The Haunted Mansion line was all the way outside. I was excited to see it because it was refurbished and just recently open again at the end of last year. I knew that they had added an attic scene so I was excited (yet nervous!) to see it. I knew it meant seeing the bride one more time. The line wasn't that long. I think it was because it wasn't that hot so it wasn't torturous. I can't imagine waiting that long in the heat.
We watched some of the people on Tom Sawyer Island and I really wanted to go (I knew it was too late to find a paintbrush but I still wanted to explore Injun Joe's Caves) but I knew I really didn't have the energy for it. Tom Sawyer was one of my favorite books in elementary school. That whitewashing part was my favorite! Its only appropriate that I would want to find a paintbrush! Plus, I also thought it would be so cool to go in the caves
with Piglet, of course. I dont know that Id explore the island by myself!
Just a picture with Tom Sawyer Island in the background.
While waiting on line, I saw the pet cemetery and I had also read that there's a spot for Mr. Toad! So I found it all the way at the top and took a picture of that too. Haha, poor Mr. Toad. I was always afraid of Mr. Toads Wild Ride. As a kid, I used to kind of go through that ride squinting. I dont even remember why I thought it was scary. I know it jerked you around when it made the turns. I also know that I didnt feel covered enough in the vehicles.
Searching
Found it! Mr. Toad! I actually checked on
youtube for a video of it and realized why I was scared of it!
Here are some more pictures from the queue. Heres a stand full of Jack Skellington stuff! I took this picture for my cousin because she loves Nightmare Before Christmas. She just graduated with a degree in screenwriting and this is her favorite movie.
Creepy mansion
Dont you love how Disney pays attention to every little detail?
Even on VMK (Virtual Magic Kingdom)! The HM Lobby
(um, dont mind the comments
I kind of passed gas just then and there, haha)
Anyway, on the HM line there was also a newly married couple wearing the bride and groom ears. I definitely want those ears with the veil! Of course, that's in the future, you know, when I have the chance to have the baby to wear that Tigger hat. Right before we entered the mansion, we were standing by the tombstones. The one with the bride has a head on it that moves out of the tombstone a bit and then the eyes just pop open. I knew that it did that so I was pointing and watching and other people started watching it too. Haha, creepy yellow eyes.
We headed into the main room, saw the deterioration of Master Gracy's head, and then moved into the "elevator" or the stretching room. In WDW, the walls move up. In DLR, it really is an elevator that takes you underground because they needed room to build it. Of course, the illusion was totally spoiled this time because people were still walking into the room when the walls were moving. Haha. Don't ruin the image!
Heres the VMK stretching room. I love how they put the 3 pictures in the back on the bottom level. Oh, and thats Phineas! One of the hitchhiking ghosts.
At the end of that little intro, I didn't look up though because of the slightly vertigo-like feelings. Moving my head was causing very unhappy, dizzy feelings. Of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that the stretching room TERRIFIES me. Haha. I don't like it when the lights black out and there's thunder and you see the body hanging from a noose in the attic when the ceiling becomes transparent. I think I saw it once a few years ago. I never knew to look up in the past because I was just always scared of the room suddenly getting dark. I still cling to my mom when were in that room. I kind of pretend that its because we cant get separated (haha, which is true! Its not like Im making that up!).
We moved into the room where you load into the doom buggies. A while ago, the last pole before you loop around in the queue used to have a gargoyle with a smooth face. This happened because everyone seemed to hold on to it when they turned around. But I dont think its there anymore! Thats disappointing!
The ride paused before we got in because there were a lot of wheelchair people that had to get on (we saw the whole line of them outside). I knew that they would have to pause the ride a few more times when we were actually on it. I told my mom this and we were hoping that it wouldn't stop in front of the suit of armor! I had read about a time LONG time ago where they actually had a person in the suit of armor who would jump out and move towards the doom buggies! Ahhh! I would totally freak out if that happened. Last time we rode it, we were paused right in front of it!
We loaded on and the last CM was really freaky. All the CMs who work in HM are supposed to be dead serious. That last one was really doing his job. In the summer, I imagine that working in HM is fun because of the air conditioning. But gosh oh gee, I think Id be too freaked out to do that!
Here's a
FIRST ... I actually kept my eyes open on the ENTIRE RIDE! I've never done that before. I normally close my eyes throughout most of it (even though I'm one person who always says we have to ride it!). They changed so much, it's unbelievable! There's a room full of stairs that go every which way. Then the attic scene is creepy. The pictures that show Master Gracey and his almost bride are normal until you move farther past them and then Master Gracey, I believe, disappears! Then you pass by a really large version of the bride herself really up close (its on the left side
I was sitting on the right side! Phew)! Scary. She's standing next to a wedding cake too. I believe they changed a few things in the cemetery scene too. One creepy thing about the ride ... at one point they lean you backwards in the doom buggy and you go backwards. I read that it's like you're dead because it goes exactly 6 feet down, as if you're being buried. As a kid, I just thought it was cool that the buggy could do that. Knowing what it signifies now is just plain ol' creepy.
Yes, we were right. It did stop 3 times when we were on it! Haha. The last time was when we were almost off the ride and there was the tiny bride saying that we were welcome to return and if we did, we must be sure to bring our death certificate. Of course, we heard that creepy voice repeat the same thing over and over again. However, it gave me a chance to look up and back at the little hole in the wall that projects the image of the bride's face onto the plain figure. Those little things are cool. That's why I want to take that tour, I believe it's called "Keys to the Kingdom" or something to get the inside scoop about all these things. Oh right, the huge spider is also gone from the ride. Haha, I don't mind that being missing.
And just because this is my TR and Ill post if I want to
heres a picture of the HM game that Weird and I loved (and totally miss!). The post was to catch the ghosts of your color without being caught by the other color.
Also, heres the Ballroom with Ezra!
And heres the Attic with Gus!
I know Im prolonging this TR, but Ill be better about posting starting next week or so. I finally finished my first year of teaching last Friday, but now I have a church coffeehouse event that is requiring a lot of time for preparation! Got to remember my lines! Besides, it's a lot easier to write it out this way. Not as overwhelming. Stay tuned!
haha I still need a map sometimes... I don't for DLRP though!!
Patience is a virtue, you know!
over it closing. But when I do finally buy printer ink we will have those lovely flats to always remind us of our fun times there.
Found you by way of my TR, so I thought I'd pop over to yours. I'll have to head over to Flat Adventures next! 
