The Haunted Mansion is more than just your typical haunted house. It is really 3+ attractions for the price of one! Upon arrival, the popularity of this haunted attraction is made known by the mass groups of individuals seeking a fun filled evening of scares. Tickets to the attraction are only $10, which makes this not only a GREAT haunted attraction, but also one of the most affordable ones. There are additional options to add the burial simulator or shoot ghouls with paint balls. Expect approximately a 30 minute wait before entering the beginning of the corn maze. The corn maze is dimly lit by torches and makes an excellent setting for one to get lost and run into hidden ghouls. There are several area's of sinking sand that will keep you diligent and cautiously moving forward. Angry dogs and chainsaws are waiting to dismember you throughout the corn maze and hold on tight as you can expect to be trapped and forced to lose your balance. Once you make it out alive, you are on to a school bus. However, this is not your typical bus ride, expect to be surprised in every direction by ghouls and scenes that were not at first visible. When you exit the bus, you are given a number and notified that you now may enjoy one of the many attractions while waiting for your number to appear. Take advantage of the surrounding haunted attractions and the wait time will quickly pass. The outside of the Haunted Mansion is finely tuned to make the hair on the back of your neck stand tall. There is live feed of victims attempting to escape from inside of the Mansion. There is no turning back once you are inside so be prepared for the unexpected. You will be forced to go alone and face your fears solo and if you can make it through alive, do not worry as you will eventually be rejoined with your group. You can expect to encounter all of your phobia's throughout the haunted mansion, and you may even discover new ones! The Haunted Mansion incorporates several favorite sets including the vortex and at the end, you have to let go and hope for a safe landing! Overall, The Haunted Mansion has masterfully incorporated fear and fun into one great affordable attraction!
Signage / Visibility / Location
There are a lot of signs and directions (including a large Billboard). You will drive down a lot of dark spooky roads, but rest assured that there are plenty of signs pointing you in the right direction. You know you have arrived when you see the large entrance sign.
Wait Area / Line Entertainment
The wait is outdoors. I chose the RIP option in order to skip the lines, it is an extra $10 ... but if you are the type that likes to avoid waiting and can afford the extra $10, I recommend the RIP. You can skip to the front of the line to the corn maze, front row seats on the bus, and skip the line into the house. There are a lot of ghouls all around and you will have vistors while waiting in line. I asked individuals in the front of the line to the corn maze how long they had waited and they said approximately 30 minutes. Once you arrive at the haunted house, you are given a number that is displayed overhead so you know where you are in your wait. While you wait, you can shoot paint balls at real ghouls, purchase goodies, sit around a bonfire or enjoy other haunt related activities. It is a great opportunity to make an evening out of being frightened.
Actors' Performance
Actor's were spot on with their scares and made us scream several times. There were a few actors (out of what seemed like dozens) that did not stay in character and in fact seemed rather exhausted and bored. The actors in the corn maze and on the bus were awesome, we laughed, screamed and I believe there were some tears shed behind us. The actor in the beginning and upon entrance of the haunted house had the perfect mixture of creepy.
Sets Scenes / Props / FX
This is really a multi-haunted attraction. You begin with a walk through a haunted corn maze, it is dimly lit with torches around a pond that reflects the gore. It is very easy to get lost in the corn maze and there are several area's of "sinking sand" that you must be cautious of. There are not a lot of props through the corn maze, but it is really not necessary to create that eerie sense of confusion and fear of the dark. The bus ride was a completely unexpected surprise, I do not want to give too much away, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. The haunted house itself has many unique aspects, if you can't go alone, then I recommend not going. Every scene was well done and there is a great balance of animatronics and sets. It is really difficult to tell what is real and which is a prop.
Length
We entered the corn maze at 8:58 and left the haunted house at 9:45, so approximately 40 minutes between all 3 attractions. The corn maze was about 8 minutes, but we moved pretty fast. The bus ride is around 12 minutes and the haunted house is just at 20 minutes in length. If you enjoy all that The Haunted Mansion has to offer, you can plan on being there for over 2 hours. There is a lot of extra's and we unfortunately did not have the time to experience everything that is offered!
Crowd Control
In order to keep the wait under control, groups are separated, but sent through quickly to keep the line moving. We did run into the group ahead of us and those behind us caught up ... so there was some concerns with crowd control. One thing I do want to add is that in the haunted house you are separated and forced to go alone. Anyone can act brave in a group, but if you can not handle the fear alone, then consider this your warning!
Most Memorable Moment
The bus ride was one of the most memorable moment for myself, it was unexpected and something very different from any other haunted attraction I have been to. The actors were great, and there is no sitting back and just enjoying the ride. The beginning of the Haunted House was also very memorable as I found myself alone, trapped and desperately seeking an exit.
In summary, I recommend The Haunted Mansion to anyone looking for more than just a "haunted house". Paintball, bonfires, treats, bus rides and corn mazes all add to a frightful evening. One that will make you laugh, scream and for some ... cry!
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