How does Disneyland's Haunted Mansion compare to the one at WDW?

[Planogirl]

My favorite ride in all of WDW is the Haunted Mansion. Now that we're going to Disneyland for the first time in August, I'm terribly curious about DL's version. I understand that it's completely different on the outside but similar inside? I've heard that the one in DL follows the story more closely than the one in WDW. Did I hear right? All I know right now is that I can't wait to try it! :)

By the way, do the lines get real long?

[Mary Jo]

<font color=navy>The DL version is very similar, yet different enough to make it interesting. One thing that is different @ Disneyland is that when you go into the stretching rooms, you're actually in elevators that go down, and when you walk through the hallway to get on the doombuggies, you're under the railroad berm. (At wdw, the walls go up, & the people don't move)

There are a few sites out there that discuss the various Haunted Mansions (you can find some at google.com). The most popular site, though, is this one:

Doombuggies (http://www.doombuggies.com/home.htm)

[DawnCt]

I thought it was themed a bit nicer. You don't feel as if you are headed for a long line as you approach the Doombuggies.

[Judy from Boise]

I think it is scarier because you walk by the scary portraits instead of riding by them.

[doombuggy]

There is this other great website on the HM, but I can not remember the address off the top of my head. I have it saved on my computer at home (I am on vacation right now), and will try to remember to post here again when I get back. Sorry.........

3 Days to DL & DCA!!!!!!!!

[Planogirl]

Wow, thanks for the links and info. And doombuggy, have fun wherever you are. :D

Walking past the portraits... Woohoo!!! :D

[AKASnowWhite]

At DL do they always transform the HM at Christmas time? If so, will the Nightmare be in place by Thanksgiving?

[doombuggy]

Planogirl, I am in Las Vegas, on vacation visiting some family. Took two of my cousins (aged 16 & 15) to DL/DCA over this past wk/end. We loved it. Sorry we could not stay longer!
I am returning home to PA tomorrow, but won't be back in my office until Monday
(business conference right after vacation:mad: )

This other website is really cool, and details both rides, I believe. Hold on for
another week, please! Thx!

[doombuggy]

The site that I have been to is:

www.grimghosts.com/wdw/index.html

Enjoy, I thought it was really cool!

[AKASnowWhite]

Thanks doombuggy....that is cool! I'm so excited for DL I can hardly stand it!!!:p

[Captain_Nemo]

Having grown up in LA, I have been to Disneyland countless times, but I have been to WDW only once. With this in mind I have to say that besides the minor technical differences already mentioned, the WDW Haunted Mansion seemed somehow smaller. The ride seemed to be over and done faster than I recall of the DL ride and the various animatronics seemed slightly crowded together.

This is all very subjective of course, so please post a response when you get back! I'd love the hear how the DL Haunted Mansion comes across from a WDW veteran!

And have a great trip!:bounce:

Captain Nemo

[teri]

Another thing they didn't mention, the sound system at Disneyland has been upgraded to accomodate the Nightmare Before Christmas holiday theming, so the sounds are much more natural and understandable. It doesn't sound like groups of voices coming from a speaker, it sounds like voices coming from individual graves... individual instruments played by ghosts in the graveyard rather than a single track of a band playing. Very neat.

[Planogirl]

Thanks for the website doombuggy! This IS a cool one. :)

Captain Nemo, I will definitely examine DL's HM with an unbiased eye hopefully several times. I have been on the WDW version so many times, I practically know it like the back of my hand so it should be interesting.

And thanks teri for that bit of news. That sounds very, very cool!!! :D

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by AKASnowWhite
At DL do they always transform the HM at Christmas time? If so, will the Nightmare be in place by Thanksgiving?

Last year was the first time they did the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. I have not heard one way or the other about it being done this year. Anyone know?

[TeresaB]

If you are lucky CM Maynard will be working there. He is terrific and makes the HM even better. I enjoy DL because you walk past art gallery rather than on the moving track so you can view the "changes" without being rushed by.

[cinderellakh20]

I'm sure they will do the Nightmare redecoration again next yera - it was such a big hit and we loved it!!! It was perfectly done and the soundtrack was so cool!!! We went in Dec. just for one day so we wouldn't miss it lol!!!

[doombuggy]

In a way, I think Capt. Nemo is correct, but I find that there are few differences between the two. I have heard that the one in Paris is different - anyone know if this is true about the Phantom Manor?

[dlboy]

In my opinion the Disneyland one is the better of the two. A couple of reasons one at the DL one the crowd in the elevator room really gets into the whole spiel. We didn't find that at WDW and the second reason and the best they have MAYNARD the doorman this cast member is the best if you are lucky he will be working the haunted mansion while you there are he is just terrific. If he's not there he also works the astro orbiter. If you want more info on him he has web sites

[Planogirl]

I've heard about Maynard. Where in the Haunted Mansion does he work when he's there?

[dlboy]

Hi there Maynard if he's at the haunted Mansion is usually in the entrance way and he's the one who takes you into the room. The other place I have seen him is were you get onto the doombuggys

[boo72]

Doombuggy -

I have heard that the Phantom Manor in DL Paris is different. I read it just recently in one of the Disney Magazines. (The problem is I don't know which one it was. If it was the most recent one, or an older one--we have quite a few laying around!)

If I remember correctly, the article said that the Phantom Manor is based on an Arizona ghost town.

If I can find the article, I will post more info.

[Amphigorey]

Phantom Manor is pretty different. It has a more apparent plot than our Mansions, and the residents are creepier. Some of the ghostly guests have flesh hanging off their bones.

The original narration was done by Vincent Price (!!), and you can find it on the Haunted Mansion anniversary CD. The current one is in French, which makes sense because it's in France, but Vincent Price is just too cool.

I hope they do the Haunted Mansion Holiday again, and I hope WDW gets one too! I'm a huge Nightmare fan, and I was astonished at the intricacy and level of detail the Imagineers put into the makeover. I'm also happy that it's a holiday thing, not a permanent thing. Jack Skellington Lives!