haunted mansion ride age

Haunted Mansion

• Attraction Photography

A Spirited Tour

The disembodied voice of the Ghost Host is your private guide through the cadaverous realm of an eerie haunted estate, home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises. 

Glide past a casket-filled conservatory, Madame Leota’s chilling séance room and a ghostly graveyard of singing specters as you attempt to find your way out. Beware of hitchhikers—these phantom pranksters may follow you home. 

Set your sights on a sinister delight. Starting in late November 2023, the Hatbox Ghost will materialize inside the Haunted Mansion. Be on the lookout for this unhappy haunt during your visit.

Happy haunting!

Before Entering the Mansion

Play disney parks achievement available.

Related Activities

Even more magic – as you wish, earn the achievement, get the pin, guests also viewed, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for haunted mansion.

Disneyland's Haunted Mansion: The Complete Guide

It may seem like the Haunted Mansion has been at Disneyland forever — and it has been around for more than 50 years. But before that, it took fifteen years to plan this quintessential Disneyland ride, which features a cast of busy ghosts in residence in a haunted "retirement home."

Disney Haunted Mansion gets gussied up for Halloween and Christmas every year, and what better way to do that than to turn to Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" for inspiration. The decorations are so extensive that it closes in late September and again after January 1, so it can go back to normal.

What You Need to Know About the Haunted Mansion

Most people who have experienced the Haunted Mansion would tell you it's a must-do ride if you have time.

• Location:  Haunted Mansion is in New Orleans Square
• Rating:  ★★★★★
• Restrictions:  No height restrictions. Children under age seven years must be accompanied by a person aged 14 years or older.
• Ride Time:  19 minutes
• Recommended for:  Everyone
• Fun Factor:  High. Haunted Mansion is one of the ​ best rides at Disneyland .
• Wait Factor:  High. You can use a ​ Fastpass to shorten your time in line .
• Fear Factor:  Low, but there's a short period of darkness and noise in the expanding room after you get inside and before you enter the ride queue.
• Herky-Jerky Factor:  Low
• Nausea Factor:  Low
• Seating:  Ride vehicles are mounted to a moving sidewalk. You board by stepping onto the surface, then take a small step up into the vehicle. Each seat can hold two adults and a child, or three adults if you don't mind being close together. But really, don't try to cram three full-sized people into one Doom Buggy. It's a tight fit, and where will the ghost sit?
• Accessibility:  If you're in a wheelchair, go to the front porch of the ride and enter with everyone else, then ask a cast member for help. They will stop the Doom Buggy to let you get on. Service animals are not recommended on the Haunted Mansion ride. Pick up a handheld captioning device at Guest Relations.   More about visiting Disneyland in a wheelchair or ECV .

How to Have More Fun

• Don't ask a Haunted Mansion cast member for a death certificate . You may have seen that so many times online that you think it must be true, but it isn't — and may have never been.
• While standing in line,  look for hidden Mickeys among the gravestones  and on the hearse.
• The first few minutes in the Disney Haunted Mansion  can be claustrophobic , as everyone crowds into the stretching room. You'll also experience about  5 seconds of complete darkness . Small children may be frightened by that and the noise.
• The song  you may find running through your head after riding is called "Haunted Grim Grinning Ghosts." It was composed by Buddy Baker, with lyrics written by X Atencio.
• Haunted Mansion is  one of the coolest places to go on a hot day at Disneyland . Literally. It may feel so good that you'll be hoping the ride stops for a minute so you can enjoy it.
• Look for the Hatbox Ghost who shows up just after you leave the attic area. He does a nifty little trick that involves his head and the box.
• In the stretching room , it may feel like the ceiling is rising, but in fact, it's just the opposite. The chamber is actually an elevator that's going down. It leads to an underground passageway to the show building.

You can  see all the Disneyland rides at a glance on the Disneyland ride sheet .

While you're thinking about rides, you should also  download the essential Disneyland apps (they're all free!) and  get some proven tips to minimize your Disneyland wait time .

Disney Haunted Mansion opened in 1969, 14 years after Disneyland began.

One of the hardest parts about running the Haunted Mansion is keeping it looking grungy. They have to bring in dust and cobwebs. Otherwise, the air conditioning system filters them all out.

The clock in the long hallway is stuck at midnight, but only a few riders notice that a demon is eating the clock face - and its tail is the pendulum.

How many ghosts live inside the Haunted Mansion attraction in Disneyland park? 999

Is It Different Than the Haunted Mansion in Florida?

California’s Haunted Mansion looks much different outside than the one in Florida, looming over you as you walk in. Inside, you’ll find a better-decorated boarding area.

Some of the scenes that are part of the Florida ride are in the California queue instead. You’ll find other fun differences and similarities throughout.

The most fun — and significant — difference is that California’s Haunted Mansion is the only one that turns into Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Astro Orbitor

Disney's Haunted Mansion Will Scare You Silly

Winnie the Pooh Ride

Mark Twain Riverboat

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes

Pirates of the Caribbean

It's a Small World

King Arthur Carrousel

10 Reasons to Visit Disneyland at Halloween

The Top 10 Things to Do at Disneyland

Disneyland Train

Disneyland in November: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

Things for Your Disneyland Bucket List

17 Disneyland Rides You Can't Miss

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Haunted Mansion

Frightful Delights Await

Dearly depart into a foreboding estate, drag your body to the dead center of the Portrait Chamber and watch as the walls begin to stretch before your eyes. Climb into your waiting Doom Buggy and embark on a shivering journey into an unearthly realm.

The disembodied voice of the Ghost Host is your private guide through the cadaverous dwelling—home to grinning ghosts and other spectral surprises. 

Glide past a rattling casket in the conservatory. Head off to Madame Leota's spirited séance room. Float by the Grand Ballroom and its waltzing apparitions. Take a spin through a cemetery where the spirited residents regale you with song. 

Beware of lurking hitchhikers—these phantom pranksters may try to follow you home!

Creepy Fun for Little Ones

Play disney parks achievement available, disneyland app.

Related Activities

Haunted mansion holiday, want to take your day to the next level, earn the achievement, get the pin, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for haunted mansion.

Complete Guide to Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom

“Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion.”

As one of the original Walt Disney World rides, Haunted Mansion has become iconic, remaining one of Magic Kingdom’s most popular attractions over it’s more than 50 years in operation.

After all, who doesn’t love a little mystery and some thrills? Haunted Mansion delivers both without being overly scary, even to the smallest of visitors.

On top of that, Haunted Mansion has inspired three films and features some of the most famous attraction characters in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Keep reading for our complete guide to the Haunted Mansion .

Before we get too far into it, make sure you check out our guide on the Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for information on every attraction and show at Magic Kingdom.

In this article

Haunted Mansion Quick Facts

• Location : Magic Kingdom, Liberty Square
• Height requirement : None
• Suitable for: Anybody (dark imagery could scare little ones)
• Attraction length: About 10 minutes
• Do we recommend? Yes
• When to Visit : First 2 or last 2 hours, or anytime with Genie+
• Scheduled Refurbishments
• Tip(s): Pay special attention at the end to the ghosts appearing in the mirrors as though they are part of your ride vehicle. The stretching room is often one of the scariest parts for kids, but you can ask the Cast Members at the entrance to skip it.

Description : Haunted Mansion is a dark-ride using Disney’s Omnimover system. As you board your Doom Buggy, your ghost host guides you through the spooky manor. You encounter all kinds of spirits, including the famous Madame Leota.

Haunted Mansion is located in Liberty Square, right next to Rapunzel Tower and across from Memento Mori.

Download the PDF

How to Ride Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion has a Standby Line and a Lightning Lane. There is no Single Rider Line .

The Standby Line varies depending on the part of the day, but can be longer in the middle of the day.

Eligible guests can also ride Haunted Mansion during Extended Evening Theme Park Hours .

Do I need to use Genie+ at Haunted Mansion?

If you plan to visit Haunted Mansion in the afternoon when it is usually at its busiest, Genie+ may save you some time.

Although a large chunk of the queue is covered, it is in the open air which can be uncomfortable on hotter days.

Be sure to check out our  touring strategies for Magic Kingdom  for more Genie+ advice.

Rider Switch/Child Swap

As there is no height requirement for Haunted Mansion, this attraction does not offer Rider Switch .

Rider Switch is Disney’s system that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.

You can learn more about Rider Switch via our handy guide.

What to Expect When You Ride

As you make your way through the open-air queue you’ll encounter the cemetery, which includes musical crypt, a leaky tomb, a ghostly writer, and more.

You’ll first spot the busts of the Dreads, which aren’t just decoration. There is a murder mystery planted among the busts that you can try to solve.

Also, pay special attention to the tombstones as you wind your way toward the building as they are tributes to the Imagineers that created the ride.

Keep your eyes peeled for Madame Leota’s headstone. She just might blink at you.

Once inside, you’ll be ushered into the “stretching room” for a spooky pre-show of sorts, then file into another queue before boarding your Doom Buggy.

Ride Vehicles

At the front of the queue you will step onto a moving sidewalk before being directed to board your Doom Buggy, a large, black, covered vehicle that will fit either two adults or two adults and a small child.

Your invisible “ghost host” will lower your safety lap bar for you.

Accessibility Information

Guests must transfer from their wheelchair or ECV. That said, ECVs and wheelchairs can navigate through the Standby Line and Lightning Lane.

After the stretching room, Cast Members will assist you prior to boarding, including helping you out of your ECV or wheelchair.

There is a separate lane next to the far right wall for you to walk to the Doom Buggy loading zone. If needed, Cast Members will stop the moving sidewalk and Doom Buggy to let you get on. 

Your wheelchair or ECV will be waiting for you at the exit of the ride. Handheld captioning is available for those who need it.

PhotoPass/On-Ride Photos

PhotoPass is available on Haunted Mansion and you may notice an unfamiliar face in your picture. Each time you ride this attraction, a new ghost will show up in your photo!

You’ll have 2 styles of on-ride photos taken.

The first has “The Haunted Mansion” printed on it and is black and white:

The second has a surprise hitchhiking ghost attached and is in color:

Your photo is taken at the end of the very first hallway. The flash goes off right at the Medusa portrait.

For those with MagicBands with a linked Memory Maker account or if you are an Annual Passholder, the photo is uploaded automatically to your My Disney Experience account. The photos will be available in the app for 45 days unless you choose to purchase them.

Guests purchasing Genie+ will receive digital downloads of their on-ride photos taken in the park on the day of their purchase, at no additional charge.

Be sure to read  more on PhotoPass  and  how Memory Maker works .

On the Ride

If you prefer to preserve the mystery behind the Haunted Mansion, you may want to skip this part to avoid any spoilers.

At Haunted Mansion you’ll receive a private tour of this eerie estate from your “Ghost Host,” a deep, disembodied voice that regales you about life, or rather after-life, at this original Magic Kingdom attraction.

Before boarding your Doom Buggy, you’ll be ushered into the stretching room where you’ll be introduced to the mansion and your host.

Tip: the door to the next room opens underneath the stretching portrait of tightrope walker Sally Slater.

Then you’ll be transported throughout this home to 999 “Happy Haunts” – but there is always room from one more!

Throughout your tour you’ll meet this cast of characters including the famous Madame Leota as she conducts a chilling séance, the ballroom filled with dancing ghosts, and Constance Hatchaway, the black widow bride.

Fun fact: Like Disneyland’s version of Haunted Mansion, Magic Kingdom’s attraction is adding the Hatbox Ghost in 2023 !

The attraction concludes with a swing through the family graveyard which is brimming with singing specters.

But beware of hitchhiking ghosts! You may end up going home with one of these phantom pranksters named Phineas (holding the carpetbag), Ezra (the tall skeleton), or Gus (the prisoner).

Is Haunted Mansion Kid-Friendly?

The Haunted Mansion ride takes place in the dark with haunting audio and contains some mildly frightening scenes, including images of skulls and ghosts that may be a bit scary for little ones.

The stretching room is often one of the scariest parts for kids, but you can ask the Cast Members at the entrance to skip it. Otherwise, there is no gore and the ride is slow-moving.

We have a full guide on several other  things that might scare little ones at WDW .

Strollers are not allowed in most queues at Walt Disney World. Instead, you’ll need to leave your stroller in the designated stroller parking area at the entrance to the queue.

When Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, Haunted Mansion was one of the original attractions in the park.

It was inspired by Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion which had opened just two years earlier and was wildly popular with guests of all ages.

While Walt Disney had envisioned a haunted house attraction for Disneyland in his original concept for also Disney World, it would not be completed until after his passing.

The attraction was designed by legendary Imagineers Claude Coates and Marc Davis. Rolly Crump and Yale Gracey worked together to create the ghostly illusions and special effects.

The mansion’s famous rollicking song, “Grim Grinning Ghosts,” was written by Xavier “X” Atencio.

While the Disneyland and Disney World Haunted Mansion experiences are similar, they are not identical.

Other Fun Details

• Madame Leota got her name from an Imagineer named Leota Toombs. The character is voiced by Eleanor Audley who also voiced Lady Tremaine ( Cinderella ) and Maleficent ( Sleeping Beauty ).
• Leota Toombs also voiced “Little Leota,” who you see at the end of the ride declaring, “Hurry back!”
• There is a Hidden Mickey on the dining room table in the banquet scene.

