Holiday Haunted Mansion dissapointment

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

What I dislike about the HMH is that the original Haunted Mansion is a classic Disneyland attraction. The one time of year it should really get to shine is at Halloween, and it gets cut off at the knees by an overlay. I can see the HM any time I want as an AP, but I'm always a bit sad when I go in October and see that it has all the Jack Skellington stuff added. I understand why they do it, but I'm never going to be happy about it.

 

[HollyL]

Personally, I love the NBC version. During non-holiday visits to DL, I don't mind skipping over HM, but if I'm there during the holiday period, it's a must do. The first time I went on it, I hadn't seen NBC, so of course I had to check it out afterwards.
We will be there next week. My son is 4, and I thought that if I got him the movie, he would be really excited for the ride, but now he's scared. Great.....I guess it will just be me and my 18 month old daughter who isn't afraid of anything!

 

[jetskigrl]

Add us to the group of people that really enjoy HMH. I do understand why people prefer the original version though.

But I agree with those that say the decorations are supposed to be disorganized and over the top. That is what Jack did in the movie. He didn't know what he was doing and therefore everything seems wrong.

I also agree that it needs to be up starting at Halloween because the main point of the story is that this is what happens "when two holidays collide." They can't really collide in November because it would miss his holiday (Halloween) completely.

 

[Girimama33]

When I first rode HM with the NBC overlay in 2004, I did not like it at all. The ride was not right without the grim grinning ghosts.
Our October trip was our first Halloweentime trip we have been on since then. I reluctantly rode HMH and loved it this time. Seems like they have added a lot since 2004. I find the NBC version a lot of fun now, and a nice change of pace. Still love the original too.

 

[Keurigirl]

I'm not a fan of the movie, but I thought seeing the haunted mansion totally different was awesome! It actually inspired me to try and watch the movie again (which I still don't like). But I'm excited to see the HM all decked out again in two weeks.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

We chose this thread for the Thread of the Week for this week's Disneyland Podcast.

 

[pinktink83]

I can take it or leave it personally. I will say that it has grown on me over the years, but the first time I was not impressed. I wouldn't be sad if they stopped doing it.

 

[pixiewings71]

I love HMH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mel522]

Well, considering Jack and his cohorts are from Halloween Town and travel to Christmas Town, I completely get it. The overlay works well for the whole holiday season (okay, it doesn't have to do with Thanksgiving specifically, but the holidays book-ending it, which really does make up the season).

I also agree that it needs to be up starting at Halloween because the main point of the story is that this is what happens "when two holidays collide." They can't really collide in November because it would miss his holiday (Halloween) completely.

I understand what you are saying, but the movie is a Christmas movie. It starts as Halloween ends. The premise of the movie is how would Halloween celebrate Christmas. To me Christmas presents, wreaths, stockings, Santa hats all say Christmas even though they have a dark twist to them.

The ride fits perfectly with the movie. It fits perfectly with how Halloweentown would celebrate Christmas, but not Halloween. Jack may be the Pumpkin King, but in this ride he is Sandy Claws, and that is Christmas.

What I dislike about the HMH is that the original Haunted Mansion is a classic Disneyland attraction. The one time of year it should really get to shine is at Halloween, and it gets cut off at the knees by an overlay. I can see the HM any time I want as an AP, but I'm always a bit sad when I go in October and see that it has all the Jack Skellington stuff added. I understand why they do it, but I'm never going to be happy about it.

While everyone else in the country is putting up Haunted Houses, Disneyland may be the only one taking one down. I don't think I would have a problem with the ride for Halloween if it wasn't replacing the one ride in Disneyland that is perfect for Halloween.

 

[GrandBob]

We went to Disneyland in early Oct and the Haunted Mansion was already made over with Jack Skellington. We waited in a long line to get on the ride and then it was a mess, no storyline and it just looked like they threw Nightmare before Christmas decorations up over everything. Would love to get other opinions of the subject.

OP, I couldn't agree with you more! I think that HMH is a confused mishmash, and completely destroys the Haunted house aspect of the ride (and yes, I've seen the movie). I also agree with others, that I could put up with the ride for the Christmas season, but I think it's totally wrong to remove the traditional haunted house during the Halloween season.

-Bob

 

[asc72]

We are in the "love it" category. Our DD6 hated the original version, but really liked the Holiday version. Generally it was way more crowded relative to other rides with the holiday version versus when we were there in February--so it does have its fans.

 

[StyledSugar]

I don't like it either. It's been so many years since I've seen the real HM. We always tend to go when it's HMH but since my kids both like it, we always make sure we go on it once. One of these years I will make sure we go during a time when it's just HM.

 

[momrek06]

Oh DH and I love HMH! We love it from the minute we get into the 'stretching room' and we see the giant head of Jack!!!! Love love love it!

We live here in the OC so we make sure we get to DL often during the overlay!

 

[ducky_love]

We fly across the country to see it. If they stopped HMH we would visit less frequently. I just love it!! I'm sad others don't feel the same way.

 

[lizdotcom99]

Since I am a newbie to DL....and going in TWO WEEKS......I will bet to see the HMH? And SWH too?

 

[DSNY4ever]

We chose this thread for the Thread of the Week for this week's Disneyland Podcast.

Haha, good choice! I almost thought this was a joke thread to try and get people to argue, but others seem to agree?!?!

We LOVE LOVE LOVE Haunted Mansion Holiday. The first time we rode it my husband had never seen the movie and he fell in love (and watched it as soon as we got home). When we went to WDW at the holidays it just wasn't the same without HMH. I can't WAIT to ride it again next week, the themeing is fantastic

 

[Shellandscott]

I assure you I did not start this question to get anyone arguing. There is no wrong answer. Just was not impressed and wanted to find out if I was the only one out there or what others felt. I thank everyone for the feed back.

 

[KCmike]

We absolutely love the overlay on the HM. I also love the Christmas overlay of It's a Small World.

 

[Buddyex]

We were there mid-September and the overlay opened on the last day we were in the parks . HM has always been a favourite and I was really looking to seeing the Holiday overlay for the first time, and I must admit to being a bit underwhelmed by it all, I felt like some of the highlights of the original ride such as the shivering old nightwatchman with his dog were replaced by lesser, static NBC imagery, I just didn't feel like the 2 worlds gelled very well together, If anything I thought they would have amped the spookiness up for Halloween rather than dulled it down.