News New Haunted Mansion Grounds Expansion, Retail Shop Coming to Disneyland Resort in 2024

[Too Many Hats]

I think what gets sacrificed is the iconic view of the Mansion and lawn from the front gates.

Possibly, but I’d be shocked. In the concept art for the extended queue, we can still see the queue path passing by the pet cemetery and turning a corner. I could be looking at it incorrectly, of course.

 

[waltography]

Possibly, but I’d be shocked. In the concept art for the extended queue, we can still see the queue path passing by the pet cemetery and turning a corner. I could be looking at it incorrectly, of course.

Yeah, I really don't see them tinkering with the front lawn. There's only so many ways that horseless carriage can fit after all (although given the gift shop is supposed to become Madame Leota's carriage house, I'm concerned they might pull a Bing Bong and pull the carriage into the gift shop for decor).

 

[mickEblu]

Possibly, but I’d be shocked. In the concept art for the extended queue, we can still see the queue path passing by the pet cemetery and turning a corner. I could be looking at it incorrectly, of course.

Admittedly that first piece of concept art is confusing. Just seems like not enough space to do that and not alter the lawn at all. Hope you re right though.

 

[Nirya]

It looks like the park between the Mansion and the soon-to-be Tiana's Palace is getting shortened. That said, it also looks like the expanded queue area is going where the old Fastpass distribution spot was, and cut into the hill a bit. Probably the best compromise for the area, and the fact that the front of the Mansion isn't shown in any of these pieces of art would lead me to believe they're not touching the lawn area and sightlines there.

 

[MagicWDI]

Admittedly that first piece of concept art is confusing. Just seems like not enough space to do that and not alter the lawn at all. Hope you re right though.

It appears most of the extended queue will be where the currently unused FastPass area is and appears to only be used as an extention when needed. Looks as though they will also be adding lattice work over the current switchbacks to provide some shade. The emergency exit will be rerouted behind the extended queue area under the green covering.

 

[TP2000]

I’m not going to lie- the headline was scary but it looks like aesthetically it will be an improvement to the outdoor queue where the switchbacks are. Hoping they resist the urge to “over story” it though. Just beautify it and keep it understated. It also looks like they don’t eat any of the Magnolia Park real estate for the exterior queue. Just the old fast pass area. Am I seeing that right?

I believe you are seeing that right.

This is a long overdue upgrade based on crowd control realities of the past 20 years. I imagine this has been in the works for years, and was probably an option as part of the "Project Pixie Dust" thing they were doing all over the park in 2018-19 to get ready for Star Wars Land crowds (that didn't show up).

All they are doing is repurposing existing dead space that is left over from old Fastpass distribution areas that were abandoned years ago now, and re-using existing spaces that get set up with temporary cues to be ready to hold more permanent cues and new accesability options (like the new exit elevator).

I think this is great news. These areas around the Haunted Mansion have been messy for over 20 years now, ever since they invented Fastpass and Haunted Mansion Holiday. You could also blame the creation of Fantasmic viewing areas and crowd control measures around 1993-94 as part of the problems they are fixing with this new project.

Good news overall.

 

[TP2000]

Again, I think this is a great plan to take back old, abandoned corners of the park around the Haunted Mansion and put them to better use. Better crowd flow, better use of space, getting the Mansion merch carts out of the walkway and into a proper little gift shop, etc.

The new gift shop at the exit of Haunted Mansion is going into the old Splash Mountain extended line area that's been abandoned for at least a decade. From 1989 to 2003, this was a long narrow switchback for Splash Mountain. Then they moved the Splash Mountain Fastpass distribution machines into this switchback space when Winnie The Pooh opened, and Winnie The Pooh's Fastpass machines were next to the Briar Patch store. Then sometime just after the 50th, they wisely stopped offering Fastpass for Winnie The Pooh and moved the Splash Mountain distribution machines back over to the Briar Patch location where they stayed until Fastpass was discontinued.

Since that time, this switchback area had been mostly abandoned and empty. Now it will be the new Haunted Mansion exit gift shop. Smart move, TDA.

 

[TP2000]

Part of this artwork also shows trellises and a rethink of the very ugly 1969 switchback lines for Haunted Mansion. That area has been ugly since Nixon was in office.

