CABIN ATTENDANT; B757; DFW-LAX. ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. AFT LAVATORY; CEILING AREA. EMER DECLARED; PREPPED CABIN FOR EVAC. RETURN DALLAS. PLANE TAKEN OTS.

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THE PROB AS DESCRIBED TO ME (AN ELECTRICAL SMELL) WAS COMING FROM THE CEILING PANEL IN THE AFT LAVATORY AREA. THE CAPT TOLD US TO PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE EMER LNDG. MY CONCERN: WHEN THE AGENT OPENED THE DOOR; HE ASKED PAX TO STAY ON BOARD. FIREMEN WERE WAITING ON THE JETBRIDGE TO BOARD. I BELIEVE THE CAPT SUGGESTED TO AGENT IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO LET THE PAX DEPLANE. A LITTLE CONFUSING; I THOUGHT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THEY DID RETURN TO DALLAS; AFTER TAKING OFF AND REACHING CRUISE ALT. THE CAPT HAD THEM DO THE 15 MIN 'PREPARATION FOR EVAC' CHKLIST FOR THE PAX. SHE BELIEVES THAT WHEN THE AGENT OPENED THE DOOR; HE SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR EVERYONE TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY; TAKING ABSOLUTELY NO CARRY-ON ITEMS. AS IT WAS; THE PAX GOT OFF SLOWLY; GATHERING UP ALL THEIR BELONGINGS. FINALLY; THE FIREFIGHTERS GOT IMPATIENT; AND DEMANDED THAT THEY GET ON; BECAUSE A FIRE COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPING. THE RPTR SAYS THAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN IN THE FUTURE; SHE WOULD HAVE THE PEOPLE GET OFF AS IF THEY WERE IN AN EVAC (WITHOUT SLIDES); SO THE EXITING WOULD HAVE BEEN FASTER. THE PLANE WAS TAKEN OTS TO BE CHKED OUT BY MAINT; AND THEY GOT ON ANOTHER PLANE AND CONTINUED THE TRIP WITHOUT INCIDENT.