Disney World was designed and created with kids and families in mind. The experiences, dining, and rides are all kid-friendly with a few things sprinkled in for older kids and adults. There aren’t too many scary things at the parks, but there are certainly a couple.

Take the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom, for example. Its name says it all — this mansion is haunted by 999 happy ghosts. While this ride is also designed to be kid-friendly, there are certainly some scarier segments. One of those happens even before you officially get on the ride, during the preshow. But did you know that if you need to, there’s a way to skip the preshow?

The preshow at the Haunted Mansion is charmingly termed “The Stretching Room.” This is because, you guessed it, the room appears to be stretching (or is it actually stretching? ). At one point during the pre-show in the stretching room, there are lots of flashing lights (lightning), thunder, and overhead, a not-so-fun surprise. The narrator even tries to convince you that you’re trapped with no way out of the room other than…well, becoming a ghost.

For many fans of the Haunted Mansion, this is a very exciting, fun, and iconic part of the ride. You’ll often hear people quoting along with the narrator and fake screaming when the lightning and thunder go off. But for others, this part of the ride is scary and can cause a lot of anxiety, and not just for little kids. It’s a lot of stimulation, a small, confined area with lots of other people, and the idea that you’re trapped. And if you’re not prepared for what you’ll see when you look up, it can be terrifying, trust me, I know.

When I was younger (and I’m talking like 17 years old), I had been on the Disney World and Disneyland Haunted Mansion rides probably hundreds of times. But apparently, I had never looked up. It was one time, when I was nearly a legal adult, that I finally looked up and saw the “hanging body” above me. I SCREAMED…and then legit cried to my dad. It took me completely off guard and scared the daylights out of me. I think I became the 1,000th happy haunt for a moment.

Sure, now, as a 33-year-old adult, I can still ride the ride, but I NEVER look up. So, if you’re like me and this room freaks you out, or you have little kids and you don’t think they’ll be able to handle it, there is a way out; you don’t even have to go through the show. However, this is NOT a way to skip the line. This is for those who truly cannot handle the preshow.

Here’s what you do if you need to skip The Haunted Mansion preshow. When you get to the wooden doors to the mansion, ask the Cast Member there for a way around the preshow to the ride. They will give you a piece of paper with a note on it that says “Servants’ Quarters.”

You’ll approach another Cast Member nearby with the slip before you move into the stretching room. This Cast Member will give you directions to the hallway, which will lead you to the exit of the ride. You’ll turn left, and there’s a “blink and you’ll miss it” hallway where you’ll be greeted by another Cast Member. They will direct you on how to get back into line and board the ride.

The moral of the story is: trust the Cast Members to help you find your way around the stretching room. If you or someone in your party has a very difficult time with the stretching room preshow, this is a way around it. But PLEASE, do not abuse this system just to skip the line after the preshow. This is for those who truly need the accommodation. 

We hope that you enjoy the ride and your time at Disney World. If you ever need an accommodation or assistance, don’t hesitate to ask Cast Members. They are fantastic people who love to make your vacation memorable, within their abilities.

In the meantime, keep following DFB for more Disney World tips and tricks!

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Have you ever wished to skip the stretching room? Let us know about your experience in the comments!

The post The Secret Way To Skip the Stretching Room at the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog.