Changes to Haunted Mansion?

[Yensid67]

I was just at WDW this past weekend and rode the Haunted Mansion. When did they change the characters in the graveyard scene? I don't remember hearing anything about a refurb and I can't find any info about it on the internet.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Micca]

I'm not aware of any changes. What did you see that was different? Sometimes I think they change the lighting effects which can provide a new perspective on a scene that was there all along.

 

[gharter]

I don't recall any changes to that for several years.

 

[VAtink]

Don't have an answer to your question, but I was watching a live stream a few days ago and saw I believe two new things in the graveyard scene that I swear were not there the last time we rode in 2019. So of course I googled it, but nothing came up. Super curious now if I was just oblivious in the past, or if they really did add new things!

 

[fla4fun]

There have been a few changes to HM over the years, primarily in the attic and when they put in the stairways where the large spider used to be, but I don’t recall any major changes to the graveyard. They do remove, refurbish, and then replace figures every so often, so you might have visited when something was temporarily removed and now it is back. I am more likely to notice when they remove something (one ride the opera singer was out for a re-do, and I noticed right away she was missing).

 

[winterwhite]

It looked to me like they refurbished the black light-reactive paint so everything was a lot brighter/more distinct than it was the last time.

 

[cgattis]

when they put in the stairways where the large spider used to be

Ohhhhhh this explains why my HM memories from my only childhood trip end after the bulging doors and glowing eyes and don’t pick back up until the hitchhiking ghosts!!! (Similar to why it took us three rides on Forbidden Journey before we got a pic with my eyes open and my mouth closed LOL)

 

[Rockbro]

We were there 2 weeks ago and I didn't notice any changes. And believe me, I would have because HM is my favorite. However, in full disclosure, I tend to try to look at things other people won't notice like lighting placement, speaker placement, the painting on a roof, scrims, pretty much "background" "backstage" stuff. I'm a geek like that.

EDIT: I also try my best to notice something that I've never noticed before.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Glad to see this brought up. I don't remember any new characters in that scene, but I did notice something last fall that I had not noticed before. At the start of the hitchhiking ghost sequence where the host tells you to beware of hitchhiking ghosts and you are looking straight on at the mirror with all three of them.... down at the bottom of that is a portrait of the graveyard/grounds keeper (the trembling one w/ the dog from the beginning of the graveyard sequence). Is that new? Or have I just never noticed it before?

 

[Yensid67]

The characters in the graveyard scene were different. They looked more like "normal, people" ghosts, as opposed to ghouls. Also, toward the end where the hand is making the brick wall, there's a big man with an axe over his shoulder. I don't remember seeing him a year ago.

 

[stsomewhere]

I was just at WDW this past weekend and rode the Haunted Mansion. When did they change the characters in the graveyard scene? I don't remember hearing anything about a refurb and I can't find any info about it on the internet.

Thanks in advance!

We were there last week and thought the same thing.

 

[RangerPooh]

The characters in the graveyard scene were different. They looked more like "normal, people" ghosts, as opposed to ghouls. Also, toward the end where the hand is making the brick wall, there's a big man with an axe over his shoulder. I don't remember seeing him a year ago.

Are you talking about this guy or someone else? They're not new, but upgraded lighting can make them stand out more.

 

[Tink9721]

The characters in the graveyard scene were different. They looked more like "normal, people" ghosts, as opposed to ghouls. Also, toward the end where the hand is making the brick wall, there's a big man with an axe over his shoulder. I don't remember seeing him a year ago.

This guy? He's been there forever. I think you're just seeing things you never noticed before. I've been on the ride dozens of times and I still notice "new" things.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I think just overall improvements to the lighting are making things stand out and look new!

 

[Rockbro]

This guy? He's been there forever. I think you're just seeing things you never noticed before. I've been on the ride dozens of times and I still notice "new" things.

View attachment 561711

Yeah, "that guy" has been there forever. If they had haunts leaving, how would they keep up with 999?

 

[Micca]

I think you're just seeing things you never noticed before. I've been on the ride dozens of times and I still notice "new" things.

Which is why it is AWESOME!

 

[Tink9721]

Which is why it is AWESOME!

Exactly! Same thing with Pirates

 

[decheez]

Glad to see this brought up. I don't remember any new characters in that scene, but I did notice something last fall that I had not noticed before. At the start of the hitchhiking ghost sequence where the host tells you to beware of hitchhiking ghosts and you are looking straight on at the mirror with all three of them.... down at the bottom of that is a portrait of the graveyard/grounds keeper (the trembling one w/ the dog from the beginning of the graveyard sequence). Is that new? Or have I just never noticed it before?

I'm not sure when the picture was put in, but I never noticed it until I did the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour in November 2019. It's tied in to the group of bust statues that are in the standby queue. Kind of a little murder mystery thing and the picture is the end of it. It's a really neat thing to learn. I won't spoil it for you, but highly recommend the tour where it will probably be explained.

ETA: I hope I'm talking of the same picture. I know it's in that mirror/window at the end just before you turn. The picture is in the very bottom left hand corner. It's not the groundskeeper though, so maybe I'm thinking of a different picture? Hmmm.

 

[winterwhite]

There was definitely something different but I truly think the lighting was better. I commented to my husband they changed the lighting. In contrast the seance room was much darker and less distinct than before. So I think they’re playing around with it.
One of the issues I have with the HM is how difficult it is to see things because you come from bright outside sunlight and are in the dark before your eyes really adjust. So I noticed it when things in the graveyard looked clear to me.

 

[Micca]

I'm not sure when the picture was put in, but I never noticed it until I did the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour in November 2019

Which while all the HM fans are here--is an awesome experience and HM is a big part of it. Let's hope they bring it back