News New Haunted Mansion Grounds Expansion, Retail Shop Coming to Disneyland Resort in 2024

[mickEblu]

The Haunted Mansion really does see more improvements than most attractions in the parks. Imagineers love tinkering with it

They keep tinkering with the best lands and attractions (because they’re here for the long haul) while the crappy stuff doesn’t get touched because it’s on the perpetual back burner waiting for the big overhaul that never comes.

 

[Surferboy567]

During Haunted Mansion Holiday, will Jack “deck” these new areas as well?

 

[BagOfGroceries]

The Haunted Mansion really does see more improvements than most attractions in the parks. Imagineers love tinkering with it

It’s the Anti-Sacred Cow. It must be messed with.

 

[Disney Analyst]

MiceChat seems to believe some of the Magnolia Garden area will be used for this new queue.

"Disneyland announced that enhancements are also coming to the plaza adjacent to Tiana’s Palace (known as “Magnolia Gardens”), as it’s transformed into a new park-like setting with newly planted and historic trees.

Concept art shows the area will include additional seating for the restaurant, but with the expansion of Haunted Mansion queuing into the old Magnolia Gardens space, could also make it more challenging to access the New Orleans Square train station."

UPDATED! Haunted Mansion Reopens With Surprises & Virtual Queue

It's Christmas in July... The Haunted Mansion returns today, July 29th, in Haunted Mansion Holiday mode, and brings with it a few surprises! While many ghoulishly projected the Haunted Mansion would be reopening close to

www.micechat.com

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

I’m guessing this will be another lengthy spring refurbishment.

The 3 regular “seasons” of the of the DL haunted mansion:

1) first 4 months of the year - refurb season (what will Kim Irvine add this time?)​

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2) late spring/Summer season - classic mansion “catch it while you can”.​

​

3) Fall/early winter (starting with Labor Day) - Jack’s back​

​

 

[mickEblu]

MiceChat seems to believe some of the Magnolia Garden area will be used for this new queue.


View attachment 739821

UPDATED! Haunted Mansion Reopens With Surprises & Virtual Queue

It's Christmas in July... The Haunted Mansion returns today, July 29th, in Haunted Mansion Holiday mode, and brings with it a few surprises! While many ghoulishly projected the Haunted Mansion would be reopening close to

www.micechat.com

My how far Micechat has fallen. They need to do better vetting info before putting this stuff out. The concept art literally shows at the very least half of Magnolia Park intact and it’s the half next to the Mansion so it’s only logical to assume the other half isn’t used for additional queue space either.

 

[DavidDL]

This is very exciting! I can't wait to see how the gardens and other areas get decorated during Holiday!

 

[waltography]

The Haunted Mansion really does see more improvements than most attractions in the parks. Imagineers love tinkering with it

"improvements"

Wow that’s what I thought. The view from the front of the Mansion with the lawn is iconic. Slowly getting less optimistic…

It could be possible to keep most or at least some of the lawn in tact. Although the fact it’s artificial turf now makes the view much less iconic and easier to part with. I was saying it the other day. Not sure if it’s intended or not but they re getting good at breaking us down slowly.

They do mention this in the blog:

The pet cemetery and horse-drawn funeral hearse will continue to reside on the attraction’s grounds.

So I'm hopeful they'll preserve much of the meandering walk into the queue.

 

[Disney Analyst]

My how far Micechat has fallen. They need to do better vetting info before putting this stuff out. The concept art literally shows at the very least half of Magnolia Park intact and it’s the half next to the Mansion so it’s only logical to assume the other half survives as well.

They may be correct.

There is a new wall in that concept art:

So are they removing the fountain and adding a gazebo, OR are they using the existing stage from Tiana's Palace, opening it up to face the old courtyard, and removing most the courtyard for the extended queue?

Looking at this street view, that puts the new wall in this general area, which takes out most the current Magnolia park:

 

[Too Many Hats]

Oh man...

Firstly, this project is long overdue, regardless of how we might feel about its execution. Just a few weeks ago I was on here ranting about the overstuffed stretching room/packed-like-sardines portrait hallway situation and pointing fingers at TDA/WDI; on some level I can't complain too much about whatever they do. That said...

Really hoping they keep the overt silliness compartmentalized to the attraction itself. IMO the overly jokey Magic Kingdom expanded queue is detrimental to the overall flow of the attraction. Let's keep the outside somewhat mysterious. But I think the concept art for the expanded queue looks pretty perfect; I love that there will be a water fountain, gazebo, and greenhouse.

Also really hoping we don't lose the entire park between Tiana's Palace and Mansion, especially the fountain. But I can understand options are limited (see screenshot below). We will unavoidably "lose" something. The concept art suggests WDI is reconceptualizing the entire area, which might be the best option.

The carriage house looks good. I like the mention of "new" trees. I like the acknowledgment that this area "holds a lot of memories and history," haha. They don't want us Disneyland fans/lunatics to freak out.

Ever since we lost the brick planters in front of the grounds (a Project Stardust casualty), I feel like the area has needed some aesthetic sprucing up. So on the one hand, my general distrust of 2023 Disney/WDI has me concerned. On the other hand, Tiana's Palace is going to alter the vibe of this area considerably. And the Mansion crowd flow disaster just cannot continue. Let's see if they can pull this off...