They've futzed around with it a bit for different Fastpass versions and operations over the decades, but they always did it very cheaply and very tacky. Mainly they'd just cut out a section of the metal handrailing and haul giant patio umbrella and a black rubber stress mat over there for the Fastpass CM to stand on. Magically cheap and tacky.

If they can create more of a "garden" look to this charmless 1969 switchback maze, that would be great.

 

[TP2000]

And finally, there's the old Haunted Mansion Fastpass distribution area immediately to the south of the switchbacks. That area was carved out around the 50th Anniversary, and at least much better themed than the original 1969 surroundings.

But it's been abandoned and unused for years now, ever since Fastpass went offline. There's also an emergency stairwell next to it that leads directly down to the Portrait Hallway scene and loading area. Once the Haunted Mansion broke down on us, and we were escorted back to the loading area, then out a side doorway that led up two flights of stairs that dumped us right out next to the old Fastpass area. That's where the new "exit elevator" must be going for folks in wheelchairs, as it sits directly over the loading area below ground.

And next to that abandoned Fastpass area and future exit elevator is "Magnolia Park", which is that circular area in front of the train station. They use it for extended-extended cue on busy days, or for Jack Skellington meet n' greets at Halloween.

From the artwork, they won't be doing much of anything to Magnolia Park, but the old Fastpass area in the corner will become the elevator facility and alternate ride exit. More good news. They're using up old and abandoned areas of this busy corner of the park to help move and distribute crowds better. Bravo, TDA.

 

[TP2000]

And finally, once they've got all this sorted out and redesigned and done pretending that it's still 1969, they will be able to restore some sanity and aesthetic grace to the Mansion entrance itself.

From 1969 until 1999 the Haunted Mansion just had one entrance, and it was a wide sweeping path that gradually narrowed as it wound around the house to the back switchbacks.

But then the 21st century happened and they added various Fastpass headaches, plus had to carve out an exit lane for wheelchair folks that cut down the side of the original entrance path. The result was that to save money all they did to accommodate those operational realities was keep drilling more holes in the ground and keep adding more lanes to the 1969 entrance path. With lots of new signs to obey.

There were two chained lanes, and one chained exit lane. And the entry archway area became a confused mess of signage and CM's barking orders. It was ugly and hectic. Once they get the folks in wheelchairs their own exit out their own elevator, and now that Fastpass is gone, there should be a deliberate project to restore this entry mess back to something more closely resembling its open and far more gracious 1969 self.

Read All Warning Signage. Go To Correct Boarding Lane. Have Phone Out Ready For App Confirmation. Sanitize Hands.

Stay In Your Assigned Lane. Do Not Block Wheelchair Exit At Entrance. Only Disabled Guests May View The Hearse.

 

[D.Silentu]

I truly hope that the area in front of the train station doesn't become too cluttered, but for the most part I think this is a useful change. It seems we all agree that extra queue space is needful, specifically during Haunted Mansion Holiday. I'm also pleased to note that it seems to be a normal garden area, matching the mansion exterior, rather than something overtly creepy. In fact, the concept art brought the Winchester House to mind. That said, it would be fun if they could work in a subtle hint of the houses' supernatural nature.

I'm not fond of the trellis though. It never occurred to me that the area might need shade as it is surrounded on three sides by the mansion, the berm and a large tree. It's disappointing that the trellis will alter the partial view of the riverfront to no view at all.

As for the gift shop, I don't care for it and it seems terribly placed. The timing is so strange, as the queue space it's being built on will become vital as soon as Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens. While I can see the merit in Disney's eyes of having a gift shop right at the exit, there is already a sufficient venue in New Orleans Square. I suppose it will be rethemed as well.

 

[mickEblu]

I believe you are seeing that right.

This is a long overdue upgrade based on crowd control realities of the past 20 years. I imagine this has been in the works for years, and was probably an option as part of the "Project Pixie Dust" thing they were doing all over the park in 2018-19 to get ready for Star Wars Land crowds (that didn't show up).

All they are doing is repurposing existing dead space that is left over from old Fastpass distribution areas that were abandoned years ago now, and re-using existing spaces that get set up with temporary cues to be ready to hold more permanent cues and new accesability options (like the new exit elevator).

