Haunted Mansion: Thrilling Experience Walking Out With Lights On

On a recent Haunted Mansion ride, we walked off the attraction with the lights on! Check out my photos tour and cool details here.

One of my (Susan) very favorite Disney World rides, the Haunted Mansion experienced technical difficulties while we were on. The longer we sat in our Doom Buggies, the more giddy I became.

When the announcement came that a Cast Member would walk us out, I was like a kid on Christmas morning!

Ride Stopped

I’ve been stopped briefly for several occasions while riding the Haunted Mansion attraction. Each time, I predict the reason. Does someone need help loading, or is the ride experiencing a technical glitch?

But this time seemed different. The longer we sat in the dark, the more excited I became. I’ve always dreamed of walking out and seeing the Haunted Mansion with the lights on. The longer we waited, the more hopeful I became about the possibility of walking off the ride!

Location We Were Stopped At

What is your favorite Haunted Mansion scene? Well, imagine getting stuck at your very favorite spot! For me, it’s the dancing ballroom scene. We stopped right in the middle!

I felt my jaw drop watching each detail unfold over and over. There are way too many details to take it all in.

The Announcement

Whether the ghosts are flowing upward from the organ, dueling, or hanging out on the chandelier, I adore them all! I could have sat here all day and been entertained.

After several minutes, Cast Members announced due to technical difficulties, they would escort us off the ride.

Cast Members also said they appreciated our patience, but I thanked them. Then, poof, lights came on and my jaw officially happily dropped. I MAY have even started clapping quietly in my excitement.

Walking Out Instruction

A few minutes after hearing the shut down announcement, a friendly Ghost Host Cast Member opened our Doom Buggy in a manner similar to the Peter Pan ride vehicles (except the Doom Buggies had to be unlocked from the outside).

The Cast Member who helped us leave the Doom Buggy instructed us to not step on the metal plates on the moving track in between the Doom Buggies.

Doom Buggies

Disney chose the “Omnimover,” developed by WED Enterprises from Disneyland’s “Adventure Thru Inner Space” Attraction. The Doom Buggy’s unique form was initially designed by WED transportation designer Bob Gurr.

Doom Buggies give a continuous chain of ride vehicles that move through the attraction as one unit. Each individual vehicle can turn in any direction. It was so interesting seeing guests sitting everywhere waiting in their Doom Buggy.

Hall of Portraits

Disney changed PhotoPass photos to the third painting on the right. Look for the lady that transforms into a cat, and give your best scared impression.

Although this is a memorable photo, I miss the previous ride photo with the hitchhiking ghost in your Doom Buggy.

Endless Hallway

Then, guests pass through the endless hallway, filled with moving doors, and a ghostly piano player. This room doesn’t actually show any ghosts, except the hands trying to escape from a coffin.

It gives a foreshadowing of ghoulish ghosts and goblins to come. Halfway down the hallway is a candelabra, floating eerily, seemingly going on an eternity.

Conservatory

After the endless hallway, guests travel past a glass Conservatory filled with withered dead plants and flowers displayed everywhere. The focus of this area is the coffin right in the middle of the room.

And, there’s a ghoul creepily trying to escape his fate. Adding to the doom, a black raven with glowing red eyes sits nearby, seemingly watching each guest.

Corridor of Walls

Next, Doom Buggies transport guest into a terrifying sound of screams, lunatic laughing, desperate pleas for help, and knocking coming from behind each ominous door.

To add to the ghoulish feel, door knockers move by invisible hands, while other doors move in a breathing-like fashion. One of the most iconic symbols of the Haunted Mansion is the glowing purple wallpaper adorned with black creepy ghost figures. And don’t forget the “floating glowing eyes.”

I was blown away seeing rather individual primitive black light boxes at different heights to give the glowing eyes effect.

Here, guests also encounter a large painting of the Ghost Host with a noose around his neck and holding a hatchet. For the first time, I noticed the creepy 13 grandfather clock appears to have a demonic face with its ominous eyes and large teeth.

Sèance Room

As guests wind around to the the sèance room, there are floating objects overhead, all while hearing the famous medium Madame Leota spouting out a creepy spell calling ghosts and spirits.

I loved walking out and taking in the details of this elaborately set scene.

She mysteriously levitates above a table filled with her glowing hair. While we walked out however, it was so cool to see the Madame with the lights on. Her hair is actually white, which glows more brightly with black lighting effects.

We also spotted the same raven from the coffin scene here, giving an eerie effect.

Grand Hall

As earlier stated, this is my absolute favorite scene in the Haunted Mansion. The large ballroom and dining room hold so many grim grinning ghosts! And when we got stuck, we hit the jackpot!

We were stopped right in the middle of this glorious scene. I could have literally sat there for hours taking in all the intricate details and effects, and listening to the creepy, yet charming tunes.

As the song says, “Shrouded in a daft disguise, they pretend to terrorize. Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.”

Are you singing yet? There’s an elderly ghost rocking gently back and forth holding a book. Ghosts materialize and disappear from the large dining table, where you can see a ghost blowing out her birthday candles.

The huge chandelier hosts a couple and a “third-wheel.”

If you focus on the two large paintings near the top of the walls, you’ll see materializing “dueling ghosts.” I learned from our very own Kenny the Pirate these ghosts are based on the real life historical duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.

The Rest of the Ride

We stopped at the Grand Hall and missed the attic, the graveyard scene, and all the menacing murderous bride portraits. One of the most creepy spots of the ride is the ghost hologram repeatedly calling guests to “Hurry back…hurry back, and don’t forget your death certificate.”

Final Thoughts

The Cast Members methodically stepped into action as we proceeded out of the ride. Although they had many guests to unload in small groups, they were patient with me taking pictures and shooting a video on my phone.

Cast Members kept apologizing for the inconvenience, but I immediately thanked them for the best attraction experience of my trip! I’m hoping it lifted their spirits seeing how giddy I was over walking out. This was truly a bucket list experience.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and my journey as much as I loved sharing it.

Have you ever walked off a ride? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience. Also, which Haunted Mansion scene or room is your favorite? Please share your thoughts with us on the KtP Facebook Page or on in the KtP Crew.