• Pay special attention to the graves throughout the queue. They are tributes to several Disney Imagineers, including Yale Gracey. He is referred to as “Master Gracey,” as he was a “master” of illusion and special effects at Disney.
• When you exit the ride, check out the pet cemetery on the left to spot Mr. Toad.

• Play Disney Parks is available. This free mobile app is only available for select attractions and allows guests to pass the time as they play games, trivia, and earn achievements along the way.
• This attraction has inspired two movies including the 2003 Eddie Murphy film, Haunted Mansion , and the 2021 Disney+ release, Muppets Haunted Mansion. A third film, also titled Haunted Mansion , is currently scheduled for 2023, starring Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Tiffany Haddish, and Jared Leto, with Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota.

Other Attractions in Liberty Square

• The Hall of Presidents
• Haunted Mansion
• Liberty Square River Boat

The following products and services give us a commission on sales.

• 📚 Want to learn more?
• ✈️ Ready to book a trip?
• 🚘 Need a car, stroller, or wheelchair?
• 🛍 Want to shop?

Get our free Quick Start Guide

Have our guide delivered right to your inbox with our 6-step Disney World planning process to make it less overwhelming. Snag our free guide ➡️

Take our course

Check out our course that will help you learn all about Walt Disney World planning with dozens of videos and downloadables for each step along the way.  Get access now ➡️

Our recommend travel agency

We partner with Small World Vacations, Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacations Planners in business since 1996.  Get a quote now ➡️

Want to stay deluxe on a moderate budget?

It’s 1 of our top fave ways to save! By renting DVC points, you can stay in deluxe accommodations for a fraction of the price.  Check availability ➡️

Private car service

Quicksilver Tours will transport you in style. They assist with luggage at the airport, provide car seats, and include a free grocery stop.  Book your car ➡️

Need a stroller, wheelchair, or scooter?

Buena Vista Scooters is a company with a great reputation who offers in-person resort drop off and pick up of strollers, scooters, and wheelchairs.  Book your rental ➡️

Amazon recommendations

Check out our Amazon shop with trip essentials we love.  Start shopping ➡️

WDW Prep merch

Get WDW Prep merch to show off your Disney knowledge (especially fun for spotting others during your trip!).  Check out the WDW Prep merch shop ➡️

• Recent Posts

13 Facts About Disney’s Haunted Mansion

By alan finn | aug 8, 2014.

Wikimedia Commons

Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion opened on August 9, 1969, and quickly became one of the park’s most beloved attractions. Every Magic Kingdom built since then, from Florida to Tokyo and beyond, has included some version of the Haunted Mansion. To celebrate all these years of grim, grinning ghosts, here are 13 facts about the spookiest ride ever devised by Walt Disney and his team of “Imagineers.”

1. In the Beginning

Disney first approached Imagineer Ken Anderson about the idea for a haunted attraction in 1957. Originally planned as a walk-through attraction, it would have involved maids or butlers guiding guests through the mansion and telling them about the tragic tale of a sea captain and his bride. Also planned was a “Museum of the Weird,” which would have showcased strange creatures and odd, interactive illusions.

2. An Empty House

Construction of the Haunted Mansion’s façade began in 1962 and was finished in 1963. The building sat empty after Disney and his Imagineers focused on the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. It remained that way following Disney’s death in 1966 as Imagineers, now left to their own devices, struggled to decide what to do with the attraction.

3. From Baltimore to New Orleans

longforgottenhauntedmansion

Although the Haunted Mansion is located in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square and appears to be a typical antebellum manse, it was inspired by a home almost 999 miles to the north—Baltimore. The Shipley-Lydecker House was built in Baltimore in 1803.

4. Movie Influences

Passport to Dreams Old & New

Many Haunted Mansion experts think that three films were major inspirations for the Imagineers as they completed the attraction— La Belle et La Bete , Jean Cocteau’s 1946 version of Beauty and the Beast ; The Haunting , Robert Wise’s 1963 adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House ; and the 1927 version of The Cat and the Canary . Design elements from all three movies can be seen in the ride itself.

5. Expensive Ghosts

According to an official Disneyland press release from 1969, the Haunted Mansion cost $7 million to develop and build . That translates to roughly $45 million today.

6. 999 Happy Haunts

From the very beginning, Disneyland press materials touted that 999 ghosts resided in the mansion. While the number of actual ghostly figures in the attraction has never been officially tallied, it is generally acknowledged that there’s always room for one more.

7. Different Lands

The Haunted Mansion is the only Disney attraction to be featured in different lands at each of the five Magic Kingdoms. In Disneyland, it’s in New Orleans Square. At Walt Disney World, it’s located in Liberty Square. It resides in Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland and in Frontierland at Disneyland Paris, where it’s known as Phantom Manor. At Hong Kong Disneyland, a completely different attraction known as Mystic Manor is located in Mystic Point.

8. Up or Down?

Davelandweb.com

The world-famous stretching rooms, in which guests are introduced to the attraction’s “Ghost Host,” descend at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion and at Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris. At Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland, the ceiling rises while guests remain on the same level.

9. Familiar Voices

The voice of the Ghost Host was provided by actor Paul Frees , who was also the voice of Boris Badenov on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and the Disney character Professor Ludwig von Drake. The voice of the main singing bust in the graveyard scene belongs to Thurl Ravenscroft , who voiced Tony the Tiger. Madame Leota, the disembodied head inside the crystal ball, is the voice of Eleanor Audley, who also provided the voices of Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty and the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella .

10. Dancing Ghosts

The dancing ghosts in the ballroom are created using a theatrical effect that’s been around since the early 1800s. Called the Pepper’s Ghost illusion, it’s a relatively simple trick in which illuminated objects are reflected onto a pane of glass, making them appear translucent. It’s named after John Henry Pepper, who popularized the effect.

11. Nemo’s Organ

At Disneyland, the pipe organ played by a spectral musician in the ballroom scene is the same organ used by James Mason as Captain Nemo in Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . The prop was modified for use in the Haunted Mansion. The organs used in other versions of the ride are replicas of the original.

12. Hitching a Ride

The names of the three hitchhiking ghosts guests encounter at the end of the ride are Gus, Ezra, and Phineas. Gus is the short one with the ball and chain, Ezra is the tall, skeletal one with the bowler hat, and Phineas is the one carrying the carpet bag.

13. Pet Cemetery

Both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World versions of the ride have a small pet cemetery located outside the mansion. In Walt Disney World, one can see a tombstone for J. Thaddeus Toad, the hero of the park’s long-gone attraction Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.

What To Know Before Taking Your Kids To See The Haunted Mansion Remake

It looks spooky, but also pretty funny.

One of the toughest things to pull off is finding a movie that is both funny and just scary enough for kids. Because for whatever reason, kids like a little jump scare just like the rest of us. Not too much, of course. No one wants to be up with nightmares all night, kid or adult or whoever. So what to do about the Haunted Mansion remake hitting theaters this summer? Is this going to be a fun, jump scare kind of movie, or are we talking nightmare territory for kids?

Haunted Mansion is a remake based on a Disneyland ride.

Haunted Mansion is based on the 2003 Disney live-action movie of the same name starring Eddie Murphy as a realtor who gets caught in, you guessed it, a haunted mansion. And that movie is based on the beloved ride first opened at Disneyland in Anaheim, California in 1966. This new film, directed by former Disneyland employee Justin Simien, does its best to stay as close to the lore surrounding the ride as possible. Much like the ride, this movie takes place in a haunted mansion in New Orleans , but in the film version it was recently purchased by a single mom (played by Rosario Dawson), who moves in with her son only to find it full of ghosts. In an effort to get rid of the ghosts and keep her giant house, the single mom “enlists a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters,” according to the official synopsis.

The Haunted Mansion trailer is pretty scary with some laughs.

The Haunted Mansion trailer sees Dawson warning a man entering the home (LaKeith Stanfield) to be careful as stepping over the threshold “could change the course of your life.” He says he isn’t afraid of ghosts and then promptly finds himself in scary ghost situations. Seeing a bride ghost when he looks in a mirror, running from laughing ghosts, and worst of all, trying to escape the genuinely frightening Hat Box Ghost (Jared Leto). Fortunately he has other “experts” on hand to help him out like Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, and best of all, Jamie Lee Curtis as the famous psychic Madame Leota who will be instantly recognizable to fans of the ride.

What is Haunted Mansion rated and is it appropriate for kids?

While the original Haunted Mansion movie seemed to lean a bit more on the humor, this new version looks to be scary enough to keep younger kids away. Haunted Mansion has a PG-13 rating for thematic elements and scary action. Some kids younger than 13 will probably be comfortable with the scarier parts of the movie because of the solidly funny cast, but it will most likely be too much for those under 10.

When does Haunted Mansion premiere?

Haunted Mansion premieres in theaters across the country on July 26, smack dab in the middle of summer holidays. It might be a great pick for older kids to while away a few hours in the air-conditioned movie theater. Or it might give everyone nightmares. It depends on the family.

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• All Articles
• Family Tech Planners
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

The haunted mansion, common sense media reviewers.

Spooky movie based on Disneyland ride has scares, innuendo.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Family is more important than work and money.

Jim prioritizes making money, neglecting his marri

Though written and directed by White male filmmake

Scary and spooky, with creepy and grisly images. T

Characters kiss -- once chastely and later more pa

Characters say "damn," "hell," "big-ass termites,"

The movie is based on a theme park ride. The main

Characters drink cocktails, whiskey, and wine -- n

Parents need to know that The Haunted Mansion is a spooky comedy (based on the iconic Disneyland ride) that stars Eddie Murphy as a dad who ends up trapped in an old estate filled with ghosts, demons, and zombies. There are many chase scenes involving peril to young kids, plus creepy crypt scenes and…

Positive Messages

Positive role models.

Jim prioritizes making money, neglecting his marriage and fatherhood, but he eventually learns his lesson. His son learns to be brave. His daughter acts sullenly, but she's curious and clever. Wife Sara puts up with her husband but needs to be saved, having very little agency throughout the film.

Diverse Representations

Though written and directed by White male filmmakers, The Haunted Mansion stars Eddie Murphy and centers around a Black family. But the inclusion is skin-deep, as there aren't any references to race. Female characters like Sara are portrayed as smart, but they're also damsels in distress who need to be saved. Outdated language includes a man jokingly called "a scary albino," while another character is repeatedly referred to as a "gypsy."

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Scary and spooky, with creepy and grisly images. Talk of the mother of the family in the haunted house having died via suicide in a past life. Quick shots of an adult hanging from a noose. Poisoning. Lots of chases and peril involving ghosts and skeletons, including skeletons chasing children. Kids are put into a chest by a ghost. Frequent demonic noises.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Characters kiss -- once chastely and later more passionately. A kid has a swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated ; cover briefly shown. Sexual innuendo includes "getting jiggy," "whacking it" (about killing a spider), and "look at the size of those knockers" (about a door).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Characters say "damn," "hell," "big-ass termites," and "a scary albino." "Crap" muttered by a 10-year-old. "Aw, Christ" and "oh my God." A woman is repeatedly referred to as a "gypsy." Sexual innuendo includes "getting jiggy," "whacking it" (about killing a spider), and "look at the size of those knockers" (about a door).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

The movie is based on a theme park ride. The main family drives a BMW.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters drink cocktails, whiskey, and wine -- no one acts drunk. Cigar smoking.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Haunted Mansion is a spooky comedy (based on the iconic Disneyland ride) that stars Eddie Murphy as a dad who ends up trapped in an old estate filled with ghosts, demons, and zombies. There are many chase scenes involving peril to young kids, plus creepy crypt scenes and references to death via suicide and poisonings (along with brief images of an adult hanging from a noose). A ghost is dragged into a fiery pit. Strong language includes "hell," "ass," "Christ" (as an exclamation), "damn," and "crap," plus repeated references to a "gypsy." Sexual innuendo includes "getting jiggy," "whacking it," and "look at the size of those knockers." Characters kiss, and a swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated is briefly visible. Though written and directed by White male filmmakers, the movie centers around a Black family. A different movie inspired by the same ride was released in 2023 . To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (25)
• Kids say (29)

Based on 25 parent reviews

Definitely not PG

What's the story.

During a family trip with his wife, Sara ( Marsha Thomason ), and two kids, workaholic realtor Jim Evers ( Eddie Murphy ) decides to check out a tip he'd gotten from a mysterious caller about THE HAUNTED MANSION outside of town. After the Evers family arrives, a storm rolls in to the bayou, forcing the family to stay as overnight guests in the spooky household of Edward Gracey (Nathaniel Parker) and his butler, Ramsley ( Terence Stamp ). Once the doors slam shut, the family must solve the mystery of the spooky mansion before they can leave.

Is It Any Good?

Inspired by Disneyland's iconic ride, this spooky family comedy is about as original as you might expect (which is to say, not very). Director Rob Minkoff doesn't pull off the surprising treat that was Pirates of the Caribbean . But he does turn a six-minute ride into a 90-minute picture with a plot as thin as a spiderweb and as predictable as a Scooby-Doo episode.

