Haunted Mansion - behind the scenes

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From Imagineering Disney. Warning! If you don't want a look at "behind the magic" bail now.

The Haunted Mansion Like You've Never Seen It

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 8:34PM Posted by Mitch

[ UPDATED 9/12 WITH NEW PHOTOS ]

This blog was created partly to showcase how rides are made. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at parts of Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion. These original photos have never been posted online until now.

It's been over a year since we started this blog and I'm shocked that this is the first post entirely about The Haunted we've ever done. Shocker because the Mansion has been #2 on my "Favorite Attractions" list since childhood-- right between Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise with Carousel of Progress, Tom Sawyer Island, PeopleMover, Country Bear Jamboree, Tiki Room, and Matterhorn following closely behind. Also to add to the shock of there never being a Haunted Mansion post is the fact that a couple of us here at the blog have spent many many quality hours in every corner of the Mansion. And what a dream that was.

Ballroom Organist head. Every few years animatronic head-skins wear out, become covered in fingerprints of engineers, or fade-- or all three. Every few decades (it may seem) they get fixed. The colors need to be bright for the ghostly illusion to work- I'll say no more.

Nice hands, buddy.

Nice neck, Lady.

Killer ride, you two. Looks like the one out front.

Butyrate (clear plastic) makes up the outer shell of most every Disney animatronic figure- although the shell is almost never seen by guests except in the Mansion where it remains visible to give the illusion of transparent spirits. You'll notice it turns very yellow with time.

The howling sounds you hear outside in the queue area are those of this dog. A skeleton dog with a streak of hair on it's back moves forward and back with a bit of head movement. You may have never noticed him there on the back hill of the cemetery across the singing busts unless he has clean layer of white paint.

(Above right) The backside of a pop-up head and tombstones.

(Above Right) The underside of the no-longer-bat-covered moving walkway at unload.

The now extinct spider and web. The Mansion spiders were identical to the ones you see in the Jungle Cruise temple. (And no, that ain't a freekin' hidden Mickey).

Guess who's who. Junk piles collecting dust in a space behind the Grand Ballroom. A portion of a projector- one of Madame Leota's projectors perhaps? You can see bits of film still inside.

Broken fiberglass torch-holding hand you'll see above the unload walkway. I'm sure you recognize the blue guy on the right.

This was not meant to unveil any special Mansion secrets- there are plenty of sites dedicated to that.

http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2010/9/7/the-haunted-mansion-like-youve-never-seen-it.html

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Part 2 from ImagineeringDisney. Again, if you don't want to see how the magic really happens, turn back now!

The Haunted Mansion Like You've Never Seen It [Part 2]

Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 2:53PM Posted by Admin

Let’s go deep into the famous Haunted Mansion ballroom to spy on a few ghosts. Marc Davis designed this part of the ballroom to feature various ghosts entering the party from a coffin and hearse outside the mansion. See Part 1

here

.

We go behind the scenes to see some of the process. Some ghost figures in these photos have their paint, clothing, props, and/or hair stripped off. You’ll notice these figures are mounted to a carousel-like structure.

This ship captain (not found in Marc’s concept) has a famous counterpart in Pirates of the Caribbean... the auctioneer!

Legendary Disney sculptor Blaine Gibson sculpted a number of human heads for Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, etc. Many of the same heads were used in multiple places. Blaine is also known for sculpting the Walt and Mickey Partners statue. Before working at W.E.D he did animation and special effects work on many of Disney’s classic animated features.

This fella can also be seen in the graveyard scene. Looks like his twin needs some serious refurbing (at least when this photo was taken). Across the river his same head can be spotted again in the blacksmith shop at Fort Langhorn, Tom Sawyer Island.

My oh my. This nice lady’s head makes another appearance in the very same room... but as a man. Old Caesar’s ghost sitting at the table has the very same headskin. She can also be seen in the line of wenches in pirates and other places.

Nearby grandmother reads a book in her rocking chair.

Look familiar?? Now we know where the Carousel of Progress Grandma ends up after she kicks the bucket.

A few of the ghost figures above got their start in this Marc Davis concept art. Although the horses were never added to this scene, a tipped coffin is clearly visible today. The butler with the guest list and the hearse driver never made scene either.

When lit correctly, the revolving ghosts don't appear to revolve in a complete circle. Only a portion of the circle gets light, leaving the rest of the circle invisible to guests looking down from their Doombuggies. This gives the illusion of a never-ending line of ghosts entering the room.

Related posts:

The Haunted Mansion Like You've Never Seen It [Part 1]

ABANDONED DISNEY: Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghosts

http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2012/5/17/the-haunted-mansion-like-youve-never-seen-it-part-2.html

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Cool!!!!

[mikeymouse1 25]

Got to love the sneak peaks at the behind the scenes

[mikeymouse1 25]

Oh. Ya and the grandma rocking is pretty dang creepy!

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Amazing how different it looks with the lights on!