How Scary is The Haunted Mansion? 12 Things You Need to Know

 

Opening on October 1st, 1971, The Haunted Mansion is  a classic spooky dark ride attraction featuring 999 happy haunts – with room for one more.. But how scary is The Haunted Mansion? Let’s take a look at the ratings:

 

 

1. Ride Length

The Haunted Mansion has a ride duration of 7 minutes and 30 seconds.

2. Height Requirement and Warnings

There is no height requirement for The Haunted Mansion. However, this ride may not be the best for some younger children or those prone to sensory sensitivity.

3. Ride Vehicles and Restraints

The Haunted Mansion ride vehicles consist of individual cars called “doom buggies” that seat 2 or 3 passengers (with one lap bar).

4. How Does Haunted Mansion Work?

The Haunted Mansion works like a standard Disney dark ride, moving cars along a track while also swiveling to turn riders towards specific show scenes.

 

5. Is Haunted Mansion Scary?

The Haunted Mansion is intentionally scary. Unlike most rides at Disney that may have a few spooky elements here or there, this ride purposefully attempts to frighten its guests – albeit in a fun and campy way. Filled with loud ghostly noises, screams, “haunted-house” theming, eerie illusions, scary characters, and a morbid focus on death, this ride pulls out all the stops to spook its guests.

However, it should be noted that the first half of the ride (approximately 5 minutes of its nearly 8 minute run time) is a much more dark, traditional, haunted-house experience. The last 3 minutes has a lighter tone as you enter the graveyard and are serenaded by (still-spooky) but sillier ghosts and characters. While not as overtly “scary,” this scene is still loud and overwhelming – making it a definite problem for those with sensory sensitivity.

TRIGGER WARNING:

 

 During the pre-show sequence, the ghost host offers you “a chilling challenge” to find your way out. He goes on to state “of course, there’s always my way” before the lights go out and a skeletal body is revealed hanging from the rafters. In my opinion, Disney could do a MUCH better job of offering trigger warnings for this sequence and I feel that it’s a serious disservice to guests with trauma related to suicide.

6. Does Haunted Mansion Have Jump Scares?

The Haunted Mansion has a few jump scares – specifically in the graveyard scene. While they aren’t too extreme or close to the ride vehicles, guests may want to be prepared for a few spooky faces jumping up from behind gravestones.

7. How High is Haunted Mansion?

The Haunted Mansion does not involve heights. As an indoor dark ride, the track remains very low to the ground. There is one moment that has riders looking down at a haunted ballroom (as if from a second-story landing) and another where you enter a graveyard (looking down as if you’re up on a hill) but the ground and track are always right below you in both cases.

8. How Fast is Haunted Mansion?

The Haunted Mansion does not go fast. The “doom buggies” move at a very slow, leisurely pace throughout the attraction. It should be noted that due to the ride’s age, the vehicles do sometimes move in a shifty or lightly jerky way. This is not intentional, however, and won’t phase most riders in the slightest.

9. Does Haunted Mansion Have Drops?

The Haunted Mansion does not have drops of any kind.

10. Does Haunted Mansion Cause Motion Sickness?

The Haunted Mansion should not cause motion sickness to most riders. However, there is a very short backwards section (lasting about 20 seconds) where your doom buggy spins slowly around to descend the hill in the graveyard.

11. Is Haunted Mansion Claustrophobic?

The Haunted Mansion could be claustrophobic to some riders. While many of the show scenes involve high ceilings, “outdoor” settings, and forced perspective (to make you feel like you’re in a more open space), some may have a problem with this ride due to its long ride duration, lap bar, and spooky theming.

Perhaps the most claustrophobic part of the ride is the pre-show (lasting only 1 minute and 45 seconds) which involves being crammed tightly into a round foyer with other guests. Our “ghost-host” narrator even remarks that there are “no windows and no doors” – really playing into the fear of small spaces. While many pre-shows and loading areas throughout Disney World involve closed-off rooms much like this one, the Haunted Mansion intentionally makes its riders feel claustrophobic in this short scene.

12. Are There Animatronics on Haunted Mansion?

There are many animatronics on The Haunted Mansion. Due to both the ride’s age (making them sometimes appear shifty and janky) and the intentionally scary theming, those averse to animatronics might really have a problem with this attraction.

However, for those who don’t mind them, this attraction is famous for its amazing and intuitive practical effects that have continued to wow guests for decades. Be sure to check it out, if you dare!

Haunted Mansion Queue Walkthrough

The queue entrance is located outside on the edge of Fantasyland and takes you into a winding covered-outdoor area. You’ll pass a spooky hearse with invisible horses and continue along to the outdoor graveyard. If the line is long enough, the queue will open up into the graveyard where you can get a better look at the cool theming.

Once you make your way inside, you’ll be moved into the pre-show room – a small, round, foyer-like area with tall ceilings. As mentioned before, this part could be problematic for the claustrophobic among us due to the fact that you’re packed-in (shoulder to shoulder with other guests) and closed into a room that appears to have “no windows and no doors.”

You’ll received a welcome from your “ghost host” and witness some very cool but very morbid practical effects. The paintings all around you will stretch and reveal the impending deaths of their subjects and the room will go completely dark at one point (lasting about 10 seconds). During this segment, you’ll briefly be able to see a hanging figure swinging above you – accompanied by a hair-raising scream. (This part *undid* me as a child, so easily frightened riders might want to be aware that it’s coming.)

After the pre-show, you’ll be ushered onto the loading platform and prepare to board the ride vehicles from a moving belt.

Haunted Mansion Ride Walkthrough

As the ride begins, you’ll glide slowly through several “haunted house” show scenes featuring spooky changing paintings, floating candelabras, and marble busts that follow you with their eyes as you pass. You’ll make your way down a hallway, being serenaded by a piano that plays itself, and see a few other spooky illusions in the halls of the mansion.

You’ll make your way past a coffin (the body inside prying it open and yelling to be let out) and soon find yourself in the séance room as Madame Leota directs you from her floating crystal ball.

The “doom buggies” will then take you into the ballroom scene where you’ll see mind-bending effects and a whole party of ghosts dancing on the floor below you. From there, you’ll enter into the attic scene where you’ll encounter the “bride” holding a hatchet and calling out to you – “as long as we both shall live.”

There is a definite tone shift at this point in the ride as you enter the graveyard and are serenaded by hundreds of ghosts – many of them silly by nature. This is where you’ll encounter the short backwards section of the track – your “doom buggy” will rotate backwards and carry you slowly down the hill for about 20 seconds.

While the graveyard scene is certainly lighter in tone, it still involves very loud noises, some “jump scares” where ghosts pop up suddenly from behind gravestones, and some overall spooky imagery. It should also be noted that some animal-lovers may also be bothered by the skeletal, mangy graveyard dog whimpering beside his master in this scene (I certainly was).

After passing through the graveyard, you’ll encounter the three hitchhiking ghosts and see them reflected into your carriage as you pass a wall of mirrors. With that, you’ll be bid adieu by the bride and find yourself back at the loading station.

That’s it! Remember, everyone’s riding experience is a little bit different and only you can decide whether to hop on that ride vehicle or not. I just hope this guide helps you be prepared and enjoy every second of your Disney experience!

So what do you think? How scary is The Haunted Mansion? Leave a comment to help keep this guide up to date!

For a full visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from 4K WDW: