DITP Perspective: Haunted Mansion Holiday

This DITP Perspective does not deal with The Haunted Mansion proper, but rather the annual seasonal overlay which opens in roughly late-September of every year, and closes in early January. 

"What's inside is what happens when two holidays collide..."

Average Wait Time:  20 - 30 minutes
Approximate Ride Length:  8 minutes

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park originally opened in 1969.  For those uninitiated, The Haunted Mansion is a "tour", if you will, through none other than a Haunted Mansion (see what they did there!).  Victims board Doom Buggies in order to take a ride through the manor and meets its many spooky denizens.

In 2001 Disney, seeking an alternative overlay for The Haunted Mansion, decided to bring in Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and the Mansion has been transformed for the holidays every season since.

Much like the standard Haunted Mansion, guests begin their journey wending their way through an outside graveyard of sorts before finally entering the Mansion itself.  Ushered into the infamous stretching room, visitors are welcomed in with a brief overview of exactly what has happened to our beloved Mansion and the culprit responsible for doing so, Jack Skellington.

The culprit responsible for all of the holiday shenanigans

Once done with the stretching room, guests continue into the Hall of Portraits to peruse an art selection unlike any other (mostly Nightmare characters engaged in various Nightmare activities), while waiting for their respective Doom Buggies to arrive and carry them to their final destination (not so subtle attempt at horror humor, there).

Haunted Mansion Holiday doesn't deviate much from the path (Metaphorical path, not literal.  It's on a track, after all. Where else is it gonna go?) already taken during the regular Haunted Mansion.  Your Doom Buggie follows its charted course through the Mansion's hallways, seance room, Grand Ballroom, attic, graveyard, and finally crypt.

The difference, of course, is that the Mansion is now almost completely decked out in Nightmare regalia.  It's hyper-colorful (a bit like riding Alice In Wonderland or The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh, in point of fact), and is replete with holiday decorations (after a sort).

Just a few of DITP's favorite Haunted Mansion Holiday moments include:

• Jack's dog, Zero, is now a resident prowling in the Endless Hall
• Madame Leota, floating, now chants about "The 13 Days of Christmas"
• The ballroom of waltzing ghosts is now decked out completely for the Holidays, complete with a HUGE gingerbread house and dead Christmas tree; the scent of gingerbread as you go through the room now is guaranteed to make your mouth water
• The attic now contains many zany presents and toys from the Nightmare movie
• You've got to love the mountain and random angelic Jack o'Lanterns

• Our friend the gravedigger and his mangy cur (Seriously, it's a wonder that dog is alive.  Or is he?) have been replaced by our friends Jack and Zero...

• Upon entering the crypt Oogie Boogie now invites you to join him in a game of chance whilst Lock, Shock and Barrel (replacing the Ghostly Hitchhikers) offer you a ghastly present on your way out.

Yes, I blurred him on purpose.

And last but certainly not least, what Nightmare Before Christmas attraction would be complete without a bevy of snippets from Danny Elfman's many amazingly wonderful (yet haunting) songs composed for the movie?

Words won't do all of the changes inside the attraction justice.  Although, if you're a Haunted Mansion purist, there is indeed a chance you might not like the changes within your hallowed haunt (we've heard it before).  

However, if you're like us and a change of pace isn't necessarily a bad thing, coupled with an intense love for The Nightmare Before Christmas, then Haunted Mansion Holiday may be just the thing for you.  For us, it takes all the best elements of the Haunted Mansion, and raises them to the Jack Skellington degree.  And really, it won't be long at all before Jack bids us adieu for another year.  

Haunted Mansion Holiday comes highly recommended.



Tips for Haunted Mansion Holiday

• Although Haunted Mansion Holiday is a general audiences attraction that anyone can ride, know your kids and what makes them tick.  It is a dark ride.  There are also moments during the ride with loud sudden noises, and some fairly tame shocks/scares.  However, if my own children at a young age were any indication (the big chickens!), some children may become frightened.  Proceed with caution, or suffer a yowling child to go along with the yowling ghosts.  
• The FastPass machines for The Haunted Mansion are active while Haunted Mansion Holiday is installed.  We suggest you use them!  Often times we'll pop in, grab our pass, and then go grab a quick bite (or a quick ride; Pirates, perhaps?) and come back.  Beats waiting in line, especially if you have children in tow.
• Lastly, enjoy it!  Don't get caught up in whether or not the changes within should have been made, or whether they stink or not.  They were.  They will continue to be.  You might as well grab a friend, hop on the ride, and just appreciate it for what it is.  A jolly good show!

Oh, and on your way out, pay a special visit to Little Oogie, who is busy churning out the popcorn during the Holiday Season.

 

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