The Haunted Mansion

The Walt Disney Company created the definitive haunted house experience in its Haunted Mansion dark ride, first opened at Disneyland Park in Anaheim California in August, 1969. Variations of The Haunted Mansion exist in Disney’s parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo, Paris (as Phantom Manor), and Hong Kong (as Mystic Manor).

This article focuses on the version of the mansion dark ride found in Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Florida.

The Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Located within the Liberty Square land, The Haunted Mansion, (also known as Gastley Mansion in signage displayed until 2011 or 2012, and Gracey Manor in signage displayed from 2012–2014) opened along with the park on October 1, 1971. Set in the lower Hudson River Valley of New York State.

Mansion Exterior and Ride Queue

The Dread Family

Behind the Scenes of the Mansion Exterior and Ride Queue

The ride show building actually sits to the northeast of the mansion facade.

Keep Exploring the Mansion Exterior and Ride Queue

Watch an Imagineering walkthrough of the ride queue

Foyer

Stretching Rooms

From the foyer, guests are ushered into one of two octagonal portrait rooms.

Behind the Scenes of the Stretching Rooms

At Disney World, the effect is created by raising the ceiling. The stretching rooms at Disneyland are elevators that lower guests into the ground so they can proceed under the railroad tracks.

Loading Area

Guests board Doom Buggies — Omnimover ride cars seating 1–3 people.

Portrait Gallery

Portraits transform from benign to sinister as you progress through the gallery.

Behind the Scenes of the Mansion Exterior and Ride Queue

Disney uses smellitizer technology throughout its parks to distribute scents. It is likely that this system is used within the Haunted Mansion to contribute to the ambiance.

Library

Music Room

Staircase

Endless Hallway

Conservatory

A restless corpse fights to escape his coffin.

Hall with Clock

Séance Circle

Ballroom

Behind the Scenes of the Ballroom

Many of the ghosts in the room are created using a Pepper’s Ghost effect.

Attic

Constance Hatchaway, the black-widow bride.

Graveyard

The Singing Busts

WDW’s singing busts, from right to left as you move past them:

Phineas P. Pock: Bob Ebright, actor and singer
Ned Nub: Jay Meyer, versatile vocalist and member of The Sportsman Quartet
Cousin Algernon (wearing a derby/bowler hat): Chuck Schroeder, session vocalist
Uncle Theodore (the broken bust): Thurl Ravenscroft, noted bass vocalist known for many deep vocal roles and as a member of The Mellomen
Rollo Rumkin: Verne Rowe, actor, trumpet player, and session vocalist

Mausoleum

Beware of hitchhiking ghosts who may try to exit the ride with you!

Unloading Area

Little Leota bids you hurry back

Exit Path

Grim Grinning Ghosts

The Haunted Mansion’s eerie ambiance is set by haunting variations of Grim Grinning Ghosts (The Screaming Song)s which iterate style as riders progress through the attraction. Composed by Buddy Baker, with lyrics written by X. Atencio (Francis Xavier Atencio).

Haunted Mansion Wallpaper

The famous damask Haunted Mansion wallpaper design was created by Disney WED Enterprises interior designer Tania McKnight Norris. The design has been refined over the years, and the original asymmetrical artwork has since been superseded in many applications by a symmetrical version.

The Haunted Mansion