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

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I was just watching a video from last year and you are correct that the planters along the wall had already been removed, although the planters were still at the entrance, there were benches along the wall though so maybe once they no longer need the space for queue the benches will come back.

Just having the benches, and a few trash cans, along the wall really helped break up the monotony.

 

[gerarar]

7:34 PT and up to group 461.

View attachment 805194

Has any other VQ had such a high boarding group number @gerarar ?

Nope. The highest I ever seen was like in the 240's, but that was for like ROTR on New Years Eve.

Insane number tho.

 

[TP2000]

I was just watching a video from last year and you are correct that the planters along the wall had already been removed, although the planters were still at the entrance, there were benches along the wall though so maybe once they no longer need the space for queue the benches will come back.

Just having the benches, and a few trash cans, along the wall really helped break up the monotony.

As I remember, they removed that planter along that wall in 2019 to get ready for all the Star Wars Land crowds that never showed up.

 

[SuddenStorm]

View attachment 805129

Losing those trees may be what stings the most.

Especially that one stump that's at the top of that mountain just beyond the Mansion...

 

[SuddenStorm]

So, I'm mixed on Disney integrating unused concepts from the ride's development- which is what this bat originates from.

On one hand- even Davis's stuff that didn't make it into the ride in the '60s is miles better than anything WDI could dream up these days.

On the other hand- I imagine the prop wasn't actually a part of the mansion originally for a reason. If WDI decided it wasn't worth the budget or using the concept back in the '60s, they probably had a reason?

 

[DCBaker]

Anyone know what time of day the virtual queue 12:00 PM drop "sold out"?
I checked around 2:45 PM and it was still available. Curious what time it finally sold out.

They're currently boarding up to group 478... which is wild! Never seen a virtual queue go that high

I believe it was around 4:15pm.

 

[duncedoof]

I like to imagine the team did everything in their power to install that fountain, as a lively working fountain, into the queue. But management said no. Would've been lovely. It's a low bar, but I am glad it wasn't thrown out.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I like to imagine the team did everything in their power to install that fountain, as a lively working fountain, into the queue. But management said no. Would've been lovely. It's a low bar, but I am glad it wasn't thrown out.

I’m glad they saved it too but am dumbfounded that they didn’t keep it a fountain, there’s already power in the queue area, they could have created a new basin and just plugged it back in, they probably saved $5k by making it a planter. Seems like a very short sighted cost decision, now that it’s in place as a planter it would cost 5 times that amount to move it and tear up the area again. We ended up with a nice planter rather than a beautiful fountain because someone pinched a penny.

 

[Disney Irish]

Do we know that it won't be an actual working fountain when regular HM returns with the new full queue back in January? I mean it could just be placed there as a temporary measure without it fully working. We do know from the concept art that there will be at least one working fountain in the extended queue, so its not a huge stretch to think they may make this fountain work too when the new queue is fully complete.

 

[AJFireman]

Do we know that it won't be an actual working fountain when regular HM returns with the new full queue back in January? I mean it could just be placed there as a temporary measure without it fully working. We do know from the concept art that there will be at least one working fountain in the extended queue, so its not a huge stretch to think they may make this fountain work too when the new queue is fully complete.

I wish that could happen but the way it looks its buried and not the original base. To me is looks like a planter with a cement ring then the top of the fountain is added to the middle like they would ring a tree to prevent weeds/grass . The original base was not a perfect circle.

 

[truecoat]

Interestingly, the 3rd lane is now labeled as an exit. Previously, this was the pathway the wheelchairs and scooters used to get to the entrance if I'm not mistaken So, will this be the exit only for wheelchairs and scooters after construction since an elevator is being built on the left side of the building?

 

[AJFireman]

Interestingly, the 3rd lane is now labeled as an exit. Previously, this was the pathway the wheelchairs and scooters used to get to the entrance if I'm not mistaken So, will this be the exit only for wheelchairs and scooters after construction since an elevator is being built on the left side of the building?

View attachment 805281

That is an old picture with no decor on the Mansion. Here is a current picture

 

[Disney Irish]

I wish that could happen but the way it looks its buried and not the original base. To me is looks like a planter with a cement ring then the top of the fountain is added to the middle like they would ring a tree to prevent weeds/grass . The original base was not a perfect circle.
View attachment 805302

Well this is obviously not the final form of the queue. So more could be done in the future, we don't know. To me it just looks like the octagonal pedestal is below grade, possible for better scale in the queue. That still doesn't mean it can't be hooked up to a water source in the future.

But yes its also possible this could just remain a nice decorative planter as a nod to the past. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[duncedoof]

I’m glad they saved it too but am dumbfounded that they didn’t keep it a fountain, there’s already power in the queue area, they could have created a new basin and just plugged it back in, they probably saved $5k by making it a planter. Seems like a very short sighted cost decision, now that it’s in place as a planter it would cost 5 times that amount to move it and tear up the area again. We ended up with a nice planter rather than a beautiful fountain because someone pinched a penny.

Would've been lovely to have a working mountain in the actual Mansion.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I wish that could happen but the way it looks its buried and not the original base. To me is looks like a planter with a cement ring then the top of the fountain is added to the middle like they would ring a tree to prevent weeds/grass . The original base was not a perfect circle.
View attachment 805302

It wasn’t buried. The fountain was always a piece separate from the pool.

 

[Misted Compass]

Without the opening day hype of yesterday, VQs are remaining open even past 8pm.

 

[Epcot81Fan]

Perhaps people don’t celebrate Christmas in July?

 

[gerarar]

Without the opening day hype of yesterday, VQs are remaining open even past 8pm.
View attachment 805493

The VQ is no longer needed (wasn't even to begin with).

It should just go away to ease guests of an extra headache just to ride this attraction.

 

[Misted Compass]

The VQ is no longer needed (wasn't even to begin with).

It should just go away to ease guests of an extra headache just to ride this attraction.

To be fair, there's not really an "extra headache" if you can book a new VQ as late as after fireworks.
I'd even argue that it's justified, considering that the ride's actual queue is still behind work walls.

 

[mickEblu]

To be fair, there's not really an "extra headache" if you can book a new VQ as late as after fireworks.
I'd even argue that it's justified, considering that the ride's actual queue is still behind work walls.

Yeah, it’s more like a free lightning lane.