Holiday Haunted Mansion dissapointment

[Shellandscott]

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.

 

[cmwade77]

I love Haunted Mansion Holiday personally.

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy it. I enjoy both versions of the ride, and it's clear that there are many people that do enjoy the holiday version, as is apparent by the increased lines during the overlay period.

If you'd like to avoid the overlay, you should know that "holiday" includes Halloweentime at Disneyland, not just Christmas. You seemed surprised that it was already up in early October, but it actually opens up as HMH in mid-September, so you should ride it in the spring or summer if you don't enjoy the holiday overlay.

 

[kathie859]

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.

I felt the same way last year. I was SOOO excited to go to DL when the HM had it's holiday makeover. What a garbled mess!!! Didn't fit in at all I'd always hoped WDW would do a holiday makeover but now I'm so glad they leave the HM alone!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

HMH is one of our favorites. The colors, the in-jokes, the gingerbread house (!!). We think that Brian Sandahl and team have captured the spirit of NBC perfectly. We prefer HMH over the regular version and ride much more frequently during the holidays. Of course, we understand that everyone has their own taste and that no ride is going to please everyone.

 

[kathie859]

HMH is one of our favorites. The colors, the in-jokes, the gingerbread house (!!). We think that Brian Sandahl and team have captured the spirit of NBC perfectly. We prefer HMH over the regular version and ride much more frequently during the holidays. Of course, we understand that everyone has their own taste and that no ride is going to please everyone.

What's the spirit of NBC????

 

[Here4mydisneyfix]

We thought that the hmh was wonderful!!! I am a fan of the original, my husband thinks it's a total bore....guys. Lol Well, after getting to ride in it with the overlay, the hubs loved it!! He said it is way better than the original...he is partial to jack skellington, so that may play in a lot in his liking of the ride. I have to say though, that with me, even being a huge fan of the original, i loved, loved, LOVED the hmh!! I am fairly certain i like it even more than the original myself!! I can see how it might not be everyone's cup o tea though. Luckily for the ones who don't enjoy it, it's not up all year.

 

[NewbieMouse]

I also personally HATE the holiday overlay on HM, but I know a lot of others like it. We only go at Xmas now, but I look forward to one day seeing it the "old-fashioned" way again.

 

[coaches24]

What's the spirit of NBC????

nightmare before Christmas

 

[DisneyBiskit]

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.

I'm curious as to what you expected? HMH seems to have a "love it" or "hate it" feeling associated with it.

 

[kathie859]

nightmare before Christmas

Great....another accronym for me to remember

 

[Shellandscott]

We knew about the overlay. Going in were not expecting anything just rode the ride. I guess we did not think it would be everything NBC, just some Jack here and there. I also thought it had no rhyme or reason to it. The Madame Leota room was the only thing that had any sense of cohesiveness to it. I understand that some will love it and some will hate it. We would be in the hate column. That is why I wanted to get others to chime in.

 

[Eeee-va]

I really enjoy Haunted Mansion Holiday and prefer it to the regular mansion. (Maybe that's the gingerbread talking.) But I also kind of wish it would actually come up for Christmas instead of Halloweentime. Ghosts are spooky and Halloween-y enough; I don't feel like there need to be nearly 4 months devoted to the Jack Skellington/Christmas-ish version. And even as someone who likes it, the fact that I've seen it more often as Nightmare Before Christmas than regular version makes it less special.

 

[skellinton]

Well, the HM in all it's forms is my very favorite ride at DL, so I think you are wrong. JK, everyone is entitiled to their opinion, but I personally love it. I actually think the story is more cohesive than the regular DL HM. Don't everyone go crazy on me (and please remember this is my FAVORITE ride in both forms), but I don't think the regular HM has a very clear story. I have heard the CD a thousand times and know what the story of the HM is, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't just by riding it. I think the HMH has a much clearer story. Although, when we took my 88 year old Gramma on the HMH and her comment at the end was, "I didn't understand it, but I liked it!"