The Haunted Mansion drags, despite the near-constant rushing of Jim and his children between clues. Though Jim's spiel is a lighthearted patter, jokes about "knockers" and "whacking it" feel smarmy. Madame Leota ( Jennifer Tilly ) and the barbershop quartet add a little life, but you have to wonder at a movie where disembodied heads deliver the movie's most interesting performances. Thomason shows little acting range, while Stamp's effortless performance appears to tap the actor's immense desire to be out of the movie.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about priorities and how different characters in The Haunted Mansion seem to prioritize different things. Does this happen in your own life? How do you balance your own needs with those of loved ones?

How does this movie compare with other haunted house movies? Were the scary moments too scary for younger kids ?

In what ways is this movie similar to the 2023 Disney film Haunted Mansion ? What areas are different? Does this movie feel outdated in comparison, or does it hold up well over time?

Movie Details

• In theaters : November 26, 2003
• On DVD or streaming : April 20, 2004
• Cast : Eddie Murphy , Jennifer Tilly , Terence Stamp
• Director : Rob Minkoff
• Inclusion Information : Black actors, Female actors, Asian actors
• Studio : Buena Vista
• Genre : Thriller
• Topics : Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Run time : 85 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : frightening images, thematic elements and language
• Last updated : July 27, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Haunted Mansion

Muppets Haunted Mansion

Dr. Dolittle (1998)

Ghostbusters

Scary Movies for Kids

Scary (but not too scary) halloween movies, related topics.

• Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Haunted Mansion 2023 Parents Guide Movie Review + Age Rating

By: Author mandipie4u

Posted on Last updated: August 10, 2023

Categories Entertainment , Films

Haunted Mansion 2023 is a spooktacular time with plenty of Easter Eggs from the Disney theme park ride and a New Orleans vibe. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.

Haunted Mansion 2023 releases in the United States this Friday, July 28, 2023. The film is based on the iconic Walt Disney World ride of the same name and stars Lakeith Stanfield (Paranormal Investigator Ben Matthias), Owen Wilson (Father Kent), Rosario Dawson (single mom Gabbie), Tiffany Haddish (Harriet), Jamie Lee Curtis (Madame Leota), Danny Devito (Bruce Davis), Winona Ryder (Pat), Jared Leto (Alistair Crump), Chase Dillon (Travis as Chase W. Dillon), Dan Levy, and Hasan Minhaj (Sketch Artist). The film was written by Katie Dippold, directed by Justin Simien ( Dear White People and Bad Hair ), and produced by Dan Lin. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.

If you enjoyed this Haunted Mansion 2023 parents guide movie review, check out these other articles: The Last Voyage of the Demeter parents guide movie review , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem parents guide movie review , Oppenheimer parents guide movie review , Barbie parents guide movie review , Survival of the Thickest parents guide review .

Haunted Mansion 2023 Movie Quotes

Haunted mansion 2023 parents guide.

In Haunted Mansion 2023 : A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts.

Haunted Mansion 2023 Easter Eggs

• The gates to the mansion are the same style as the ones at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
• The mansion itself is oriented in the same way as the ones at the parks.
• The door to the mansion has the same snake latch as the one in the ride.
• The bride’s portrait is a reference to the Beating Heart Bride, who died before her wedding.
• The hitchhiking ghosts are featured in the film, and they even make the same “Doom Buggy” sound as they do in the ride.
• The ballroom scene features the same music as the one in the ride.
• The attic scene features the same portrait of Madame Leota as the one in the ride.
• The film ends with the same “Grim Grinning Ghosts” song as the ride.
• The zombie in the film is a reference to the zombies that appear in the ride.
• The ballroom scene features a painting of the Hatbox Ghost, another character from the ride.
• The film’s villain, Victor Geist, is a reference to the Phantom of the Opera, who is another famous haunted character.
• The film’s title card features the same font as the one used in the ride

Haunted Mansion 2023 Age Rating Parents Guide

Let’s take a look at what concerned  parents  need to know about the age ratings of the movie before letting their younger children watch  Haunted Mansion 2023 .

Language :  Haunted Mansion 2023 does not contain coarse language or strong words; the worst younger viewers will come across are d*mn, and phrases like “son of a gun.”

Mature Content : The film has scary themes that surround ghosts (hatbox ghost, grim grinning ghosts, homicidal bride and more), murder, and death and may be too frightening for younger audiences. Some of the scary scenes include hauntings and possessions by ghosts, jump scares, graphic violence, ghostly apparitions, supernatural occurrences, attempted murder with axes and alligators, and more throughout the entire film. A scene with a séance to talk to the non-living has a major role in the movie. There is the death of a parent that could be triggering for some viewers. Characters are also shown consuming alcohol in the film.

Age Rating of the Movie Haunted Mansion 2023 : Walt Disney Pictures Haunted Mansion 2023 movie rating has an PG-13 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (Motion Picture Association of America movie ratings) for thematic elements and scary action, and the parental guidelines advisory recommends it for mature audiences, an older audience, adult audiences, young adults, teens, older children (older kids), and young audiences aged 13 years and older. The suggestion of parental guidance or a legal guardian (adult guardian) for this restricted PG-13 category is highly suggested for younger kids (young kids) under 13 years of age in this PG-13-rated film for adult material. The minimum age recommendation is 13 years old; it is not suitable for young children or small children. The film does not contain drug abuse or any drug use content or sexual references.

Overall Thoughts

Haunted Mansion ( 2023 ) is a surprisingly fun and spooky film that pays homage to the iconic Disney ride while also telling its own unique story. The film stars LaKeith Stanfield as a tour guide who helps a single mom (Rosario Dawson) and her two kids exorcise their newly bought mansion, which is inhabited by ghosts.

The film is directed by Justin Simien, who brings his own unique style to the material. Simien is known for his films Dear White People and Bad Hair , which are both known for their sharp social commentary. In Haunted Mansion 2023 , Simien uses the film’s supernatural elements to explore themes of grief, loss, and family.

The film’s cast is also excellent. Stanfield is great as the tour guide, and he has great chemistry with Dawson. The supporting cast is also strong, with Owen Wilson as a funny and charming Father Kent, the priest who is called in to help exorcise the mansion. Wilson has a knack for playing comedic characters, but he also brings a lot of sincerity to the role.

Tiffany Haddish is hilarious as Harriet, the psychic who helps Ben and Gabbie investigate the mansion. Haddish brings her own unique brand of humor to the role, and she is always a delight to watch. Danny DeVito is also great as Professor Bruce Davis, the historian who helps Ben and Gabbie learn more about the mansion’s history. DeVito brings a lot of wisdom and humor to the role, and he is particularly good in the film’s comedic moments. The supporting cast is also strong, with Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Winona Ryder, Dan Levy, and Hasan Minhaj all giving memorable performances.

The film’s visuals are also impressive. The ghosts are all well-designed and the special effects are top-notch. The film also features some beautiful cinematography, which helps to create a truly spooky atmosphere. The film is set in new orleans and totally has that “Nawlins” vibe, with jazzy music and a voodoo feel.

Overall, Haunted Mansion is a fun and spooky film that is sure to entertain fans of the ride and newcomers alike. The film is well-made and features a great cast and crew. If you’re looking for a good Halloween movie, Haunted Mansion is definitely worth checking out.

How Scary is the Haunted Mansion?

by Magic Insiders | Magic Kingdom

The Haunted Mansion is one of the most classic rides at Walt Disney World. It’s so famous since it’s initial opening at Disneyland that the ride has been replicated in every single Disney park around the world. If you’ve never been on it before, you may be wondering how haunted it really is.

I’ve ridden the Haunted Mansion as a child and as an adult and have loads of information to share on this topic!

Is The Haunted Mansion Scary?

The Haunted Mansion is not meant to be as “scary” as it is meant to be a lighthearted take on traditional haunted houses. It is filled with “grim grinning ghosts” and spooks that are more likely to make you smile than cower. However, the ride takes place in total darkness and features moving objects, eerie music and chilling scenes that can be scary for younger or more sensitive children.

Starting with the exterior, the Haunted Mansion may not seem so frightening in the sunlight, but no matter what time of day you hop aboard your “doom buggy”, the interior of the ride is very dark. This may make some guests a little uneasy.

Rest assured that nothing will pop out in front of you or even come near you during the continuously moving ride as you glide from creepy scene to funny scene. But the darkness of the ride can make you feel like something could leap out at any moment.

Most people and children won’t have a problem with Haunted Mansion. The ride shouldn’t be too overwhelming for most guests unless they have no tolerance for scary things. This ride is best compared with children’s Halloween movies like Casper the Friendly Ghost or Ghostbusters; cartoon ghosts with spooky effects.

That’s the ride in a nutshell, but you have to read a little further into the details to get a better idea of whether or not the ride is okay for everyone in your vacation group.

The Haunted Mansion Experience

The Haunted Mansion was originally created with the intent to humor audiences with a little after-life fun. While most of the haunts you’ll see on this ride are fairly tame and silly at times, there are a few moments that may get a little darker for those who scare easily.

Recommended Age

There is no height requirement or recommended age suggested by Disney. Going off our initial judgement, we think that children 5 years and older should be fine riding on the Haunted Mansion.

I was 7 years old when riding the Haunted Mansion for the first time and while I held on tightly to the adult I was with, it didn’t totally freak me out. That’s saying a lot since I haven’t generally had a high tolerance for frightening things at any age.

I believe parents should assess their child’s emotional state, give them as much information as possible about the ride and then determine whether or not this is a good idea for them.

The Haunted Mansion is just that: a large mansion with looming trees, rundown exterior and a graveyard for the entryway. There are supposedly 999 happy haunts living in this decrepit estate, which make noises under tombstones in the line queue or fly through the air inside the ride.

From start to finish, there are silly plays on words and phrases, hysterically dressed spooks and jovial songs to lighten the mood. Although the Haunted Mansion is very dark, filled with cobwebs and glow-in-the-dark objects, there’s much to enjoy about the ride.

You’ll begin by entering a dark study where the narrator tells his story on the Haunted Mansion. You’ll be escorted to a completely enclosed room with creepy pictures to set the mood for the ride and afterwards be led through a dark hallway to hop aboard your “doom buggy”.

Your “Ghost Host” will narrate the entire ride from room to room, introducing you to many different characters who can be seen bursting through coffins, holding a seance, celebrating a birthday, and eventually entering your vehicle through the beauty of mirrored technology.

Most will find the humor in all of this, but if these descriptions alone are too scary for you, I suggest watching a video of the ride before going.

Ride passes are ideal as most wait times for Haunted Mansion average about 40 minutes. You don’t want to get stuck waiting for an hour in the middle of the day here; the outdoor line is covered but gets very hot quickly.

The Haunted Mansion is set on a continuously moving track, similar to Spaceship Earth or Under the Sea with the Little Mermaid. It moves very slowly from room to room, so you won’t get jerked around while trying to watch the scenes on the ride.

The ride will stop on occasion when there is a hold up at the ride’s loading or unloading stations. This can make the experience a little more eerie for those who get stuck in one of the darkest scenes of the ride, especially if you have to wait a while before it starts back up again.

Special Effects

We don’t want to give the entire ride away, so we’ll focus on three of the most memorable special effects used in the Haunted Mansion to hopefully ease your worry about what you’ll see during the ride.

First, you’ll encounter the stretching room. It gives the illusion that the room is moving, but the walls are really just set on an expanding base that moves up and down. A hanging body is revealed on the ceiling at one point, which we think is probably the scariest that Haunted Mansion gets.

Madame Leota is the most famous ghost on this ride and her floating head can be seen in the seance room with floating instruments, charms and objects. Madame Leota is one of Disney’s original Imagineers whose face is projected onto the crystal ball at the center of the room.

The scariest part for me as a child was a hitchhiking ghost hopping into our vehicle for the ride. During this portion of the ride a cartoon ghost is projected onto the mirror in front of you to look like they’ve boarded your doom buggy. But you can very obviously tell that they are fake.

This is the extent of the most advanced special effects on the ride. Most of the ghosts are glow-in-the-dark, feature silly faces and are doing more comical things rather than scary things.

Ride Vehicle

The “Doom Buggy” is a black, half-sphere of a vehicle with a bench in the middle that can accommodate two adults or one adult with two children. It’s equipped with a pull-down lap bar to secure it’s occupants in place.

The buggies are set on a continuously moving track and allow each patron to board with ease as they move very slowly at the loading station.

There is no “best seat” on this ride; all vehicles will give you the exact same experience. They will shake a little at certain points to enhance the haunted effect and will turn for you to face certain scenes, but always stay locked to the track and never deviate.

Hopefully you now have a better idea of whether or not the Haunted Mansion is a good idea for your group. The ride may be intimidating for those who’ve never tried it, but most would agree that it’s a humorous attraction.

My best advice for anyone on the fence would be to make the jump and try it out! It’s a beloved and classic ride at all of the parks and is worth going at least once for the experience.

Planning a Trip to Magic Kingdom?

We have lots of helpful tips for first-timers and regulars alike and want you to have as much fun as we do! Check out our  guide to the best Magic Kingdom lands at Walt Disney World  so you know where to find the best experiences for your family.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

WELCOME TO MAGIC INSIDERS

Hi, I’m Chad. I’m a Disney World local, fortunate enough to be constantly up close and personal with all things Disney. Thousands of hours at parks, resorts, and restaurants have given me a special connection to the magic. I built Magic Insiders in order to share my years of experience with you.

