Haunted Mansion 2009

[BCholly]

Well now I am worried.....

I just booked our flights for Disneyland Oct.4-Oct.11 and all I can say is HM better be OPEN no matter in what format...it is one of our favourites!!!

So Disney decorates for Halloween???? What else do they do up? It never occured to me. I have never been to Disneyland in the fall, only in the spring...

 

[Disney Dreams]

I loath hmh, and I will never change my mind about that, I am resolute on the matter. I hope that hmh will not be held this year. The HM is such an inappropriate location for the off the wall silliness that hmh presents. If hmh, was held somewhere else, depending upon the location and situation, I might be interested in taking a look at it then, otherwise NO WAY! (Blah!)...

Gisele,

I am asking this with 100% co-poster respect from a position of wanting to learn.

I am not a big fan of Jack Skellington and the Nightmare Before Christmas, but, I totally "get" the 2 holidays collide concept and personally think that making over the mansion show how these 2 holidays crashed together is very creative.

Why do you find it so awful? And why is the mansion an inappropriate location? I honestly am just seeking an understanding of your strong views on the topic. Thanks for sharing.

- Dreams

 

[Gisele]

Because, like I have stated previously, the nbc theming is the complete opposite of a traditional Louisiana Bayou mansion, 19th century.
One would never, ever see such silliness, and off the wall concepts, in the former. From history, I certainly never have.
Of course, to a degree, the concepts involved with and incorporated into the HM, is different as well. However, it all works in my opinion with this 19th century civil war era mansion. Or actually pre civil war, it is my understanding that anti-bellum pertains to before the civil war. What on earth does jack and his crew have to do with any of that type of theming or history? It just does not make for any good sense to me, at all. Furthermore, in my opinion, these two worlds, being the 19th century and 20 century goofiness, should not be crossed. It might as well be an episode of the Twilight Zone. That I could almost understand, with hmh and I could actually almost accept that as well. But I would not like it, all the same. I would love to see hmh, elsewhere, not in the mansion, not in NOS. Maybe somewhere in DCA. I might visit it then.

 

[iKristin]

Yeah I understand what you mean exactly. I think if they really want NBC in the park then give it it's own ride. It's a cool idea but it doesn't really fit with the mansion seeing as the NBC has nothing to do with a haunted mansion.

 

[PinkBudgie]

On the NBC disc they have info on the DL ride. They said the people who came up this overlay designed it to look like Jack Skellington just took over. If you watch the movie, this is what he does. He takes over Christmas. It wasn't intended to match the theme- he just crashes in and decorates in what he thinks is Christmas.

You can still like it or not, but that was the intent.

We made a special trip to DLR during the holiday season just to see HMH. (And IASW). We all loved it because it was fun to see something different and look at all the little details Disney does so well.

That said, I don't think it should be up for the anniversary. That wouldn't make sense because the anniversary is for the original HM.

 

[Sherry E]

Well now I am worried.....

I just booked our flights for Disneyland Oct.4-Oct.11 and all I can say is HM better be OPEN no matter in what format...it is one of our favourites!!!

So Disney decorates for Halloween???? What else do they do up? It never occured to me. I have never been to Disneyland in the fall, only in the spring...

Look at the pictures in my signature below. See the giant Mickey pumpkin and the giant Candy Corn? Only in fairly recent years has DLR really started to play up the Halloween thing and make Halloweentime a fun season at the parks. They've had Mickey's Trick or Treat Party for a while, I think, and the controversial Haunted Mansion Holiday began way back in 2001, I believe (possibly before that), but only in recent years did they begin putting up the giant pumpkin on Main Street in Disneyland (in the same location where the Christmas tree is during the holidays) and the giant Candy Corn (located in Candy Corn Acres) over in California Adventure. Also, you will see a cool Day of the Dead display over in Frontierland, and last year there was a Halloween tree - also located in Frontierland. The Big Thunder Ranch location is transformed into Woody's Halloween Round-Up, where you can get photos with Woody and other characters, as well as decorate Halloween cookies and buy special merchandise. There are all kinds of awesome jack-o-lanterns decorated as different Disney characters, spread out around the Partners statue and in Candy Corn Acres. There are also all kinds of other decorated pumpkins at the entrance to DL, along Main Street and at the Round-Up. They sell pumpkin cookies and fudge and muffins (with Mickey pumpkins on the top) at the bakeries. Special, rarely seen, villains come out in DCA and pose for photos in the Hollywood Backlot area. There are even more villains who come out for the Trick or Treat Party, as well as other characters. For a couple of years, they even did a Pumpkin Mickey floral arrangement right at the entrance to Disneyland, where the regular Mickey floral display is year-round, but they skipped it in 2008.

