Disney Haunted Mansion

Uncle Walt certainly outdid himself this time. The Disney Haunted Mansion is one of the best rides in Liberty Square. (Yeah, Dad, there are only 3 rides in Liberty Square and the other 2 are pretty boring.) OK, how about this, the Haunted Mansion is one of the best rides Uncle Walt ever produced. Now that's high praise.

The Haunted Mansion is one of those rides you either love or you hate. It has spawned it's own bad movie (starring Eddie Murphy) and has numerous fan websites the best of which is DoomBuggies.com. This ride is huge. It's great. You'll love it.

Trust me.

"Welcome, Foolish Mortals to the Haunted Mansion ..."

"Drag your bodies away from the wall, into the dead center of the room".

The Preshow

Master Gracey

Photo by Joe Penniston

It's hard not to classify the graveyard area part of the ride. What's outside is as much a part of the show as what's inside the Mansion.

In the graveyard there are audio gravestones. These tombstones tell stories. Take time to read a few. You'll thank me.

Really.

The Ride

Now it time for the ghosts, ghouls, goblins and skeletons. The things that go bump in the night.

The ride starts out by insulting the guests. That's a great way to start. Foolish mortals indeed.

You start out in a "stretch" room where you are introduced to the ghost host. The room goes dark and then it's time to move on to your Doom Buggy trip through several scenes of the dear departed. All of the ghosts are of the "Casper" kind, friendly.

There's Madame Leota who tells futures in a crystal ball. Yes, I meant in, her head is in a crystal ball. They you see the dance hall where a celebration is happening. At the end of the journey, as you exit the mansion you get an extra passenger in your Doom Buggy. Don't worry, he can't leave the mansion.

History

The DIsney Haunted Mansion opened in 1971 when the Magic Kingdom opened. A "re haunting" was completed in 2007.

• Uncle Walt planned some "grim grinning" adventure even before starting construction at Disneyland.
• Yale Gracey was one of the imagineers put in charge of the special effects in the original attraction.
• This 18th century mansion is based on northeastern mansions and is in the Dutch Gothic Revival style.
• The Madame Leota tombstone is unique to Disney World. Watch the eyes.

Disney Haunted Mansion - photo taken from the Liberty Belle Riverboat

Shouldn't lightning should be flashing in the background. Photo by Joe Penniston

Fun Facts

Here are some fun facts about the Disney Haunted Mansion.

• The Ghost Host welcomes you to join him and his 999 dearly-departed friends.
• The dust is carefully dusted and cobwebs are repaired every night.
• In the octagonal room the ceiling and the portraits actually rise.
• In the ballroom there are 13 candles on the cake.

Dad's Ride Information Table

The Fine Print

There's always fine print. Just make sure you don't sign in blood.

• Guests must be able to transfer onto the ride vehicles via the moving platform.
• Handheld Captioning is available. See Guest Relations for a device.
• Translation devices are available for rent at Guest Relations.

Hitchhikers at the Haunted Mansion (don't pick them up)

Photo by Don Sullivan

Dad's Bottom Line

Disney's Haunted Mansion is a haunted house in the best Disney tradition. There is no blood, no gore, no freaks, no Friday the Thirteenth type behavior, just good, dusty, ghostly fun.

Riding in the doom buggies is great, as long as they keep moving.

Disney denies (or is that encourages) all rumors about the Haunted Mansions really being haunted by real ghosts.

Mmmmm?