Magicinsiders.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

• Advertising
• Privacy Policy

• Best & Worst

Select Page

Haunted Mansion – Disney+ Review (3/5)

Posted by Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard | Oct 4, 2023 | Read Time 4 min.

HAUNTED MANSION (2023) on Disney+ is a new take on a movie inspired by the Disneyland ride of the same name. It’s a horror-comedy for the whole family but do stay with your kids while watching – at least the first time. A great cast and story. Read our full 2023 Haunted Mansion  movie review here!

HAUNTED MANSION (2023) is now on Disney+ and it really is a horror-comedy for the whole family. Releasing it on Disney+ in October is brilliant and I can easily imagine younger viewers managing to watch this quite a few times before Halloween is over. The story is dark in dealing with deep grief, but the paranormal horror and the comedy keep it from getting too dark.

With a runtime of just around two hours, it is too long. If a good 15 minutes had been cut, it would definitely have made for a tighter and stronger overall experience. Having said that, I could still see myself watching this again during Halloween. Especially when wanting to introduce the wonders of horror to the next generation.

Continue reading our 2023 Haunted Mansion movie review below. It was in movie theaters this past summer and is on Disney+ (and VOD) from October 4, 2023.

From Disneyland ride to a movie

Most will probably know that this isn’t the first time the Disneyland theme park attraction “Haunted Mansion” has been adapted into a movie. 20 years ago (in 2003), Eddie Murphy starred in The Haunted Mansion . However, this new 2023 version isn’t simply a remake. Instead, it’s a completely new story and movie.

One that has quite a lot of depth and layers that will hit differently for viewers of various ages.

While this 2023  Haunted Mansion  movie is for the whole family, it is also a  horror -comedy at its core. We’re talking ghosts trying to kill living people and lots of scary moments. Also, there’s the subject of grief and even depression.

The core story in this new version features a woman (Rosario Dawson) and her son (Chase Dillon) who are looking to start their lives in a new setting. Unfortunately, the place they plan on living in  and  creating a cute Bed and breakfast is the house this movie is named for. Once realizing it’s a very haunted place, mother and son enlist a motley crew of experts to help them get rid of the paranormal squatters.

Yes, I’m oversimplifying – obviously – but you need to experience all the details firsthand.

As a treat, I can tell you that if you’ve ever tried the Disneyland ride this is based on, you should feel right at home. There are plenty of direct references to the ride, so even if it’s been a while, it’ll probably ring a bell.

So many fun characters

If there’s one character who isn’t supposed to be fun, it’s Ben Matthias. He is a scientist and doesn’t really believe in the paranormal or supernatural. Of course, all this is supposed to change, and LaKeith Stanfield plays the role of Ben perfectly. He also works really well with Rosario Dawson and Chase Dillon as the mother and son in dire need of help at the haunted mansion they’ve just purchased.

Personally, I also loved that there was never much of an issue of whether the mother, Gabbie, believed her son, Travis when he said something was off. The moment she felt something was off, she took her son and ran. A small detail, but one that matters after seeing so many  movies where parents ignore both the worries of their children  and  things happening around them.

I’m always happy to see both LaKeith Stanfield ( The Changeling series ) and Rosario Dawson ( Calls ), so it was no surprise that they worked so well in this Disney movie. However, the young Chase W. Dillon was a welcomed surprise. Kid characters can be written as over-the-top, but Chase W. Dillon ( Saint X ) manages to portray Travis in a way that made me wish he was in every scene. Some amazing talent in that kid!

Aside from the three above-mentioned actors, we have a true all-star ensemble cast in Haunted Mansion  (2023). This includes Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson , and Danny DeVito with small key roles (sometimes cameo-like) played by Daniel Levy, Winona Ryder , Jared Leto , and Jamie Lee Curtis .

Watch the 2023 Haunted Mansion  on Disney+ or VOD now!

Justin Simien is the director of  Haunted Mansion in this 2023 version and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. Sure, as a horror-comedy for the whole family, I knew it would be solid entertainment. However, the story in this movie goes a lot deeper in surprising ways. Previously, Justin Simien worked on  Bad Hair  (2020) , a Hulu movie he both wrote and directed.

The screenplay for  Haunted Mansion comes from Katie Dippold who has worked on a lot of solid comedy productions. Including horror and comedy hybrids such as the 2016 Ghostbusters   movie. A movie I still insist on was a brilliant movie and one I enjoy re-watching every now and then. As a little treat.

Along with watching this new 2023 movie as part of your Disney+ subscription, you can also buy it digitally from all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. If you do that, you’ll be getting exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus content. With this amazing cast, it might be worth considering if you enjoy that sort of thing.

Haunted Mansion (2023) is on Disney+ from October 4, 2023. 

Director: Justin Simien Writer: Katie Dippold Cast: LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, Daniel Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Winona Ryder

Haunted Mansion is the story of a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help them rid their home of supernatural squatters.

• Recent Posts

• Monster Inside – Hulu Review (3/5) - October 12, 2023
• 15 Cameras – Movie Review (3/5) - October 12, 2023
• The Fall of the House of Usher – Netflix Review - October 12, 2023

About The Author

Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!

Related Posts

Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage (4/5) – Netflix Movie Review

May 3, 2019

Revenge of the Pontianak (2/5) – Netflix Movie Review

October 24, 2019

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (4/5) – Movie Review

December 18, 2019

Isolani – Movie Review (4/5)

June 3, 2020

Pin It on Pinterest

• Magic Kingdom attractions
• Tokyo Disneyland attractions
• New Orleans Square attractions
• Liberty Square attractions
• Fantasyland attractions
• Omnimover attractions
• Kingdom Keepers locations
• Disney's Fastpass equipped attractions
• Disney Magic Kingdoms
• Português do Brasil

The Haunted Mansion (attraction)

• View history
• Magic Kingdom
• Tokyo Disneyland

The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride attraction located at Disneyland , Magic Kingdom , and Tokyo Disneyland . Although differing slightly in each location, the attraction places riders inside a haunted manor with "999 happy haunts".

At Disneyland Paris , the attraction is called Phantom Manor . A trackless version of the attraction known as Mystic Manor can be found at Hong Kong Disneyland .

The attraction's theme is a visit to a haunted house in which the ghostly residents have taken full possession of the premises. The attraction inspired the 2003 movie of the same name , starring Eddie Murphy and its 2023 reboot Haunted Mansion .

As the opening spiel says: We have nine hundred and ninety-nine happy haunts here, but there's room for a thousand. Any volunteers?

• 1 Disneyland
• 2 Magic Kingdom
• 3 Tokyo Disneyland
• 4.1.1 Interactive Queue
• 4.3.1 Portrait Gallery
• 4.4 The Load Area
• 4.5 The Portrait Hallway
• 4.6 The Library
• 4.7 The Conservatory
• 4.8 The Music Room
• 4.9.1 The Endless Hallway and the Corridor of Doors
• 4.9.2 The Seance Circle
• 4.9.3 The Ballroom
• 4.9.4 The Attic
• 4.9.5 The Graveyard
• 4.9.6 The Exit
• 5 Effects and Music
• 6 Haunted Mansion Holiday
• 7 The 1,000 th Happy Haunt
• 8.1 Other Differences
• 9.1 Haunted Mansion Holiday
• 9.2 2006 (Disneyland)
• 9.3 2007 (Walt Disney World)
• 11.1 Kinect: Disneyland Adventures
• 11.2 Adventures in the Magic Kingdom
• 11.3 Mickey's Great Adventure in Tokyo Disneyland
• 12 Television Appearances
• 14 References
• 15 See also

Disneyland [ ]

Originally conceived in the mid-1950s by Walt Disney as a walk-through ghost house, artist Harper Goff was tapped to conceptually design the attraction. The house originally had a rural American design and was intended to be at the end of a crooked path that led away from Disneyland's Main Street, U.S.A. . Eventually, the decision was made to place it in New Orleans Square and thus the mansion's exterior was themed as an antebellum home.

The attraction went through many concept changes before its facade was completed in 1963 , six years before it would open to the public, delayed by Disney's involvement in the 1964 New York World's Fair . At one point, it was conceived as a walk-through that would empty out into an exhibit called "The Museum of the Weird". Conceptual drawings were done for this concept, but the Museum of the Weird would be left on the drawing board due to the walk-through idea being shot down in favor of making the attraction a ride-through.

In what might be considered to be a unique twist to a supposedly "abandoned" structure, the exterior appears pristine and the surrounding grounds are meticulously maintained. Designers wanted to make the exterior look like a stereotypical run-down and decrepit haunted house, but Walt himself overrode the idea, claiming "we'll take care of the outside and let the ghosts take care of the inside."

On August 9 , 1969 , the attraction officially opened to the public and has remained mostly unchanged, with the exception of the yearly conversion into "Haunted Mansion Holiday" discussed below.

Magic Kingdom [ ]

The Magic Kingdom version was produced in conjunction with the Disneyland one, as they would only open about two years apart from each other. This meant that two of every figure, prop, and scenic element were produced at the same time, the sole exceptions being new Florida exclusive elements such as the Library and Music Room. Because of this, it was the first of the park's attractions to complete construction and installation.

As New Orleans Square was replaced by Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom's design plans, the attraction's exterior would take on an entirely different look to match. Intended to evoke Upstate New York and New England horror stories such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the works of Edgar Allen Poe, the attraction took on a "Dutch Gothic" appearance that would more strongly communicate the haunted interior.

It has had several changes over the years, with various queue enhancements taking place in 2001 and 2011 . The largest changes would come in 2007 after a year-long refurbishment called "The Re-Haunting", which would incorporate some of the various incremental changes made at Disneyland in previous years, such as the introduction of a floating Madame Leota and the new attic bride Constance Hatchaway as well as new things like the Endless Staircase and enhanced audio in the Stretching Room. 2011 would also see the replacement of the Hitchhiking Ghosts mirror effect with new computer generated ghosts.

Sometime in the 90s, Cast Members had created their own history of the house and compiled the stories onto a website known as the Ghost Gallery . Though unofficial, it has had a significant influence on media adaptations such as the 2003 film and Slave Labor Graphics comic series and some of the character names, such as those of the Hitchhiking Ghosts were officially adopted. It is also responsible for the confusion over the Ghost Host and Master Gracey being the same character.

Tokyo Disneyland [ ]

Early plans for Tokyo Disneyland would have placed the attraction in the middle of Westernland on the shores of the Rivers of America . However, upon seeing the popularity of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in the American parks, it was decided late in the park's planning to relocate the attraction to Fantasyland and build Big Thunder Mountain Railroad on the spot after the park's opening. [1] This new placement in Fantasyland would be justified by the prominent role that ghosts and spirits held in Japanese folktales.

The mansion itself borrows heavily from the Florida version, albeit with many differences. In addition to a different queue, the mansion itself is more rundown and decrepit, similar to concept art of the original mansion in California. The idea of a decrepit exterior would also be used for the design of Phantom Manor .

Since 2004 , Tokyo Disneyland has hosted the Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare overlay for the Halloween and Christmas season, resulting from Magic Kingdom management rejecting an offer for their own Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.

In 2023, the Haunted Mansion got a Disney Story Beyond update.

Attraction Walkthrough [ ]

He rode to glory

In the California version, the queue is located outside the mansion, passing a pet cemetery which leads into a spooky parlor with cast members dressed up as maids and butlers. It is based on the "Shipley-Lydecker" house in Baltimore, Maryland (as shown above, in black and white) and sits pushed to the back of a very well-kept lot. The foyer is where the guests begin their tour of the mansion. Flickering candles light the room from sconces and the sole chandelier, while an organ plays a single-note melodic line which serves as the theme for the rest of the ride. A mirror is at the entrance. After enough guests have gathered in the foyer, the Ghost Host introduces himself and welcomes everyone to the attraction. From there, the guests are brought into an octagonal room, where the door by which they entered becomes a wall and the chilling voice of the Ghost Host taunts them:

As the voice speaks, the walls quietly seem to stretch upwards, elongating the paintings on them to reveal the fates of previous guests. (For instance, one man - noted in an early script as " Alexander Nitrokoff " - is seen to be standing on a keg of dynamite with a candle lighting the fuse.) The lights go out, lightning and thunder effects fill the gallery and, in a rare instance of Disneyland's "dark humor", a glimpse of the earthly remains of the Ghost Host are shown dangling by a noose from the ceiling rafters above - his "way out". A loud, ear-piercing scream is heard, followed by the sound of skeleton bones clattering.

In the California version, the room is, in fact, an elevator with no roof that is being lowered slowly to give the illusion that the room itself is stretching; this brings the guests down to where the ride begins, below ground level. The ceiling above is a piece of fabric called a scrim, which conceals the hanging body until it is lit from above. This elevator effect was necessary to lower the guests below the level of the park-circling Disneyland Railroad .

The actual ride building of the attraction is located outside the berm surrounding the park and the Imagineers developed this mechanism to lower the guests down to the hallway leading to the actual ride building. It is interesting to note that although it is not necessary to lower the guests at the other theme parks, this effect of the stretching room is still used at the other instances of this attraction at the other Disney theme parks, not as an elevator like at Disneyland, but by raising the roof of the room.