It is really festive and fun. The parks are not as thoroughly 'done up' as they are during the holiday season, and I still prefer the Christmas/holiday season over Halloween, but since DLR has started making a big deal out of Halloweentime, and since the Haunted Mansion Holiday has become a regular fixture of the season, I really enjoy visiting the parks during that time of year. I actually hope DLR starts to do more for Halloweentime in the coming years, and starts getting even more elaborate with the decorations.

 

[BCholly]

Look at the pictures in my signature below. See the giant Mickey pumpkin and the giant Candy Corn? Only in fairly recent years has DLR really started to play up the Halloween thing and make Halloweentime a fun season at the parks. They've had Mickey's Trick or Treat Party for a while, I think, and the controversial Haunted Mansion Holiday began way back in 2001, I believe (possibly before that), but only in recent years did they begin putting up the giant pumpkin on Main Street in Disneyland (in the same location where the Christmas tree is during the holidays) and the giant Candy Corn (located in Candy Corn Acres) over in California Adventure. Also, you will see a cool Day of the Dead display over in Frontierland, and last year there was a Halloween tree - also located in Frontierland. The Big Thunder Ranch location is transformed into Woody's Halloween Round-Up, where you can get photos with Woody and other characters, as well as decorate Halloween cookies and buy special merchandise. There are all kinds of awesome jack-o-lanterns decorated as different Disney characters, spread out around the Partners statue and in Candy Corn Acres. There are also all kinds of other decorated pumpkins at the entrance to DL, along Main Street and at the Round-Up. They sell pumpkin cookies and fudge and muffins (with Mickey pumpkins on the top) at the bakeries. Special, rarely seen, villains come out in DCA and pose for photos in the Hollywood Backlot area. There are even more villains who come out for the Trick or Treat Party, as well as other characters. For a couple of years, they even did a Pumpkin Mickey floral arrangement right at the entrance to Disneyland, where the regular Mickey floral display is year-round, but they skipped it in 2008.

It is really festive and fun. The parks are not as thoroughly 'done up' as they are during the holiday season, and I still prefer the Christmas/holiday season over Halloween, but since DLR has started making a big deal out of Halloweentime, and since the Haunted Mansion Holiday has become a regular fixture of the season, I really enjoy visiting the parks during that time of year. I actually hope DLR starts to do more for Halloweentime in the coming years, and starts getting even more elaborate with the decorations.

What fun! I didn't even think about that!
So it starts at the beginning of October????

The only two celebrations we were going to celebrate were my Sisters birthday (oct.4th) and Canadas Thanksgiving. I am going to have to find a turkey somewhere LOL...

 

[pixiewings71]

Many, many people loath hmh, not just myself. So therefore there are more than one or two people. That number is a gross understatement, to say the least.
People are free to expand upon how much they like anything, just as much as others have a right to state the opposite. Freedom of speech, and individual perspectives, and opinions, do not exist only for those, that are in agreement with a particular group. These rights exist for us all.

But Gisele, the HMH IS hugely popular. Remember, the HMH has fastpass, the "regular" version does not. Disney knows what they are doing and it's profitable for them. I truly think that those who "loathe" HMH (to use your word) are far fewer than those of us who love it. I hear what you're saying, that NBC has nothing to do with the HM and you are correct BUT so is PinkBudgie when she says that "it's what Jack does". He does, he just bursts in and takes over, that is the idea behind the ride and I love it. It's perfect Jack mentality. I'm not trying to change your mind, I know your opinion and I'm happy to let you keep it, I hope you know that. I'm just pointing out something I've noticed.

