Haunted Mansion ride vehicle update

[mousefan1972]

Just got back last night from WDW. Wanted to let you guys know about something that happened to us while boarding Haunted Mansion on Sunday, May 18th.

We are a family of 4; me, DH, 4 year old daughter and 2 year old son. This was our 5th trip with our kids. We have always ridden HM together, all in the same doombuggy. Always, no exceptions. DH, myself, and our daughter sit on the seat, and our son sits either on my lap or his Dad's lap. No CM has ever said we can't ride that way.

On Sunday (our 6th time riding HM this trip) we were about to board our doombuggy when a CM started loudly saying "2 or 3 to a doombuggy, please!" We figured we counted as 3, since our son sat on one of our laps, when the same CM approached my husband (I was already seated with our daughter) and said, "Sir, only 2 or 3 to a buggy. You can't sit there" We looked at each other, and he explained that our son would be on his lap. She insisted we be broken up and ride 2 and 2. She actually stopped the ride and held everyone else up so he could move. By then, the buggies behind us were filled so he was about 5 behind me. My son started screaming for his father. Again, we had been on that ride dozens of times and had never been told to split up. I asked the CM why we suddenly couldn't all ride together, and she said that the day before (Saturday the 17th), a CM had been written up for allowing 4 people in a doombuggy together. She said she did not want to get written up so she had to enforce the rule. I have no idea if this is a new rule, or if it is just now being enforced. Luckily that was the last time we were riding HM anyway, so next time we will know that one kid goes with each parent in 2 separate buggies. We weren't expecting it, and our kids were upset, which in turn upset us.

Just an FYI for all of the families of 4 out there.

 

[lpet11984]

Wow, interesting....I've never heard of anything quite like that before. Sounds to me like that CM may have been personally affected/frustrated over the write-up situation. I mean, I can understand if you're trying to fit four teenagers/pre-teens into a doombuggy or something, but with a little one, that sounds a little unreasonable. :shrug:

 

[Legacy]

It's not a new rule. I have never seen four to a buggy before. I'm amazed you got to do it five times.

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

Lap seating is almost never allowed on attractions. I could only imagine what would occur if your child managed to slip out of the lap bar.

 

[durangojim]

Lap seating is almost never allowed on attractions. I could only imagine what would occur if your child managed to slip out of the lap bar.

We're taking my 2 month old daughter and 2 1/2 year old son in two days, I'm pretty confident that I can use "the force" to cause the CM to allow all 4 of us in the buggy. I don't think letting my daughter ride on the ride on the seat and not in one of our laps would be a very good idea

 

[mousefan1972]

It's not a new rule. I have never seen four to a buggy before. I'm amazed you got to do it five times.

The 5 times was just on this trip. Overall, I'd guess we've ridden about 20 times, at least, that way.

And we saw many, many infants and toddlers on their parents laps on so many attractions.. Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Pirates... we certainly weren't the only ones with a little one on a parent's lap. :animwink:

 

[bruiser659]

4 people just seems unsafe,we wonder why people get hurt.:fork:

 

[durangojim]

I always thought there was "room for one more" at the Haunted Mansion.

 

[donniedisney]

I like how they told you prior to getting on only 3 people to a car but some how putting your kid in your lap made him not count as a person....

If you followed the rules and your husband would not have been 5 cars behind you. bottom line

 

[jt04]

Besides, is it really safe to put your kid between yourself and an automatically closing lap bar? I know I would not feel that my kid was safe in that situation. The lap bars close with some force and I can't imagine what might happen in a malfunction. Sounds like the CM was watching out for your children more than you were. Good Job CM!

 

[wdwfan100]

The 5 times was just on this trip. Overall, I'd guess we've ridden about 20 times, at least, that way.

I would suspect that the policy is 2 to 3 to a buggy and there was not always the appropriate CM guidance. Which is why a CM was written up for allowing it. Some CM's find it easier to not confront an issue and just let it slide. Count yourselves lucky to have been able to ride that way as frequently as you have.

And we saw many, many infants and toddlers on their parents laps on so many attractions.. Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Pirates... we certainly weren't the only ones with a little one on a parent's lap. :animwink:

I have unfortunately seen many guest doing things they were not supposed to do. It does not mean the rules have changes. Just that they are not being followed. I am not trying to imply that you were fragrantly defying the rules. They were not explained clearly enough. Unfortunately when they were, it resulted in confusion and some less than magical memories.

