Holiday Haunted Mansion Question

[wdwfan22]

Hi everyone! I am a longtime lurker here. I love reading all the great info and looking at the amazing pictures on here to help me get pumped up for trips.

I am planning a trip this Nov with just me and my 21 yr old son. We will be in Anaheim for 7 nts, doing most of our time at DL and CA, with one day at Knotts.

So, here is my question. I LOVE the Haunted Mansion. It is one of my top 3 rides at DL. Me and my son love to go on it over and over and pick out details we have not seen before (or forgotten) I especially love the dining/ballroom. It is amazing!

Is the Holiday version 100% different? or is it some the same? I have never seen the Nightmare Before Christmas, although I will watch it before we go so I am not clueless. I am so worried that I might not like this other version.

Thanks so much in advance for your help.

 

[spacemermaid]

Alot of stuff is different; alot of stuff is the same. They don't take everything out of the Haunted Mansion and replace it all with Nightmare Before Christmas AA's/figures/props, it's kind of like the Mansion is just "dressed up" for the holidays, if that makes any sense. There are lots of videos on Youtube that you can see so you'll have a better idea of what the whole thing's about.

I'm a huge fan of the Mansion, too. And I'll be honest here: I don't particularly care for the Nightmare overlay, mainly because they change the song from "Grim Grinning Ghosts" to a Nightmare-themed soundtrack. And with the "snow", trees, etc, the Mansion just isn't scary anymore. (Don't get me wrong; I LOVE the Park's holiday decorations, but I've kind of missed seeing one of my favorite rides in its original form for, oh, the past 10 or so years during my birthday/holiday trip )

 

[wdwfan22]

Thanks so much for that info. At least I know it will be some the same. I have looked at some videos on youtube, but they are pretty bad in the dark, and I could only see the NBC stuff, so I was worried. I know I should have an open mind and everything, but I really think I will be disappointed. I LOVE singing Grim Grining Ghosts! Oh well, there is much other stuff.

I was there is 2005 when Space Mountain was down, and that was pretty bad.

Have you only gone at holiday times for that last 10 years, or gone other times too. That would be hard to not see the regular HM for that long!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would watch the movie *several* times before going. Most definitely.

I was on HMH for my first HM ride in a LONG time, and I had never seen Nightmare Before Christmas. I hated it so so so much!

And then DH convinced me to get the NBC DVD, and he and DS watched it repeatedly. And then...even though I'm still NOT a Tim Burton fan *at all*, I got used to it. So when I went on it last year, I was more OK with it, because I felt I understood the images more.

So watch it several times. You still might not *like* it, but at least you will understand it.

 

[deejdigsdis]

Hi everyone! I am a longtime lurker here. I love reading all the great info and looking at the amazing pictures on here to help me get pumped up for trips.

I am planning a trip this Nov with just me and my 21 yr old son. We will be in Anaheim for 7 nts, doing most of our time at DL and CA, with one day at Knotts.

So, here is my question. I LOVE the Haunted Mansion. It is one of my top 3 rides at DL. Me and my son love to go on it over and over and pick out details we have not seen before (or forgotten) I especially love the dining/ballroom. It is amazing!

Is the Holiday version 100% different? or is it some the same? I have never seen the Nightmare Before Christmas, although I will watch it before we go so I am not clueless. I am so worried that I might not like this other version.

Thanks so much in advance for your help.

I went back to DL last Nov. after a 13 year absence. I was disappointed that I wouldn't get to ride the regular Haunted Mansion after all those years, as it is one of my favorites as well. I also was worried that I wouldn't like the NBC version at all. And...well, I was right. I didn't like it. I had never seen the movie before, so maybe I would have enjoyed it if I knew the story, etc. I tried to enjoy it for what it was, but that didn't work. We rode it only 2 times during our 4 days. I actually closed my eyes during the second time through and pictured the REAL ride. My kids, who had never been, were looking so forward to the hitchhiking ghosts and we were all disappointed that they weren't there. It was "trick or treat" instead. Two of my other favorite parts were missing as well -- the floating candles in the hallway, and the lady at the end when you are exiting the ride that says, "Hurrrrry baaaack...hurrrry baaaack...be sure to bring your death certificate..."

Anyway, I think you have a good plan to watch the movie first. I just didn't get it. There were a lot more differences than I was expecting, so that didn't help my experience either. But, it wouldn't keep me from going back at that time of year. We loved just about everything else. Have a good time with your son!

 

[wdwfan22]

WHAT!! No lady at the end saying Hurryy baaaccckk, Hurryy baaaccckk. She is my very favorite on the ride. I always think she looks and sounds like Ann Margret. Wow, that is a drag.

Well, I guess it is just like when a ride is down for refurb, and you just have to deal with it. That is just another reason for me to hurry back!!

