Closed September 8th thru 25th
The Haunted Mansion overlooks the Rivers of America, an,d is located near
Splash Mountain. Your "Ghost Host" takes you through the mansion with 999 happy
haunts (but there's room for 1000, any volunteers?). Even after more than 30
years, still an enjoyable attraction with some amazing special effects. Guests
first make their way through a small foyer, then enter a gallery, which begins
to "stretch" and lowers. Guests then walk down a hallway with changing
portraits and board "Doom Buggies" and are taken through hallways with creaking
doors, through a séance with Madame Leota, a haunted ballroom, a haunted attic,
and finally through a graveyard where "grim grinning ghosts come out to
socialize". Photo
Left, courtesy of Brett 'DaddyB' Garrett.
The original Mansion characters were designed by Disney Imagineer
Marc Davis, who is also credited with the Pirates of the Caribbean
and It's a Small World, and others. Your "Ghost Host" is the voice
of the late Paul Frees, (who also did the narration for the original
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and Adventure Thru Innerspace, among
others, pictured right), with the talents of Thurl Ravenscroft singing
the lead vocals to "Grim Grinning Ghosts". (A theme which is repeated throughout
the attraction). The music was written by Buddy Baker, and the lyrics and much
of the original script was written by Disney Imagineer "X". Atencio (Francis
Xavier).
Madame Leota, a disembodied head in a crystal ball, is the face of Leota
Thomas, (an artist working at Disney Imagineering during the construction of the
Mansion in 1960's, and was originally just a "stand in" to test the special
effec)t. Imagineers were so impressed with her performance that they kept the
original and thus, "Madame Leota" was born. The voice of Leota
is the voice of Eleanor Audley, who Disney fans may remember was the voice of
Lady Tremain in Cinderella and the equally evil Maleficent in
Sleeping Beauty.
Frequently called "Little Leota", the figure at the conclusion on the ride
features the original voice of Leota Thomas. For Haunted Mansion Holiday,
the face and voice in the crystal ball is Kim Irvine, the daughter of the late
Leota Thomas, who now works for Disney Imaginearing.
Wonder who those Singing Busts are? The singing busts are the following
men: Thurl Ravenscroft (Pictured, left), Chuck Schroeder, Bob Ebright, Jay
Myers, and Vern Rowe. Thurl is the only member of 'The Mellomen' who originally
sang the vocals, and the other men featured were simply used because of their
easy availability.
They were recently paid tribute in film version of the Haunted Mansion
as the singing busts. They were originally to have the facial features of Paul
Frees, Thurl Ravenscroft, Blaine Gibson (sculptor for WED) and were voiced by
current members of the Dapper Dans at Disneyland.
Thurl Ravenscroft passed away May 22nd, 2005.
Opening September 26th, 2008
Jack Skellington returns
to Disney's Haunted Mansion beginning September 26th. Haunted Mansion Holiday,
a redressed Haunted Mansion combines the holidays of
Halloween and Christmas for a fun holiday treat!
Character
The Ghost Host
Jack Skellington
Sally
Ooogie Boogie
Lock, Shock and Barrel
Dr. Finklestein
Description
Narrates your journey through the Haunted Mansion. Voice: Corey Burton
Jack has decorated the Haunted Mansion and is eager for you to see his
latest creations. Voice: Chris Sarandon
Sally, in love with Jack, worries things will go horribly wrong. Voice:
Catherine O'Hara
Jack's nemesis; spends most of his time playing pranks
Oogie Boogie's helpers. They 'Kidnap the Sandy Claws'
Sally's creator: The good Dr. is quite talented in bringing things back
from the dead.
Where in the Mansion:
Foyer, In-Ride Narration
Stretching Gallery,
Ride
End of Attraction
Various (Attic, Seance
Room)
End of
Attraction
Not present in
attraction.
Character
Madame Leota
The Mayor
Undead Duck
Nutcracker
Eager Anaconda
Description
Conjures the spirits in the Séance Room.
The Mayor of Halloween Town.
One of Jack's creations for Christmas.
One of Jack's creations for Christmas.
One of Jack's creations for Christmas.
Where in the Mansion:
Séance Room
Load
N/A
Séance Room
Attic
The Ghost Host narration is again masterfully done by Corey Burton,
with Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Harareprising their voice
roles.
Wonder who those Singing Busts are? The singing busts are the following
men: Thurl Ravenscroft (Pictured, left), Chuck Schroeder, Bob Ebright, Jay
Myers, and Vern Rowe. Thurl is the only member of 'The Mellomen' who originally
sang the vocals, and the other men featured were simply used because of their
easy availability.