I think this is great news. These areas around the Haunted Mansion have been messy for over 20 years now, ever since they invented Fastpass and Haunted Mansion Holiday. You could also blame the creation of Fantasmic viewing areas and crowd control measures around 1993-94 as part of the problems they are fixing with this new project.

Good news overall.

That’s what I thought. It looks like at most they re using a small chunk (maybe 8 or so feet) of the Magnolia Park real estate thats just outside the perimeter of the HM. After comparing the below picture with new concept art looks like the lawn might come out unscathed and they re actually going into the berm a little bit. And it looks like that trellis on the right bottom corner of the concept art will extend until about where the planters to the left of the porch are currently. So maybe only the planters are removed or altered. I circled the corner of HM buildings in both the picture and the concept art so we could have a frame of reference.

 

[Nland316]

I’m assuming (and hoping) that the magnolia park fountain is being worked into the extended queue? I think possibly losing it is what concerns me the most.

 

[TP2000]

That’s what I thought. It looks like at most they re using a small chunk (maybe 8 or so feet) of the Magnolia Park real estate thats just outside the perimeter of the HM. After comparing the below picture with new concept art looks like the lawn might come out unscathed and they re actually going into the berm a little bit. And it looks like that trellis on the right bottom corner of the concept art will extend until about where the planters to the left of the porch are currently. So maybe only the planters are removed or altered. I circled the corner of HM buildings in both the picture and the concept art so we could have a frame of reference.

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I agree. I don't think they'll touch the Front Lawn, Presented by AstroTurf Division of Monsanto at all.

Or any of the line that makes the 180 degree turn back to the south before it turns into the current switchback area.

It just looks to me as though they are plussing up the 1969 switchback area with trellises, and using the old Fastpass area and some of the existing berm to create the exit elevator complex up from the existing loading area underneath the berm.

 

[TP2000]

I'm not fond of the trellis though. It never occurred to me that the area might need shade as it is surrounded on three sides by the mansion, the berm and a large tree. It's disappointing that the trellis will alter the partial view of the riverfront to no view at all.

I don't think we'll have to worry about any existing views being blocked back there. That area is already behind that big brick wall that runs north-south from the Mansion porch towards the French Market.

The trellis structures seem to be on the west side of that brick wall, back in the 1969 switchback area. So it won't block any view eastward to the river, because that brick wall and the giant magnolia trees is already blocking that view. But the trellises will add shade and some garden theme to that otherwise unthemed switchback maze.

Here's a very bad artistic representation of where the trellises are placed over the switchbacks, according to the new artwork.

 

[D.Silentu]

I see what you mean, but it seems to me instead of having things to see fully or partially, now I will have a choice of viewing other people in line or hanging wisteria. It comes off as a touch claustrophobic to me. I may be mistaken though and I hope I am.

 

[mickEblu]

Possibly, but I’d be shocked. In the concept art for the extended queue, we can still see the queue path passing by the pet cemetery and turning a corner. I could be looking at it incorrectly, of course.

Yeah now that I compared to a current picture of the Haunted Mansion grounds I think you re right about the lawn being spared. I think they actually may be going into the berm a little bit. One thing that makes me a little uneasy though is they specifically avoided showing us some art of what the front of the house looks like. Perhaps they don’t know yet or know the feedback wouldn’t be great so they decided to package all the positive news at first without any of the negative stuff.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I guess I thought that concept art was showing the front corner of the mansion, with the trellis in-front of that. Didn't realize we were looking at the side of the mansion.

Mostly because it seems to show the lawns as we currently know them?

We are sure that's not the front left corner of the mansion?

 

[Too Many Hats]

Oh wow, I was really misinterpreting the concept art.

Anyone else have a weird affection for the ugly switchbacks? I’ll miss them, ha.

 

[mickEblu]

I guess I thought that concept art was showing the front corner of the mansion, with the trellis in-front of that. Didn't realize we were looking at the side of the mansion.

Mostly because it seems to show the lawns as we currently know them?

We are sure that's not the front left corner of the mansion?

Looks like the back left corner to me