In the Florida version, the queue for the attraction begins at the entrance of Liberty Square coming from Fantasyland , in a way bridging the gap between fantasy and reality. The line snakes around the front of the attraction's facade and in front of a hearse, before winding around the riverbank shore of the Rivers of America and turns inland to the side of the attraction. Here, we see the family plot for the family that lived in the mansion prior to our arrival. To the left side of the walkway are gravestones, while in front of us are a pair of black doors, that will open as soon as the attraction is ready for us. An awning was added to the queue a few years after the ride was opened, providing shade for those in line. In 2011 , as part of Disney's NextGen initiative, an interactive extension to the queue's graveyard was added, diverting from the primary queue path. Several large crypts, as well as relocated tombstones are now located here, including a musical tomb implied to belong to the attraction's Organist, a water and bubble emitting tomb for the Sea Captain of the Sinister 11 paintings, and a tomb for a poet with a bad case of writer's block, calling from beyond the grave for help with her rhyming. There is also a series of busts of a family that call out for guests to solve the mystery of who murdered the group. In addition to these interactive elements, some new stones and crypts have homages to more Imagineers and people involved in the attraction.

At night, the exterior is illuminated with an eerie purple light, and lights in the windows flicker. Every now and then, shadowy figures block the lights in the windows and loom out of view before lighting (which is merely a strobe effect) strikes. During Halloween, music outside the mansion is much more prominent, more lighting effects are scattered around the cemetery, and fog machines are scattered throughout the queue, but the ride itself remains unchanged.

Interactive Queue [ ]

The Florida version now features an interactive queue area. A musical crypt, a leaky tomb, and a ghost writer are among the creepy haunts located just outside the main entrance. These new hands-on experiences include:

• The Dread Family - A series of busts of a family that once lived in the mansion that killed each other over inheriting a large fortune. Epitaphs for each bust offer clues to figure out who killed who, with the solution of who the final survivor was being placed in portrait form next to the Hitchhiking Ghosts at the end of the ride.
• The Musical Crypt - Tap any of the embossed musical instruments on this creepy crypt to hear a haunted tune mysteriously play.
• Sepulcher of the Sea Captain - Water leaks and bubbles rise from this age-old tomb as the Captain inside sings a long-lost tune. Beware of a drizzling sneeze!
• Tomb of the Posthumous Poetess - Words inexplicably appear upon the poetess’ tomb but she needs your help in overcoming a deadly dose of writer’s block.
• The Secret Library - Push in the books that mysteriously pop out at this haunted bookcase that includes a cryptogram for you to decipher.

In the Tokyo version, the queue is very similar except for the fact that it does not go along the shoreline of the Rivers of America. Also in the queue, two stone gargoyles also stand on the pillars of the gate, occasionally turning their heads to look at us. Instead of having a family burial plot to the side of the house, this scene was moved to the front of the attraction and was replaced with a stone crypt with falling debris and a secret part of the mansion not seen at the Florida version.

When hinges creak in doorless chambers. When strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls. Whenever candlelights flicker when the air is deathly still... That is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. - The Ghost Host

Upon entering the house, we are greeted by a dimly lit hallway. Following this hallway, we enter a foyer, which features a fireplace to the left side. There is a picture hanging above the fireplace, which shows a handsome, young man (quite possibly the owner of the mansion). Our Ghost Host welcomes us and gives his usual spiel. As he is talking, the picture above the fireplace starts to change, showing the many ages of the man until his final days. One of the walls opens up next to the picture, revealing an octagonal room.

The Stretching Room [ ]

Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to the Haunted Mansion! I am your host, your Ghost Host! MUAHAHAHA! Our tour begins here in this gallery. Here where you see paintings of some of our guests, as they appeared in their corruptible, mortal state. - The Ghost Host

This two story room features four pictures (these pictures look like the California version's Stretching Room pictures, aside from a few differences). The wall that let us in to this room immediately closes, and the pictures on the walls begin to stretch. As these pictures stretch, we are shown the terrible fates of the people in the pictures. The Ghost Host then begins to tell us that we are not much better off than the people in these pictures: we are trapped inside this room with no possible way to escape. Well, states the ghost host, "there's always my way." Suddenly, the roof above us disappears, revealing an attic. In it, it reveals the Ghost Host (presumably) committing suicide by hanging. A loud, frightening scream is heard, and the lights go dark.

Unlike California and Paris ' Stretching Rooms which act as elevators, this version does not need to take its guests underground, under the railroad tracks to a show building. However, the Stretching Room effect proved so popular, it was installed in Florida - the ceiling of the room stretches upward, but the guests are not moved to a lower floor. The Stretching Room has since become a staple of Haunted Mansions.

It should also be noted that there is a slight difference between the spiels of the American parks here. In the California version, the Ghost Host says "Our tour begins here in this gallery, where you see paintings of some of our guests, as they appeared in their corruptible, mortal state." He says "where" as if he were to say "Here where" but was cut off, and ends up saying something to the effect of "h-where". In the Florida version, this error has been corrected and the Ghost Host says "Here where". The California version also has the Ghost Host introduce the paintings after telling the guests to "Kindly step all the way in... and make room for everyone," whereas the Florida version has the paintings mentioned before.

Portrait Gallery [ ]

When the walls finally do open, guests are ushered into a hallway lined with paintings that change from normal to "spooky" every few seconds. A simulated thunderstorm rages outside while the grim busts of a man and woman placed at the end of the hall seem to turn their heads in relation to the viewer's perspective. The effect, patented by Disney, was achieved by creating a negative image using a mold. This effect was discovered when the eyes in a mask created for the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction appeared to follow the observers. Lighting effects give the illusion of a positive image.

The Load Area [ ]

Oh, I didn't mean to frighten you prematurely. The real chills come later. Now, as they say, "look alive", and we'll continue our little tour, and let's all stay together, please. - The Ghost Host

Having left our mortal selves behind, we are now able to travel through walls and escape the stretching room. We encounter a long hallway, leading to a short queue that is used to board the Doom Buggies, as opposed to a large open-windowed area featuring an orange spider but also containing cobwebs and chandeliers. The Ghost Host's spiel has been cut in half from the California version, mainly because there is nothing to look at in the hallways in the Florida and Tokyo versions, with one exception; the Florida version loading hall contains seven of the " Sinister 11 " portraits: The Arsonist, Jack the Ripper, The Mariner , Hatchet Man, The Witch of Walpurgis, Dracula , and The Old Man. The other four portraits: The Couple, December , The Opera Glasses Lady, and Medusa are located elsewhere. In Tokyo, this hall instead has large urns adorning the walls.

The Portrait Hallway [ ]

Concept art for the new Portrait Hallway

Do not pull down on the safety bar, please - I will lower it for you; and heed this warning: the spirits will materialize only if you remain quietly seated at all times. Oh yes, and no flash pictures, please. We spirits are frightfully sensitive to bright lights. - The Ghost Host

After boarding our Doom Buggies, we go under a landing that features a dimly-lit candle. We then enter the Portrait Hallway, which in the Florida version until 2007 , featured all the Sinister 11 portraits with eyes that follow you. In 2007, the Portrait Hallway was redone to be an exact copy of the one in the California version (windows on one side, pictures that change when lightning strikes on the other). It also features a new organ.

The Library [ ]

Our library is well stocked with priceless first editions, only ghost stories of course; and marble busts of the greatest ghost writers the literary world has ever known. - The Ghost Host

Leaving the Hallway behind, we enter a library. There are hundreds of books here, some of them being pulled off of their shelves- with no one in sight. The book ladder slides across a beam on the top of the book shelves by itself, and chairs rock back and forth. We only stay in the library for a few moments, and then we move on into the Music Room.

It should be noted that the Library is the only scene in the Florida and Tokyo versions that is not in the California and Paris versions.

The Conservatory [ ]

We then pass a coffin whose occupant is trying to get out, screaming," Let me out of here!"

The Music Room [ ]

They have all retired here to the Haunted Mansion. Actually, we have 999 happy haunts here, but there's room for a thousand. Any volunteers?? Hmm? - The Ghost Host

Leaving the Library behind, we enter a large room that features a staircase, a large window, and a piano. Upon close inspection, we notice that the piano itself is playing a haunting rendition of the Screaming Song . Upon even closer inspection, we see a shadow on the floor that seems to be playing the piano.

Until 1994 , the California version did not have a Music Room. This was changed during a refurb, in which the pianist was relocated to the attic.

The Stairway [ ]

Concept art of the new Stairway scene

Well, if you should decide to join us, final arrangements may be made at the end of the tour. A charming "ghostess" will be on hand to take your application. - The Ghost Host

We leave the music room and climb up a stairway, exactly the same stairway that we begin our ride in the California and Paris versions. However, the staircase used here features many other staircases as well, each one going in a different direction. Some are upside-down, some are tilted, and some feature footsteps and candles as well as entrances to doors.

Prior to 2007 in the Florida version, right after you climbed the staircase, you entered a pitch-black room and saw giant spiders on spiderwebs on either side of you before passing the Endless Hallway and entering the Corridor of Doors. These were replaced by the blinking eyes that fade into the wallpaper effect that is in place now, although the spiders remain in the Tokyo version. The spiders themselves in the Florida version were repainted to appear more exotic, and make a reappearance in the Jungle Cruise . There was also early concepts circulating this area that would have the area much more riddled with cobwebs with either a corpse or a screaming man, with the screaming man rumored to have been in the ride but quickly removed due to being too frightening. Concepts for the corpse ensnared in cobwebs exist, though the screaming man's existence has never been confirmed.

These stairs seem strikingly similar to M.C Escher's " Relativity " painting, in which staircases are everywhere and appear to defy physics and perspective. The stairs are also a shoutout to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. The Mystery House itself is a vast maze-like mansion in which stairs seem to lead nowhere, doors open up to walls, and a lot of rooms appear to be false due to the original owner's superstitious belief. Walt Disney had originally visited the house and had an idea for a physics defying room for his haunted attraction project (which later became the Haunted Mansion.) Coincidentally, the Winchester Mystery House is also considered haunted.

The Endless Hallway and the Corridor of Doors [ ]

From here, the guests travel up a staircase and begin the guided tour of the house. They pass an endless hallway, through the music room, and a conservatory containing a coffin whose occupant is trying to get out. They then travel down a corridor of doors. Finally, the guests' attention is directed towards a large grandfather clock which is striking thirteen as an eerie shadowy hand passes by.

The Seance Circle [ ]

After the corridor of doors, guests move into a seance circle, hosted by Madame Leota - a disembodied head inside of a crystal ball. After this encounter, it seems that the happy haunts "have received your sympathetic vibrations and are beginning to materialize." From here, the Doom Buggies move up another flight of stairs and up to a balcony overlooking the ballroom.

The Ballroom [ ]

In the ballroom, the Doom Buggies pass a ballroom where ghosts dance in mid-air through the use of "Pepper's Ghost" (an effect from the Victorian era which makes figures appear ghostly). Also taking place in the ballroom is a birthday party and with each effort of the birthday girl to blow out the candles, the rest of the figures sitting at the table disappear and reappear. There are also two ghostly gunmen coming out of their portraits to fire their guns at each other.

An important part of Disney history is located in this scene. The pipe organ on the far left of the scene is the original prop from the 1954 film, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . Prior to the construction of the attraction, it had been on display in an attraction in Tomorrowland . A ghostly organist plays upon the instrument as banshee heads float from their pipes.

The Attic [ ]

Guests enter the attic, where they are shown wedding portraits of Constance Hatchaway --a bride with a terrible habit of murderous decapitating her husbands.

This May 3 , 2006 change to the attic scene is quite possibly the most ambitious to date. The previous versions of the scene were lit with black lights and fluorescent paint. Ghouls and shrunken heads on vertical lines attached to the floor and ceiling would occasionally pop out from inside their boxes with help from blasts of compressed air. A faceless ghostly bride with glowing blue eyes and red pulsing heart rocked slowly back and forth near the exit to the graveyard scene.

The changes include some groundbreaking optical effects and a considerably darker storyline. In the new scene, wedding gifts are neatly stacked throughout the attic along with five corresponding wedding portraits. The bride, whose name is Constance (with her body played by Julia Lee and voiced by Kat Cressida ), is the same in each portrait, with her husband being different each time. In each portrait, the head of each husband slowly disappears and reappears as the bride admits to doing each of them in. The new bride, now appearing to the left of the scene's exit, utilizes sophisticated digital video projection inside a mannequin in a manner similar to Madame Leota to present the bride and her confessions. A hatchet appears and disappears in her hands throughout her monologue.

Just as they exit the attic and head onto the balcony, guests come face to face with the Hatbox Ghost , whose head disappears from his body and reappears in the hatbox that he's holding in his hand.

The Graveyard [ ]

From here, the guests descend down to a graveyard full of " Grim Grinning Ghosts " who have come out to "socialize." Guests pass a frightened caretaker and his dog, then enter the graveyard proper. A band of musicians is playing, a quintet is singing, and many other spooks are enjoying the "swinging wake". A skeletal wolf can be seen in the background, howling into the sky.

From here, the guests enter the crypt and are issued this warning: "Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts ." Guests learn that they have been selected to fill the quota of 1000 happy haunts and that they will be haunted until they return - the safety bar will be raised and a ghost will follow them home! Guests pass a group of mirrors where a ghost seems to sit right in the Doom Buggy. Afterward, they arrive at the unload area.

