Shag-a-Delic Haunted Mansion

Welcome Foolish Mortals! 

Perhaps only a handful of times in the life of the incredible Disney Imagineers that they get to be part of an attraction this beloved, and dare I say, immortal. Those involved in the creation of the beloved Haunted Mansion have this honor. The list of those involved reads like a Who's Who of Imagineering:  Marc Davis, Claude Coats, X Atencio, Ken Anderson, Yale Gracey, and many others.  

Disneyland's original spook house has thrilled guests since 1969, a full forty five years.  It's a record of popularity and accomplishment unmatched by any other Disney attraction with the exception of Pirates of the Caribbean and perhaps to a lesser degree, the Jungle Cruise. The enduring popularity of the attraction has spawned other versions, but in my opinion, although each are great, none match the original Mansion in California. Phantom Manor  at Disneyland Paris and Mystic Manor in Hong Kong Disneyland are world class attractions, no doubt, but they owe their roots to this one.

Artist and Disney fan Josh Agle, aka SHAG, designed this incredible piece honoring the mansion at its 40th Anniversary. It's just great! I cannot wait to see what he will create for the 50th!

Speaking of the 50th, perhaps the Imagineers that brought back the Hat Box Ghost are planning to surprise us with even more enhancements...

(Art copyright Josh Agle for the Walt Disney Company.)

Hat Box Ghost Reappears- Worth the Wait?

An infamous character once invaded the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. At its opening in 1969 but only lasting for a few weeks,  the Hat Box Ghost returns to the park in time for the 60th Anniversary celebration. The piece of concept art shows what was intended and eventually reappeared. Opening today, guests to New Orleans Square have lined up to see him. Time to see it yourself.

Now, the video, courtesy Inside the Magic:

Is it just me or is this "much ado about nothing"? Don't misunderstand me here. It's the smaller details like this that sets Walt's original kingdom apart from Florida's Magic Kingdom. But it also seems that we fans of Imagineering are suckers for almost anything. Could it be that our rabid excitement over the little thing has kept Disneyland from adding a big budget "E Ticket" since Indiana Jones Adventure back 20 years ago?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Pirates of the Caribbean's Alternate Almost Reality

While many of us Disney park fans were able to be at D23, some of us just couldn't. As I knew hundreds of folks were walking around looking at the Audio-Animatronic Hat Box Ghost prepared for the Haunted Mansion, drooling over props that gave hits of what's to come for Star Wars, Avatar, and my personal favorite, Journey into Imagination, I sat home looking at my concept art.

As the image of that somewhat sad Figment stuck in my head, I finally moved on. The parrot from Pirates of the Caribbean reminded me I had this interesting piece of concept art for the attraction.  That is, for the original version of the attraction which was never built: a walk through, museum type exhibit.

Disney historians know Walt Disney himself abandoned the idea of a walk through once Audio-Animatronics became workable, moving ahead with the cutting edge attraction that opened in 1967. This move single-handedly changed the future of theme park attractions, as well as theme park dining, and remains a timeless  masterpiece.  New Orleans Square was now not only beautiful in its own right, but now it was also home to the most magical of all Disney attractions. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Hat Box Ghost Coming to Disneyland!

From the D23 presentation, the long talked about Hat Box Ghost will be coming to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion... Good news for Disneyland and old school Imagineering fans!