to on the next trip. In fact I see you are heading down in Sept, if it is between Sept 1-13, you won't have to worry as it will still be under refurbishment unless they finish early. The complete dates are June 6 - Sept 13.

 

[new_mommy]

My dd 4 just rode it. She didn't like it even though we made light of it all. It was a bit too much. I wouldn't take her on it if I had it to do all over again. That and Country Bear Jamboree I would skip. Entirely.

 

[kaysmommie]

Well my DD hates it and she just turned 7 . She has been on it 3 times over our trip though. She would rather not go on it but doesn't have a cow or anything when we all decide to ride it. I was not scared of it when I was 6 on my first Disney trip. In fact I can remember it exactly and it was one of my favorites. DS was 2 on our last trip and he doesn't really like the dark but he was fine.

 

[claribella]

Mine was 1 when he first rode but it was the Haunted Mansion Holidays at Disneyland. That one is more lit up and festive and he loves Jack Skellington. He doesn't like the original HM as much but still goes.

 

[doug46]

My seven year old daughter loved it and made me take her on it several times. Her 8 year old cousin cried all the way through it and was upset for an hour after. My 5 year old son did not cry and enjoyed the doombuggy ride part a little, but the begining really scared him and he did not want to go on any ride the rest of the day that would be dark. So, moral of the story, I guess you have to know your kids and whether dark rides with erie, loud sounds will scare them.