Haunted Mansion closing for refurbishment in December and Yankee Trader refurb extended

[PhotoDave219]

It's about a 15 to 18 day refurb going into the Holiday overlay, from around Labor Day weekend until the second weekend in September. Then about 10 to 12 days refurb coming out of the Holiday overlay, from usually the Tuesday after New Year's until the second weekend in January.

This year the Haunted Mansion Holiday refurbishment dates look like this at Disneyland:

Monday, August 25th until Thursday, September 11th (18 days)
Tuesday, January 7th until Friday, January 17th (10 days)

At Tokyo Disneyland, their Haunted Mansion will be closed to install the Holiday overlay roughly the same time as Anaheim's:

Saturday, August 23rd until Monday, September 7th (16 days)

The toughest part about doing these Holiday overlays at Magic Kingdom Park, either the Haunted Mansion or It's A Small World, is the fact that there are a lot fewer rides at Magic Kingdom compared to Disneyland, especially big E Tickets, and the Magic Kingdom has an overall smaller ride capacity than Disneyland has.

Disneyland can withstand the hit by having a few rides closed, but Magic Kingdom Park can't.

If a holiday overlay were to come to Magic Kingdom, I would think Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy would be reasonable. At Disneyland, Space Mountain is only closed for a couple days on each side of the Halloween themed Ghost Galaxy overlay. It's primarily an overlay done with HD projections and new audio, with only a few real props or set pieces or signage needing to be installed. Ghost Galaxy should be an easy overlay TDO should be looking at, I would think.

The other large issue is that the majority of the out of state guests wants to see the classic HM version and dont give a rodent's posterior what the locals want.

Heck, I'm a local and I dont care about the others.

 

[Communicore]

I guess this is what you would call a "boo to you."

 

[Bocabear]

The JC Overlay was a couple decorations in the Queue and the boats and some holiday themed bad jokes not really an overlay...not a comparison to Haunted Mansion Holiday... I have seen it, and think it is brilliantly done, and takes the haunted mansion from it usual 20 minute wait to 75 minutes or more when I was there...People love it...not just online fan bloggers. TDO doesnt do it because they feel like they are crowded enough and don't want to spend the money...not because they would close it which would upset guests... Everyone has a favorite attraction and they can't do anything in the parks if they were going to be concerned about upsetting a guest every time they did maintenance...I even saw people writing in that they would cancel their trip because the TTA was closed for painting...

 

[mickeysshoes]

I am a little bummed about this as I will be there Dec 5-9. But on the other hand it will give a good reason to book another trip once it reopens!!!

 

[JustInTime]

I feel the same way. Also, I have been there during a HM refurb (July `07) and it sucked so bad.

I got there the day it opened. By pure luck. It is was started my obsession.

 

[Mr Anderson]

This ride has become one of my favorites. We will be there from Dec 4-12. I am super bummed.

 

[TP2000]

The JC Overlay was a couple decorations in the Queue and the boats and some holiday themed bad jokes not really an overlay...not a comparison to Haunted Mansion Holiday... I have seen it, and think it is brilliantly done, and takes the haunted mansion from it usual 20 minute wait to 75 minutes or more when I was there...People love it...not just online fan bloggers. TDO doesnt do it because they feel like they are crowded enough and don't want to spend the money...not because they would close it which would upset guests... Everyone has a favorite attraction and they can't do anything in the parks if they were going to be concerned about upsetting a guest every time they did maintenance...I even saw people writing in that they would cancel their trip because the TTA was closed for painting...

Please stop being so rational. The Internetz are not a place for rational thought.

 

[TP2000]

The other large issue is that the majority of the out of state guests wants to see the classic HM version and dont give a rodent's posterior what the locals want.

Heck, I'm a local and I dont care about the others.

And yet WDW management did the Country Bear Christmas show for decades, and never worried about upsetting tourists who wanted to see the regular version. And last Christmas WDW management did the Jingle Cruise and didn't worry about upsetting tourists who wanted to hear the regular jokes and see the undecorated fake animals.

The popularity of both Haunted Mansion and It's A Small World shoots through the roof for the months they are in their "Holiday" guise. Those two rides don't cease to exist during the holiday seasons, they simply get dressed up for the occasion and become the belle of the ball in the parks they are in; Anaheim, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

(They do one or two of the various Holiday overlays in all four of those locations. Anaheim is the only location that gets all three; Haunted Mansion, Small World, and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy)

It's only at WDW where they don't do any of those overlays. Although for the much cheaper and simpler Jingle Cruise overlay, somehow the tired old excuses about upsetting tourists and ruining vacations went out the window. It's becoming increasingly clear they don't do the big, lavish Holiday overlays at WDW because TDO just doesn't want to spend the money.

Although a more valid reason could also be that they can't spare the closed ride capacity for short refurbs even during the slowest weeks of the year like early September and January because Magic Kingdom Park doesn't have enough rides. But now that FLE is complete and open...

 

[PhotoDave219]

And yet WDW management did the Country Bear Christmas show for decades, and never worried about upsetting tourists who wanted to see the regular version. And last Christmas WDW management did the Jingle Cruise and didn't worry about upsetting tourists who wanted to hear the regular jokes and see the undecorated fake animals.

