History Main / SurpriseSlideStaircase

* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion2'' has one in the first mansion. Expect a slide when the candles are burning purple. Taken to ridiculous lengths with the massively long Eerie Staircase in the second mansion, which sends Luigi ''all the way to the bottom'' if he takes one wrong turn.

* In the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series, the staircase to the Gryffindor girls' dormitories turns into a slide if a boy tries to climb it. [[DoubleStandard The boys' stairs have no such trap.]]

* In the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series, the staircase to the Gryffindor girls' dormitories turns into a slide if a boy tries to climb them. [[DoubleStandard The boys' stairs have no such trap.]]

* In the Literature/HarryPotter series, a staircase in Gryffindor House does this to prevent boys from entering the girls' dormitories. [[DoubleStandard The boys' stairs have no such trap.]]

* Flying Buffalo's ''TabletopGame/GrimtoothsTraps'' supplement. The "Slider Spiker" trap uses this trick.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Rolemaster}}'' ''Arms Companion''. One of these is given as a "Maiming" type trap.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' season 2 episode The Earth King, Toph collapses the giant stairs leading to the palace into this. She then proceeds to use it as an elevator all while Sokka [[ApologeticAttacker apologizes]] to the earth kingdom soldiers.

* One of the traps which Lion-O and Wilykit encounter in the ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats'' episode "The Tower of Traps" is a flight of trick stairs. When Lion-O attempts to pull himself and Wilykit up to the landing, he triggers a surprise slide which sends the two Thundercats right back to the bottom. The only way they can get past this staircase is to vault over it using the Sword of Omens.

* In ''{{WesternAnimation/Encanto}}'', [[SapientHouse Casita]] does this to keep some curious children from checking out the upstairs before the ceremony.

* The ''Literature/HandOfThrawn'' duology has this built into secret passages in Thrawn's fortress, which causes considerable inconvenience to Luke and Mara.

* A couple of times in the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series you have to ascend a flight of stairs within a time limit, or they'll turn into a ramp and return you to the bottom.
* ''VideoGame/WarioLand: Shake It!'' has switchable stair/ramps that can be used to build up momentum.

* ''VideoGame/DragonsLair'' has one of these.
* The ''VideoGame/LodeRunner'' clone ''Wizard'' uses this as a standard level design mechanic.

* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion2'' has one in the first mansion. Expect a slide when the candles are burning purple. Taken to ridiculous lengths with the massively long Eerie Staircase in the second mansion, which sends Luigi ''all the way to the bottom'' if he takes one wrong turn.

* ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' (1973) episode "The Baffles Puzzle". Wonder Woman is walking down a staircase leading underground when the stairs fold and she slides to the bottom. Watch it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDWQYdHuC6I#t=33m here]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Played straight in the episode, "Hell is Other Robots", when Fry and Leela are sent down a chute onto a surprise slide.
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' season 2 episode The Earth King, Toph collapses the giant stairs leading to the palace into this. She then proceeds to use it as an elevator all while Sokka [[ApologeticAttacker apologizes]] to the earth kingdom soldiers.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': "The Crystal Empire" has an odd example. When faced with an impossibly tall spiral staircase, Twilight Sparkle pulls off an impressive DungeonBypass by [[GravityMaster casting a spell to invert her gravity]], and sliding up the the slope on the bottom of the stairs.
* In the animated ''WesternAnimation/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays'', one figures into an attempt by Mr. Fix to trap Fogg in a carnival funhouse.

* ''WesternAnimation/AlfredJKwak'': When Alfred and Professor Paljas explore an Egyptian pyramid and get lost, they find themselves on a stairwell that suddenly turns into a slide. They manage to hold on thanks to Paljas' cane, but then they hear [[IndyEscape a rumbling sound approaching from above]].
* ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfSuperman'': In "The Warlock's Revenge", the Warlock magically transforms the stairs beneath Lois Lane's feet into a slide to dump her into a busy street.

** In ''Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun'', Scaramanga (Creator/ChristopherLee) has one of these in his lair. In the opening segment he uses it to slide down to dodge bullets and grab his golden gun to kill an assassin.

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This a classic gag often seen in silent films and cartoons: a staircase with hinged, pivoting, or collapsible steps turns into a steep ramp or slide. Often used in sequences where a character climbs the StairwayToHeaven, only to be turned away at the Pearly Gates and sent whizzing down to Hell (compare with {{Hellevator}}).