Earlier this year, I joined my aunt, uncle and cousin on a trip to
Florida that included Universal and Disney World. We spent one full day
and one evening in the Magic Kingdom, where I went into a bit of sensory
overload at a place I’d wanted to visit all my life. There was too much
to take in on even two trips, but one ride I definitely experienced to
the fullest was the Haunted Mansion, which we rode three times – the
first time because it was on the Must List, the second and third because
the line was so short when we happened by and the ride was just so much
fun.
Our first time around, there was a bit of a wait, partly
because we opted to go the long way around in line, which allowed us to
see more of the grounds. The spooky but comical statues erected outside
the mansion itself are a lot of fun and present plenty of photo
opportunities. I especially liked the ornate organ that we encountered
about halfway through our wait. It was a leisurely walk, and we didn’t
mind the wait because there was so much to see. On the other hand, it
was nice to be able to get on the ride almost immediately by going the
other route the second and third time.
The inside of the
Mansion, like the movie it inspired, is creepy but in a purely fun way. I
don’t think any guests but very young children are likely to find it
truly frightening. The first portion of the ride is walk-through as
guests are ushered into a large room with portraits on the walls, which
expand as the ghostly narrator speaks. The paintings are comical, with
each deceased person having a strong personality that comes across in
two-dimensional form. The host’s voice is suitably spooky, and with the
room changing and the lights turning off and on, I’m pretty sure I
jumped a bit while I was standing there, and I know I grabbed onto my
aunt’s hand when the room went pitch-dark, at least the first time.
It’s
after this point that we loaded up into the buggies and got to the
riding portion of the ride, which is full of intricate displays of
ghosts engaged in all sorts of different activities. There are so many
displays that it’s hard to see everything on the first go-round.
Bibliophile that I am, I especially liked the ghostly library, and the
ballroom where so many of the ghosts converge for some musical revelry
is the most raucous part of the ride. Tombstones, candelabras and other
eerie props help to set the mood. Parts of it put me in mind of my
hometown park’s dark ride, the Whacky Shack, but the Haunted Mansion is
much more sophisticated, and it is character-centric rather than relying
mostly on loud noises and disorienting lighting effects. There’s a bit
of twisting and turning, but nothing likely to cause much trouble for
the sensitive rider. I’m prone to motion sickness, and I didn’t have any
problems.
When my mom went to Disney World on a choir trip in
the 1970s, this was one of the only rides she had a chance to go on, and
she sang its praises. Having finally gotten a chance to ride it for
myself, I have to agree that it’s top-notch, and the scary factor is
outweighed by the fun factor. I went in March, and it felt like I was
getting a foretaste of Halloween. I would imagine that the Haunted
Mansion is particularly popular with guests at the park today, but no
matter what time of year it is, this ghostly ride is grand and shouldn’t
be missed.
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