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

[Bayou]

I can’t stand the “Somewhere Beyond” logo signs—they look absolutely ridiculous. It seems like they were inspired by storefront signs found in New Orleans Square, but those work because they’re part of an in-story setting, advertising what the shops sell. This, however, is supposed to be an old carriage house haunted by Madame Leota—she wouldn’t be advertising anything. The signs should feel more authentic, made of natural materials like carved wood or steel, and have a more understated, low-key design to reflect this.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Wouldn't Leota be in a gypsy caravan wagon? if anything she'd be selling elixirs along with her fortunes and Tarot readings. The whole concept is a wash.

I do think they could easily redeem themselves if they made this more of a swampy bayou emporium. Selling both Haunted Mansion merch and Tiana Bayou Merch. Lean into N.O. voodoo without directly referencing it, making the carriage house more of a mossy sanctum. Or go spoopy and meta making it a tourist trap shop.

 

[Jedi14]

Wouldn't Leota be in a gypsy caravan wagon? if anything she'd be selling elixirs along with her fortunes and Tarot readings. The whole concept is a wash.

I do think they could easily redeem themselves if they made this more of a swampy bayou emporium. Selling both Haunted Mansion merch and Tiana Bayou Merch. Lean into N.O. voodoo without directly referencing it, making the carriage house more of a mossy sanctum. Or go spoopy and meta making it a tourist trap shop.

They may be moving towards the Disney World version of her where she’s just a witch.

 

[Bayou]

 

[Ellen Ripley]

I stand corrected.

However. I do view the show scene as an amalgamation of period instruments whereas the shop seems to be decorated with seance specific items. Maybe all of the instruments are represented throughout and so the appearance of a purple modern trumpet melds better than the photos insinuate.

Still....to have exposed mirrors in a Seance parlor.... That's like having an area themed to Dublin and having British flags and a copy of Macbeth sitting around. It shows a clear lack of understanding of the world they are depicting.

It's a modern drum in the shop as well. I agree the instruments should be antique like in the ride.

 

[CraftyFox]

This painting is very intriguing to me. Who is she intended to be? Aesthetically, it lifts a lot from mid-century pulp novel/comics/films, especially with the vampy eyebrows, 40s rolled hairstyle, and eyeliner. The painting of Leota at Memento Mori attempts to be a lot more 19th century stylistically while this one seems more generally “witchy”.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Any guesses based on the pictures if this is bigger, the same size, or smaller than Port Royal?

Port Royal has always been a chaotic environment despite not having a ton of merch in it, I hope this has a better traffic flow.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

View attachment 832324

This painting is very intriguing to me. Who is she intended to be? Aesthetically, it lifts a lot from mid-century pulp novel/comics/films, especially with the vampy eyebrows, 40s rolled hairstyle, and eyeliner. The painting of Leota at Memento Mori attempts to be a lot more 19th century stylistically while this one seems more generally “witchy”.

Yes and No. The hoop earrings, cuff bracelet, dark hair, and jewelry are stereotypical "gypsy" mystical Romani charactures.

 

[CraftyFox]

Yes and No. The hoop earrings, cuff bracelet, dark hair, and jewelry are stereotypical "gypsy" mystical Romani charactures.

Oh definitely. I was just mentioning to other stylistic influences. We don’t really see this pulpy style in Haunted Mansion art.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Shop looks great inside.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Additional photos:

I mean this whole thing just looks slightly off brand.

Like when I see this I think "Haunted Mansion themed room at someone's house" like someone went nuts just throwing "Mansion" stuff together.

I don't see a store at the most themed theme park on the planted designed by supposedly the best theme park designers in the planet. Meant to be part of the exit of among the best rides ever done.

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

View attachment 832324

This painting is very intriguing to me. Who is she intended to be? Aesthetically, it lifts a lot from mid-century pulp novel/comics/films, especially with the vampy eyebrows, 40s rolled hairstyle, and eyeliner. The painting of Leota at Memento Mori attempts to be a lot more 19th century stylistically while this one seems more generally “witchy”.

