Disney's Haunted Mansion making room for new ghosts
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 9, 2007
Horror of horrors! Tourists hoping to experience The Haunted Mansion at Disney's Magic Kingdom are being greeted by a "Closed for renovations" sign tacked to a locked gate.
Disney plans its first major overhaul of the popular Humor-driven attraction this summer, including technology updates and a few new ghosts. The ride closed Wednesday and should reopen by mid-September.
Ride designers are promising revisions consistent with those made recently at other "classic" Magic Kingdom attractions such as the Pirates of the Caribbean ride last year and the It's a Small World ride the year before -- enhancing effects without altering the story or traditional features.
"It's going to be fabulous," said show producer Kathy Rogers of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Yet as with the Pirates and Small World attractions -- considered classics partly because of their roots to legendary Disney designers and even Walt Disney himself -- The Haunted Mansion's loyal following presents both a blessing and a curse.
On Friday, the locked gate at The Haunted Mansion's entrance drew a steady stream of visitors who approached, grumbled and moved on. For the Uhlir family from Lake Zurich, Ill., and the Saar family from Boston, the promise of improvements in three months was little consolation.
"It was a great ride. I really looked forward to it. Now it's closed," said Daniel Uhlir, 12, visiting with his parents, Jeff and Beth, and brother Kevin, 5.
"Why do they have to close it now?" asked Tanya Saar, who arrived with daughter Anastasia, 8.
When it comes to finding a three-month window to close the ride, the logistics are complicated, said Phil Holmes, Disney World vice president for Magic Kingdom.
"Off-season" crowds now are so strong that there is little difference with the summer season, Holmes said. During the summer, virtually all other attractions are open, so this wound up being the best possible time, he said.
Holmes, who was a ride attendant when the Magic Kingdom opened 36 years ago, said he is as fond of The Haunted Mansion as anyone.
He said he understands the consternation of park visitors confronted by the "closed" sign. He said Magic Kingdom got the same reaction when the Pirates and Small World rides were temporarily closed.
"Each time, I think, we came out the other side and people embraced and appreciated the fact that it was refreshed, even improved," Holmes said.
Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441. _________________ When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.
--Walt Disney
if there's any sense of justice in this refurb, they'll provide a home for some *ahem* missing changing portraits.
Awww sweetie they're still at Disneyland......The Pirates stole them...."She" is sitting in the middle of NOS...at least last I checked. _________________
25 July 2007: Haunted Mansion details begin to emerge
Some exciting information is beginning to materialize regarding the currently in-progress Haunted Mansion refurbishment. Besides upgrades to the audio, lighting and special effects systems, the floating Madame Leota head and the Haunted Bride from Disneyland will both be installed, and best of all, they have both been improved on since the Disneyland installation. Another great addition to the mansion will be a completely new scene, taking place in the former spider scene. It's an all new multiple staircase scene, unique to Florida's mansion. There will also be other additions throughout the attraction scenes, including new props.
The new improved Haunted Mansion is set to open in September 2007. Don't expect it to reopen early though, as the timescales are apparently very tight to get everything completed.
SWEET!!!! I'm starting to get really excited about this.... especially with word about them finally replacing the stupid staircase/spider scene...... _________________ Up or Down North, South, East, or West An Adventurer's Life is Best!
Those spiders always looked like some cheesey amusement park haunted house schtick. They looked so uncreative and I'm surprised that Disney would even include them. It's almost as if the Imagineers were very un-imaginative the day they put them into the attraction plan. _________________ [
Joined: Nov 11, 2005 Posts: 597 Location: Rochester, NY
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:41 am Post subject:
Quote:
Those spiders always looked like some cheesey amusement park haunted house schtick. They looked so uncreative and I'm surprised that Disney would even include them. It's almost as if the Imagineers were very un-imaginative the day they put them into the attraction plan.
That and the Gouls that pop up and give a scream when you enter the Bride's room... Those I thought were cheesy, maybe not for the time, but the certainly seem unimaginative, like you said...
Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 4196 Location: Sanford, Fl
Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:44 am Post subject:
Confirmation on the subject of the scene that is replacing the staircase... This is something that I remember reading at Screamscape many, many months ago and everyone scoffed at it... well, they got it right...
Apparently, the staircase is going to be redone, to resemble a dark version of an MC Escher painting... with staircases running all over the place...
Several places are reporting this: Screamscape, WDWMagic, and the original over at Distant Creations _________________ Up or Down North, South, East, or West An Adventurer's Life is Best!
Joined: May 22, 2007 Posts: 415 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:52 am Post subject:
As long as they don't change my beloved Mansion too much....
I'm biting my nails I'm so worried it will not be open yet when we're there in Sept. If I have to wait a whole year to see the improvements I may burst.
Hi folks, blinkereye here. While I have been a lifelong supporter DL out here on the west coast I've also always been fascinated with WDW and love to compare and contrast the attractions at both parks. Anyway, I love Haunted Mansion on both coasts and am really excited about the refurb at MK. I just hope they take into consideration the idea that the rideis supposed to be funny AND scary and that they don't try to blow our minds with being too clever. Either way, i know that the new scenes will only add to the overall atmosphere ofwhat made the attraction special in the first place. Peace.
Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 4196 Location: Sanford, Fl
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject:
Took some photos of the HM referb that is going on.... if you haven't been keeping up, the exterior has been covered up and the covering for the walk way has been removed:
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