The Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square. Photo Courtesy of the Disneyland Resort.
The Disneyland Resort has kicked off a massive celebration for The Haunted Mansion’s 50th anniversary! While the resort hosted two after-hours parties in celebration of this momentous occasion, we know that you are looking for information on how you can enjoy the 50th anniversary celebration during your regular visits to the Resort starting on the actual anniversary date (August 9, 2019!)- so we’ve rounded up all the info into this one blog post!
The Disney Gallery at Disneyland
There is a new exhibit entitled “Happy Haunts Materialize – The Art of Haunted Mansion” currently showing at The Disney Gallery, located in the same building as “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” The exhibit showcases the evolution of the idea for this attraction, with early sketches and sculptures of the Haunted Mansion concept, and it describes how these evolved into the Haunted Mansion that guests experience today. Be sure to stop in and check out the art – this is a great place to get away from the crowds and the heat!
Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary Foods
Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
It wouldn’t be a celebration without some specialty foods and Disneyland is pulling out all the stops! A few days ago, the Disney Parks blog announced their Foodie Guide to the Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary, and we’re highlighting a few favs that have already caught our attention!
Did you hear the news? The Mint Julep Bar now offers mobile ordering! This is the perfect opportunity to get your hands on the Blackberry Mint Julep (citrus, blackberry, mint) featuring a lychee “moon” or the Honey… I Do Mickey-shaped beignets, sweet beignets topped with powdered sugar and honey praline.
Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Or, if you’re like us over here at Babes in Disneyland and churros are your favorite Disneyland snack, then check out the new “Bride” churro (dressed in vanilla and sugar and offered in New Orleans Square) and the “Groom” churros (dressed in chocolate and sugar offered in Critter Country). Will we add this to our list of favorite churros ever at the Disneyland Resort?
Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary Merchandise
“Host a Ghost” photo, courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
You can always find fantastic Haunted Mansion merchandise year-round at the shops near Pirates of the Caribbean – Port Royal Curios and Curiosities and Pieces of Eight. However, specifically for this celebration, if you truly want to take home one of the Haunted Mansion’s 999 happy haunts, you can get your hands on a Host A Ghost. As the Disney Parks Blog states, “With a ghostly giggle and a simple tap on these jars, Madame Leota will conjure your spirit to materialize for you.” Sounds fun, right? You can pick up your very own Host a Ghost at the dedicated cart in New Orleans Square.
Commemorative clothing, ear hats, pins, jewelry, and more are also making their debut in shops around the Resort (including Downtown Disney’s World of Disney store!) so make sure to get your hands on these ghoulish delights!
Fun Historical Facts about The Haunted Mansion
With 50 years comes a wealth of information about this ghoulish delight of an attraction. For our Disney trivia aficionados, here are some fun facts about The Haunted Mansion!
- The idea for a haunted house at Disneyland was included in an early concept design sketch by Harper Goff dating back to 1952, when Disneyland was being conceptualized.
- The designers of the attraction originally wanted to make the outside of the mansion look scary. Walt Disney, however, wanted to keep the outside looking like a stately mansion, while letting the ghosts take care of the inside.
- The exterior of the attraction was built in 1962-63. It was unoccupied until 1969 while Walt Disney participated in the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair and his Imagineers were re-tasked to work on those timely projects. The World’s Fair experience made way for some of the technology that’s used in the Haunted Mansion.
- On August 9, 1969, after more than 15 years of development, the Haunted Mansion opened to the public.
- Within a week of the Haunted Mansion’s opening, Disneyland celebrated what was then its highest single-day attendance.
- The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland was the first major Disney attraction created without the direct supervision by Walt Disney. Although Walt reviewed many of the early vignettes, he never saw the completed show concepts.
- In 1966, New Orleans Square, where the Haunted Mansion is located, became the first new land added to Disneyland since the park opened on July 17, 1955.
- Originally, the Haunted Mansion was going to be a walk-through attraction where guests were led in small groups by a cast member who would describe scenes that lasted two to three minutes each.
- In 2016, Marvel Comics debuted the “Haunted Mansion” comic book series.
By the Numbers!
- 999 ghosts haunt the attraction with “room for one more.”
- 13 candles sit on top of the birthday cake in the Grand Hall in the Haunted Mansion.
- 3 hitchhiking ghosts are looking for a ride out of the Haunted Mansion: Ezra Beane, Professor Phineas Plump and Gus.
- 20 tombstone tributes exist both inside and around the exterior of the attraction. The epitaphs on the tombstones are written in honor of Disney Legends and Walt Disney Imagineers who created and maintain the attraction.
- 7 tombstones are featured in the pet cemetery outside of the attraction.
- 3 of the trees located at the Haunted Mansion are: Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), Weeping Mulberry Tree (Morus alba “Chapparal”) and Tolleson’s Blue Weeping Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum).
- Since 2001, the Haunted Mansion has been transformed each fall into Haunted Mansion Holiday, a tradition celebrated by guests year after year.
- More than 400 flickering candles create a ghostly glow on the façade of the attraction during Haunted Mansion Holiday.
- Nearly 7,500 square feet of snow cover the graveyard inside Haunted Mansion Holiday.
- More than 200 bones are gathered by Jack Skellington’s ghost dog Zero in Haunted Mansion Holiday to use as décor, garland and presents for the seasonal overlay.
Head over to Disneyland today to see the Haunted Mansion before it undergoes its annual The Nightmare Before Christmas overlay!
I, myself, have been a huge fan of the Haunted Mansion since first boarding a Doom Buggy as a small child. Over the years, I ve acquired many a Haunted Mansion item, from a Dooney Burke tote bag to a mini replica of the grandfather clock that appears in the attraction. As luck would have it, I happened to be at the happiest place on earth on the Haunted Mansion s h anniversary and was able to celebrate in person.