The Exit [ ]

After the guests' exit out of the Doom Buggies, they pass through the remainder of the crypt and see the " Ghost Hostess " (unofficially dubbed by WED as "Little Leota"), who eerily invites the guests back and reminds them to bring their "death certificates" the next time they come. She also tells them to hurry back.

Effects and Music [ ]

The special effects used in the attraction were groundbreaking for the time.

Though the setting is spooky, the mood is kept light by the upbeat "Grim Grinning Ghosts" theme which plays throughout the ride. The music was composed by Buddy Baker and the lyrics written by X Atencio . The deep voice of Thurl Ravenscroft sings as part of a quartet of singing busts in the graveyard scene. Ravenscroft's face is used as well, as it is projected onto one of the busts, specifically one with a detached head. Spooky sound effects such as a coyote and wolf howl can be heard.

The other incarnations of the ride are very similar but have their differences. It is the only ride to appear in each of the Disney theme parks in a different location in the park. The Florida version is located in Liberty Square and has a New England facade, likely because the intention there was to base the attraction around the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman .

Tokyo Disneyland placed the attraction in Fantasyland. The Paris version is in Frontierland , named Phantom Manor, and features different music (although it still contains the "Grim Grinning Ghosts" theme), an Old West theme, and a more cohesive storyline than the other three versions (an opening narration by Vincent Price was recorded but not used, and is available on the soundtrack). The Florida and Tokyo versions still have a stretching octagonal room to greet their guests, though in these three the ceiling actually raises instead of the floor moving; there was no need to use an elevator in those Mansions.

Haunted Mansion Holiday [ ]

Beginning in 2001 , the California version is redecorated from September (just prior to Halloween) until just after the new year into Haunted Mansion Holiday , featuring characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas . In 2004 , the Tokyo version received a copy of the overlay called "Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare".

The 1,000 th Happy Haunt [ ]

On October 21 , 2004 , a bidder on a Disney-sponsored auction on eBay won the right to be the first non-Disneyland employee to have his name added to an attraction. Cary Sharp, a doctor and health-care attorney from Baton Rouge , Louisiana placed a winning bid of $37,400 ( US ) to become the "1000th ghost" with the addition of his nickname, a joke epitaph, and the signatures of Disney Imagineers on a tombstone to be displayed in the attraction. Its placement was guaranteed for ten years and will remain as a permanent exhibit.

According to the Los Angeles Times , the opening bid of $750 was placed by horror novelist Clive Barker . Sharp, who had only visited Disneyland once before, placed the bid in good faith as a way to entertain his friends and never expected to win. The tombstone, with the name of "Jay" on it, is located in the finale and can be seen just as the "Doom Buggy" enters the graveyard gates. The money was donated to the Boys and Girls Club , with half of the monies raised going to the local Anaheim chapter of the main charity and the other half going to the Baton Rouge chapter.

Recent changes [ ]

With a few exceptions, the California version has remained largely unchanged since its 1969 opening.

When the 2004–2005 edition of the "Haunted Mansion Holiday" overlay was removed, two significant changes were made at the same time:

• The first was to the portraits in the gallery scene. The portraits were originally backlit and "morphed" from normal to haunted scenes. Today, they are darkened and the morphing occurs in stroboscopic synchronization with the simulated thunderstorm outside. One portrait, that of a young woman who morphs into an old hag (occasionally referred to as the " April–December " portrait), has been replaced by that of an aristocratic gentleman (often incorrectly identified as Master Gracey) who morphs into a skeleton, arguably a more frightening change. This is actually a change back to a very early version of the effect originally implemented in 1969 but this time it changes to Medusa. Examples of this effect can be viewed on the March 22 , 1970 , episode of The Wonderful World of Disney titled " Disneyland Showtime ".
• The second change was to the seance room. The disembodied head of fortuneteller Madame Leota, who spoke from within a crystal ball mounted to the table, now floats around above the table while still within its ball. The effect was one of the attraction's most sophisticated from the onset and involved a complicated projection system invented and patented by Disney specifically for the attraction.
• The Hatbox Ghost, who had previously been removed during the attraction's first week of opening, was reinstated on May 9 , 2015 , in Disneyland as part of its 60th anniversary celebration after a 46 year absence. He will be added to the Magic Kingdom version in 2023.

Other Differences [ ]

From there, the attraction is nearly exactly the same as the California and Paris versions. Here are some more differences.

• The Ghost Host has additional narration going through the corridor of doors and even introduces Madame Leota. In the Florida version, he stops speaking at "...Shh, listen." and begins speaking at "The happy haunts have received your sympathetic vibrations..." However, the extra Disneyland narration was removed, as the attraction didn't open with these tracks in the first place.
• In Florida's Seance Room, there is a wispy green light on the far right corner, that floats around in circles. In the California version, this light forms a skull. In the Tokyo version, a specter floats around the entire room.
• Until 1994, all the Attics (stateside versions) were the same. In 1994, the pianist that is shown in the Florida version was added to the California version's Attic and played a chilling rendition of the Wedding March, to help match the theme of The Bride in the Attic. The popup ghosts were given top hats and suits and started shouting "I do!", mocking The Bride by yelling the words she never was able to say. In 2006, the California version's Attic was redone and the storyline of the attraction reworked. The Bride and the popup ghosts were taken out, and a new Bride was put in. An axe would appear every so often in the new Bride's hands, playing on the fact that the new Bride was supposedly a "Black Widow" Bride who would kill her rich husbands for their money. The Florida version has received the new Bride, but the Tokyo version has not. Voice actress Kat Cressida provides the voice of the new bride, named Constance.
• As you descend from the Attic window in the California version, you see tall, dead trees akin to the ones in Snow White's Scary Adventures with knobs and holes as faces and their branches in the shape of arms and fingers, "reaching" for the guests. Contrary to popular belief, these trees do not move. The position they are in suggests movement, but they do not move. The Florida version also has them, but minus the "faces" and the branches are not like reaching arms. They are also not as well defined than the ones in the California version, so it is easy to miss them.
• The stars in California's graveyard scene are fiber-optic (akin to those used in its version of Peter Pan's Flight ). Until the 2007 refurbishment, in which the stars in Florida's graveyard were updated to fiber-optics as well, the stars were glow-in-the-dark stickers.
• In Florida and Japan's graveyard scenes, instead of the version of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" where there is only one character singing at a time in California's graveyard scene, all of the characters are singing it loudly at once.
• The popup ghosts within the graveyard originally popped up after each verse, screaming loudly while doing so. At some point, the timing was removed, making the popups more randomized, and the screams were removed as well.
• The "la-da singer" can also be heard in Story and Song from The Haunted Mansion album. In the album, the singer sings in short, staccato la's, while the current Japan version sings in long, legato la's.
• The Hooded Phantom in the mausoleum right before you get to the Opera Singer has his left hand in the shape of a Hidden Mickey in the Florida version. The Hooded Phantom in the California version has both arms at his side.
• Little Leota is part of the Florida version of the ride, before you get off. She is chanting "Hurry back... Hurry back... Be sure to bring your...death certificate." In the California version, you see her as you are going up a moving ramp.
• Right after seeing Little Leota as you are exiting the Florida version, the Ghost Host has final safety instructions for you: "Now, I will raise the safety bar and a ghost will follow you home! Kindly watch your step please...watch your step." In the California version, the Ghost Host's spiel ends with "They have selected you to fill our quota, and will haunt you until you return! Muahahahahahaha!" with someone else doing an exit spiel.
• In the Florida version, you walk through another hallway to get out of the attraction, walking past doors labeled "Servant's Quarters". Outside, you pass by a mausoleum, with a memorial to Bluebeard . You then pass a pet cemetery before exiting right in front of the Memento Mori shop. In the California version, the exit leaves you on the same street that you entered the attraction from (as if nothing ever happened), bringing the experience full circle.
• The Florida version's Mirror Finale with the Hitchhiking Ghosts has been virtual since 2012 with facial recognition technology. As of April 17 , 2016 , the Hitchhiking Ghosts now recognize your name if you are wearing a Magic Band, utilizing NFC technology. They may take your name and put it on a tombstone epitaph.

Voice Cast [ ]

• Ghost Host - Paul Frees
• Man in Coffin - Xavier Atencio
• Madame Leota - Eleanor Audley
• Executioner - Bill Days
• Mummy - Allan Davies
• Prisoner - Candy Candido
• Falling Woman, Dog, Wolf, Raven - Jimmy MacDonald
• Deaf Old Man, Whimpering Dog, Stretch Room screams - Dallas McKennon
• Bust #4 (Ned Nub) - Jay Meyer
• Opera Ghost - Loulie Jean Norman
• Bust #2 (Uncle Theodore) - Thurl Ravenscroft
• Little Leota - Leota Toombs
• Duchess - Betty Wand
• Ghost Host - Corey Burton
• Barrel - Danny Elfman

2006 (Disneyland) [ ]

• Constance Hatchaway - Kat Cressida

2007 (Walt Disney World) [ ]

• The California version opened the same day the infamous Manson murders occurred in Beverly Hills.
• The attraction is based on the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California which Walt Disney actually visited.
• Many characters featured in the attraction, such as Master Gracey and Madame Leota, are named after Disney Imagineers , such as Yale Gracey and Leota Toombs .
• By coincidence, Adult Swim itself also later released stop motion crossovers based on Rick and Morty alongside sci-fi/horror films such as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids .
• The more-gothic black version outside Magic Kingdom's version was rumored to have held the bones of Disney child actor Bobby Driscoll , but is mainly false as he was buried in Hart Island, New York. The Florida hearse is also a bit of a movie star in its own right as it was previously used in the Western film The Sons of Katie Elder starring John Wayne. [3]
• It is referenced in the Dinosaurs episode " Variations on a Theme Park " as "The Haunted Slaughterhouse".
• The Halloween Party from Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Happy Haunting: Party at Disneyland! takes place at the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. Although none of the interior shots were filmed at the actual Mansion, the sets still contain references to the attraction though.

Video Games [ ]

Kinect: disneyland adventures [ ].

The California version is featured in the Frontier Developments game Kinect: Disneyland Adventures .

Adventures in the Magic Kingdom [ ]

The attraction appears as a side-scrolling level in the NES game Adventures in the Magic Kingdom . The player must defeat ghosts by throwing candles at them to retrieve one of the keys.

Mickey's Great Adventure in Tokyo Disneyland [ ]

• The Tokyo version is featured in the Japanese Super Famicom game Mickey's Great Adventure in Tokyo Disneyland .

Television Appearances [ ]

• A Behind the Scenes look on The Haunted Mansion was featured in the 2021 Disney+ series Behind the Attraction .
• The Haunted Mansion crossovered with The Ghost and Molly McGee in Chibi Tiny Tales and Random Rings .

Gallery [ ]

References [ ]

• ↑ https://twitter.com/MarcSasaki/status/1095502835230244864
• ↑ http://www.insidethemagic.net/2016/10/haunted-mansion-materializes-in-new-disney-robot-chicken-produced-stop-motion-commercials/
• ↑ https://hauntedmansion.fandom.com/wiki/Hearse

See also [ ]

• Haunted Mansion Holiday
• Phantom Manor , a similar attraction at Disneyland Paris
• Mystic Manor , a similar attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland
• Happy Haunting: Party at Disneyland , a Disney sing-along video that was featured at the attraction
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror , a supernatural-themed drop tower attraction at the Disney theme parks.
• 1 Once Upon a Studio

A Brief History of Disney: The Haunted Mansion

The November installment of this mini-series, A Brief History of Disney , is one I have been excited about. The Haunted Mansion is an attraction loved around the world, literally . A form of this ride appears in Disneyland (Haunted Mansion), Walt Disney World (Haunted Mansion), Tokyo Disneyland (Phantom Manor), Disneyland Paris (Mystic Manor), and Hong Kong Disneyland (Mystic Manor). The only park not to feature a version of this attraction is Shanghai Disneyland, with the reason said to be around the Chinese culture’s sensitivity to ghosts and ancestral spirits.

Let’s go back and start at the beginning. In the 1950s, a Disney legend named Harper Goff sketched out a run-down building atop of hill overlooking Main Street. Fellow Imagineer, Ken Anderson, was chosen to expand on the idea, building a storyline and plan for a haunted building to take its place in New Orleans square. The old and tired building would be complete with boarded-up windows and doors, overgrown weeds and plants, as well as bats and screeching cats.

Disney was interested in the concept but didn’t like the idea of having a dilapidated building in the middle of their beautifully architectured park. A visit to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose provided the perfect inspiration, and before long, Anderson imagined storylines for the expansive, mansion-style building. The new concept made for the ideal compromise in allowing disturbing beauty on the outside while the inner walls had all manner of spooky stories to tell.

The Haunted Mansion attraction saw many delays, primarily due to Walt Disney’s time-consuming involvement with the World’s Fair in 1964 – 1965 and a redesign that occurred after Walt’s death in 1966 when the project moved from a walk-through based experience to a ride-on style, thanks to the new technology of Omnimover. The ride vehicles, later known as Doom Buggys, could turn in any direction, allowing Imagineers to utilize more of the surrounding space and tweak the guest experience to see and hear specific features.

The ride remains mostly unchanged, aside from a few minor upgrades and the addition of the season holiday overlay featuring the Nightmare Before Christmas characters you can see in the video below.