 

[deejdigsdis]

WHAT!! No lady at the end saying Hurryy baaaccckk, Hurryy baaaccckk. She is my very favorite on the ride. I always think she looks and sounds like Ann Margret. Wow, that is a drag.

Well, I guess it is just like when a ride is down for refurb, and you just have to deal with it. That is just another reason for me to hurry back!!

I KNOW! I KNOW! Huh...hadn't thought about Ann Margaret, but I can see it.

 

[FlameGirl]

I am a huge NBC and Tim Burton fan and I...don't especially care for HMH. It makes me very sad because we only ever visit the park right after Thanksgiving and I desperately miss the original.

 

[mikayla73]

HM is one of my faves also. I am ok with the NBC overlay, but much prefer the original. To me is different. Yes I am in a doom buggy and the "bones" of the ride are the same, but it's defintiely NBC and not the HM. The attic is different, the graveyard is different, Jack and Zero are the entrance to the graveyard. The seance room has different things floating around. The music is different (music is a big component for me). When you are in the foyer and stretching room, the words are different.

All that said, different is not bad, just different. Just don't go expecting to see your old favorite HM and it will be OK.

I agree with others, watch the NBC before you go, so it makes sense.

Have a great time and enjoy the Christmas decorations and new things you'll get to see!

 

[DLR29]

It is very different. Everything from the exterior, to the stretching room, to the changing paintings, to the audio, to the ride's scenes, to the mirrors ("hitchhiking ghosts) at the end. Clearly the focus is NBC stuff and not regular HM stuff.

However, saying that, and I've never seen NBC (although I probably should), I really do like HMH a lot. I like a little bit of variety every once in a while. Although, surprisingly, I like the regular IASW better than the holiday.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Have you only gone at holiday times for that last 10 years, or gone other times too. That would be hard to not see the regular HM for that long!!!

My kids have only seen the Holiday version. We always seem to go in the Fall/Xmas! I can't wait to see the original in June. I haven't seen it since 2000!!!!

 

[raftislander]

I saw HMH for the first time last October. I don't know if this will make sense to people, but I like NBC as a Halloween movie but not as a Christmas movie. The fact that I saw HMH during Halloweentime rather than during the Christmas season probably made a difference. I liked the overlay- not better than the original- but it is full of amazing details and many are very funny & clever. Definitely see the movie before you go or it will just seem weird, but imagine what Christmas traditions would look like if they were being interpreted by individuals who had never been exposed to anything but Halloween traditions. I loved looking at the patterns and motifs on the wrapping papers. The decorations on the outside of the house are fabulous. I would advise you to clear your mind of the HM and try to look at it as a completely different ride. I admit that I was better at doing this in some parts of the ride than others. The ballroom/dining room scene- which I love- was not as sucessful for me because I just missed the original. I thoroughly enjoyed the overlay on the graveyard scene.

 

[spacemermaid]

Thanks so much for that info. At least I know it will be some the same. I have looked at some videos on youtube, but they are pretty bad in the dark, and I could only see the NBC stuff, so I was worried. I know I should have an open mind and everything, but I really think I will be disappointed. I LOVE singing Grim Grining Ghosts! Oh well, there is much other stuff.

I was there is 2005 when Space Mountain was down, and that was pretty bad.

Have you only gone at holiday times for that last 10 years, or gone other times too. That would be hard to not see the regular HM for that long!!!

Yeah; the ride is alot different without "Grim Grinning Ghosts"...

Oh, I've been other times of year, but I'd really enjoy it if on my holiday/birthday trip I could enjoy my favorite ride in its true form

 

[wdwfan22]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I suppose I will feel like most of you. I suppose there must be people out there who like the HMH better, or I wonder why they keep doing it? It just does seem kind of odd to change one of the most brilliant rides of all time for 3 months of every year. Well, I will try to keep an open mind. Thanks again!!

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

Just got back from disneyland and well I like the original but I really like the holiday version more.

There just seems to be more in it for the holiday and so bare without it.

I really like the gingerbread houses they come up with yr after yr and the smell too.

 

[liesel]

Our NBC DVD (the 3 disc re-release) has a walk thru of the ride, so check your local library to see if they have a copy. You can see both the movie and the ride (and an interesting behind the scenes documentary on the making of HMH).

 

[Jigsaw]

I've been twice during the time they have it Nightmare Before Xmas themed. I used to be a huge fan of the film so of course I loved it. Its all different like 100%.

 

[wdwfan22]

Our NBC DVD (the 3 disc re-release) has a walk thru of the ride, so check your local library to see if they have a copy. You can see both the movie and the ride (and an interesting behind the scenes documentary on the making of HMH).

That is great to know. I would really like to watch the walk through and documentary as well as the movie. I was going to Netflix the movie, but they don't usually have those special editions. I will check out the library! Thanks!!