Showing posts with label The Haunted Mansion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Haunted Mansion. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Friday, March 8, 2013
My Favorite Disneyland Attraction Vehicle
Welcome to those of you joining me from "Disney Babies Blog" and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail.
Welcome back!
So this month we've been charged with talking about our favorite Attraction Vehicle in the Disney Parks. I gave it quite a bit of thought, and of course came up with the standard answers: the Autopia cars, the logs on Splash Mountain, the Doom Buggies on The Haunted Mansion. But really, what's the fun of thinking inside the box? So I decided I'd show you instead of tell you this time.
Because when you really get down to brass tacks, there's simply nothing like being suspended hundreds of feet in the air with nothing between you and Paradise Pier but a silly cage.
Enjoy!
Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is "Pursuing the Magic".
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ The CanaDisney Blog
2nd Stop ~ Disney Babies Blog
3rd Stop ~ Days in the Park
Final Stop ~ Pursuing the Magic
Friday, September 9, 2011
Jack Skellington is Coming Back to the Haunted Mansion!
For today's Disney Flashback we decided to highlight something that is constantly "flashing back" to us, since it appears each and every year around this time! Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort is quite possibly our favorite time of the year. There's a new feeling in the air, a new atmosphere if you will; the villains are front and center, there are new attractions and shows to see that really put you in a festive, albeit naughty mood, and it's just plain fun to be around Disneyland when all of this is going on.
Hands down, though, one of our favorite attractions this time of year is when The Haunted Mansion is all transformed and "Tim Burton-ed" into the Haunted Mansion Holiday, featuring Jack Skellington and all of our friends from the Disney classic, "The Nightmare Before Christmas".
We know that a lot of people feel very strongly about this attraction one way or the other, and that the feelings on it run from "We hate it, bring back the classic!" to "We love it, never bring back the classic!", and we're definitely somewhere in the middle. We would fight tooth and nail to see the classic return to us every winter, but we're also not too ashamed to say that we look forward to Jack roaming the halls again each and every Halloween.
And it's almost that time again! Halloween has snuck up on us really quickly this year, and it's almost time for the transformation to be complete. We didn't even realize it until we were at Disneyland earlier this week and noticed that The Haunted Mansion was down for refurbishments. As soon as saw it, though, we could feel the excitement coursing through our veins! When this article publishes on our blog, it will be 7 days (September 16) and counting until Halloween at Disneyland! We can't wait to get out there and enjoy all that this time of year has to offer and share it with everyone on the blog.
We know this is last year's picture, but it is a Flashback after all
So, are you as excited for Halloween at Disneyland as we are? We'll be writing about everything going on at Disneyland all month long and hope everyone will be along for the ride, because it's going to be a great one! For more information on Halloween Time at Disneyland, be sure and check out the official site at http://www.disneyland.com/halloween.
And look for more information, pictures and thoughts on Haunted Mansion Holiday throughout the season. We can't wait!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
"Almost" Wordless THURSDAY (?!): Random Wanderings
We missed yesterday's Wordless post because we were on board the Magical Blogorail, so we're making it up to ourselves (and you!) today! We took these over a span of a couple of weekends at the end of April and beginning of May and realized we hadn't posted them yet. Here they are for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
Our absolute favorite meal to eat in The Park. No, really! We do it often!
We highly recommend watching 'Vegas Vacation' to understand this one. Greatest brick ever!
Awesome early morning shot of Paradise Pier
We'll never see THIS at a 0 minute wait again!
Just hanging out in Critter Country on a Sunday morning
Her back must be KILLING her!
Not sure why they're a tad purpley, but we're okay with it
LOVE 'Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln'. Always worth a view.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Music Of The Park Begins At Home
We're going to make an assumption here. Yes, yes, we know the old saying about assumptions (and what they do to both you and me), but we're going to take a ride on the wild side here and do it anyways.
The assumption is this: Most people would agree that a large part of what makes Disney so special, and not just Disneyland, but all of the resorts under the Disney umbrella, is the music.
There's just no way that Disneyland would be what it is without the music. Even excluding the movies, which is pretty much impossible to do since the two are tied so closely together, the music around Disneyland Park (and California Adventure) makes The Park what it is; adds that extra Zip (in the Doo Dah) if you will.