 

[Sherry E]

What fun! I didn't even think about that!
So it starts at the beginning of October????

The only two celebrations we were going to celebrate were my Sisters birthday (oct.4th) and Canadas Thanksgiving. I am going to have to find a turkey somewhere LOL...

Last year, the "official" Halloweentime season at DLR began on Friday, September 26th. In 2007, it began on Friday, Spetember 21st. It lasts all the way through Halloween and into the first day or two of November, I think, but IF the Haunted Mansion Holiday goes up this year, that will last all the way into January of 2010. As far as I know, the Trick or Treat Party (held in California Adventure on certain nights after California Adventure closes) usually does not begin until October. Last year we went to the TOTP on Friday, October 3rd, which, I believe, was the first night of it for 2008. Keep asking around on the DISboards about the turkey! Everyone is so helpful and knows so much, that I am SURE there is someone out there who can tell you where to get a cooked turkey near DLR!! Maybe there is a Honeybaked nearby???

 

[Gisele]

I know that the premise behind nbc via hmh, are these characters taking over. But they do not belong at the HM, all the same. They need to take something else over, maybe IASW?
I will never see the HM as an appropriate setting for hmh. Not for as long as the theming is nbc, anyway.
I believe the main reason for fast passes for hmh, is because the time frame to which it is held, are very popular times for people to visit Dl. in general. In addition, the nbc theming is not in place for as long as the more traditional mansion theming is. (More traditional from the stand point that it is not the same HM as it had been when it opened) As a result, there will be many people visiting hmh.
If the HM and HMH, were to be placed in reversed roles, then the HM, I do not doubt then would become the recipient of fast passes.

 

[mybestieismickey]

I'm not personally a fan of HMH, but I'll still ride it if the line isn't too long. Definitely something I won't go out of my way for. My husband on the other hand is a violent hater of the HMH. Ok, he doesn't beat the people around him when he see's it, but he will not even consider riding when the overlay is in place. But it has more to do with his hatred of NBC than of the whole historical clash thing.

I really hope that there is not HMH this year since we're going in October for our family reunion, but it really won't affect us either way I suppose. I'm really just there for the churros

 

[Gisele]

That is cute! That you are only there for the churros! he he! I like that.

 

[Sherry E]

I am guessing that Disney feels that the Haunted Mansion is the best place for the NBC overlay because the NBC movie features creepy kinds of ghouls and monsters and generally 'scary' creatures (though in a playful way), and Haunted Mansion features ghosts and ghouls and has a 'scary' theme (though in a playful Disney way), and so it makes some sense to do the overlay in an existing scary place. I do see the point about how the NBC story is not consistent with the time period of the Haunted Mansion and its back story, but I think Disney was just thinking, 'Well, NBC is sort of full of creepy characters, the Haunted Mansion is creepy, let's put the overlay there.' The only other possible creepy place would be the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, but the Haunted Mansion ride's length and pacing lends itself better to viewing the overlay than Tower of Terror does (being a thrill ride and all).

Now, IASW would have the proper length and pacing for an overlay, but the Christmas overlay is perfectly matched with IASW. If Disney tried to put the Jack Skellington crew in IASW with all those children.....well, frankly, it would look like a hostage crisis, and would seem a bit diabolical!!!

I think the initial plan was to just do the Haunted Mansion Holiday for a couple of years or so, and that was it. But they brought it back because it was and IS so popular and it is a big lure for the crowds in the Halloween season. Maybe it is not so popular because everyone loves the NBC theme so much as it is just something different to see. It is like a new ride. But it is unquestionably popular. And Gisele, you are right, if the HMH were year-round and the regular Haunted Mansion were brought in for three months only, people would be lining up for that too. It is just the fact that HMH is something new and different and colorful done to a familiar ride that brings out the long lines. But the lines were very, very long in October and in December, whatever the reason.