 

[Disney Analyst]

Also a great change.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Won’t the queue buildings be on the other side of the mountain though? Where they currently are.

Yes, but maybe the walk around the bend will feel more cohesive? There's no understanding the Walt Disney Company these days, so who knows what the reasoning is.

 

[mickEblu]

They may be correct.

There is a new wall in that concept art:



View attachment 739829


So are they removing the fountain and adding a gazebo, OR are they using the existing stage from Tiana's Palace, opening it up to face the old courtyard, and removing most the courtyard for the extended queue?

Looking at this street view, that puts the new wall in this general area, which takes out most the current Magnolia park:



View attachment 739828

How could they be correct? They show the entirety of Magnolia Park being swallowed by the extended queue.

The fountain looks like it’s being replaced with the gazebo but the area will have tables for guests to sit down under the trees. Maybe the wall takes a few feet of Magnolia Park max. If the concept art is to be trusted of course.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

The gift shop looks like a tacky garden shed to me in the concept art.

Overall concept is fine.

 

[Too Many Hats]

They keep tinkering with the best lands and attractions (because they’re here for the long haul) while the crappy stuff doesn’t get touched because it’s on the perpetual back burner waiting for the big overhaul that never comes.

They not only ignore big problem areas like Tomorrowland and Hollywood, but also various weaker attractions that don't seem to be going anywhere yet could use some help. Imagine how much Pooh could benefit from a modest investment. Or Tom Sawyer Island. Or Pinocchio.

 

[Disney Analyst]

How could they be correct? They show the entirety of Magnolia Park being swallowed by the extended queue.

The fountain looks like it’s being replaced with the gazebo but the area will have tables for guests to sit down under the trees. Maybe the wall takes a few feet of Magnolia Park max. If the concept art is to be trusted of course.

I think their image was to just show the entire area being reworked, which is correct.

The question becomes, how much of the area is being used for the queue, if any?

 

[mickEblu]

I think their image was to just show the entire area being reworked, which is correct.

The question becomes, how much of the area is being used for the queue, if any?

Dude I’m lost. Reworked to be what, a flex space? The concept art shows a gazebo and tables under the trees meaning it’s not part of the queue. Obviously all they would have to do would be remove tables to make it an extended queue but that’s not what Micechat is getting at. They re insinuating that the stuff we see in the concept art will be taking up the area currently known as Magnolia Park.

That new brick wall you referred to earlier would be at the far right end of Magnolia park bordering the Mansion. Why would that eliminate most of the park?

 

[Disney Analyst]

Dude I’m lost. Reworked to be what, a flex space? The concept art shows a gazebo and tables under the trees meaning it’s not part of the queue. Obviously all they would have to do would be remove tables to make it an extended queue but that’s not what Micechat is getting at. They re insinuating that the stuff we see in the concept art will be taking up the area currently known as Magnolia Park.

That new brick wall you referred to earlier would be at the far right end of Magnolia park bordering the Mansion. Why would that eliminate most of the park?

The concept art is of course hard to decipher, so I am just speculating the scenario based on street view, what could be the plan, specifically if they are simply using the current stage and making it more of an open ended gazebo.

It very well may be that most of Magnolia remains the same, with the fountain removed and a new Gazebo added.

 

[mickEblu]

Oh man...

Firstly, this project is long overdue, regardless of how we might feel about its execution. Just a few weeks ago I was on here ranting about the overstuffed stretching room/packed-like-sardines portrait hallway situation and pointing fingers at TDA/WDI; on some level I can't complain too much about whatever they do. That said...

Really hoping they keep the overt silliness compartmentalized to the attraction itself. IMO the overly jokey Magic Kingdom expanded queue is detrimental to the overall flow of the attraction. Let's keep the outside somewhat mysterious. But I think the concept art for the expanded queue looks pretty perfect; I love that there will be a water fountain, gazebo, and greenhouse.

Also really hoping we don't lose the entire park between Tiana's Palace and Mansion, especially the fountain. But I can understand options are limited (see screenshot below). We will unavoidably "lose" something. The concept art suggests WDI is reconceptualizing the entire area, which might be the best option.

The carriage house looks good. I like the mention of "new" trees. I like the acknowledgment that this area "holds a lot of memories and history," haha. They don't want us Disneyland fans/lunatics to freak out.

Ever since we lost the brick planters in front of the grounds (a Project Stardust casualty), I feel like the area has needed some aesthetic sprucing up. So on the one hand, my general distrust of 2023 Disney/WDI has me concerned. On the other hand, Tiana's Palace is going to alter the vibe of this area considerably. And the Mansion crowd flow disaster just cannot continue. Let's see if they can pull this off...

View attachment 739822

I think what gets sacrificed is the iconic view of the Mansion and lawn from the front gates.

 

[mickEblu]

The concept art is of course hard to decipher, so I am just speculating the scenario based on street view, would could be the plan, if they are simply using the current stage and making it more of an open ended gazebo.

It very well may be that most of Magnolia remains the same, with the fountain removed and a new Gazebo added.

What about the below picture is hard to decipher? Are you saying that it’s not obvious that it’s NOT part of the queue?