I think the WDW HM has a much clearer story.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

We knew about the overlay. Going in were not expecting anything just rode the ride. I guess we did not think it would be everything NBC, just some Jack here and there. I also thought it had no rhyme or reason to it. The Madame Leota room was the only thing that had any sense of cohesiveness to it. I understand that some will love it and some will hate it. We would be in the hate column. That is why I wanted to get others to chime in.

Oh, thank goodness. I thought my trip report would have me a lone voice in the wilderness. I was excited to see the overlay for the first time, but it was garish and OTT (over the top) for me. I also did not get that it would completely obliterate all of the original ride, except for the dancing guests who now cut through the gingerbread house. I was so happy to see them and the organist. It really should be called the Nightmare Before Christmas Mansion, so one does not expect anything at all of the original to be left. I felt like I was in more of a Halloween fright house. I think it's probably terrific for serious fans of that film, but I prefer the gentler, more ethereal ghosts of the regular ride.

 

[dadzgirl70]

Love the overlay!!!! Our family prefers it over the regular HM. We thought the story was told very well throughout the ride from beginning to end. My DH could ride it over and over again

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

It's GREAT!!! Love it...love the changes each year and love finding new things each time.

Truthfully, HM is always kinda thrown together, rooms full of scary stuff, but I am not sure I ever see a real "flow"

HA!

 

[isisisme]

Actually the story is Jack has come to visit and redecorate..much like he tried to take over Christmas in the movie. And as such...it's a bit of a hodge podge.
Also, in season's pass there have been themes. One year was focused on Oogie Boogie and they added him in. There was even a game to find all the hidden Oogies.
One year they added Teddy in (hence why you see him everywhere).

I actually miss those little "extra" things (like when French Market had meals served in Zero dog bowls).

 

[bumbershoot]

I went from the "huh?" feeling to actually preferring it over normal HM. All it took was about 10 viewings of NBC for me to finally understand the aesthetics of the film. Then another 10 times of having it on while I was around (DS and DH loves the movie) for me to start appreciating it in any form. And I still think it's kind of gross. (Burton grosses me out...I saw the Frankenweenie preview and nearly threw up while watching the stuff with the dog, just so incredibly gross)

But I quite like the overlay, and prefer it now to the regular version.

Especially b/c it's the ONLY way my son will go on it.

But I also kind of wish it would actually come up for Christmas instead of Halloweentime.

It would make a lot more sense, given that the movie starts AFTER Halloween is done.

I actually think the story is more cohesive than the regular DL HM. Don't everyone go crazy on me (and please remember this is my FAVORITE ride in both forms), but I don't think the regular HM has a very clear story. I have heard the CD a thousand times and know what the story of the HM is, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't just by riding it. I think the HMH has a much clearer story. Although, when we took my 88 year old Gramma on the HMH and her comment at the end was, "I didn't understand it, but I liked it!"

I like your Gramma. And I agree. I still don't understand HM, but a big part of that is b/c of my hearing (someday I'll get hearing aids and my life will be better). I like the singing guys, and that's pretty much all I remember fondly from the normal HM. Whereas I like a lot from HMH, because it's bright and somehow cheerful, and I love the snowy fluff in the graveyard.

 

[Here4mydisneyfix]

I went from the "huh?" feeling to actually preferring it over normal HM. All it took was about 10 viewings of NBC for me to finally understand the aesthetics of the film. Then another 10 times of having it on while I was around (DS and DH loves the movie) for me to start appreciating it in any form. And I still think it's kind of gross. (Burton grosses me out...I saw the Frankenweenie preview and nearly threw up while watching the stuff with the dog, just so incredibly gross)

I'd have to agree with you on the Frankenweenie bit! Holy mother! We saw this in the theater and expected it to be so good....well the dog bits really grossed me out too, and as a whole, we left the theatre kinda confused and wondering why we spent so much money for our family of 5 to see that film. It was pretty floppish I think.