haunted mansion

[jbphotos]

The Haunted Mansion is by far my favorite disney attraction but the direction it has been heading in is completely disappointing. I hope they don't bring the hatbox ghost to WDW not only because it should be a disneyland exclusive but because it was overall a poor effect in my opinion for the mansion. No digital tech should exist in the mansion. It detracts from the experience. I believe they should stick with practical effects even if technology is always advancing, it has no place in the mansion!!! before you know it the ballroom will be digital, the changing portraits will just be screens etc etc. Constance, the hatbox ghost & the new hitchhiking ghost effect are all cheesy but not in the good way that the mansion is loved for. I'm excited the hatbox ghost is back just not in the way its portrayed. I believe they could have figured it out without the use of digital tech. don't get me wrong, I think digital effects definitely enhance many attractions just not the mansion. It ruins the creepy atmosphere & just makes it silly.

what do you think??

 

[orlando678-]

I agree on the point that hatbox ghost should be exclusive, but I strongly disagree on the point of the use of digital technology. Sure its different than the rest of the attraction, but this is what makes the ride stronger for new generations. Also, I believe that Disney mixes with old and new. If they were going to refurbish the whole of the mansion, then I think that enough old and known effects will be kept and others will be replaced or improved.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

The Haunted Mansion is by far my favorite disney attraction but the direction it has been heading in is completely disappointing. I hope they don't bring the hatbox ghost to WDW not only because it should be a disneyland exclusive but because it was overall a poor effect in my opinion for the mansion. No digital tech should exist in the mansion. It detracts from the experience. I believe they should stick with practical effects even if technology is always advancing, it has no place in the mansion!!! before you know it the ballroom will be digital, the changing portraits will just be screens etc etc. Constance, the hatbox ghost & the new hitchhiking ghost effect are all cheesy but not in the good way that the mansion is loved for. I'm excited the hatbox ghost is back just not in the way its portrayed. I believe they could have figured it out without the use of digital tech. don't get me wrong, I think digital effects definitely enhance many attractions just not the mansion. It ruins the creepy atmosphere & just makes it silly.

what do you think??

, I don't think so. The effect really makes it scarier, and due to the fact that it's dark you really don't notice the tech....

 

[orlando678-]

, I don't think so. The effect really makes it scarier, and due to the fact that it's dark you really don't notice the tech....

Im so jealous. I would love to be stuck right in front of him

 

[orlando678-]

Did they actually change the story a bit, because now that he's there, he does deserve some role in the haunted mansion story,

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Did they actually change the story a bit, because now that he's there, he does deserve some role in the haunted mansion story,

Probably not..Due to the bride cutting the grooms heads off....

 

[mousehockey37]

Please go over to the News and Rumors thread... This is being discussed at length there.... http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/hatbox-ghost-is-disney-world.899283/page-5#post-6686991

 

[Bairstow]

All the singing busts, little Leota, and Madam Leota all use digital projection already, to an improved effect.

I wouldn't worry about the ballroom being replaced with screens; there's really no practical way to achieve a pepper's ghost effect with such a wide field of view, various depth of figures, and multiple levels/distances.

It wouldn't work for the same reasons the screen-based hitchhikers do work.

 

[Daniel Johnson]

I like the new hat box ghost, alot actually. But, the idea of bringing it to magic kingdom isn't something I would call for, not that it would bother me having it there, quite honestly it wouldn't. I just love "our" mansion just the way it is.
I do however like reading about Webster and his role in the web at mk, I think that would be very cool to see!

 

[COrunner]

I'm okay with the mixing of old and new. It keeps the ride experience fresh while keeping up the healthy nostalgia we all love.

In saying 'never change this ride' I would be scared many would start to resemble carnival rides that haven't been modified and people would think that Disney didn't care about them.

 

[Chef Mickey]

The Haunted Mansion is my favorite ride of all time.

I do think they messed up the final scene with the new hitchhiking ghosts projection effects, but I don't hate it. The effect just seems too computerized and seems to be inconsistent in its intent. I really do prefer the old effect that was simple and still very believable. It worked every time.