That’s a portrait of Leota “Toombs” Thomas, the Disney Legend imagineer and inspiration behind Leota herself. It’s a very wholesome reference imo

 

[mickEblu]

That’s a portrait of Leota “Toombs” Thomas, the Disney Legend imagineer and inspiration behind Leota herself. It’s a very wholesome reference imoView attachment 832362

Hey, that’s Kimmy Irvines mom! I don’t hate it but it’s a little on the nose for me. In addition i think it kind of makes it less cool that they used her face for Leota. Sort of waters down the obscureness or mystique if you will.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Interesting reply from Disneyparks on their own post.

 

[Disney Analyst]

 

[Consumer]

Weren't they making a wax man for this?

 

[Gusey]

Hey, that’s Kimmy Irvines mom! I don’t hate it but it’s a little on the nose for me. In addition i think it kind of makes it less cool that they used her face for Leota. Sort of waters down the obscureness or mystique if you will.

But isn't Leota Toombs the face model for Madame Leota, so it makes sense to use her face as the model for the portrait?
It's a bit like Tony Baxter as Barnabus T Bullion on Big Thunder

 

[PiratesMansion]

Still....to have exposed mirrors in a Seance parlor.... That's like having an area themed to Dublin and having British flags and a copy of Macbeth sitting around. It shows a clear lack of understanding of the world they are depicting.

I mean, the whole thing about seances is that they were frauds. Perhaps Madame Leota is a fraud or at least not a particularly good spiritualist. I don't have it on me, but I believe Boundless Realm also subscribed to that idea and had evidence for it based on choices made in the design of the attraction.

Hey, that’s Kimmy Irvines mom! I don’t hate it but it’s a little on the nose for me. In addition i think it kind of makes it less cool that they used her face for Leota. Sort of waters down the obscureness or mystique if you will.

You're saying the person who literally was filmed and put in the attraction as Madame Leota has no place in the Madame Leota shop?

I didn't get a chance to look over the place in detail, both inside or out, but I did pop in yesterday. I didn't find anything blaringly wrong with the interior, which seemed relatively similar to what I remember of the older HM shop in NOS. The exterior completely blocks TBA from the Mansion side, which I might have thought some of you might have treated as an asset! Alas, I never made it past Mansion so I can't speak for the other side. My main impression was that scale issues aside-which are 100% correct-it looks better in person than I expected it to. That said, I was also just flitting in and out and not really focused on spending the first day of my trip evaluating all angles of a shop, so...(shrugs shoulders).

It was likely mentioned elsewhere, but the pipes etc. by the HM exit has been covered over with a themed fence. You can still see that it's there if you look, but your eye certainly isn't drawn to it, and my impression yesterday is that the fence will sufficiently stop most guests from seeing it. You'd also have to purposely look left in an area that's guiding you forward back towards the rest of the park.

 

[mickEblu]

I mean, the whole thing about seances is that they were frauds. Perhaps Madame Leota is a fraud or at least not a particularly good spiritualist. I don't have it on me, but I believe Boundless Realm also subscribed to that idea and had evidence for it based on choices made in the design of the attraction.

You're saying the person who literally was filmed and put in the attraction as Madame Leota has no place in the Madame Leota shop?

I didn't get a chance to look over the place in detail, both inside or out, but I did pop in yesterday. I didn't find anything blaringly wrong with the interior, which seemed relatively similar to what I remember of the older HM shop in NOS. The exterior completely blocks TBA from the Mansion side, which I might have thought some of you might have treated as an asset! Alas, I never made it past Mansion so I can't speak for the other side. My main impression was that scale issues aside-which are 100% correct-it looks better in person than I expected it to. That said, I was also just flitting in and out and not really focused on spending the first day of my trip evaluating all angles of a shop, so...(shrugs shoulders).

It was likely mentioned elsewhere, but the pipes etc. by the HM exit has been covered over with a themed fence. You can still see that it's there if you look, but your eye certainly isn't drawn to it, and my impression yesterday is that the fence will sufficiently stop most guests from seeing it. You'd also have to purposely look left in an area that's guiding you forward back towards the rest of the park.

Except that’s not really what I said though is it?

 

[PiratesMansion]

Except that’s not really what I said though is it?

You seemed to generally be expressing some form of discontent, correct?

If so, what am I incorrect about?