As brain-seizure inducing as it is, can you imagine It's A Small World without (*shudder*) that song? What about Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room with no singing birds? The Haunted Mansion without socializing ghosts? The list is endless. These songs, like them or not, are a synonymous and inseparable aspect of anyone's days spent in The Parks.
But again, we're going to make an assumption.
This ones goes something like this: If you're a fan of The Parks, the music doesn't start in The Park, but as early as on your way to The Park.
Anytime, and I mean anytime we have a day where Disneyland Resort is on the menu, the instant our tuckus are planted in our car seats, the music begins. And in fact, for the most part, the CD never leaves the player anyways. It's usually there waiting for us.
For your perusal, our current playlist looks something like this:
And we're constantly discovering new and interesting tunes from all over the place, even in places where we'd least expect to. A fantastic part of blogging is all of the wonderful Disney friends you make. Last week, we stumbled upon a great Disney blog, Rays Of Disneyland, and found this awesome song by 'Five for Fighting', most appropriately called Disneyland. It's safe to say this immediately became prime material for our playlist. Simply amazing! Who wouldn't want to listen to this on their way to The Park?
Whatever the case may be, and whichever songs you might choose, the music of Disney can make the entire trip, and not just a portion of it, both magical and musical.
What about you guys? What are some of the songs you like to listen to on your way to The Park? Any suggestions for us? We'd love to hear from you!
The assumption is this: Most people would agree that a large part of what makes Disney so special, and not just Disneyland, but all of the resorts under the Disney umbrella, is the music.
There's just no way that Disneyland would be what it is without the music. Even excluding the movies, which is pretty much impossible to do since the two are tied so closely together, the music around Disneyland Park (and California Adventure) makes The Park what it is; adds that extra Zip (in the Doo Dah) if you will.
As brain-seizure inducing as it is, can you imagine It's A Small World without (*shudder*) that song? What about Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room with no singing birds? The Haunted Mansion without socializing ghosts? The list is endless. These songs, like them or not, are a synonymous and inseparable aspect of anyone's days spent in The Parks.
But again, we're going to make an assumption.
This ones goes something like this: If you're a fan of The Parks, the music doesn't start in The Park, but as early as on your way to The Park.
Anytime, and I mean anytime we have a day where Disneyland Resort is on the menu, the instant our tuckus are planted in our car seats, the music begins. And in fact, for the most part, the CD never leaves the player anyways. It's usually there waiting for us.
For your perusal, our current playlist looks something like this:
- Hoist The Colours - Pirates of the Caribbean
- Skull And Crossbones - Pirates of the Caribbean
- Why Is The Rum Gone? - An insane mash-up of Pirates dialogue and song
- The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room - Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
- The Bare Necessities - The Jungle Book
- I Wan'na Be Like You - The Jungle Book
- Under The Sea - The Little Mermaid
- Kiss The Girl - The Little Mermaid
- Be Our Guest - Beauty and the Beast
- Beauty And The Beast - Beauty and the Beast
- The Bells of Notre Dame - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- A Whole New World - Aladdin
- Circle Of Life - The Lion King
- Hakuna Matata - The Lion King
- Go The Distance - Hercules
- I Won't Say [I'm In Love] - Hercules
- I'll Make A Man Out Of You - Mulan
- It's A Small World - It's A Small World
- Little April Shower - Bambi
- Mickey Mouse March - Mickey Mouse Club
- Strangers Like Me - Tarzan
- Heigh-Ho - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
And we're constantly discovering new and interesting tunes from all over the place, even in places where we'd least expect to. A fantastic part of blogging is all of the wonderful Disney friends you make. Last week, we stumbled upon a great Disney blog, Rays Of Disneyland, and found this awesome song by 'Five for Fighting', most appropriately called Disneyland. It's safe to say this immediately became prime material for our playlist. Simply amazing! Who wouldn't want to listen to this on their way to The Park?
Whatever the case may be, and whichever songs you might choose, the music of Disney can make the entire trip, and not just a portion of it, both magical and musical.
What about you guys? What are some of the songs you like to listen to on your way to The Park? Any suggestions for us? We'd love to hear from you!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
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.
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:
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
"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.
 | ||||
|
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)