999 Happy Haunts At The Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion

POSTED: Thu, 10/17/2013 - 05:30 | POSTED BY: Kristen Kirk

Sitting up on the hill at the back of Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square is a stately mansion of Dutch revival design and gothic splendor. It's a style familiar to the 18th century Hudson River Valley with an elegant facade that hides something eerie. Guests are drawn through the park to it's haunting beauty, and if they listen carefully may even hear the howl of a wolf.

Dutch Gothic Details Offer An Ominous Facade

The Haunted Mansion has been found at Walt Disney World since opening day in 1971 and is a fan favorite attraction that has it's own cult-like following. Versions of the Haunted Mansion can be found in all of the Magic Kingdom style Parks at Disney Resorts around the globe, each with its own unique spin on the concept. At its heart the Haunted Mansion is a tour of the creepy house where 999 happy haunts make their home.

Guests Queue Through The Graveyard

The pre-show begins on foot outside in the graveyard, an interactive queue was updated in 2011 with ADA compliant features and a new graveyard section that begins the story of the family members who rest there. Waiting guests are entertained with sights and sounds from beyond, a musical headstone, a bubble blowing corpse inside his tomb. Astute visitors may even come across a ring belonging to a ghostly bride within the queue area, and if lucky while looking at the face of Madame Leota's tombstone may even catch her staring back.

Leota's Tombstone Caught With Open Eyes

Somber cast members invite mortal guests to step lively into the Haunted Mansion where they are escorted to the portrait gallery. Here, in the dimly light gargoyles loom overhead and just as one begins to notice something odd going on, the guests welcomed to the unique room by their Ghost Host. While stumbling - to find a way out - guests come upon the ride-through portion of the attraction and climb via Omnimover "Doom Buggy."

Blood Red Roses And the Conservatory Exterior

Once tucked safely into a Doom Buggy the journey into the depths of the mansion begins as guest travel halls of devilish decor and cobwebbed adornments. Through the conservatory and towards the seance room the ride continues where Madame Leota calls upon supernatural to awaken the spirits. As the happy haunts begin to materialize guests find themselves just in time for a "swinging wake." The Doom Buggys continue on through the attic and down past a different view of the graveyard where the caretaker and his famous skinny puppy quake at the thought of entering. The entire journey through Disney's Haunted Mansion is a treat of creative theatrical effects, some very old, and some using the latest technologies perfected by Disney Imagineering combined to make for a truly memorable ride.

Haunted Mansion During Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Make no doubt about it, the Haunted Mansion is a dark and spooky journey - while at the same time still being safe enough that many younger guests can enjoy it as well. There's no gore, and many of the effects are beautiful or even funny. Disney's Haunted Mansion has secured its place as a pop culture icon and is a "must do" attraction for most Disney fans you'll talk to.

Stop By The Pet Cemetery To Pay Your Respects To Mr. Toad

Are you a Haunted Mansion fan? Has a ghost followed you home? Leave a comment below and share your favorite part with us!

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Brandon West wrote on Thu, 10/17/2013 - 20:18:

Love this ride!!! Do not mind waiting in line for hours for this ride and as soon as I get off I usually get right back in line and go another round!!!

joel howard wrote on Thu, 10/17/2013 - 21:07:

every bit of the mansion is my favorit, I ringtone on my phone is the welcome greeting, and my phone case has the welcome greeting on it as well.

Denise wrote on Thu, 10/17/2013 - 23:15:

My favorite part is the Ballroom Dancing...or maybe when the Doom Buggy goes backwards down the hill...feels so good on my back...or maybe it's at the end when the ghosts board the roof of the Doom Buggy and do "their thing"....it's hilarious.

Susan wrote on Thu, 10/17/2013 - 23:45:

I have pictures to prove that the parking lot is full of ghosts that were trying to follow me home...none of my other pictures from our visit that day showed anything, but my night pictures were full of streaming lights going in all directions. My grandchildren loved it!

Mark wrote on Thu, 10/17/2013 - 23:58:

When I was 6 years old the Haunted Mansion opened at Disneyland. I remember reading about it in a school paper called Weekly Reader. From that moment on I dreamed of the day I would be able to visit Disneyland and the Haunted Mansion. It took another 12 years to do so, but I finally made it the Fall of 1980.
It was the first ride I went on a DL (as planned).....I had been dreaming of that day for 12 LONG years. It was a day when dreams came true, as only Disney magic can grant. I was NOT disappointed in the least.
Since that day I have been to Disneyland hundreds of times and each and every time it is The Haunted Mansion i run to first.....and it always will be.
I recently went to Disney World for the very first time, and while I loved their version of HM, the original at DL is still the best. IMHO

Tom wrote on Fri, 10/18/2013 - 01:50:

One of my favorite rides at both the land and the world. Wish I could get to Paris, their version looks awesome.

Sasha wrote on Fri, 10/18/2013 - 03:23:

Can't wait to go for the first time very soon! Have been reading everything about it for years!

BoBo713 wrote on Fri, 10/18/2013 - 18:49:

We love this ride and have to do it several time each visit and it never gets old. The portraits in the stretching room are cool, very imaginative and oddly funny. The cast members are all normally so good at their 'character' especially during the MNSSHP nights. It always amazes me how technical some of the show tricks are, but also how simple others are, yet they are work!!!!

Becci Moore wrote on Sat, 10/19/2013 - 13:08:

This was the first time my husband and I did Disney without the kids. Once we got over the guilt of being in the world's best playground without them, WE HAD A BLAST! We can't wait to do it again!

doreen wrote on Sun, 10/20/2013 - 02:19:

The haunted mansion is one of my favorite attractions at the Magic Kingdom. However, over the years, changes in the way park employees interact with customers has changed. I like it a lot better when the park employees would maintain their "role" and say things such as "Welcome Bodies!"

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