Haunted Mansion Holiday at Orlando

[TP2000]

Actually you are right. When I was in DL last October, IT WAS CLOSED due to NBC install. Even if it would have been open, I would not have liked it because I did not care for NBC.... But in my opinion, Walt would not have approved of this.

You must have been at Disneyland on October 1st, because HMH opened for the 2004-05 season on Saturday, October 2nd. It always opens the first or second day of October, and runs for three months through the weekend following New Years Day. For 2005 it's closed for rehab the last three weeks in September, and then HMH opens on Saturday, October 1st, 2005.

And I had not seen NBC before I went on HMH for the first time in '01 and I had no point of reference aside from a very casual understanding of Jack Skellington as the lead character being some sort of skeleton guy. Since '01 I have seen about 45 minutes of the movie on TV, and that was enough to learn that it's really not my cup of tea movie-wise. But I still loved HMH simply because it was all so well done, so surprising, so witty, and so thoroughly entertaining from start to finish, regardless of the NBC references throughout.

In my opinion Walt would be more concerned about the sorry state of repair of the show at the Haunted Mansion at WDW, rather than a seasonal overlay at Disneyland and Tokyo. Who know's how he would have felt about a movie made 25 years after his death? If he was still alive he may be more upset about men with long hair and women in mini-skirts and tatoos wandering around his parks.

But I think if Walt took one look at the 15 minute lines for the Haunted Mansion in August, and then saw the 90 minute lines for Haunted Mansion Holiday from October through December, he would realize that there must be something there that the public likes.

 

[Mansionfan]

If for no other reason, I would be overjoyed to get the NBC makeover to WDW's HM since it would hopefully entail a much better sound system installation like DL's HM got once its NBC overlay was first installed.

 

[ScrapIron]

It took me three tries to get through that movie, only because I was curious after the ride, and I wasn't paying full attention by the end even then. Went on HMH at least 1/2 dozen times in 2003. My wife just tags along in theme parks, generally, but that trip Indy and HMH were mandatory repeats. My enjoyment of a movie based attraction has never had anything at all to do with the movie. T2-3D, best 3D attraction I've seen-the film-no interest whatsoever-certainly didn't vote for him. Have only seen two Star Wars films in a theatre, and only because of interested roommates at the time, but Star Tours is still the best simulator I've experienced, by a wiiiiide margin in most cases. I can't wait to finally ride the RnRC this summer, even though out of hundreds of concerts I've experience from Chet Atkins to Frank Zappa, Aerosmith in 1978 was absolutely one of the worst.

I generally avoid being this blunt here, but in being given the choice of either two great attractions or one great atttraction, many of you are simply choosing the wrong answer.

When HMH was first installed in DL, it took longer than expected because things that had been allowed to deteriorate were finally addressed because the show designers were so appalled. Even if you ultimately decide you hate it after you see it, which is your right, I think you will appreciate it for that reason alone. Should it ever happen, of course.

BTW, this years DL schedule is:
Haunted Mansion closed September 6–29 to install Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay; closed Jan. 9–25, 2006 to remove overlay (mouseplanet)

Cheers.

 

[ScrapIron]

A kinder, gentler post

My first visit to DL was 1969, the year the HM opened, missed it by three weeks. Got to stand outside of that building, knowing what was coming could be incredible, but missing out. It was a common feeling as the exterior was there for nearly a decade before the ride debuted.

My first ride was virtual, watching the Wonderful World of Disney on a Sunday night. There was a full record album of the ride with teenagers (one Ron Howard I think) stumbling into the mansion and encountering the ride elements. I played it over and over. It was 1975 before I finally rode myself.

Remember the first time you experienced the mansion? Maybe you knew as much as I did going in, or maybe you'd just heard it was cool from a friend? Did you feel a strong sense of anticipation as you walked through the door? Did you experience the unexpected? Were you amazed that what you were seeing could even be created? Did you see anything that you couldn't really explain? After emerging back into the daylight, did it take a moment to feel a semblence of reality again? At any point between joining the queue and passing the exit were you filled with a sense of Wonder?

Why would you NOT want to experience that again?
:veryconfu :veryconfu


Cheers.

 

[StitchFan21]

My first visit to DL was 1969, the year the HM opened, missed it by three weeks. Got to stand outside of that building, knowing what was coming could be incredible, but missing out. It was a common feeling as the exterior was there for nearly a decade before the ride debuted.

My first ride was virtual, watching the Wonderful World of Disney on a Sunday night. There was a full record album of the ride with teenagers (one Ron Howard I think) stumbling into the mansion and encountering the ride elements. I played it over and over. It was 1975 before I finally rode myself.

Remember the first time you experienced the mansion? Maybe you knew as much as I did going in, or maybe you'd just heard it was cool from a friend? Did you feel a strong sense of anticipation as you walked through the door? Did you experience the unexpected? Were you amazed that what you were seeing could even be created? Did you see anything that you couldn't really explain? After emerging back into the daylight, did it take a moment to feel a semblence of reality again? At any point between joining the queue and passing the exit were you filled with a sense of Wonder?

