Haunted Mansion vs Pirates of the Caribbean

[epcotcenter]

Better ride?

[Jesser-pie]

Pirates for the simple fact that it has some thrill so it gives it a slightly more interesting edge.

[tarheelalum]

They ruined the Haunted Mansion by making it too bright at the loading area. Totally kills the mood.

[Brian PieGuy]

Ah, the two juggernauts of Disneyland battling for the number one spot again.

While my opinion changes periodically, I tend to think Pirates of the Caribbean is the best ride at Disneyland. There is a sense of immersion to that attraction that few rides come close to: the opening scene feels like a boat ride through a real swamp, the grotto scenes feel like a haunted cave, the village looks like a real seaside village. Now that the Davy Jones mist screen is gone, there is no break in immersion for me. The fact that it is longer than the Haunted Mansion helps too; Pirates is one of the few attractions where I can regularly spend more time on the ride than in the line for the ride.

Haunted Mansion has some advantages over Pirates: the queue/preshow is far more engaging, it has undergone far less meddling/story changes than Pirates, and the annual Haunted Mansion Holiday is either an advantage or disadvantage depending on your perspective (I personally love it). But the Haunted Mansion isn't perfect in my opinion: some of the effects are cheesy (Constance the bride, pop-up skeletons, the loading area) and the ride always felt a tad short for something so epic in scale (the Walt Disney World version scratches that itch with its two extra scenes).

[Jspider]

While I don't think the ship battle sequence can really be outdone my true love is the Mansion so it gets my vote. I love the sense of mystery the corridor of doors the ballroom so many favorite elements of the Mansion I've loved as the years have gone on.

[md6379a]

I concur with Brian PieGuy, DL's PotC feels more transportive than any other attraction. I think the pacing is also an important part of this: tension, rising action, climax, falling action - like a well-crafted story.

Although I think DL's PotC still edges out WDW's HM, it's a much closer call than it is with DL's HM. Even though WDW's additional scenes may seem relatively minor, I think the impact is huge. WDW's HM really allows you to settle into the world of the attraction. It's not just the ride-through portrait hallway, library scene, piano scene, and staircase scene, but it's also the ride-through "Little Leota" scene and - most often overlooked during these comparisons - the foyer being a "true" show scene with the changing portrait. Depending on how you look at it, that's 4-6 additional show scenes. This is why I was hoping they'd make DL's foyer into a "true" show scene with the addition of a visual focus (as exists in the other three mansions). Perhaps the additions near the load area have been an improvement in this general direction, though?

[Eagleman]

Pirates of the Caribbean
to is more enjoyable, than the Haunted Mansion.......

Haunted Mansion is still on near the top my list with others adventure's !
Except ------I Do Not Like the Christmas overlay at all---
IMO

[Co Foo]

At Disneyland it’s Pirates.
At Disney World it’s Haunted Mansion.

[Co Foo]

I concur with Brian PieGuy, DL's PotC feels more transportive than any other attraction. I think the pacing is also an important part of this: tension, rising action, climax, falling action - like a well-crafted story.

Although I think DL's PotC still edges out WDW's HM, it's a much closer call than it is with DL's HM. Even though WDW's additional scenes may seem relatively minor, I think the impact is huge. WDW's HM really allows you to settle into the world of the attraction. It's not just the ride-through portrait hallway, library scene, piano scene, and staircase scene, but it's also the ride-through "Little Leota" scene and - most often overlooked during these comparisons - the foyer being a "true" show scene with the changing portrait. Depending on how you look at it, that's 4-6 additional show scenes. This is why I was hoping they'd make DL's foyer into a "true" show scene with the addition of a visual focus (as exists in the other three mansions). Perhaps the additions near the load area have been an improvement in this general direction, though?

The bigger issue for me is that Disney world’s pirate version misses the entire bayou scene. It’s like reading a book that is missing the first chapter.

[Eagleman]

The bigger issue for me is that Disney world’s pirate version misses the entire bayou scene. It’s like reading a book that is missing the first chapter.

I AGEE......It like a BIG MISS with out bayou scene.....at WDW/MK
Already big take away and very strange !

[bigcatrik]

I think the greatest scene in any dark ride, bar none, is the Haunted Mansion ballroom and the 2nd greatest is the hitchhiking ghost riding along in your car. It doesn't get any more personal than that.

While I enjoy the drop and skeleton section of PotC, once we get to the town I find the human animatronics odd. It's another point in the Mansion's favor that its only human is the caretaker and he barely moves.

[md6379a]

The bigger issue for me is that Disney world’s pirate version misses the entire bayou scene. It’s like reading a book that is missing the first chapter.

Oh I agree, DL's Pirates is worlds ahead of WDW's. The bayou scene, as you say, but also the extended cave sequences that build the suspense. It's amazing how, once again, seemingly "minor" aspects make such as huge difference to the experience.

I was only comparing DL's Pirates with DL's HM and WDW's HMs. I wasn't even bringing up WDW's Pirates

[bayouguy]

it's always a battle for which attraction I love best...it's not a tie though, but sort of how I'm feeling at the moment...but I lean more towards the Haunted Mansion...

[Pyratgrrl]

Pirates for me! When I was a little girl, I wanted to BE a pirate (the Disney version of a pirate of course). A ghost, not so much!

[DLHMFAN]

Pirates of the Caribbean was ruined when the pirate ship captain was replaced by Captain Barbossa in 2006. Geoffrey Rush is no Paul Frees as a voice actor.

[Eagleman]

pirates of the caribbean was ruined when the pirate ship captain was replaced by captain barbossa in 2006. Geoffrey rush is no paul frees as a voice actor.

Bingo=got that right .

[DLHMFAN]

Bingo=got that right .

You know what would be cool? Have a Paul Frees tribute in Haunted Mansion Haunted in which a character uses a line or two from Paul.

[biggsworth]

The Haunted Mansion is the perfect attraction at Disney for me. Always in my top 5 and usually number 1 for me. POTC (DLR version) is in the top 5 as well LOL

[Mr_IvanStark]

Sorry but I'm going to have to say POTC for me. There's something about that ride that I can't explain. Maybe its the scent, the vibes, the location its in. I don't know. The best time for me to go on the ride is around twilight. The lighting, the sounds and the setting does it for me Don't get me wrong, HM is a great ride as well but I feel like I'm more attached to POTC.

[whoever]

Well, neither are rides, so the poll is moot. Pirates is the better attraction, but it is VERY close to The Haunted Mansion.