Yeah, I noticed the NBC merchandise for sale in the Magic Kingdom too. I scratched my head.
The popularity of HMH and Small World Holiday is undeniable. The lines for those two attractions are INSANE during the Holidays, where the rest of the year they are just sort of mildly busy or walk-ons. When Mansion Holiday opens in October, they have to add Fastpass and set up all sorts of extended queue in New Orleans Square. They only run Fastpass at Disneyland's Mansion when Holiday is on. It's crazy, especially when it first opens for the season in October.
I'm not a NBC fan, I have never bought the merchandise, I have no emtional attachment to those movie characters. And yet, I really enjoy Mansion Holiday. I imagine if I had actually seen the film, or even was one of the very few cult followers who really like it alot, the Holiday ride would be total nirvana. As it is now, it's just a darn good ride done very cleverly, and I think I'm fairly typical for most folks opinions there.
The huge lines for the past 8 years clearly demonstrate Disneyland has done something right with this Holiday thing. At the very least, Haunted Mansion at WDW should get another rehab. Last time I went on it a lot of the '07 effects were disabled or noticeably failing. It needs a rehab again. Could we pencil something in for September?