I believe Joseph was from around the Orlando area or general vicinity (forget specifically, sorry). He was working at the Haunted Mansion this past Tuesday (he'll likely be there some times, he mentions that he adores the attraction and it's his favorite). Fantasyland was closed off for the Wishes fireworks due to high winds and he and a bunch of other cast members were routing people away from the rope blockade until the fireworks were over. My mother, myself, and Joseph had a nice chat since he wasn't busy at the time. He was dressed as a HM butler. He was amazing, very kind, very eager to show us a ton of little insider bits with us (i guess we're not the type of guests who disrespect the cast members and he appreciated that). He was very composed and awesome, even while training a new lady cast member.
He told us a bit about what's going on behind the new HM queue and the hitch-hiking ghosts segment. All his words matched with what is being officially reported so i'd trust him. He even let loose a secret i hadn't heard- an interactive organ that you'll be able to play in line. I don't know what it does besides being an organ (whether it makes weird noise or visual effects) but it was a neat tidbit. He also told us they hoped to have it ready in April or sooner (ahead of schedule apparently). He also mentioned that the new hitch-hiking ghosts would be CGI and apparently interact with guests.
Next, he took us back through a cast member hall and gave us a little tour (we didn't even ask, he actually offered when mom was mentioning the stretching room). He showed us a little hall used for cast members with some old-looking metal keys hanging on the wall and a piece from the original HM in California being hung on the wall.
Then he showed us some hidden Mickey's on Master Gracey's portrait (Jack Skellington is hiding in his skull, how ironic). And there were some around the wooden frame in the carving. Then he showed us the stretching room (the second one not currently in use), giving us some information on what was changed during the 2007 refurb (pointing out the huge amount of new speakers). He told us that if you wait a few seconds after the doors open, you can hear some kids whisper "get out while you still can" or something (i never knew it did that). He even gave us a tip on where the doors open- always under the ballerina woman on the tightrope. After that, he smiled and asked whether we wanted to ride, which we eagerly agreed. He opened the door from the stretching room and let us on a doom buggy. What an awesome experience!
He was a serious Haunted Mansion lover and was very nice to let us have the "grand tour". We got lucky, if you ever meet him or see him, talk to him or say hi. He's awesome. So a great shoutout to Joseph, probably one of the coolest cast members i've ever met (and i've been to Disney since i was little, i'm 22 now).
He told us a bit about what's going on behind the new HM queue and the hitch-hiking ghosts segment. All his words matched with what is being officially reported so i'd trust him. He even let loose a secret i hadn't heard- an interactive organ that you'll be able to play in line. I don't know what it does besides being an organ (whether it makes weird noise or visual effects) but it was a neat tidbit. He also told us they hoped to have it ready in April or sooner (ahead of schedule apparently). He also mentioned that the new hitch-hiking ghosts would be CGI and apparently interact with guests.
Next, he took us back through a cast member hall and gave us a little tour (we didn't even ask, he actually offered when mom was mentioning the stretching room). He showed us a little hall used for cast members with some old-looking metal keys hanging on the wall and a piece from the original HM in California being hung on the wall.
Then he showed us some hidden Mickey's on Master Gracey's portrait (Jack Skellington is hiding in his skull, how ironic). And there were some around the wooden frame in the carving. Then he showed us the stretching room (the second one not currently in use), giving us some information on what was changed during the 2007 refurb (pointing out the huge amount of new speakers). He told us that if you wait a few seconds after the doors open, you can hear some kids whisper "get out while you still can" or something (i never knew it did that). He even gave us a tip on where the doors open- always under the ballerina woman on the tightrope. After that, he smiled and asked whether we wanted to ride, which we eagerly agreed. He opened the door from the stretching room and let us on a doom buggy. What an awesome experience!
He was a serious Haunted Mansion lover and was very nice to let us have the "grand tour". We got lucky, if you ever meet him or see him, talk to him or say hi. He's awesome. So a great shoutout to Joseph, probably one of the coolest cast members i've ever met (and i've been to Disney since i was little, i'm 22 now).
