The latest chapter of We Call it Imagineering has launched and the subject this time is Haunted Mansion, Phantom Manor & Mystic Manor. This episode explores the history and evolution of the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disney Parks, from its original concept to its international and modern-day expansions.

Here’s a look at what to expect from this latest episode of We Call it Imagineering.

The Original Haunted Mansion

• Early Concept: The idea for a haunted house was present from the earliest designs for Disneyland . Walt Disney’s initial vision was for the mansion to be a “retirement home for ghosts from all over the world”.
• Creative Conflict & Story: The attraction’s unique tone emerged from a debate on whether it should be scary or funny, ultimately becoming both—a blend described as “very Disney”. Imagineer X Atencio threaded the two different tones together using the narration of the Ghost Host. The ride progresses from spooky scenes to a “swinging wake” party in the graveyard.
• Abandoned Concepts: Imagineer Rolly Crump proposed a “Museum of the Weird” that Walt loved but considered too strange for the main attraction. However, some of his elements, like the “face chair”and the 13-hour clock, were incorporated.
• Design & Audio: The iconic purple wallpaper with staring eyes was designed by Imagineer Tania Norris after she couldn’t find a sufficiently spooky design. Disney Legend Buddy Baker composed the music; he created the strange sound of the graveyard band by writing and playing the music backward, then reversing it. The original Ghost Host dialogue was recorded by Paul Frees in the late 1960s.
  • Long-time MouseInfo readers may remember hearing about Tania’s story from 2019 Midsummer Scream.

International and New Adaptations