Magic Kingdom was also expecting the arrival of its own Haunted Mansion with the ride elements in production alongside the Disneyland ride. With the exclusion of the Library and Music Rooms, the rides have the same pieces and characters. Of course, there is a fundamental difference in how the stretching room operates and the exterior, which moves away from the southern influence and is more reminiscent of an upstate New York estate designed to reflect a “Dutch Gothic” theme. Over time, the Magic Kingdom attraction saw more upgrades than the original back in Disneyland, including the floating Madame Leota in 2007 and the all-new interactive queue that was introduced in 2011.

Explore the other versions of the attraction in Disney Parks around the world:

I won’t forget being a little kid and thinking this ride was the most exciting and detailed experience I had ever had. Oddly, the one part I always found off-putting was the floating candelabra, which seems crazy, given how many other questionable moments there are along the way. What are your first memories of this attraction?

Feature Image: Photo by Brian McGowan on Unsplash

Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.

Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.

• Disney Cruise Line Updates Placeholder Payment Policy
• New Images of Mural Coming to Tiana's Bayou Adventure Barn
• Second Night of Disney Jollywood Nights Has Sold Out
• Let's Meet Moana at Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana at EPCOT!
• Four New Dining Options for Parkside Market, Downtown Disney
• New Dishes Arrive at Disney's Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
• Get a Free Disney Gift Card When You Book a WDW Pkg. With Dreams Unlimited
• DISboards Thread: Thoughts on Continued New WDW Annual Pass Sales?
• Price Increases Happening All Over Walt Disney World
• New Images Shared of Artwork for Tiana's Bayou Adventure Attraction
• The Best 'First Rides' for Kids in Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Photo Blog: An Adventurous Tour of Magic Kingdom's Adventureland
• Memory Maker Price Increases at Walt Disney World
• New Mug Teased For Trader Sam's in Disneyland!

Walt Disney World Increases Annual Pass & Parking Fees Effective Immediately

• View More...
• DISboards.com
• Theme Parks
• Dining and Restaurants
• Discounts and Budgeting
• Disney World Resorts
• Disney Cruise Line
• Disney Vacation Club
• Universal Studios Orlando

• Disney for Littles: Which Resort Should I Stay At?

All Day Park Hopping Resumes at Walt Disney World in January 2024!

• Early Booking Offer for Disney World Resorts in 2024 Combinable with Dreams Unlimited Gift Card Promo

'The Tale of Moana' Announced as New Broadway-Style Show on the Disney Treasure

• Disney Cruises From Port Everglades - FAQs You Need Answers To!
• Everything You Need To Know About The Disney Treasure

'Haunted Mansion': Trailer, Release Date, Cast, and What to Expect

When will we see 999 happy haunts grace the big screen?

Quick Links

What is the release date for haunted mansion, watch the trailer for haunted mansion, what is the plot of haunted mansion, who is making haunted mansion, who's starring in haunted mansion.

The Walt Disney Company has become no stranger to adapting its original attractions into feature films. Certainly, the most well-known and successful example is the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which had a grand total of five films and created a modern pop culture icon with Captain Jack Sparrow. Since then, Disney has always been looking to make their theme park attractions into feature films, with examples including The Country Bears (2002), Tomorrowland (2015), and Jungle Cruise (2021). It's a concept that's showing no signs of stopping, with Hawkeye (2021) directors Bert & Bertie set to helm a film based on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The one ride at Walt Disney parks that should be a no-brainer to adapt though is the Haunted Mansion . With its iconic visuals and surprisingly deep lore, it should be the perfect candidate for a feature film, and Disney did try to capitalize on the popular attraction nearly two decades ago with 2003's The Haunted Mansion , starring Eddie Murphy . With a comedian like Murphy in the lead role, you could probably imagine that his take on the ride was very comedic. Now it's true that the ride has always had a very on-the-nose sense of humor, but the film adaptation lacked the creepy charm of the ride and leaned too heavily on the jokes, not to mention iconic characters like the Hat Box Ghost and the Black Widow Bride were nowhere to be found. Director Justin Simien , the filmmaker behind Dear White People (2014) and a former Disneyland cast member, looks to make his own cinematic adaption of the beloved attraction, complete with a prestigious number of creatives and an absolutely star-studded cast on board. From what was shown at their presence at 2022's D23 Expo, it's looking to be an incredibly promising adventure-horror hybrid. To get the scoop on the information that was shared at D23 behind closed doors as well as everything else we know so far, simply continue to read below. Editor's Note: This article was last updated on July 23.

Haunted Mansion

The spirits of the Haunted Mansion are set to receive your sympathetic vibrations on July 28, 2023 . The movie was originally scheduled to release on March 10, 2023, then moved to August 11, 2023, and finally brought up to its present date. Tickets for the movie are now on sale so grab yours as soon as you can!

Related: First 'Haunted Mansion' Reactions Call it "Fun," "Spooky," "Full of Easter Eggs"

At San Diego Comic-Con 2023, Collider's editor-in-chief Steve Weintraub hosted a panel entitled "Directors on Directing" that featured Haunted Mansion 's Justin Simien, appearing alongside directors Louis Leterrier ( Fast X ), Gareth Edwards ( Rogue One ). During that panel, we got the chance to bring you your first look at an exclusive clip showing LaKeith Stanfield 's character entering the iconic Stretching Room. See it in the player above and expand this section to see all the other trailers and clips released so far for Haunted Mansion.

Fans of the legendary attraction were treated to the first public look at Haunted Mansion when the spooky teaser trailer premiered on March 2nd . The footage opens up with the character of Gabbie ( Rosario Dawson ) and her young son Travis ( Chase W. Dillon ) as they enter their new home which of course is the titular Haunted Mansion. It doesn't take long for them to realize that the home is infested with restless ghouls, leading to them contacting an ambitious priest ( Owen Wilson ), a down-on-his-luck tour guide (LaKeith Stanfield), and a wise medium ( Tiffany Haddish ) to uncover the mystery behind the unsettling abode. Also seen in the trailer are some recognizable ghosts from the ride, such as the Black Widow Bride and the Hat Box Ghost ( Jared Leto ).

More recently, we got a new teaser for Haunted Mansion on June 8 that shows LaKeith Stanfield's Ben being introduced to the mansion, then moving on to scenes of various guests being spooked out by the mansion's ghostly residents.

Since tickets went on sale, Disney has released a steady stream of clips from Haunted Mansion and we also got a behind-the-scenes featurette featuring the director and cast. See it below:

A new trailer for Haunted Mansion was released on July 18, with a narration from Gabby that unfolds the spookiness of moving into the mansion. It then moves on to show us more of the cast, including a new look at the Hat-Box Ghost. Here it is:

Plot details are pretty thin and the trailer didn't do much to elaborate further on the general plot, but an official synopsis shed a bit more light on the film's story:

"A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and a historian to help exorcise their newly bought mansion; after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts."

We already know that Gabbie will be played by Rosario Dawson ( Ahsoka ), LaKeith Stanfield's ( Sorry to Bother You ) Ben will be the tour guide and Owen Wilson's ( Loki ) Kent will be the priest, and we assume that Tiffany Haddish's Harriet is the psychic and Danny DeVito's unnamed professor is the historian.

As for the ghosts who are set to appear, we do know that the Hatbox Ghost will almost certainly be appearing. An infamous part of the attraction that only returned to the ride somewhat recently, Hatbox Ghost was heavily implied at the event to be played by Jared Leto ( Morbius ). We also know that the Bride will also be a part of the film, and she is a character that has quite the backstory. Most of the "happy haunts" in the Haunted Mansion are just that; happy. They might give people a good scare sometimes, but overall they're not malicious or cruel...except the Bride. Originally named Constance Hatchaway, it's heavily insinuated that she killed her husband (or husbands) and now stalks the mansion looking for her next victim. Both these infamous ghosts would be excellent choices for the main villain.

Related: The Hatbox Ghost Welcomes Foolish Mortals With SDCC Exclusive 'Haunted Mansion' Poster [Exclusive]

Initially, horror and practical effects legend and the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind The Shape of Water (2017), Guillermo Del Toro . Like many of Del Toro's projects, this one just wasn't meant to be for the accomplished writer/director, but Justin Simien is a worthy replacement. Simien has made a name for himself as one of the biggest rising stars in storytelling today, being involved with both the hugely successful 2014 Dear White People film and the critically acclaimed Netflix series of the same name. Simien is also set to have a long history with Disney, as he's also become attached to the upcoming Lando series.

Even though he's no longer directing the project, Del Toro is still credited with writing the screenplay for the film along with D. V. DeVincentis ( High Fidelity ) and Katie Dippold ( The Heat ) also co-writing. This is good news for those wishing for Del Toro's directorial vision of the film as this likely means many of his ideas will make their way into the film. Del Toro will also be involved as executive producer as well. The rest of the ghostly crew consists of composer Kris Bowers ( King Richard ), cinematographer Jeffery Waldron ( Little Fires Everywhere ), editor Phillip J. Bartell ( Bad Hair ), production designer Darren Gilford ( TRON: Legacy ), and costume designer Jeffery Kurland ( Collateral ).

We've already mentioned most of the major leading characters set to appear, including LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, and Jared Leto. Leto, who again is most likely playing the Hat Box Ghost, was one of many new casting revelations revealed at D23. The remaining cast members include Winona Ryder ( Beetlejuice ), Dan Levy ( Schitt's Creek ), Hasan Minhaj ( The Daily Show ) as a sketch artist, and finally, Jamie Lee Curtis ( Halloween Ends ), who made a grand entrance at the Studio Showcase in her very own "Doom Buggy". Curtis will be playing Madame Leota.

If you see a sign outside an attraction that indicates that someone who is pregnant, has back problems or a heart condition should not ride, please email me so that I can update this list.

Children who are too short to meet the height requirement for some rides, like Splash Mountain or Rock' n Roller Coaster can present themselves at the attraction's gift shop and receive a nicely printed certificate, suitable for framing, declaring them to be future riders of the attraction.

[email protected]

• DESTINATIONS
• ENTERTAINMENT
• MERCHANDISE
• TIPS & TRICKS

Disney Adulting Ride Guide: Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride attraction in Disneyland (CA), Magic Kingdom (FL), and Tokyo Disneyland. The original attraction opened at Disneyland on August 9, 1969. The attraction, while slightly different in each location, retains the same storyline by placing riders into a “ Doombuggy ” and transporting them around a haunted manor where “ 999 happy haunts ” await to greet you.

Quick Overview

• Rating:  Dark Ride
• FP Available:  Yes
• Height Requirement:  Any Height
• Single Rider Available:  Yes
• Duration:  19 Minutes
• Disney Investment:  $7M  ($45M by Today’s Inflation )
• Top Speed:  3 MPH

The Queue: Haunted Mansion

Guests wait in line outside the mansion, passing a pet cemetery, and are led into a spooky parlor by Cast Members dressed as maids and butlers. The mansion is based on the “ Shipley-Lydecker ” house in Baltimore, Maryland. Once guests enter the house into the foyer they are greeted by candles lighting the room from sconces and the sole chandelier, while an organ plays a single-note melodic line which serves as the theme for the rest of the ride. A mirror is at the entrance. After enough guests have gathered in the foyer, the “Ghost Host” introduces himself and welcomes everyone to the Haunted Mansion. ( This is where the real fun begins .)

From there, the guests are brought into an octagonal room, where the door by which they entered becomes a wall and the chilling voice of the Ghost Host taunts them. As the voice speaks, the walls quietly seem to stretch upwards, elongating the paintings on them to reveal the fates of previous guests. The lights go out, lightning and thunder effects fill the gallery, and, in a rare instance of Disneyland “dark humor,” a glimpse of the earthly remains of the “Ghost Host” are shown dangling by a noose from the ceiling rafters above – his “way out”. A loud scream is heard followed by the sound of bones clattering.

Level up the fun on your Disney vacation!

Download this free Ultimate Fun Kit we’ve jam-packed with games, challenges and more!

By downloading you consent to receive occasional updates on new content, giveaways, and free resources from Disney Adulting. You can update preferences or unsubscribe at any time.

Virtual Queue Experience: Haunted Mansion

Warning:   This is a first-version experience of the actual queue. If you have never ridden the attraction, we strongly recommend not watching this video and experiencing the ride and the magic for yourself in person the first time.

At the attraction in Disneyland, the room is, in fact, an elevator with no roof that is being lowered slowly to give the illusion that the room itself is stretching; this brings the guests down to where the ride begins, below ground level. The ceiling above is a piece of fabric called a scrim, which conceals the hanging body until it is lit from above. This elevator effect was necessary to lower the guests below the level of the park-circling Disneyland Railroad.

The actual ride building of this attraction is located outside the berm surrounding the park and the Imagineers developed this mechanism to lower the guests down to the hallway leading to the actual ride building. It is interesting to note that although it is not necessary to lower the guests at the other theme parks, this effect of the stretching room is still used at the other instances of this attraction at the other Disney theme parks, not as an elevator like at Disneyland, but by raising the roof of the room.

When the walls finally do open, guests are ushered into a hallway lined with paintings that change from normal to “spooky” every few seconds. A simulated thunderstorm rages outside while the grim busts of a man and woman placed at the end of the hall seem to turn their heads in relationship to the viewer’s perspective. Guests will load a continuous track of Omnimovers called “Doom Buggies” and begin their journey into the Haunted Mansion.

