Haunted Manion Refurb is official

[HMF]

Good news! The WDW Haunted Mansion will be closed for refurbishment from June 9th until September 12th to give it some long deserved attention.
Hopefully with Constance and Floating Leota.:smile:

[Tom Morrow]

WDW Haunted Mansion's 3 month refurb


No Haunted Mansion During Summer Time (http://blog.mousekingdom.com/2007/03/09/no-haunted-mansion-during-summer-time/)
Mouse Kingdom Blog
When you (have to) plan your Walt Disney World holiday early it can happen that you’ll only find out about closures of certain attractions way after you booked. I can only say that I am very happy that the Haunted Mansion will be open and refurbished when I am going. The dates of the closure are June 6th to September 12th and will be a surprise for many summer time visitors. I guess Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has something to do with it as this attraction is the one you should visit during a Halloween party. Although not many people did this, lines where never long, even during the 31st October. In my opinion no Halloween party is complete without a visit to the Mansion. I am looking forwards to visit my favorite Walt Disney World attraction again in October and am very curious and can’t wait to see the result of the refurbishment.


EDITORS NOTE:
Dates can be verified using Walt Disney World's
Operational Updates calendar (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/refurbishmentslisting/index?id=MKCalendarRefurbishmentsListing Page&date=20070901)
~Ezra



Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[ThatGuy]

After the long refurbishment, the Haunted Mansion should get a lot more attention even without the Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween. The tension that builds up during the 3 month period of waiting is all it needs to get a lot of reception. All the speculating, and confirmed facts that will take place during that time...but to tell everyone the truth I don't think there will be any EXTREME additions other than Constance and possibly Madame Leota too. This is what I'm speculating what is going to take place once it opens to the public again:
Improved "stretching" in the stretching room
Improved audio
Improved lighting in all rooms; more specifically the library and Piano room (as seen in Tokyo), attic, and graveyard.
New props in the library (seen in Tokyo)
Madame Leota effect and materializing heads(seen in Disneyland)
Constance (Disneyland)
Improved mechanics on the Hitchhiking Ghosts
I keep on saying Tokyo because, although relatively the same, Tokyo's version is somewhat improved as seen in this video , credits to Parkhopper for filming:
part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtzwkOS0SFI
part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybQPv6B6uqo

[tonichelle]

this bums me out soooooo much

do you think they *might* Start the refurb a bit later than what they have set? LOL I know they did at DL last summer with the Matterhorn!

[ThatGuy]

It depends on how much is put in to the rehab. If it is refurbishing, repainting, or adding little props, it would take around a week or two. Like Pirates, consider that it is taking them this long, we should expect big effects. So why be bummed? I am very happy the Haunted Mansion is having some attention...although it pains me that I wont go on it until September. If people like a lot, better start making plans before June before the 3 month absence.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I don't know about 'big effects' but I do know that a lot of what's currently used in that Mansion is older than I am. In that regard, a 3 month refurb seems like a drop in the bucket.

-- PMM :cool:

[LoehnWolf]

At this point I am just happy to see them trying. 3 months sure beats nothing and any cleanup can only help. Even if it updates the horrible sound system and the aging effects.

[James N.]

I just rode it today... what's so bad about the current version? Maybe I'm missing something because I haven't been to the DL one on such a long time...

I'm glad that it'll be refurbished but I just hope they don't take away Paul Free's narration and the singing busts.

[AaronVenn]

I'd laugh so hard if Florida got The Hatbox Ghost instead.
And it looked awesomely cool.

Constance was funny. She had funny eyes.

The Disneyland Portraits are fully like half hanging off the walls in the room when you walk in, like when a poster starts to sag at the bottom on your kids wall, and it looks soooooooo obvious how they work to people in the know.

But what can you do. About time for Magic Kingdom Refit!
Now I have a reason to go there again

[linklewtt]

Constance is a great addition to DL's HM, but I'd rather see an entirely different thing at MK's HM. I mean, I like it when same attraction differentiate themselves, don't you?

