Disney-Haunted-Mansion

Since it debuted with the opening of the Magic Kingdom on October 1st 1971.. the Haunted Mansion has been one of the best-loved attractions at Walt Disney World Resort.

Located atop a hill overlooking Liberty Square, this spooky house is home to 999 happy haunts -- and eagerly awaits visitors willing to defy becoming Ghost...very popular attraction..has long queues during high summer months.

Visitors make their way up a winding path, and through the wrought-iron gates.. eventually passing a small graveyard with an assortment of tombstones engraved with punny epitaphs.

The names featured on the tombstones are those of some of the attraction's original designers and developers:

Rest in peace, brother Huet. We all know you didn't do it.

R.I.P., good friend Gordon. Now you've crossed the river Jordan.

Master Gracey laid to rest. No mourning, please, at his request. Farewell.

At peaceful rest, he's brother Claude. Planted here beneath this sod.

Here lies good ol' Fred. A great big rock fell on his head.

Here rests Wathel R. Bender. He rode to glory on a fender.

Dear departed brother Dave, He chased a bear into a cave.

Here lies a man named Martin. The lights went out on this old Spartan.

Every few minutes, the lovely Leota's sculpted head leans forward, opens its bright green eyes almost imperceptibly, then closes them again....interesting!

Disney-Haunted-Mansion:-

When the darkly attired Staff Member invites you inside.. you enter the foyer of the mansion and are greeted by your invisible host... your "Ghost Host," voiced by Paul Frees.

You might recognize the voice...Frees provided the voice of characters for many animated cartoon classics... including Boris Badenov from the the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show.

Before your eyes, the paintings change -- they seem to grow longer and longer, even though the floor and ceiling aren't moving, and as they stretch, slightly macabre and/or humorous images emerge. One portrait even ages, Dorian Gray-style!..its all very well presented and one of our favorite attractions!

Synchronized speakers inside each doom buggy allow your Ghost Host to explain the supernatural scenes that unfold around you.

Your egg-shaped vehicle glides silently through the library, conservatory.. hallways.. ballroom.. attic and even graveyards.

In the ballroom scene especially.. note the holographic images.. that dance and cavort around the room.

The ghosts appearing here are caused by a variation on an illusion known as "Pepper’s Ghost." ..excellent demonstration of Disney at its best!

The face is that of the late Leota Thomas.. and the voice that of Eleanor Audley.. who also provided the voices of other well-known Disney movie characters:-

Sleeping Beauty's Maleficent and Cinderella's Lady Tremaine.

Your doom buggy turns sideways.. and you pass in front of a mirror.

Thanks to a little Disney magic, an eager, "hitchhiking" ghost appears inside each doom buggy... sometimes right in your lap!..very clever..most people have a good laugh at this point!

Mini-Review:-

An original.. and still one of the best attractions in the Magic Kingdom...perhaps even in all of Walt Disney World!...I would agree with that!..... The animatronics, the special effects.. the attention to every detail make this ride worth visiting again and again.

Put Haunted Mansion on your must-do list!..remember your theme park map..it will help you get the most out of Disney!

The Haunted Mansion is the only attraction featured in different lands at each of the four Disney theme parks worldwide:

Disneyland -- New Orleans Square

Magic Kingdom -- Liberty Square

Tokyo Disneyland -- Fantasyland

Disneyland Paris ..(where it is known as Phantom Manor) -- Frontierland

Singing Bust at Haunted Mansion...The singing busts in the graveyard scene warble the attraction’s theme song, "Grim Grinning Ghosts.

Though sometimes mistaken for Walt Disney.. the face on the bust on the left actually belongs to Thurl Ravenscroft.. the song's soloist.

Ravenscroft is best-known as the voice of Tony the Tiger... the mascot of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal.

In addition to Ravenscroft, the Singing Busts include Jay Meyer, Verne Row, Bob Ebright, and Chuck Schroeder.

Disney-Haunted-Mansion..does get very busy in high summer..plan your visit by picking up a map!

Grim Grinning Ghosts.. with lyrics by X Atencio who also wrote the Ghost Host’s script.. and music by Buddy Baker, was recorded by the Mello Men... a singing group made up of Bill Lee, Max Smith, Bob Stevens, and Thurl Ravenscroft.

The group also provided the vocals in many of the Disney films and theme park attractions.

Legendary voice artist Paul Frees...known to many as Boris Badenov from "The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show"..is the attraction's narrator, or "Ghost Host."

He also provided the voices for most of the rogues in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

Pirates-of-the-Caribbean

The following names are found in the crypt at the exit to The Haunted Mansion:-

Asher T. Ashes

Wee G. Bord

I. Trudy Dew

Dustin T. Dust

Manny Festation

Metta Fisiks

Pearl E. Gates

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