It's a little bit of an obsession. I talk about it at least once a day. I Google random Disney facts (I oughta be a tour guide by now, it's ridiculous). I watch YouTube videos of rides. Talking about Tinkerbell and the fireworks still brings me to tears. Of course, it hasn't helped that two of my dear friends have been in Disney parks in the last two weeks (one of them is bringing me a pin for my lovely Disney pin collection).
So I decided that to preserve my own sanity I need an outlet for this madness. I'm calling it "Pardon My Pixie Dust" since whenever things are under construction at Disneyland, that's what the signs say. Once a month I'll spotlight a Disneyland attraction here. Yay! This month is appropriately the Haunted Mansion. (It's also convenient since it's my favorite.) I'll never tell you how anything WORKS in these spotlights, because that would ruin the magic and that would be terrible.
(Sometimes these will feature pictures my daddy took. However, the only picture he got of the Haunted Mansion was... mostly of me. So. Perhaps he will see this and inform me that he has a picture I don't know about that I can have. For now, have this one I found on Google.)
DUN DUN DUN!!
Opening Date: October 1, 1971
FUN FACTS:
-In early concept design, the Mansion was originally intended to include a restaurant (like the Blue Bayou in Pirates of the Caribbean). The idea was, obviously, scrapped.
-The main theme of the Mansion is "Grim Grinning Ghosts" (that's the song they sing incessantly)... the phrase "Grim Grinning Ghost" comes from Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis. Oh yes. This literature nerd now loves the Mansion EVEN MORE.
-One of the singing busts is voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft, also known as the narrator of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." The "Ghost Host" is voiced by Paul Frees... who is, among other things, the voice of the Pillsbury Dough Boy.
-The Bride in the Attic's name is Constance. Ironic considering she axe murdered all four of her husbands. The hitch-hiking ghosts also have names: Gus, Ezra, and Phineas.
-There used to be a "Hatbox Ghost" in the attic.
Now, people who have been in love with Disneyland for far longer than I obsess over the hatbox ghost. His head would disappear and reappear in the hatbox in his hand. Disney got rid of him and it apparently hugely disappointed tons of people. Everybody's buzzing now that he might be coming back. I don't get the hype, but whateva.
-The table settings in the Ballroom scene make hidden Mickeys.
-Like most Disney attractions, almost none of the ride is contained within the so-called "ride building," so when the outer facade was up for a REALLY long time before the ride actually opened, people started to talk. There was a rumor going around for a long time that Disney had held a special pre-opening ride and someone had died of fright, delaying the attraction's open. If you've been on the Haunted Mansion, you know how ridiculous that is. :)
-The organ in the Ballroom is an actual prop from the film Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
-During the holidays the Mansion gets a revamp entitled "Haunted Mansion Holiday" featuring characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas. (Even though I love me some Jack Skellington that bothers me. Don't mess with the classics.)
-The entire ride runs on an Omnimover system-- the cars are moving all the time. This makes it rather difficult for disabled people to get on, so the ride is stopped often to accommodate these guests. (Seriously. It happened, like, FIVE TIMES while we were there.)
MY PERSONAL FAVORITE PART:
Alright, I have two.
The first one is in the attic. As soon as you get in there you can hear the Wedding March playing in this super creepy minor key... but you get about halfway through and there's this shadow. PLAYING THE PIANO. The shadow's fingers are on the piano and he's playing it. It's so cool. I don't know how they do it. (I tried to find a good picture... but there wasn't one.)
My other favorite part comes when you're going up the escalator back to the land of the living at the end. You look to your left and Madame Leota (from the crystal ball) is standing there, except she's teeny tiny. In this goosebump worthy voice she says, "Hurry baaaack! Hurry baaaaaaack! Be sure to bring your death certificate... if you decide to join us." Her hair is blowing and she looks so real and goodness. It's so cool.
STORY TIME!
-The people who work outside the Haunted Mansion are incredible. This wonderful girl was working it while we were there, and she was perfect. She NEVER smiled and she was saying things like "Look LIVELY now... we've been DYING for company..." I'm sure that's not original with her, but when you can make a spiel sound as awesome as she did, it's Disney magic.
-Me and Matthew were getting into our "Doombuggie," as they are called, and I started to pull down our safety bar. The voice of the Ghost Host comes on RIGHT THEN and says "Do not pull down on the safety bar please. I will lower it for you." I was a smidgen freaked out until I realized that it says that to everyone, whether you touch the safety bar or not.
Alright. I'm done ranting. Thank you for satisfying my Disneyland addiction.
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