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Well they are a little different right now. WDW's has a changing Master Gracey portrait in the room before the stretch room, and they see the changing portraits, busts, and a library while on the doom buggies before they reach the endless hallway. Their stretch room is different in that the roof goes up instead of the floor going down as in DLR's.

-- PMM :cool:

[HMF]

they see the changing portraits, busts, and a library while on the doom buggies before they reach the endless hallway.
-- PMM :cool:
Actually in our portrait corrider you go on a Doombuggie and instead of changing, the portraits eyes follow you. The portraits are refered to as the sinister 11. Only three portraits from the Disneyland version are seen. Those are Medusa,December and the Hatchet man from the cooridor of doors. The rest are exclusive to WDW. The last one you see hangs above the entrance to the Library and is a portrait of the Sea Captain who was the subject of many early ride ideas the Imagineers had. He can also be seen in both WDW and Disneyland in the graveyard scene. This just in. accoarding to reports they have added a temporary new Bride to replace the Smurf one. The temporary new one looks simillar to the original Bride. Supposedly this new one will be there until an updated Constance finally comes to WDW after the refurb.

[henchmen92]

that sucks because I'm going in july and I wanted to ride there hunted mansion :( .

[MansionMaid]

Gosh, I can't believe that, I loved the Haunted Mansion (The Old Version) since I was a kid, I wish they didn't close it because I'm going there in Aug. Too bad, huh?

[head mouse]

I'm torn. I am glad that repairs will be made. But I am not pleased with the chance that they will change the story.

[HMF]

But I am not pleased with the chance that they will change the story.
What story?:confused:

[head mouse]

What story?:confused:


The HM has a story line.

The one I like to "belive" is

That Master of the Mansion (Some say Master Gracey) Finds his soon-to-be bride dead in the attic on their wedding day. So he hangs himself. (The body you see in the stretching room) That's where the movie got the story line from.

Now some (like myself) add to the story at WDW (since we had the "ring") saying that When Master found his wife dead, he threw her ring out the window with such strength it embedded itself in the ground outside.


From Doombuggies.com (http://www.doombuggies.com/myths2.htm)

There are some that say Master Gracey, the supposed owner of the Haunted Mansion, murdered his young bride on the eve of their wedding, after catching her in the attic with a young man, whom he also killed viciously by decapitating him with an old sword; Gracey never had the chance to find out that the young man was merely a runner from the bridal shop, bringing a last-minute collection of veils and hats for the young bride to sample...

Still others claim that Gracey's young bride lost her sanity, and killed herself by leaping off of the top of the old mansion on her wedding day, still wearing her gown, causing Gracey, in a fit of despair, to hang himself from the rafters of his home. It's even been said that Gracey may have killed his bride in the attic after a fit of unsubstantiated jealous rage, and then buried her in a brick column out in the family graveyard after throwing her wedding ring out the attic window in disgust.

[HMF]

The HM has a story line.

The one I like to "belive" is

That Master of the Mansion (Some say Master Gracey) Finds his soon-to-be bride dead in the attic on their wedding day. So he hangs himself. (The body you see in the stretching room) That's where the movie got the story line from.

Now some (like myself) add to the story at WDW (since we had the "ring") saying that When Master found his wife dead, he threw her ring out the window with such strength it embedded itself in the ground outside.


From Doombuggies.com (http://www.doombuggies.com/myths2.htm)

There are some that say Master Gracey, the supposed owner of the Haunted Mansion, murdered his young bride on the eve of their wedding, after catching her in the attic with a young man, whom he also killed viciously by decapitating him with an old sword; Gracey never had the chance to find out that the young man was merely a runner from the bridal shop, bringing a last-minute collection of veils and hats for the young bride to sample...

