Haunted Mansion Holiday Graveyard Scene

[SpaceMountain75]

Hey all, just had a quick question. I just rode Haunted Mansion Holiday last week for probably the third time total (last year was the first time I saw it) and something struck me weird. In the graveyard scene you can totally see the whole ceiling in the warehouse! It throws off the illusion of night that the Imagineers perfected so well in the original a little bit. I don't know if I just didn't notice it last year, but has it always been like that?

 

[TP2000]

Yes. All the snow and extra lighting effects in the Holiday version illuminate that scene quite a bit.

The effect is amplified if you ride it at night and your eyes are already adjusted to the dark. If you ride in the daytime, not so much.

 

[SpaceMountain75]

Yes. All the snow and extra lighting effects in the Holiday version illuminate that scene quite a bit.

The effect is amplified if you ride it at night and your eyes are already adjusted to the dark. If you ride in the daytime, not so much.

Thanks! I did ride it at night, so that's probably why it looked so bad.

 

[TP2000]

Thanks! I did ride it at night, so that's probably why it looked so bad.

Yeah, happens all the time to lots of people. The same phenomenon can happen in Pirates too when you go through the Bayou and "see" stuff you aren't use to seeing. If your eyes are already adjusted to the dark, lots of new things appear.

That said, the lighting levels in the graveyard scene are noticeably brighter for the Holiday version, so the effect is amplified even more.

 

[mickEblu]

Yeah, happens all the time to lots of people. The same phenomenon can happen in Pirates too when you go through the Bayou and "see" stuff you aren't use to seeing. If your eyes are already adjusted to the dark, lots of new things appear.

That said, the lighting levels in the graveyard scene are noticeably brighter for the Holiday version, so the effect is amplified even more.

No wonder I've always preferred riding both POTC and HM during the day. Something about leaving behind the daylight and transitioning into the dark caverns / dark mansion always made the experiences more appealing for me. Although, I never thought that it had anything to do with a better show.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Just one of the many ways the overlay destroys HM. I've never seen a Disney attraction more wrecked. Actually, that's not true, I forgot about the 90s redo of Journey Into Imagination and Horizons. Anyway, the WDI guys completely ruin the old WED illusions with their tacky bright neon junk everywhere. In the graveyard, you can not only plainly see that you're in a warehouse, but also the scrims in front of the "ghosts", or, as they appear in HMH, robots dressed in translucent sheets. Doesn't look that way in the classic HM!

 

[SpaceMountain75]

Just one of the many ways the overlay destroys HM. I've never seen a Disney attraction more wrecked. Actually, that's not true, I forgot about the 90s redo of Journey Into Imagination and Horizons. Anyway, the WDI guys completely ruin the old WED illusions with their tacky bright neon junk everywhere. In the graveyard, you can not only plainly see that you're in a warehouse, but also the scrims in front of the "ghosts", or, as they appear in HMH, robots dressed in translucent sheets. Doesn't look that way in the classic HM!

Yeah, ever since I found out your hatred for the overlay I've been looking for glaring flaws to see if you griefs are legit. Needless to say they are (in my opinion).

 

[englanddg]

Yeah, ever since I found out your hatred for the overlay I've been looking for glaring flaws to see if you griefs are legit. Needless to say they are (in my opinion).

Keep your overlays on the West Coast, and be happy you all get it so good otherwise (seriously, I've been there, you guys have an amazing place there).

The fact that WDW doesn't do them is a good thing, imho...aside from the parties, where they charge you nearly a whole day's admission for 1/4 of a day's experience. Gosh forbid you try and do both on the same day (and kudos to them for allowing the party tickets to be stand alone instead of having to buy both).

 

[SpaceMountain75]

Keep your overlays on the West Coast, and be happy you all get it so good.

The fact that WDW doesn't do them is a good thing, imho...aside from the parties, where they charge you nearly a whole day's admission for 1/4 of a day's experience. Gosh forbid you try and do both on the same day (and kudos to them for allowing the party tickets to be stand alone instead of having to buy both).

Yeah, I'm glad that when I visit WDW I don't have to worry about The Haunted Mansion being anything other than The Haunted Mansion!

 

[Phroobar]

Well there is a good side to HMH, at least the Mansion gets yearly proper maintenance and cleaning when it goes down for setup/removal. When was the last time MK's version was down for referb?

