Are you ready to enter the boundless realm of the supernatural? If the answer is “yes” then you’re in the right place as we’re celebrating the upcoming 50th Anniversary of Disneyland’s iconic HAUNTED MANSION! Today, we’re taking a look at the special magic and effects that continue to thrill and amaze to this day. Some of it new, some of it decades old, but together it creates an unmistakeable Disney experience that is not to be forgotten.
Enjoy now this special behind the scenes look, courtesy of Disney, at the HAUNTED MANSION!
- The Haunted Mansion is the only attraction that is featured in four different lands in four different parks. This includes the Phantom Manor attraction at Disneyland Paris.
- The pipe organ seen in the ballroom sequence was featured as Captain Nemo’s pipe organ in the Disney film classic, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”.
- During Haunted Mansion Holiday, the haunting scent of tasty gingerbread wafts throughout the Grand Hall, tempting Happy Haunts and guests alike. Every year, a new ghoulish concept for a gingerbread house is created for the celebration scene in the Mansion’s Grand Hall.
- The pet cemetery that features humorous epitaphs was added in front of the Haunted Mansion in the mid-1990s.
- In spring 2005, the séance scene was updated to include the crystal ball floating overhead.
- In 2005, the Walt Disney Imagineers were able to sync the changes in the portraits along the portrait hall to the lightning strikes.
- In spring 2006, Imagineers enhanced the attic scene, replacing the translucent, static bride with a ghostly dimensional bride.
- Portraits of Constance feature each of her former husbands in the attic, and the heads of the grooms magically disappear. As the ghostly bride recites her vows and marriage phrases, an axe appears in her hands, then disappears again.
- Several Disney Legends contributed to the attraction including Marc Davis, Claude Coats, Rolly Crump, Yale Gracey, X Atencio and Leota Toombs.
- The title of the spell that appears in the book in Séance Circle is taken from the Disney film, “Blackbeard’s Ghost”. The large book of incantations is entitled Necronomicon—Book of the Dead and is opened to pages 1312 and 1313.
- The final exterior concept for the house is heavily influenced by the Victorian-era Shipley-Lydecker House in Baltimore, Maryland.
Hurry Back!
We’ve been taking a week-long look at the classic Disneyland attraction with daily articles. Be sure to hurry back and catch it all!
- History and legacy of Disneyland’s classic HAUNTED MANSION
- A ‘By The Numbers’ look at the humble home of Disneyland’s happy haunts
- Spotlight on the happy haunts that materialize inside Disneyland’s HAUNTED MANSION
More in Store
WAKE THE DEAD!
Mega fans of the attraction have the opportunity at Disneyland to help wake the dead with a special after-after hours merchandise release party (from 1am – 4am!) The “under the hill” soiree will take include a bunch of earthly delights includingspirited sips and bites, special entertainment, character encounters, photo ops, and access to several west-side park attractions, plus a few other supernatural surprises.
MORE INFO: Learn more about the event, details and pricing, including how to purchase tickets here.
‘Happy Haunts Materialize’ Exhibit
The Disney Gallery on Main Street is paying tribute to the Haunted Mansion with a fantastic new exhibit: Happy Haunts Materialize: Fifty Spirited Years of the Haunted Mansion.
See it for Yourself
Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion turns 50 on Friday, August 9, 2019. It’s open now through August 25th when it closes its annual conversion into the Haunted Mansion Holiday.