Still others claim that Gracey's young bride lost her sanity, and killed herself by leaping off of the top of the old mansion on her wedding day, still wearing her gown, causing Gracey, in a fit of despair, to hang himself from the rafters of his home. It's even been said that Gracey may have killed his bride in the attic after a fit of unsubstantiated jealous rage, and then buried her in a brick column out in the family graveyard after throwing her wedding ring out the attic window in disgust.
The thing is that story is fan made and completely unofficial. There is no real story behind the Haunted Mansion. The only story is that it is a retirement home for lost spirits and is occupied by 999 Happy Haunts. Each ghost has his or her own story. However very few of them are connected with another. The Gracey and tragic Bride story was made up by fans of the Mansion not by Disney. The new Brides story and name are all officially part of the story of the Haunted Mansion now. The story is very easy to follow. An evil Bride named Constance gets married five times to five rich men. Each one of them is richer than the previous one and her method of taking their fortune is chopping their head off with an ax. The only other scene in the Mansion which connects to this story is the Stretching room where you see a portrait of the Bride when she is older sitting on the tomb of her last husband George.
The tribute bust on the grave has an ax in its head which is clever forshadowing. There are many many different stories in the Mansion. The Bride is just one of them and has no connection to Master Gracey.

[SubmarinemanKevin]

I posted the full length story sometime last year of HM. But this saddens me. Im going to Disney twice this year. Once in the Summer and another in Winter. See though I normally go to DL after June 9. Sometimes after even the month of June. But I will live it out. And hopefully they do not mess up HM.



-SubmanK

[HMF]

hopefully they do not mess up HM. -SubmanK
I am pretty sure they wont mess it up. Just enhance it.;)

[DisneyFanatic13]

The thing is that story is fan made and completely unofficial. There is no real story behind the Haunted Mansion. The only story is that it is a retirement home for lost spirits and is occupied by 999 Happy Haunts. Each ghost has his or her own story. However very few of them are connected with another. The Gracey and tragic Bride story was made up by fans of the Mansion not by Disney. The new Brides story and name are all officially part of the story of the Haunted Mansion now. The story is very easy to follow. An evil Bride named Constance gets married five times to five rich men. Each one of them is richer than the previous one and her method of taking their fortune is chopping their head off with an ax. The only other scene in the Mansion which connects to this story is the Stretching room where you see a portrait of the Bride when she is older sitting on the tomb of her last husband George.
The tribute bust on the grave has an ax in its head which is clever forshadowing. There are many many different stories in the Mansion. The Bride is just one of them and has no connection to Master Gracey.

But wasn't the story used for the Haunted Mansion Movie?

__________________
I Love DISNEYLAND & DISNEY WORLD!!!:biggrin:

[head mouse]

I am pretty sure they wont mess it up. Just enhance it.;)


Same difference. LOL


Removing the spider room, changing Leota, Why won't Disney leave the classics alone?

[LoehnWolf]

No offense to the lovers of the "Classics" but that spider had to GO..I cringed everytime we wheeled past it as it looked like something cheesy from one of those carnival type haunted houses. If it looked even slightly realistic, ok maybe I would have enjoyed it, but all neon and everything, Im glad its gone. Sorry Im sure there will be those who liked them, I personally am glad to see it go.

[head mouse]

No offense to the lovers of the "Classics" but that spider had to GO..I cringed everytime we wheeled past it as it looked like something cheesy from one of those carnival type haunted houses.

Thats what I loved about them.

[HMF]

But wasn't the story used for the Haunted Mansion Movie?

__________________
I Love DISNEYLAND & DISNEY WORLD!!!:biggrin:
The movies story is a little different and the movie does not really count in the attraction.

[head mouse]

The movies story is a little different and the movie does not really count in the attraction.


And the movie sucked anyway. ;) (though I still watch it.)

[HMF]

And the movie sucked anyway. ;) (though I still watch it.) I think the reason why they made the new enhancements to the Bride is the same reason they made the enhancements to POTC only reversed. POTC movies are box office hits so they change the ride to be more like the movie. On the contrary the HM Bride enhancements were made to be less like the movie because it was a box office bomb. Its the exact oppisite of the movie. In the movie the Butler killed the Bride snd the Bride was a good character who was the victim. In the ride now The Bride killed 5 husbands to steal their fortunes. WDI probably wanted people to forget about the HM movie so they created the Constance enhancements.;)

[DisneyFanatic13]

^Okay. And that's why the bride killed the 5 grooms? Wow. Thinking about the love of money (which is a sin!).

