Subsonic Radio

Here's another case of PC-Gone-Mad for you...

Forget about "Grim Grinning Ghosts." Get ready for "Prim, we-don't-mean-to-offend-anyone Ghosts."

That's the word coming out of Glendale these days. Reportedly in response to guest complaints about goofy but ghoulish lines like "Drag your wretched bodies to the dead center of the room," the Imagineers will soon be revamping the script for the Haunted Mansion. Deliberately changing lines that Disney cast members on both coasts have said for almost 40 years now in favor of less objectional material.

Full article

I normally take JHM stories with a pinch of salt, but I can't help but think that this is something that's quite likely in this day and age..

Andy.

If someone is offended by what the Mansion Butlers and Maids say then they should just become that 1000 ghoul. I'm PC to a point.....This, is too far. These are lines said over a 1000 times a day 365 days a year for 40 years why would you change them now. What are people more offended these days by Disney then they were a year, two years, 10 years ago......NO. It used to be that in years past if someone was offend by something they just dealt with it by shutting up and realizing that the world wasn't going to come to an end. Now a days you have to please everyone, well please the rest of the guests that love the wording now, stop catering to the 3 idiots that don't like it, just tell them to stay off of the ride.

Why would someone assume that if they go into a Haunted House they aren't going to have that kind of talk? Did they think that just because it was Disney it was going to be Angel's instead of Ghosts? BAH!!! to this change. I liked the changes they made during the last rehab, but this would make me want to stand in City Hall and fill out a complaint form. Sorry but I'm VERY protective of the Mansion.[/rant(for now)]

I don't like it! Half the fun of the attraction are the Butlers and Maids off the cuff remarks. One of my best memories is of the HM @ WDW, we had a Butler that was really in character. It was during Extra Magic Hours so there were only about a dozen of us in the foyer, but he paced back and forth like a madman pausing in front of each person then look each of us in the eye (it felt like he was gazing into your soul). While I know every CM does not go to that length, I would hate to think that this young man would no longer be able to perform his role at the same level of greatness.

Absolutely ridiculous.


It's hard to imagine a long-time Disney fan being offended. It's probably first-time visitors who are easily offended, complain and probably won't return anyway. Why would anyone take it seriously??

DrRavenscroft: Now that's a rant!

I agree though. Why change it? They've been saying it for 40 years now. I don't think they'll get *that* many complaints about it, after all it's all in the theming. Every time I've been in HM (or PM in Paris) and the cast have acted in character like that the guests around the place have laughed, and I never once heard anyone give the impression they weren't happy about that being said.

It's in the name of fun, people. Deal with it. Don't take it too seriously.

Andy.

I say leave it alone, agreeing with everyone else so far. It's a haunted mansion for heaven's sake! I wouldn't go to a haunted mansion anywhere and expect the employees or cast members to be politically correct.

It's hard to imagine a long-time Disney fan being offended. It's probably first-time visitors who are easily offended, complain and probably won't return anyway. Why would anyone take it seriously??

Exactly. It's FANTASY. It's entertainment.

Why would anyone honestly think that someone is really being that personally rude to anyone? Duh.

If the purpose of the change really is to PC-up the place, then that's just ridiculous. People who think the butlers/maids are taking shots at them personally need to get over themselves, and I don't even know what to say about people who'd find 'follow the blood red carpet' offensive...

The rest of the article, though, makes it sound like his 'source' said it was more a scripting along the lines of the Jungle Cruise, to make sure guests get a uniform quality 'presentation' every time they come. That said, I'm not sure I ever recall having a butler who just really wasn't into it (and even if you do, it's not as significant/detrimental to the ride as getting a 'bad' Jungle Skipper), so I don't really see why the whole rigamarole is necessary. Sounds to me like they just want to crack down on any cast members ad libbing too much.

I wish they'd just let the cast members have a bit more freedom (at the HM, but at the Jungle Cruise especially). The best skippers, including the recordings we have on subsonic here, are the ones who really get into their character and put their own spin on it. Obviously you can't have people being blatantly offensive, but I'd think most cast members have more sense. And if they -don't-, well then those are the ones to crack down on.

Honestly, how many complaints do they get and why are they taking them seriously? Changing the legenary spiels would, I imagine, set off a lot of rage, esp. in Disneyland where the locals know the whole thing by heart. I mean come on - do you want everyone that shows up to BatDay to start protesting? Just let it be already - stop trying to mess with the beloved classics...

This is ridiculous! Why do some people have to take things so seriously?!?! Some people can't leave anything alone.
I think the HM should be left the way it is, it's great!

I just heard about that on Let's Talk About Disney Live Podcast last night. I think it is just crazy. It is part of the show. If people are squemish sp? don't ever go on the ride.

I haven't been on http://www.Doombuggies.com in a while I wonder how they will all feel about this...... I have a feeling they will be onboard with me in adding some people to the ghoul count.

This is truly ridiculous. I just can't fathom what is going on in people's minds when they suggest something like this. Do they really take those spiels so seriously?

Wow, I'm really at a loss here. I just can't understand how anyone could find that offensive.

Hi folks. Although I'm all for freedom of expression, this is ridiculous. Consider for a moment that we're talking about only a couple of lines of dialogue that take roughly about ten seconds, TEN SECOCNDS, to listen to in a fifteen-twenty minute attraction! It would be a little different if we were talking about an ENTIRE script that took up the whole ride, but come on, TEN SECONDS? This is just one of those times when someone, somewhere really has nothing better to do with their time, even in a them park! If they must bring a professional acting coach in to help with getting into character, fine; but there are just some things that are better left alone, period. TEN SECONDS? Jeesh! Peace.

Hi folks. Although I'm all for freedom of expression, this is ridiculous...

Are you FOR keeping it the same or changing it. I couldn't quite pull that out of your post. I am sick and not as quick as usual today!