Exploratory Ideas for tweaking the Mansion for reasons.
Man in Web
The introductory scene of the Ghost Host as currently depicted, is that of a hanged man - the change proposed would resemble an emaciated corpse stretched within a giant spider web. This concept draws from the attraction's history and the lore surrounding Magic Kingdom's "Man in the Web," character. For a modern interpretation, this would make the Ghost Host and Man in the Web one and the same. In pitch black darkness and combined with unidirectional audio cues, the scurrying, screeching sounds of crawling spiders can be heard. The addition of lightning flashes reveal the figure as well as a frenzy of projected spiders crawling behind paneling along the gallery walls. The GH script would remain mostly unchanged or reuse previously cut or altered recording tracks. The scene then becomes... not only are guests trapped in the room... but the GH was as well. A forever victim of the mansion's "heinous but delightful creatures"...
Ghost Bride
The new bride AA taking heavy influence from DL's latest incarnation would no longer take up residency haunting the Attic and would instead be located near her betrothed, the Hatbox Ghost. Borrowing from past mansion lore and reimagined enhancements for inspiration, this would be an attempt to reunite the two figures but placed at opposite ends of the Endless Hallway. Hatbox is in his alcove and the new floating mournful Ghost Bride adjacent. This version, with proper staging would have the Endless Hallway represent their inability to unite, forever apart in the spirit world. As per previous Imagineering, the Ghost Bride's heart beats and candelabra flickers in unison with the Hatbox figure. A subtle swirling vortex projection is added to the Hallway in place of the former floating candelabra. The figures are mirrored symmetrically in their respective poses.
The Playroom
The former Attic has been made into a playroom. The room's musical accent is that of a music box or Glockenspiel variant of Grim Grinning Ghosts. The sounds of children's laughter and whispers can be heard, perhaps those of the murderous Dread family, the Twins? The Playroom attic is filled with stacks of dusty board games, a wooden rocking horse (rocking back and forth of course) a doll house constructed to resemble a miniaturized version of the Mansion with it's own ghostly inhabitants, a demonic Teddy bear, a puppet theater in the midst of a beheading reenactment, and a perfectly creepy Jack in the Box pop-up (a callback to the Attics many popup ghosts) A giant popup being the final encounter as we tumble from the window out into the graveyard.
The Caretaker
The caretaker becomes one of the 999, a ghost himself. The Caretaker has been conveniently depicted as a ghost in both of the Haunted Mansion movies (and on some merchandise) yet remained human in the attraction, until now. The starved, sickly pooch is removed entirely and only referenced in sound... those of the iconic "wolf howl" audio cue. The scene is reworked so that the Caretaker whistles for his dog, and the dog responds far off in the distance.
The Headless Horsemen
The silhouette of the Headless Horseman comes into frame perched atop a Cemetery hill cast against the glow of full moon hanging low on the horizon. He spots us rearing his demonic steed and the chase begins. The scene is achieved through simple yet effective projection (moon silhouette) The sound of galloping hooves creates the illusion of pursuit, immersing the Doombuggy guests in the chase sequence. To further enhance the atmosphere, a limited-motion figure of the Headless Horseman could be added either before or after the main scene reinforcing the concept. The limited-motion figure holds a laughing jack-o'-lantern in his outstretched arm, complete with a silk flame effect. Additionally, the horse is programmed to exhale mist from its nostrils, adding to the foreboding ambiance.
... to be continued?
Man in Web
The introductory scene of the Ghost Host as currently depicted, is that of a hanged man - the change proposed would resemble an emaciated corpse stretched within a giant spider web. This concept draws from the attraction's history and the lore surrounding Magic Kingdom's "Man in the Web," character. For a modern interpretation, this would make the Ghost Host and Man in the Web one and the same. In pitch black darkness and combined with unidirectional audio cues, the scurrying, screeching sounds of crawling spiders can be heard. The addition of lightning flashes reveal the figure as well as a frenzy of projected spiders crawling behind paneling along the gallery walls. The GH script would remain mostly unchanged or reuse previously cut or altered recording tracks. The scene then becomes... not only are guests trapped in the room... but the GH was as well. A forever victim of the mansion's "heinous but delightful creatures"...
Ghost Bride
The new bride AA taking heavy influence from DL's latest incarnation would no longer take up residency haunting the Attic and would instead be located near her betrothed, the Hatbox Ghost. Borrowing from past mansion lore and reimagined enhancements for inspiration, this would be an attempt to reunite the two figures but placed at opposite ends of the Endless Hallway. Hatbox is in his alcove and the new floating mournful Ghost Bride adjacent. This version, with proper staging would have the Endless Hallway represent their inability to unite, forever apart in the spirit world. As per previous Imagineering, the Ghost Bride's heart beats and candelabra flickers in unison with the Hatbox figure. A subtle swirling vortex projection is added to the Hallway in place of the former floating candelabra. The figures are mirrored symmetrically in their respective poses.
The Playroom
The former Attic has been made into a playroom. The room's musical accent is that of a music box or Glockenspiel variant of Grim Grinning Ghosts. The sounds of children's laughter and whispers can be heard, perhaps those of the murderous Dread family, the Twins? The Playroom attic is filled with stacks of dusty board games, a wooden rocking horse (rocking back and forth of course) a doll house constructed to resemble a miniaturized version of the Mansion with it's own ghostly inhabitants, a demonic Teddy bear, a puppet theater in the midst of a beheading reenactment, and a perfectly creepy Jack in the Box pop-up (a callback to the Attics many popup ghosts) A giant popup being the final encounter as we tumble from the window out into the graveyard.
The Caretaker
The caretaker becomes one of the 999, a ghost himself. The Caretaker has been conveniently depicted as a ghost in both of the Haunted Mansion movies (and on some merchandise) yet remained human in the attraction, until now. The starved, sickly pooch is removed entirely and only referenced in sound... those of the iconic "wolf howl" audio cue. The scene is reworked so that the Caretaker whistles for his dog, and the dog responds far off in the distance.
The Headless Horsemen
The silhouette of the Headless Horseman comes into frame perched atop a Cemetery hill cast against the glow of full moon hanging low on the horizon. He spots us rearing his demonic steed and the chase begins. The scene is achieved through simple yet effective projection (moon silhouette) The sound of galloping hooves creates the illusion of pursuit, immersing the Doombuggy guests in the chase sequence. To further enhance the atmosphere, a limited-motion figure of the Headless Horseman could be added either before or after the main scene reinforcing the concept. The limited-motion figure holds a laughing jack-o'-lantern in his outstretched arm, complete with a silk flame effect. Additionally, the horse is programmed to exhale mist from its nostrils, adding to the foreboding ambiance.
... to be continued?
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