Why would you NOT want to experience that again?
:veryconfu :veryconfu


Cheers.

WOW!!!! Very well said

 

[Sledge]

From what I have seen of it in videos it looks great. I thought it would be something crappy where they just stuck in a few NBC related props and it would be a let down, but I thought they did a great with making it seem like a permanent attraction and not just a christmas layover where they threw in some holiday crap.

 

[MiRi]

Yup. I find it funny that some people complain that Disney isn't doing enough on their attractions and pretty much having them "half a**ed" yet they complain about HMH. *sigh* Some people just can't ever be satisfied.

 

[I.M.Fearless]

Well, HMH sounds like a good idea, IF they can do the rehab quickly. I'm still stewing about the time in Sept. 2003 when I went to Disneyland (Anaheim) and found out that Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad were ALL DOWN AT THE SAME TIME.

 

[Bravesfn1]

Yup. I find it funny that some people complain that Disney isn't doing enough on their attractions and pretty much having them "half a**ed" yet they complain about HMH. *sigh* Some people just can't ever be satisfied.

What do you mean? Please clarify, what people?

 

[MiRi]

What do you mean? Please clarify, what people?

Speaking in general, I see people complaining about an attraction like SGE because not enough was added to it. Yet, there are people complaining about HMH, an attraction that is obviously beautifully done. Just saying. It's pretty ironic.

 

[Testtrack321]

I can't belive you people would actually say no to something that has already been proven to be quite successful in two continents no less! I know that there are people who are purists to the bone but that is just ridiculous.

The Floridian Haunted Mansion is in major need of a rehab, by putting in the new seasonal overlay it would not only revitalize the ride technically but it would also breathe new life and attention to the ride. So what if it's down a couple of months a year? at least it will be well taken care of and stay interesting. And so what if they add in new effects? I'd much rather see 21st century ride effects than dated 70's era ones.

Rehab. Oh yeah. But not a NBC overlay. Sure, it's popular in DL, but there is a different audience at DL, something that WDW soon discovered and DL discovered in 2001. The people that go to DL are mostly locals who come a few times a yeah, those that go to WDW are mostly out-of-towners who come every one, two, or more years. That's why WDW has no grand holloween celebration as big as Universal, who's guests mostly come from the local area.

I'm not saying "NEVER!", but remember that these are different parks and guests.

 

[Hakunamatata]

But I think if Walt took one look at the 15 minute lines for the Haunted Mansion in August, and then saw the 90 minute lines for Haunted Mansion Holiday from October through December, he would realize that there must be something there that the public likes.

No, he would probably have realized pretty quick that since the attraction is only open for a relatively short period of time, the people who like the NBC overlay are flocking to the ride to enjoy it, therefor, longer lines.

I agree with a prior comment that WDW and DL are two completely different parks from a "visiter" standpoint. While at DL version of Downtown Disney, I was more concerned with getting mugged by some punk gang member than enjoying myself, while at the WDW version, you are surrounded more by families and vacationers, rather than the "local crowd" at DL.

 

[sheryl2007]

Very true.

Funny thing is, in the summer of 2001 when the word had gotten out that they were going to do a NBC overlay to the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, the Disneyland fans on the Internet were in an UPROAR. Many of the comments in this thread were repeated almost verbatim by the Disneyland fans back in '01. The vast majority of the Disneyland fans were convinced that this would be a disaster, that the ride would be populated with cardboard cutouts of Jack Skellington and lots of Christmas tinsel in a shameless attempt to sell t-shirts. Even some of the die-hard NBC fans were upset about it because they felt it would somehow denigrate their favorite movie. The buzz about Haunted Mansion Holiday in the months leading up to it's 2001 debut was definitely not positive, and many people expected the worst and were ready to crucify Disney management when the ride opened on October 1st.

And then the ride opened and everyone went on it. And within days the word spread that not only was this seasonal overlay to a popular E Ticket good, but it was simply amazing. Even the harshest critics changed their tune, and stood in the long lines for Haunted Mansion Holiday like everyone else. And what lines! The Haunted Mansion hadn't seen lines that long since Richard Nixon was in office, and year after year the long lines return for Haunted Mansion Holiday. It's only eclipsed in popularity by Small World Holiday, which has a more universal appeal to the Christmastime crowds.

I'm more of a Pirates and Indy fan myself, but I do go on Haunted Mansion occasionally. I've never actually watched NBC in it's entirety, but I NEVER miss Haunted Mansion Holiday. The complete changeout of the music & dialogue, the sight gags, the animatronics, the exterior of the house and queue, and the fact that not a single corner of the attraction is left untouched by the Holiday decorators really sends the whole thing over the top. (And for what it's worth, Disneyland takes four weeks in September and three weeks in January to install and remove the Holiday version & simultaneously do general rehab stuff. It's 7 weeks of the year that is wisely invested in the maintenance of this amazing 36 year old ride.)