 

[pixiewings71]

I know that the premise behind nbc via hmh, are these characters taking over. But they do not belong at the HM, all the same. They need to take something else over, maybe IASW?
I will never see the HM as an appropriate setting for hmh. Not for as long as the theming is nbc, anyway.
I believe the main reason for fast passes for hmh, is because the time frame to which it is held, are very popular times for people to visit Dl. in general. In addition, the nbc theming is not in place for as long as the more traditional mansion theming is. (More traditional from the stand point that it is not the same HM as it had been when it opened) As a result, there will be many people visiting hmh.
If the HM and HMH, were to be placed in reversed roles, then the HM, I do not doubt then would become the recipient of fast passes.

Hmmm, I don't know....I see what you're saying because HMH is only 3 months as opposed to the 9 for the regular HM but I've been there in both seasons. The holiday season lines are long.......very long.....and when we went in July (they closed the park because there were so many people) the lines weren't as long. We are talking 30 min. wait for the regular HM in July and over an hour for the HMH in October and in January. But, if you are just talking about how busy the parks are in the holiday season as opposed to the other 9 months of the year then I would disagree. As I said the lines for HMH are always longer than the lines for the HM, and I've gone every month of the year, over the weekends and close to holidays.

Interesting...I wonder if Disney should test that theory and have the overlay up longer? hmmmmm

 

[fairycat]

Pixie is right HMH does bring in longer lines in what use to be the off season, and I partially agree it is because it is the "rare treat".

I will never change your mind Giselle and that was never my point. My point is Disney took two months that use to be low crowd seasons and made them some of the busiest in the year. Is a pumpkin at the front of Main Street what is making people come to the parks in October??? Is it th two year old Dia de los Muetros display?? No it's the HMH.

I got my first AP because of the HMH, I feel in love in 2001 and went out of my way to get to the parks just to ride it, since at that point the debate was it might be a one time shot.

But as I mentioned in my last post, waiting in the lines and talking to CM's that year and the following, the HMH was beyond Disney's expectations. Normally the HM had a 5 minute walk on line in the fall. It was one of the ride's lowest capacity times. They would tend to do maintance later in the season since this was the ride's "rest time" after a busy summer. In 2001 (which was in fact the first year), the capacity was at or over Summer capacity and the ride actually started to have mechanical issues, because they never expected to run at the levels they were.

Again in 2001 there was little notice of Halloween in the parks, no advertisement that the HMH was even in the parks, but word of mouth spread and the ride brought in the crowds.

Giselle and other's who hate the ride will always hate the ride. My point is not about the ride in and of itself, I am talking about the clear and noticeable crowd difference in the season verses pre-2001 fall seasons and showing that HMH has made a large effect on this change. Yes, I agree its hard to change out the original, when you are celebrating the original, but if it is going to make fewer guests come to the parks, when Disney most needs to get people through that gate, I suspect, that Disney will do what it needs to make sure people come, and if that takes some finaggling Disney will find a way!

 

[Sherry E]

fairycat! Well stated.

 

[pixiewings71]

Exactly what I was trying and so obviously failing to say Fairycat!

 

[fairycat]

Exactly what I was trying and so obviously failing to say Fairycat!

Hey, it took me two tries myself hahahahahah!!!!

 

[Alice_Mushroom97]

Okay so I was thinking...since the anniversary this year is in September, which is when the mansion is usually closed to refurb it for the NBC; does that mean that it won't get switched over this year until later? Because I highly doubt they will close it during October since they won't want it too be closed during Halloween month. Has anyone heard anything about this? It'd be nice if for Halloween it stayed regular this year

maybe they'll do it early? would they have it be TNBC for the anniversary? I dont think so though.

 

[fairycat]

maybe they'll do it early? would they have it be TNBC for the anniversary? I dont think so though.

The anniversary would be Oct. 22, for the 15th Anniversary (ask me how I know hahaha!), which would possibly work with the schedule of having approx. a month to celebrate the HM 40th Anniversary and then the HMH would go down early October, to open for the 22nd, would be a possibility.

If they were smart they should offer a NBC Anniversary party and get double the crazy fans haha!

I still wish I could do the HM event, but its way too close to my due date