New Haunted Mansion at WDW (spoilers)

TikiTikiRoom · Post by **TikiTikiRoom** » Sep Tue 25, 2007 10:05 am

can't wait to ride this!

Calypso · Post by **Calypso** » Sep Wed 26, 2007 11:56 am

The updates are AWESOME! The audio is so much better, crisper and spookier. The changes to the attic scene are unbelievable and add a lot of depth to the storyline.

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Oct Mon 01, 2007 8:19 pm

After riding it, I was very impressed with the new audio, not just in the stretching room, but the entire ride. The floating leota is amazing, and looks so different in person than in pics or video. The bride is really spooky especially with all the portraits scattered throughout the attic, leading up to her. The Staircase is AMAZING. That alone makes this mansion the most superior mansion. The detail is amazing, almost as if it has always been there. I also like the transition from the dark space with glowing eyes to the purple wallpaper. It's almost as if the walls have come alive, broken apart and come back together... it's hard to describe. The only things I didn't like so much was the re-creation of Disneyland's hallway to limbo. It doesn't work very well with the Doombuggies and sometimes you miss the effect. I though it was much creepier glding slowly through the hallway with all the portraits staring at you. The "eye-portraits" have been moved to the loading area, but, alas, they no longer watch you. Overall, it was the best refurb. Disney has ever done.

broncoflyer8912 · Post by **broncoflyer8912** » Oct Mon 01, 2007 10:20 pm

Pardon the bragging but, after reading about the refurb and listening about it on the Inside the Magic podcast, I find this just goes to show that the original HM in Disneyland is the best since they for the most part made the WDW HM more like the DL one now.

Mr.ToadWildRider · Post by **Mr.ToadWildRider** » Oct Mon 01, 2007 11:01 pm

Those look like really great changes. I hope they cleared up the audio a lot?

Blackie Pueblo · Post by **Blackie Pueblo** » Oct Wed 03, 2007 4:38 am

Besides the refreshing of the paint, was anything else done to the outside? The cemetery or the exit? I know the canopy has been redone.

"You hate to repeat yourself."
---Walter Elias Disney

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Oct Wed 03, 2007 7:46 am

SWHorn wrote:
Dr. Ravenscroft wrote:Oh and tisk tisk for taking flash pictures, don't you know spirits are sensitive to bright lights.
I know, I know. There were requests for the pictures on here. It'll never happen again.

Yes, I remember being "called on the carpet" here for taking pictures of the Mansion.

iluveeyore07 · Post by **iluveeyore07** » Oct Mon 08, 2007 6:47 pm

Thanks for the pics and info on the update. We've passed on the HM the past 2 trips but now I'm looking forward to it. (I never liked the spider webs either.. they may not have been realistic but they were still really BIG creepy spiders).

Post by **rdeacon** » Oct Wed 24, 2007 8:44 am

Jim Hill is writing a 5-part story on the Haunted Mansion rehab.

Part 1 was posted today

Haunted Mansion Makeover Part 1

Rich

yodiwan1 · Post by **yodiwan1** » Oct Wed 24, 2007 9:43 am

the link did not work...

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Oct Wed 24, 2007 6:15 pm

I remember the imagineers promising the gargoyles would become part of the show - and apparently some other Disney fans too. Everytime we were in the "new" stretching room someone would comment how the gargoyles don't move or talk. I'm glad they found somewhere to put that in even if most people won't hear it. I'll have to convince my impatient family to wait in the stretching room a bit longer to hear it. (Just like when I wait behind in the tiki room until Iago finishes his monologue while they go out and wait in Adventureland

)

Blackie Pueblo · Post by **Blackie Pueblo** » Oct Wed 24, 2007 7:59 pm

Finally rode this and thought it has to be one of the best refurbs ever! The colors in the stretching room are very vibrant yet freaky. And the new hallway effect with the changing pics blew me away! Also the new attic was incredible. THe bride moves so creepily now and those portraits with the heads of the husbands disappearing was freaky. Lastly, I loved the way the hitchhiking ghosts now look. They are much brighter, like they got brand new suits for the occasion. We hear a lot of complaining about Disney World lately, but I have to bow my heads to the Imagineers and say thank you. Great job!

"I feel there is no door which, with the kind of talent we have in our organization, could not be opened..."
---Walter Elias Disney

csquare77 · Post by **csquare77** » Oct Wed 24, 2007 9:51 pm

It looks like some really nice Improvements to the ride, I have not been on the WDW Haunted Mansion for a long time. Since 2000. It looks like they did a really nice referb. Can't wait to see it in March/April.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Oct Thu 25, 2007 4:14 am

Thanks for posting the link. That sounds great. I wish this approach had been taken with Pirates (instead of the more Depp-centric changes), but both the gargoyles change and the resolution of the issue make it sound like they're really on the money with this one.

If they had replaced the narration, it would have been time to storm the gates with a legion of orcs or something.

Post by **rdeacon** » Oct Thu 25, 2007 8:30 am

Here is part 2 of the 5 part series

Haunted Mansion Makeover Part 2

Rich