The popularity of both Haunted Mansion and It's A Small World shoots through the roof for the months they are in their "Holiday" guise. Those two rides don't cease to exist during the holiday seasons, they simply get dressed up for the occasion and become the belle of the ball in the parks they are in; Anaheim, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

(They do one or two of the various Holiday overlays in all four of those locations. Anaheim is the only location that gets all three; Haunted Mansion, Small World, and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy)

It's only at WDW where they don't do any of those overlays. Although for the much cheaper and simpler Jingle Cruise overlay, somehow the tired old excuses about upsetting tourists and ruining vacations went out the window. It's becoming increasingly clear they don't do the big, lavish Holiday overlays at WDW because TDO just doesn't want to spend the money.

Although a more valid reason could also be that they can't spare the closed ride capacity for short refurbs even during the slowest weeks of the year like early September and January because Magic Kingdom Park doesn't have enough rides. But now that FLE is complete and open...

You really want to argue with Disney management… Not me. As I frankly don't care.

And the jingle cruise? Where were my Santa hats on hippos? There were Santa hats on hippos in the poster… But no. Nothing in the attraction.

 

[Mr Anderson]

A few opinions here...Haunted Mansion is one ride being closed that I would totally cancel my trip over. Also, I hate the nightmare before christmas overlay and hope it never manifests on the west coast.

 

[Tom]

 

[Mr Anderson]

I may be going mad, but I swear I just saw your signature change from "Baby due" to "Our son due". Did you just find out? If so, congrats!!! /end sidetrack

 

[MMDVC]

WDW can't do holiday overlays to shutter an attraction out of consideration to guests due to
low ride capacity at WDW vs DL; but CAN shutter HM in DECEMBER to open a gift shop in Yankee Trader???
Its all about the money..

 

[ToTBellHop]

WDW can't do holiday overlays to shutter an attraction out of consideration to guests due to
low ride capacity at WDW vs DL; but CAN shutter HM in DECEMBER to open a gift shop in Yankee Trader???
Its all about the money..

Indeed. They could do holiday overlays in FL if they wanted. They don't want to. Meanwhile, more and more tourists visit Southern California and love Haunted Mansion Holiday.

 

[dgp602]

WDW can't do holiday overlays to shutter an attraction out of consideration to guests due to
low ride capacity at WDW vs DL; but CAN shutter HM in DECEMBER to open a gift shop in Yankee Trader???
Its all about the money..

Totally agree. The tired argument as to why more holiday layovers are not being done and some have disappeared ( Country Bears ) gets completely thrown out the window with this closure...

 

[elchippo]

My guess is they focus less on holiday overlays and more on events and things that can upcharged.

 

[sshindel]

WDW can't do holiday overlays to shutter an attraction out of consideration to guests due to
low ride capacity at WDW vs DL; but CAN shutter HM in DECEMBER to open a gift shop in Yankee Trader???
Its all about the money..

I'm guessing that the OP about the gift shop opening being timed with the HM refurb has changed a bit, since the HM giftshop is now open and operating. Got a nice little HM candleholder in there early this month.
The closing is likely standard refurb. Just a guess though. Unless this is to somehow add the previously mentioned ride photos, which I saw no place for in the new shop.

 

[James122]

Would love to see Ghost Galaxy come to Magic Kingdom.

Isn't that pretty much impossible? One of main features of the Ghost Galaxy, aside from the projection screens, overlay is the different, creepier on-board soundtrack and since the vehicles at MK's Space Mountain aren't equipped with on-board audio, the entire soundtrack would be absent. I don't think it would sound as good if they used the trackside speakers - the last time I rode MK's Space Mountain about a year and a half ago, you could barely hear the audio; it sounded more like background noise. I would imagine that installing the screens in MK's Space Mountain wouldn't be a problem, however, without the soundtrack to enhance the experience, I think I would find it really dull.

Regardless, if TDO could find a way to effectively pull off Ghost Galaxy in MK, I think it would be a big hit. As would Haunted Mansion Holiday and It's A Small World Holiday. But everyone hit the nail on the head: TDO doesn't choose to do holiday overlays, instead focusing on upcharge events. What a shame.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Does anyone else think the Hitchhicker scene happens too fast -- for a photo-op/video? Our doombuggy flew by pretty quickly. Not really a moment where an on-ride photo seems appropriate, IMO.

Now, turning the corner as Constance throws an axe at you (shutter to think) or as Hatbox lunges toward the buggy would certainly give the cameras something to capture!!!

 

[dgp602]

I'm guessing that the OP about the gift shop opening being timed with the HM refurb has changed a bit, since the HM giftshop is now open and operating. Got a nice little HM candleholder in there early this month.
The closing is likely standard refurb. Just a guess though. Unless this is to somehow add the previously mentioned ride photos, which I saw no place for in the new shop.

I can't imagine a standard refurb being scheduled during the busy Christmas season. Why not wait until the quieter weeks of January, February?