__________________
I Love DISNEYLAND & DISNEY WORLD!!!:biggrin:

[k_peek_2000]

As far as I know they arnt changing anything. They are updating everything though. Sound Systems, Projectors, Lighting. You can't add new huge special effects with outdated technology behind it. They are just updating everything so in the future they will be able to add new stuff.

[head mouse]

I just downloaded a video of the new enhancements at DL HM and the floating Leota is great. I pictured something different. Maybe it would be nice at WDW.

[mistymutt]

how do we see the video??

[HMF]

how do we see the video??
There are plenty of videos of the new enhancements all over the net. There is a clip of the new bride on th DLR Haunted Mansion page even though the page still says Nightmare Before Christmas.

[head mouse]

Here it is. I uploaded it to You Tube so that I wouldn't be linking to another Disney board (not sure on the rules on that. I know that THAT board does link it's members to this board)

Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcWoqrqNNYw)

Video works now.

Thanks

[HMF]

Here it is. I uploaded it to You Tube so that I wouldn't be linking to another Disney board (not sure on the rules on that. I know that THAT board does link it's members to this board)

Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcWoqrqNNYw)

As of 9:40pm EST on April 8, 2007 this video was JUST uploaded so giv eit about 30-60 mins for You Tube to accept it and host it.

Thanks
That video shows you the hallway and Leota enhancements and was shot before the new Bride came in. Floating Leota was added to the Mansion in 2005 and the new Bride came last year.;)

[head mouse]

That video shows you the hallway and Leota enhancements and was shot before the new Bride came in. Floating Leota was added to the Mansion in 2005 and the new Bride came last year.;)


Yes, but this is on the plans for the WDW refurb and that is why I said I just downloaded a video of the new enhancements at DL HM and the floating Leota is great. I pictured something different. Maybe it would be nice at WDW.

[AaronVenn]

I do.......
I DID.....

[HMF]

Good News! Imagineers are testing new audio effects for the Stretching Room at the WDW Mansion. The ghosts hosts dialouge will be more clear and alternate around the room. The best news is that it is only coming to WDW, just like they added the new Bride and Floating Leota only to Disneyland now we get something they dont finally.:biggrin: Hopefully the Florida Mansion will get the new effects from its California cousin and hopefully after HMH Disneyland will get the improved Stretch Room audio as well.;)

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ Actually Disneyland's Ghost Host's voice does alternate around the room if your ears are sharp enough to pick it up. The voice also alternates around the speakers in my car. Fun stuff.

-- PMM :cool:

[uscfan7690]

Courtesy Screamscape.com:
(My apologies for the large image; I didn't want it to lose readability)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8008/db20070607hauntedmansiodx2.jpg

[disneyreporter]

Notice in the picture below how Disney has tried to theme the construction wall toward the Haunted Mansion without spending too much money. That is a clever idea.

[ADMIN Edit: Hotlinked image]

[disneyreporter]

The construction wall continues to become more detailed. The brown columns next to the door have now received brickwork. And I wonder if the old Mike Finn Keel Boats dock will play apart into the Haunted Mansion refurb. After all, the construction wall there is the same as at the mansion.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-5/1179349/GSSWL-100_1737.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-5/1179349/MWKIT-100_1741.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-5/1179349/QILGY-100_1739.jpg

[HMF]

Here is another reason not to trust Wikipedia. Someone wrote that the HM refurb would add elements from the movie and make Eddie Murphy the Ghost Host.:eek: Thankfully it has been deleted. That would really be scary.;)

[guitarattict]

LOL, oh ya. If Eddie Murphy was the ghost host, I would probably make it to the hanging rope before he did! :p