The Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion

[GRD999]

Lets see all of the things they changed or updated with the recent rehab, besides routine maintenance and building fixes:

New exterior paint job
New queue layout and canopy
Digital foyer portrait that is animated in its morph
New foyer wallpaper and wood work
New stretch room wallpaper and ledge
New stretch room audio
New load hall wallpaper and dropped ceiling
Sinister 11 portraits in Loading area without staring effect
New doombuggy audio
New portrait hall with new wallpaper, storm windows and changing portraits
Updated library props
Updated music room props
New Escher staircases with 5 sets of footprints walking up to candleabras and blowing them out
New demon eyes in the darkness morphing into the wallpaper
Updated endless hall suit of armor with more movement
Updated Endless Hall and Corridor sound effects
Corridor of Doors Family Portraits and Ghost Host painting
Floating Leota and props
Updated ballroom fireplace
New attic with nearly all new props, attic husband portraits and Bride 2.0 video
Updated flying ghosts in the graveyard
New audio tracks for: Duke and Duchess, Monotone Chorus, Opera Singers and Prison Scene as well as sound effect added for arm bricking itself in
Load Area music at Little Leota scene

Lots of neat stuff to look and see now. I think there was something like 40 new audio tracks added in addition or replacement of others.

[disneyfann121]

GRD, thanks for the list. I think some of this stuff was added post refurb, wasn't it? For example, I visited in December '07, just after the refurb, and I really don't remember the demon eyes morphing into the wallpaper. I rode the HM five times, so I think I would have noticed that. What parts in your list were added in '08?

[Jspider]

GRD, thanks for the list. I think some of this stuff was added post refurb, wasn't it? For example, I visited in December '07, just after the refurb, and I really don't remember the demon eyes morphing into the wallpaper. I rode the HM five times, so I think I would have noticed that. What parts in your list were added in '08?

nope nope those were there in 07 and I only rode it twice then. I thought it was always a part of WDW's mansion but I guess it wasn't? It's a pretty cool detail I'll give it that.

[OCBear]

I just got back from WDW and loved the HM there! The staircases were awesome!

But I have to say I still love the outside of DL's HM better, I prefer the New Orleans look.

[geoffa]

Want to know where to spot a Hidden Mickey in the graveyard scene?

As you are approaching the 3 operatic singers (not the busts) on your right in the graveyard scene (one of them is wearing a Viking helmet) there is a tall mausoleum structure just before it. Look in the swirls of mist at the top right corner.

[disneyfann121]

nope nope those were there in 07 and I only rode it twice then. I thought it was always a part of WDW's mansion but I guess it wasn't? It's a pretty cool detail I'll give it that.

I'll certainly look for that the next time. Don't know how I missed it

[CinderelLaura]

I just got back from WDW and loved the HM there! The staircases were awesome!

But I have to say I still love the outside of DL's HM better, I prefer the New Orleans look.

I have to agree, the exterior look is better, in my opinion, at Disneyland than Disney World. But I think that the interior, the actual RIDE, might be slightly better at WDW. It's a tad longer, at any rate. But I do like either ride!

[Grizzly]

Ithe actual RIDE, might be slightly better at WDW.

Thank You!

[Jerren]

Ok I know you told me not to, but I HAD to look at a video of the staircase section...HOLY MOLY! It looks INCREDIBLE! If only DL got that TLC...especially since its the 40th Anniversary this year

The sad thing is, I'm probably not going to make it to Florida for a couple years, so all I have is pictures and videos to look at.

I gotta chime in on that one, with the 7 nights for the price of 4 special that Disney is offering right now prices are lower than they have been in years, the special has been extended for travel dates though August 15th but you have to book soon there's less than a month left on the special... I'm quoting rates that are just insanely low for Disney right now.

One question, did they get rid of the portrait hall with all the different monsters with the moving eyes? I remember loving that part...

They changed the portraits so that they show a more sinister image when the lighting strikes outside the windows in the hallway, it's a really nice effect. Overall the switch over to digital in the projection scenes like the entrance and Madam Leota are a noticeable improvement as well.

Hopefully WDW won't let our Mansion go into the disrepair it was in before the rehab again.

Amen! The digital effects should hopefully not degrade as fast as the older slides did, here's hoping they keep the scrim clean it's so much better when the ghosts appear to just be floating in mid air rather than on a dirty sheet...

aw! I like it! In fact, I love it. It's always been one of my favorites. Ever since I can remember going to WDW. And we ride it multiple times each time we go.

Don't take it personally Stichy they are comparing it to the one in DisneyLand, which was given a much more in-depth refurbishment when they added Captain Jack in the scenes, new audio, new AA's, new lighting and of course thiers is a longer ride with more scenes and all. I personally love the WDW one as well, but it's hard to argue with the West coasters since that attraction is much grander in scope.

I have to agree, the exterior look is better, in my opinion, at Disneyland than Disney World. But I think that the interior, the actual RIDE, might be slightly better at WDW. It's a tad longer, at any rate. But I do like either ride!

I like both exteriors, they each have their own style, the one in California is styled to fit the New Orleans architecture, and the WDW one is more of a run down Victorian architecture, kinda reminds me of the house in the opening credits of the old Scooby Doo cartoons and fits with what I think of as what a haunted house should look like.

[mark]

Wsa just at WDW. The upgraded Haunted Mansion is beautifully done. Really stellar! I'll have a trip report up on my blog Wednesday.

[MarkTwain]

Yah I might be biased as an East-Coaster, but I like WDW's HM better . It just looks spookier and intimidating.

I've always thought that WDW had the better Mansion and DL had the better Pirates...

[Jake]

GRD, thanks for the list. I think some of this stuff was added post refurb, wasn't it? For example, I visited in December '07, just after the refurb, and I really don't remember the demon eyes morphing into the wallpaper. I rode the HM five times, so I think I would have noticed that. What parts in your list were added in '08?

I was in the second or third group of Cast Members to ride it the morning it reopened (before Liberty Square had been opened to guests) and the demon eye wallpaper segue was definitely there from day one.

[The Shadoe]

This must be the second time I've mentioned Jim Hill today, but he wrote a really good series of columns about all the Haunted Mansion changes and the stories behind them.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Enjoy!

[disneyfann121]

I was in the second or third group of Cast Members to ride it the morning it reopened (before Liberty Square had been opened to guests) and the demon eye wallpaper segue was definitely there from day one.

After reading another description of it on the "Long Forgotten" HM thread, I finally remembered this effect. Can't wait to see it again!

[yensidtlaw1969]

Lets see all of the things they changed or updated with the recent rehab, besides routine maintenance and building fixes:

. . .

New load hall wallpaper and dropped ceiling

. . .

Lots of neat stuff to look and see now. I think there was something like 40 new audio tracks added in addition or replacement of others.

Hey GRD, do you know why they "lowered" the ceiling in the Load Hall? Personally I think it looks a lot better now, I just wonder why it occurred to them to address it.