A decidedly non-scary attraction is one of the most popular at Disneyland. Both inside, and outside! Inside you will find 999 Ghosts who sing, dance and generally cavort while you watch from your Doom Buggy. The building itself is absolutely beautiful, but doesn't provoke much fear.
Disney Imagineers have done very well on this attraction, with ghosts, spiders, cobwebs and much, much more to entertain as you go through this attraction. This attraction is all about the details you will find here. Because of these details, each time you get in a Doom Buggy it can be a different ride.
By the time you say goodbye to Leota and exit the Haunted Mansion, you just may find yourself humming the theme song, Grim Grinning Ghosts as you walk away.
The only thing that could be deemed as scary in this attraction is the beginning, where many people know the words to the introduction so well that they must say them, or yell them. And at the end of the introduction, they think it is fun to scream at the top of their lungs. Yes, this can be scary, especially for small children. It can also make you deaf if you happen to be standing right next to one of these inconsiderate people.
I recommend the Haunted Mansion, and really don't feel that it is scary. Our son has never had a problem on the attraction except for the afore mentioned screamers. His first time on it, at 14 months old, he promptly fell asleep upon getting into the Doom Buggy.
This year, he stayed awake, and seemed to really enjoy the ride. His knowing the song Grim Grinning Ghosts may help that though. I like the fact that it is 7 minutes that I am in a cool building, and off my feet! Oh, and be sure to say goodbye to Leota as you leave!
2006 Update
The most recent addition to the Haunted Mansion is a wonderful enhancement. The attic scene which was minimal before has now been totally expanded. This part of the attraction now tells its own story. Instead of the former bride with a red beating heart, we now have much more to enjoy in the attic of the Haunted Mansion.
Now that this change has been made, what you will see in the attic is amazing, and really tells the story of the bride we have seen for years with the beating heart. As you enter the attic you will see wedding pictures on your right. In each of them is a beautiful woman and a very handsome man. Each picture holds a different man but the same woman. As you continue to look at the pictures you will see that the men lose their heads. On the left you will see the bride floating and now she is holding an axe. She is also promising to love until 'death do us part'. This whole section really adds to the scene with the bride and gives a great explanation for why we have for years had a bride with a read beating heart.