With Halloween upon us it’s imperative we pay homage to the spookiest ride in Magic Kingdom - The Haunted Mansion. This being one of my favorite rides in Disney World it feels only right! One of the best parts is the whole family can experience this ride, down to your infants. With slow moving dune buggies, no one in your family has to be left out of the fun.
While this ride does have a Fastpass option, the queue is filled with many “haunted” elements for you to explore. There are instruments that will magically play when you touch them, spooky tombs that leak water, and books that move off their shelves. An interesting feature is an organ that plays when you touch the keys. Look for the name “Ravenscroft.” It’s a nod to Thurl Ravenscroft, the lead singing ghost in “Grim Grinning Ghosts!”
Make sure to snag a picture in front of the fun busts of Aunt Florence, Uncle Jacob, the twins, Cousin Maude and Bertie. You’ll find through it a murder mystery you can solve to pass the time while you wait.
I would consider this ride to be just the right amount of spooky for your little ones as it’s a mixture of comedy and happy haunting. Your slow-moving dune buggy will take you through the haunted mansion where the ghosts are hidden from sight, giving you hints with their antics they are there. There is a piano that plays itself (check out the shadow on the floor!), a bunch of upside-down staircases with ghosts’ footprints that appear as you go through, and a séance with Madame Leota where you are asked to give your assistance in raising these spooky spirits from the afterlife.
My favorite scene has you looking down on a bustling turn of the century dinner party where ghosts appear and disappear. Make sure you check out a few hidden ghost spots, like the ghost’s legs under the table!
You’ll have a chance at the end to see some of these “999 happy haunts” as they try to catch a ride on top of your dune buggy to follow you out of the ride. As you head out lookup and listen for the final ghost asking you to “Hurrrry back. Be sure to bring your death certificate.”
At Halloween or any time of year, this ride will give you a chance to experience some good-hearted spooky fun. And you’ll be bound to have “Grim Grinning Ghosts” stuck in your head until next time!
Jade Monzo is the owner of Rope Drop Travel, a full-service travel agency specializing in Disney destinations. She lives with her husband and six little ones ages 8 and under. She enjoys helping with her children’s school PTO’s and all things Disney.
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