Haunted Mansion closed 6/6/07 - 9/12/07

Blackie Pueblo · Post by **Blackie Pueblo** » Aug Mon 27, 2007 7:58 am

That was a sweet little article. I want to go back to the World so badly and check this out! Kids now a days though. It's not scary unless someone is getting their intestines ripped out.

"We call it imagineering, the blending of creative imagination with technical know-how."
---Walter Elias Disney

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Aug Mon 27, 2007 2:30 pm

That is wicked awesome. I need to hit the lottery so I can move from park to park and hang around the rides under rehab. Man I would have loved to have been there, I have so many ideas, after reading the article and finding out what they are going for, I could have given them more ideas. AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! I need an oulet for my ideas, I have too many and I need room for more.

Post by **spaulo** » Aug Tue 28, 2007 3:08 pm

Not sure if this was mentioned previously in this thread (there are ten pages), but I caught this in Al Lutz's update on MiceAge today, on the fourth page:

Additions and improvements are also planned for the popular Indiana Jones Adventure in preparation for the fourth movie release next summer, plus a bag of new tricks heading to the Haunted Mansion next year after some of the effects make their debut in Florida's needy and formerly seedy version of that ride next month.

Emphasis mine. So it looks like this refurb will not only bring WDW's HM up to par with the original in Anaheim, but introduce some effects even us West Coasters haven't seen. Can't wait to try it out this december!

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Aug Wed 29, 2007 9:56 am

(Refering to the redirected post: viewtopic.php?t=3586) Never been to DL, so correct me if I'm wrong, but is the first concept pic DL's hallway to limbo? It would be sort of bittersweet if they change WDW's picture gallery. The eye portraits set it apart from the morphing portraits. I don't like how they're starting to replicate everything from other parks. I CANNOT wait to see the crazy stairs though, it looks amazing!

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Aug Wed 29, 2007 9:43 pm

Not sure about the answer to Cheshire's question but I'm curious about that myself. I'd miss the eye portraits if they got the axe. I'm also hoping the updated bride is actually scary again (well, Disney-scary, at least). The most recent incarnation was totally lacking in creep-factor compared to the old 'no face' bride. I miss her.

I'm really, really looking forward to seeing how all these upgrades work out. And, theoretically, riding through all the way with good sound. Only a few more months to go. ^__^

SWHorn · Post by **SWHorn** » Aug Thu 30, 2007 12:27 am

I'm excited that I'll be there the day HM reopens. I, too, am really looking forward to the improvements...especially the audio.

Croaker · Post by **Croaker** » Aug Thu 30, 2007 9:13 am

Please give us a review! sneak some pic's of the stairs! I think they knew i was coming....Rock-n-Rollercoaster closes the day i arrive and Haunted Mansion opens 2 days after i leave.

dimagineer · Post by **dimagineer** » Aug Thu 30, 2007 9:36 am

Croaker wrote:sneak some pic's of the stairs!

I will try myself... I will be there the same day as SWHorn.

SWHorn · Post by **SWHorn** » Aug Fri 31, 2007 11:58 am

Yeah, I'll get some pics, too.

Sorry y'all are going to miss HM, Croaker.

I was upset enough having to miss Spaceship Earth and Rock-n-Rollercoaster. I may miss HM for a few days on my trip, but I'd hate to not get it at all.

Croaker · Post by **Croaker** » Aug Fri 31, 2007 12:48 pm

i'm more upset about Rock-n-Rollercoaster than Haunted Mansion

Vicki_Mouse · Post by **Vicki_Mouse** » Sep Sun 02, 2007 10:44 am

We really missed this ride last month.

But we're excited to see it next summer with all the new stuff!

coco · Post by **coco** » Sep Mon 10, 2007 5:04 am

I really missed the HM when visiting WDW last month. Let's hope the refurb is worth the wait...

AKLRULZ · Post by **AKLRULZ** » Sep Thu 13, 2007 5:11 pm

FINALLY! It has reopend as of this morning!

WHOO!

Warning spoilers below:

Highlights of the Haunted Mansion refurbishment

The whole of the exterior has been repainted and looks wonderful.
A new red colored canopy has been installed over the queue line.
The parlour room with the fireplace and changing portrait appears to be laregely the same as before.
The stretch room is a MAJOR improvement. It is almost entirely new. The decor has been completely refreshed. The audio sounds terrific, it has deep bass, multi-positional sound. There are also new sound effects, including creaking as the room stretches, and sounds of bats flying around. There is also a piece of new dialog from Phantom Manor - "I didn't mean to frighten you, so prematurely...". Besides the great additions, the actual stretch room mechanism is now silent and very smooth, which really helps with the whole illusion.
The load area has received a considerable amount of extra theming. The moving eye portraits are now in the load area. The carpeting is new, lots of great cobwebs hanging from the spooky looking light fixtures. There is also a new load console for the cast.
A note on the Doombuggy, they now run silently, and no signs of any dropped audio. All the of the dialog is crisp and clear.
There is a new window with lightning flashes on the left hand side, which are opposite the portrait gallery. As the lightning flashes, the portraits change. Its a great new scene.
The new staircase scene is a very welcome new addition. There is a lot of detail here, and it is the kind of thing you need to see lots of times to take it all in.
Exiting the staircase room, there is a corridor of eyes.
The sÃ©ance room has the much talked about floating Leota head. It really is an amazing special effect, and has to be seen to be appreciated. Videos are not going to do this justice.
In the ballroom, there are signs of cleanup and enhancements, but nothing significant.
The attic has had the most attention. It's awesome. All the popup heads have gone from this scene, and been replaced with detailed sets, with portraits, and a sinister background sound track. The ghostly bride is excellent, and is genuinely spooky!
The graveyard scene now has only 2 or 3 popup ghosts in total. They are used much more effectively, and they no longer scream. The rest of the scene seems unchanged, but has all been cleaned and restored.
Little Leota looks new and refreshed.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Sep Thu 13, 2007 5:52 pm

AKLRULZ wrote:The attic has had the most attention. It's awesome. All the popup heads have gone from this scene, and been replaced with detailed sets, with portraits, and a sinister background sound track. The ghostly bride is excellent, and is genuinely spooky!
The graveyard scene now has only 2 or 3 popup ghosts in total. They are used much more effectively, and they no longer scream. The rest of the scene seems unchanged, but has all been cleaned and restored.

Auugh! I'm so excited to see this; December needs to get here faster.

The removal of the pop-up heads is a wonderful thing, imo. Once you knew where they were they weren't scary anymore. I don't think I even really noticed them on the last many times I rode, apart from the fact they weren't synched properly with the sound, and you could hear the air jets firing them. Adding something more detailed and less cheesy is a big step in the right direction.

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Sep Thu 13, 2007 7:10 pm

I'm so excited I can hardly wait to see it next month!!!