July 6, 2019

Disneyland's Ghost Relations Department

Do you have a complaint to make about Disneyland? Make sure you go to the right place! Making a mistake and going elsewhere could be interesting...and scary! 

This sign from the 1960's seemed to catch everyone's attention. Restless spirits? Ghosts? What were those Disney Imagineers up to? Creating an enduring "E Ticket" iconic attraction, that's what! Would the journey be scary or funny or both? Imagineer Claude Coats envisioned one style and Marc Davis another. The end result would be a combination of each. One casualty: Rolly Crump's Museum of the Weird never made it off the drawing boards, however.

Marc Davis tried to tie in the Mansion
 to a previous blockbuster attraction.

The elegant old Southern home found in New Orleans Square sat empty for many, many, years until 1969. Then, the Haunted Mansion opened its doors to long lines of guests more than anxious to go inside.

Imagineer Claude Coats produced this piece.

Almost 50 years later, visitors to the park make their trek into the abandoned house and into mysterious unknown realms. Foolish mortals? Not really. The ongoing popularity of the Mansion proves once again that artistic high quality and a great story results in guest satisfaction and continued profitability.

(Art and photo copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

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