Last time I rode Haunted Mansion at WDW I was dumbstruck by how neglected and poorly maintained it seemed. Half the effects didn't work, the CM's didn't even bother doing the spiel in the expanding room and just left both sets of doors open to wander right into the loading area, and the sound kept cutting in and out on my buggy. Maybe I caught it on a bad day, but it was pathetic.

I would bet two churros that if WDW spent two months installing their first version of HMH, using some of that time to spruce up the ride system and animatronics overall, that the East Coasters would be just as amazed and thrilled at the end result as the West Coasters were four years ago. Tokyo has since borrowed both Small World Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday, and reports are that both seasonal rides are just as overwhelmingly popular there too.

WDW's Magic Kingdom Park needs some TLC and a genuine hit, and Haunted Mansion Holiday seems just the ticket.

It seems like a great idea to change things up a little for a couple of months and make the original newer seeming, think of how great it will be when it reopens back to normal( for those who don't like NBC) Great post by the way TP2000!! Remember " The only thing that doesn't change, is that everything changes"
.

 

[stitchcastle]

I find it sad that everybody wants WDW to look the same all the time...

 

[AEfx]

I find it sad that everybody wants WDW to look the same all the time...

I'm sure you do, from a relatively local standpoint (it says you live in Florida in your profile).

I think people that don't like ideas like this are thinking of normal vacationers, which make up the bulk of who goes to WDW. Yes, if you go to WDW often then a temporary change can be good - but what about those people that want to experience a classic attraction for the first time, where going again in a few months (or even years) isn't possible?

I've seen the schedules for Disneyland, and it seems that the HM has to go under for several weeks at either end of this installation. I would guess that it would take even longer at WDW since it would be a first-time thing. That just seems like a lot of downtime for a temporary display.

Personally, I've never seen the Nightmare film(s?), but since I get to go to WDW for week-long trips four to six times a year a change would be nice. But then I think of, for instance, a family trip I am taking in the fall (who's dates cannot change) and how disapointed some of the 1st timers in my group (who this may be their ONLY time) don't get to experience the Haunted Mansion because it's down for the installation. I'm hoping that if this does pan out that at least the thing will be running, "overlay" or not.

Changes can be good. I'm one who thinks some of the proposed rumors regarding PotC are great, and I'd love to see some permanent updates to the Haunted Mansion (am I the only one that things the glow in the dark spiders are getting old?). What I am less convinced of is how these seasonal gimmicks would work at WDW, where people are less likely to be local/semi-local and frequent visitors and those that do repeat visits generally do so in the same time frame during the year.

Just another perspective...

AEfx

 

[brresler]

I'm not one for change, most of the time. If I had it my way, Kitchen Kabaret would be in Soarin's place, and Mission to the Moon/Mars would be in Stitch's place (well, not really, but i complained about both when they happened), but I have to agree that HMH would be a good idea. The most compelling argument I've heard against it is the fact that WDW is a more global park, while DL is more local. However, the holiday feel of the parks in December is a big part of why its the busiest time. They have one of their best parades the,, and the decorations are great. It almost makes up for the ridiculous lines. HMH is as good of a change for that time of year as IASW and the Country Bear Christmas (which is also a great example of improvement on a ride, although the change is not as drastic - just some costumes and the soundtrack). Every purist I know who has seen HMH in CA loved it, and I would really like to get to see it all refurbs and improvements aside. The line for HM was an hour long when I went in December of this year, and Disney sells plenty of Nightmare merchandise without the help of a ride. The addition of HMH is a genuine attempt to improve a ride and add magic to the season, and it should be encouraged.

 

[Hakunamatata]

However, the holiday feel of the parks in December is a big part of why its the busiest time.

This is not entirely true. Only the week of Christmas is the busiest time. The two weeks prior is the second slowest time of the year and the two weeks prior to that is value season. So, if we are using this as a reason to overlay HM, not a valid one.

 

[bgraham34]

I would love to see it once. whether it is in LA or Florida. But for the time being its not coming to Florida and may not ever. So till the day we must all goto LaLa Land to enjoy it.

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

I love the cycle idea! It could jump from coast to coast every year! I'm glad to hear it's coming this way, since it proved to be VERY popular over at Disneyland.

 

[shoppingnut]

This is not entirely true. Only the week of Christmas is the busiest time. The two weeks prior is the second slowest time of the year and the two weeks prior to that is value season. So, if we are using this as a reason to overlay HM, not a valid one.

I have to say that since I have been going down in the beginning of December for at least 10 years now, I've seen the increase in the amount of visitors the first three weeks of the month. And the last week prior to Christmas around the 18-19th it starts to get much more crowded. It used to be that there was almost no one there, but now candlelight packages and MVMCP's are selling out much more. I'm sure if they added the overlay, it could potentially bring more people down. The difficulty with getting people to travel at that time is that they are busy shopping and getting ready for the holidays, so I could see that as being further enticement.