 

[Laura]

4 people just seems unsafe,we wonder why people get hurt.:fork:

I like how they told you prior to getting on only 3 people to a car but some how putting your kid in your lap made him not count as a person....

If you followed the rules and your husband would not have been 5 cars behind you. bottom line

Besides, is it really safe to put your kid between yourself and an automatically closing lap bar? I know I would not feel that my kid was safe in that situation. The lap bars close with some force and I can't imagine what might happen in a malfunction. Sounds like the CM was watching out for your children more than you were. Good Job CM!

On the Haunted Mansion it is perfectly safe to put an infant or small child (2 year olds are pretty small last time I checked) on your lap. I've done so many times when my children were little and there is plenty of space under the lapbar so long as you and your child are normal sized individuals.

The Haunted Mansion isn't a rollercoaster last time I checked. In fact, it moves more slowly than the TTA which has no lapbars and no rules about lap sitting. And, um, have you ever seen a parent with a baby on their lap on a speeding parking lot tram crammed with people? Did you find that to be dangerous and unacceptable too?

Comon people. The Haunted Mansion is about as dangerous as Small World. There's no harm or danger in lap sitting. This family had ridden the Haunted Mansion FIVE TIMES in the last few days in that exact same fashion without anyone batting an eye, and therefore they assumed that Disney was not counting the "under 3" crowd as part of the figure. If you've ever been to Disney with an infant or toddler you'll understand the mentality there that the under 3 year olds don't really count as "people". You don't pay for them, they don't count towards your hotel occupancy, they often don't count for your ride occupancy. So lay off the OP.

 

[EpcotServo]

2 or 3 has always been the rule, sorry.
:shrug:

 

[Tom Morrow]

^ Agreed, the CM here was doing their job.

It may not seem dangerous to you, but rules are rules.

 

[bruiser659]

On the Haunted Mansion it is perfectly safe to put an infant or small child (2 year olds are pretty small last time I checked) on your lap. I've done so many times when my children were little and there is plenty of space under the lapbar so long as you and your child are normal sized individuals.

The Haunted Mansion isn't a rollercoaster last time I checked. In fact, it moves more slowly than the TTA which has no lapbars and no rules about lap sitting. And, um, have you ever seen a parent with a baby on their lap on a speeding parking lot tram crammed with people? Did you find that to be dangerous and unacceptable too?

Comon people. The Haunted Mansion is about as dangerous as Small World. There's no harm or danger in lap sitting. This family had ridden the Haunted Mansion FIVE TIMES in the last few days in that exact same fashion without anyone batting an eye, and therefore they assumed that Disney was not counting the "under 3" crowd as part of the figure. If you've ever been to Disney with an infant or toddler you'll understand the mentality there that the under 3 year olds don't really count as "people". You don't pay for them, they don't count towards your hotel occupancy, they often don't count for your ride occupancy. So lay off the OP.

Wow,I dont know how I got hurt?:shrug:

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Deary deary me, there are some really trully evil parents in this world, what would have happened if the child had slipped from your grasp during the second inversion, its no good hoping that the dog would catch it frizby like. And besides why would any sensible person take a child into a ride filled with evil and satanic m imagery possibly scarring them mentally for life. Would surprise me if were talking serial killer in a few yaesr driving around with a flesh waist coat and a big cheese helmet humming Judas Priest tunes.

 

[mousefan1972]

Ok, this is my last comment on this, and then I'm not reading the thread anymore.

Did you people not read where I said that we had NEVER been told that it was "against the rules" to ride together? That we did NOT argue, become beligerent, or refuse to split up when asked to? I simply asked the CM why it was ok one day, and not the next?

Perhaps the CM's at the Haunted Mansion could be CONSISTENT when enforcing the rules, or let the guests know what the rules are in the first place??? It's kind of hard to know that you are breaking the rules, when you are not told what they are in the first place?

You people are really unbelievable sometimes.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Have you considered it just you they pick on.......:lookaroun

 

[JLW11Hi]

Unfortunately, one CM that upholds the rules cannot control what the many, many others do at the same attraction. Some may be more leniant that others, making it harder for the others.

Obviously not in this particular situation, but there is always that common confrontation that comes up where you either follow the rules and upset the customer, or you are leniant with the rules and upset your manager. As a CM, it seems you are out of luck either way, so its best to just enforce the rules.

 

[jt04]

Have you considered it just you they pick on.......:lookaroun

That is two :ROFLOL: in the last 10 minutes from you. You are definitely on a roll today! I especially liked the cheerleader joke.