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Well there is a good side to HMH, at least the Mansion gets yearly proper maintenance and cleaning when it goes down for setup/removal. When was the last time MK's version was down for referb?

Last extensive refurb was 2007. @wdwmagic shows that there was a minor refurb for a few weeks in late 2014. There was also the addition of the new interactive queue in 2010/2011, which also added the new hitch hiking ghost projections at the end of the ride.

Honestly, Haunted Mansion has been one of MK's best maintained attractions for many years, probably in large part because Phil Holmes (former VP of MK park) used to be a CM there and has a soft spot for the ride.

 

[Phroobar]

That still doesn't seem to be regular scheduled maintenance like Disneyland's receives during setup and take downs every year. The Mansion typically looks pretty good after the HMH take down in January.

 

[Nextinline]

Last extensive refurb was 2007. @wdwmagic shows that there was a minor refurb for a few weeks in late 2014. There was also the addition of the new interactive queue in 2010/2011, which also added the new hitch hiking ghost projections at the end of the ride.

Honestly, Haunted Mansion has been one of MK's best maintained attractions for many years, probably in large part because Phil Holmes (former VP of MK park) used to be a CM there and has a soft spot for the ride.

I wonder how much this has to do with the effects being somewhat simple. A lot of the prominent illusions are simple parlor tricks developed over a century ago. Other than tricks of the eye and projection effects what else is there? A couple of popup ghosts? (Not knocking the ride at all btw! HM could be the most successfully immersive ride ever built) It's actually brilliant to have such a successful ride with so simple of effects.

 

[Djali999]

That still doesn't seem to be regular scheduled maintenance like Disneyland's receives during setup and take downs every year. The Mansion typically looks pretty good after the HMH take down in January.

Actually the DL version is in far worse shape than the MK version and I think the twice-yearly time crunch to get the overlay in and out is why. Locals have informed me it's gotten better in recent years but when I finally got back to DL to see their Mansion in 2012 it looked so miserable I wanted to cry.

 

[ght]

Yeah, I'm glad that when I visit WDW I don't have to worry about The Haunted Mansion being anything other than The Haunted Mansion!

While I was disappointed in the degree of decorating for Halloween Time at WDW when I went to the party this year, one of the best parts was getting to go on the classic HM instead of the overlay that I hate. I know we are in the minority, but at Halloween I want spooky, not Christmas.

 

[SpaceMountain75]

While I was disappointed in the degree of decorating for Halloween Time at WDW when I went to the party this year, one of the best parts was getting to go on the classic HM instead of the overlay that I hate. I know we are in the minority, but at Halloween I want spooky, not Christmas.

Amen. I went to MNSSHP this year too, and I can honestly say that walking through the spookily-lit Liberty Square and onto Haunted Mansion was the highlight of the party for me. I like the decorating at MK for Halloween, though it would be sweet if they sent DL's pumpkins around Partners Statue to the east coast!

 

[ght]

Amen. I went to MNSSHP this year too, and I can honestly say that walking through the spookily-lit Liberty Square and onto Haunted Mansion was the highlight of the party for me. I like the decorating at MK for Halloween, though it would be sweet if they sent DL's pumpkins around Partners Statue to the east coast!

I liked the decor that was there, it just seemed like it needed a lot more, especially compared to the decorations at DL. That said, the entertainment was great (especially the Hocus Pocus show) even though it probably contributed to how crowded it felt the night we went.

 

[Californian Elitist]

While I was disappointed in the degree of decorating for Halloween Time at WDW when I went to the party this year, one of the best parts was getting to go on the classic HM instead of the overlay that I hate. I know we are in the minority, but at Halloween I want spooky, not Christmas.

With the exception of HMH, the rest of the park doesn't feel like Christmas to me during Halloween.

I love HMH, but I wouldn't mind Disney shortening its time in the park.

 

[ght]

With the exception of HMH, the rest of the park doesn't feel like Christmas to me during Halloween.

I love HMH, but I wouldn't mind Disney shortening its time in the park.

Oh yeah, I was speaking specifically about HMH. I think they do a great job overall at Halloween Time, better than what I saw at WDW, IMO.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I can't get into the Halloween spirit at DL or WDW because it's so miserably hot.