Leota and the singing busts have always used similar technology and I think now are better than ever. I don't think we'll see the endless hallway, ballroom scene, or graveyard scenes changed dramatically.

I actually think Disney has done a pretty good job preserving the original feel of the Haunted Mansion. The only thing I'd change is the end.

 

[erasure fan1]

I believe they should stick with practical effects even if technology is always advancing, it has no place in the mansion!!!

Practical to me always has a more "real" feel to it so I really do prefer it. But there are times when digital will be/works better so I wouldn't say it has no place in the mansion. The big key is not to overuse digital projection because (to me anyway) it then just starts to feel lazy. When used to enhance an effect or scene it can be great. When used so you don't have to build an effect or scene, lazy. And that goes for any attraction not just the mansion.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Practical to me always has a more "real" feel to it so I really do prefer it. But there are times when digital will be/works better so I wouldn't say it has no place in the mansion. The big key is not to overuse digital projection because (to me anyway) it then just starts to feel lazy. When used to enhance an effect or scene it can be great. When used so you don't have to build an effect or scene, lazy. And that goes for any attraction not just the mansion.

100% agree with that.

Projection screams lazy to me...see finding Nemo ride. Look how much work goes in to creating an audio animatronic figure from the artists, sculptors, mechanics, voices, and wardrobe. It's SO much easier to just create something digitally and project it on an attraction, but it also feels less "real" as you said.

Imagine if Disney used projected fireworks into the night sky with synchronized sound to mimic explosions. It would be SO much cheaper long term, but it wouldn't have the intended effect. Rides are the same way.

 

[BJones82]

Imagine if Disney used projected fireworks into the night sky with synchronized sound to mimic explosions. It would be SO much cheaper long term, but it wouldn't have the intended effect. Rides are the same way.

This is a really good way to explain the balance that is needed between real and digital. I think everyone agrees there needs to be a balance just maybe not where the balance should be. I lean towards if it can look BETTER and MORE realistic in a digital format then do it that way; otherwise do it with real tech that you can touch and feel.

 

[Javier Antonio Nisa Avila]

I think the fact of the combination of digital effects with animatronic effects or more "craft" is not a bad combination. To me, I still have no children continue to impress me traditional effects, but I know that in the digital era to be born our children need to go to modernize the attractions for anyone put in front of Disney. This is a distance race and we must win. Not adapt supposed to give other parks in other brands the ability to remove market share, and I think that we do not want anyone.

They do not fear it will not replace everything digitized systems, that would be unfeasible, because as good haunted mansion, you need to convey to the five human senses for this somatize all effects and digital effects is a small portion.

 

[englanddg]

The issue with digital effects is that, while they can appear impressive, everyone knows how they are done, and they can even be done at home using consumer grade equipment and software.

I like the use of the projection tech for Hatty (based on the vids I've seen of it), but I think they would have done better with a few minor tweaks...all with the idea of making it a less obvious projection gimmick.

1) The sound effect when his head moves from neck to box should be turned off. It sounds almost like a fairy dust sound that Tink would make. It doesn't fit. Just let it be silent...with all the ambient sound there, there's no need for that extra effect, and it just stands out. If you really want a sound effect, maybe a muted male scream?

2) His laugh, just do away with it. Make it a sight gag. We just had an interactive character with the Bride earlier in the scene, there doesn't need to be two.

3) He shouldn't blink. This is a dead giveaway that it's projection. Even though most people would know it, the cartoonish blinking just shoves it in the viewer's face. I'm ok with his eyes moving, but in that case it should appear mechanical and slow, not rapid and obviously animated.

4) The animation / projection shouldn't travel through his body to the hatbox. Again, this is unnecessary and just shoves the fact that this is projection tech into the face of the rider. Rather, have his head just disappear from the head (maybe with an animation of his head "rolling back to black" like it had been chopped off?) and then fading into place in the hatbox.

All these are nitpicks, but ones I think would strengthen the effect. He's an impressive AA/projection combination, and I'm glad they finally found where he was hiding so he could return to the 998 ghost buddies of his that have missed him.