The Ride: Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion consists of 7 different scenes each leading you deeper into the storyline of the mansion:

• The Endless Hallway:  Pass by an endless hallway and a conservatory containing a coffin whose occupant is trying to get out.
• Corridor of Doors:  Eerie door after door with spooky sounds and beings trying to get out.
• The Séance Circle:  Hosted by Madame Leota, or more like her disembodied head instead of a crystal ball.
• The Ballroom:  Ghosts dance mid-air as a ghostly organist plays the original pipe organ featured in the 1954 film  20,000 Leagues Under The Sea .
• The Attic:  Guests will meet Constance Hatchaway, a bride with a terrible habit of decapitating her many husbands.
• The Graveyard:  Descend into a lively graveyard full of “Grim Grinning Ghosts” who have come out to socialize with guests and the rest of the dead.
• The Exit & Hitchhiking Ghosts:  Guests will discover that they’ve been selected to fill the quota of 1,000 happy haunts an as they pass a group of mirrors a little surprise awaits them.

Unique Facts: Haunted Mansion

• The Hatbox Ghost , who had previously been removed during the attraction first week of opening, was reinstated on May 9, 2015, as part of Disneyland’s 60th-anniversary celebration after a 46-year absence.
• The Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland  opened the same day the infamous Manson murders  occurred in Beverly Hills and it was based on the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California where Walt Disney actually visited.
• In Walt Disney World, one can see a  tombstone for J. Thaddeus Toad , the hero of the park’s long-gone attraction Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
• From the fall season through the end of the year, California’s Disneyland Park annually transforms the original Haunted Mansion into  Haunted Mansion Holiday .
• There was a  real Madame Leota . Well, sort of. An actual model-building Imagineer named Leota Toombs.
• The voice actor for the  Ghost Host is Paul Frees . He was also the voice of Ludwig Von Drake, the Pillsbury Doughboy, and Boris Badenov of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame.
• In one of the  Haunted Mansion’s early drafts , Walt Disney himself recorded the narration for the attraction. It was eventually scrapped for today’s Ghost Host version.

Disney Adulting Pro-Tip for Riding The Haunted Mansion

We recommend that you try your luck during a parade or keep an eye on lower wait times. Using a Fastpass ( or try taking advantage of Maxpass ) is a wise choice, especially because it can run as long as 45-minutes or even 120-minutes during the Halloween season. We don’t usually recommend that you try not to wait longer than 30-minutes but do keep in mind that while the wait time and line may seem long, the attraction begins in the queue,  and it worth the experience.

Virtual Ride Experience: Haunted Mansion

Warning:   This is a first-version experience of the actual ride. If you have never ridden the attraction, we strongly recommend not watching this video and experiencing the ride and the magic for yourself in person the first time.

to Disney Adulting

• Monthly updates on new content and resources
• Exclusive invites for giveaways and offers
• FREE Welcome Gift for first-time subscribers
• Update preferences or unsubscribe at any time

Join the Disney Adulting Club!

Signup and receive monthly updates on new content, giveaways, and free resources. First-time email subscribers get our Disney Adulting Welcome Kit!

By downloading you consent to receive occasional updates on new content, giveaways, and free resources from Disney Adulting. You can update preferences or unsubscribe at any time. | Privacy Page ​

• Disney Park Merchandise in the ’80s: Nostalgic Treasures

• How Disney Revolutionized Theme Park Architecture and Layouts

• Making the Most of One Day at Disney Parks: Tips and Itineraries

• Photography Etiquette at Disney Parks: Respecting Other Guests and Cast Members

• First Aid and Medical Facilities: A Guide Staying Safe at Disney

Disney Park Dapper Day: Dressing in Vintage Styles for the Parks

Popular Posts

Screen Rant

Haunted mansion 2: release date speculation, confirmation chances & everything we know.

Haunted Mansion is Disney's second attempt at turning its theme park ride into a film franchise, and here's every update about Haunted Mansion 2.

Quick Links

Most recent haunted mansion 2 news, haunted mansion 2 is not confirmed, haunted mansion 2 release date prediction, haunted mansion 2 cast, haunted mansion 2 story.

• Haunted Mansion 2 has not been confirmed by Disney, but it's still a possibility despite the underperformance of the 2023 movie.
• The success of the 2023 Haunted Mansion on Disney+ will determine whether a sequel is greenlit, with a potential release as a Disney+ exclusive.
• The sequel's story could focus on uncovering more mysteries within the mansion, with the same ensemble cast from the first movie reprising their roles.

Haunted Mansion 2 , the sequel to the 2023 Haunted Mansion , has yet to be confirmed by Disney - but that doesn't mean it's off the table. It would follow the movie adaptation of the Disney theme park ride and reboot of Eddie Murphy's ill-fated 2003 attempt to start the franchise. The new Haunted Mansion stars Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Academy Award winner Jared Leto, to name a few. With a list of such Hollywood heavyweights attached to the franchsie, there's speculation over whether Haunted Mansion 2 is on the horizon.

While Disney found success with Pirates of the Caribbean , a series that built such a rich world despite being based on a theme park ride, the studio has struggled with Haunted Mansion . The original 2003 Haunted Mansion movie made $180 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo ) , but that was still an underperformance in Disney's eyes. A much darker reboot helmed by Guillermo del Toro ( Pan's Labyrinth, The Shape of Water ) then fell into development hell in the 2010s. However, Disney finally settled for the more straightforward spooky family comedy led by LaKeith Stanfield that is 2023's Haunted Mansion — and it could lead to a Haunted Mansion 2.

There hasn't been much recent news on Haunted Mansion 2, though this is likely because the 2023 movie was considered a box-office disaster for Disney . While the future of the latest attempt at a franchise based on the Haunted Mansion ride doesn't look hopeful, Haunted Mansion 2 shouldn't be ruled out just yet. The 2023 Haunted Mansion arrived on Disney+ on October 4, 2023. Should the movie perform well on streaming it's possible that the House of Mouse could reconsider the future of a Haunted Mansion sequel as a Disney+ exclusive.

A Haunted Mansion sequel is not confirmed. The movie's box-office performance dictates whether the studio will greenlight a sequel, which, based on the projections, is incredibly far from a guarantee. Given Haunted Mansion's budget of over $150 million (via The Numbers ), factoring in marketing costs and the movie theaters' cut, the movie needed around $350 million to break even. It failed to come close to this, making barely $114 million in worldwide gross .

However, Haunted Mansion director Justin SImien has commented on the possibility of a follow-up. When asked if he'd want to direct Haunted Mansion 2 , the filmmaker responded, " Absolutely ," before explaining:

My favorite thing about being a director is building the world around the story so that you feel like, 'Okay, after the story ends and before the story begins, there's still a world there.' That's my favorite part. And so there's a lot of things that we set up in the movie and a lot of places that we just point to as being over there, but we don't necessarily go all the way in that particular room or go all the way into that particular mansion. So I think that there is plenty, plenty more story left, plenty more mysteries to discover in the mansion itself.

Whether Simien gets his wish likely depends on how the 2023 movie fares. The most recent Haunted Mansion film arrived on Disney+ in early October 2023, just in time for Halloween. If the spooky family comedy proves to be a hit with subscribers, Haunted Mansion 2 could be an appealing prospect for Disney as a lower-budget Disney+ exclusive.

There is no Haunted Mansion release date yet, as there is currently no plans to develop a sequel. Since this is the case, even if one were to be confirmed before the end of 2023 the earliest a big-budget CGI heavy sequel like Haunted Mansion 2 could realistically arrive is early 2026, but even this is optimistic.

Given that the Haunted Mansion sequel has yet to be greenlit, it's hard to say who the Haunted Mansion 2 cast will be. Nevertheless, if the sequel does get confirmed, it will likely follow LaKeith Stanfield's Haunted Mansion character , Ben, along with the oddball characters he met in the first movie. At the end of the movie, Ben, Gabbie (Rosario Dawson), Father Kent (Owen Wilson), Harriet (Tiffany Haddish), and Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito), all reunite for a Halloween party at the mansion, so it's likely that these actors would reprise their roles in the Haunted Mansion sequel too.

When discussing the sequel, director Justin Simien also noted, "I think that there is plenty, plenty more story left, plenty more mysteries to discover in the mansion itself." Based on his comments, it seems as if the Haunted Mansion 2 story will follow the same ensemble cast discovering something new in the mansion. The eccentric characters became friends with the ghosts at the end of Haunted Mansion , so it will be a challenge to raise the stakes for a follow-up. However, Haunted Mansion definitely leaves the door open for a sequel, as the ghosts can continue to seek the humans' help, and the sequel can pick up right where Haunted Mansion left off; at the Halloween party reunion.

Destinations

Haunted Mansion Ride

This is the 13th year for the Haunted Mansion Ride, a 12-minute haunted ride, beloved by many! There is also an active pumpkin patch Smashing Pumpkin battle, complete with a top-20 scoreboard. After exploring, grab a landmark from the landmark givers to other top 10 Halloween haunts and attractions!

Other Destinations in

Haunting Labyrinth - Terror Trail Hunt

Haunting Labyrinth: Terror Trail Hunt is a spooky collaboration between Hexposed and Foxcity Shopping Valley. This chilling mashup guarantees an immersive experience as you navigate through a dimly lit and mysterious maze. Grab the HUD at the entrance, which grants you access to a free Cash Prize Hunt! With every twist and turn, you're in for a surprise that could be both bone-chillingly eerie or playfully unexpected – the true essence of Halloween fun! The hunt runs from October 1st to 31st.

Halloween Park

Explore the spooky Halloween Park at Isla dela Vida featuring a circus, horror house, dance floor, pumpkin hunt, and a large shopping area. The park is also suitable for photography.

Those NightMares

Welcome to the place where your nightmares will begin. Make sure to use the shared environment for the best experience.

MadPea Masquerade of Murder - Halloween Hunt

Join MadPea's grid-wide Halloween Hunt as a hunter or a location, with spooky prizes, achievements, and a murder mystery! The hunt runs from October 1st through November 2nd.

Halloween at Gracieland

Step into a world where the boundary between the living and the supernatural blurs, where the eerie and the mysterious reign supreme. Gracieland, known for its charming serenity, undergoes a spine-tingling transformation each October, becoming the ultimate destination for thrill-seekers and lovers of all things sinister.

Seasons Change at Blissful Dreams

Embrace the fear, the blood, and the screams as you venture through the dark and spooky lands of Seasons Change at Blissful Dreams. Make your way through the misty cemetery and follow the winding path to the house of horror. Listen to the sounds of chainsaws, screams, and laughter as you explore the cobweb-covered asylum. DJ Jade will be playing the best mash-ups on Saturday nights from 6PM-8PM.

Big Apple Spooktacular

Big Apple Entertainment has gone Spooky! This full region with five themed club venues for Halloween Week is now open with a region-wide Hunt and Photo Competition. Freebie items, Amusements, and plenty to explore. Xtern and his Team extend you a warm welcome!

Doll Loft and Meadow

The dolls are allowing visitors. Should they allow you to leave, TP to the Hotel Paranoia or descend the stairs and explore the meadow. Awaiting you are the barn gallery, spider lair, vampire crypt, witch's house, and widow's cabin. Walk softly and be careful!

Nightmare On Crimson Cove

Enter if you dare! There are 9 realms of haunted spooky terror, each with scenes of horror. Find your way through Halloween starts, Exorcism, Asylum, Horror House, The Devils Crypt, Jason's Crystal Lake, Skeleton Bones, Witches Hollar Grove, Zombie Junkyard, and back to safety. Of all the things you choose in Second Life, you don't get to choose what your nightmares are. You don't pick them; they pick you.

Tricks and Treats XXX

Welcome to Tricks and Treats, an adult Halloween attraction! Clothing is optional because you may have more fun without it. There are lots of clickables and fun things to sit on so feel free to explore the haunted forest and caves - and don't be afraid to touch!

Stake in the Hunt by VRazeTheBar

VRazeTheBar presents a free region-wide hunt complete with prizes. Will you take up the call, explore the region, and locate the 21 vampire clan characters to gain favor and help them solve a murder mystery? The hunt runs until October 30th. Join the VRazeTheBar group in SL and visit their website for more information at vrazethebar.com

Dreaming Hollow

Welcome to The Dreaming Hollow. Explore, hang out, and check out the Halloween hunts, events, and club nights. The events run from October 1st to November 5th.

Halloween at Maddox Family Land

Halloween has arrived at Maddox Family Land. Come along and explore many areas of creepiness. Trick or Treat with the kids, visit the haunted graveyard, take a dip in the slimy swamp land, play creepy games in the gaming area, stay the night in the campsite (you may not be alone!) plus visit the Mystery Mansion and so much more!

The World Fair's Haunted House

The World Fair proudly presents its Haunted House! Explore this turn-of-the-century house, but beware, ghosts and ghouls hide in every corner!

Hell's Hotel Ride

Take a ride through Hell's Hotel at Blackslough Field Regional Airport on the Sea of Fables in Sansara. Be sure to fasten your seat belt as the ride is known to get a little wild!

Voodoo In New Orleans

Happy Halloween! Welcome to the haunted wastelands of New Orleans. Warning: magic and hoodoo remain here, even after the people are gone! Enjoy yourself at the theme park, tour the Garden District, party on Bourbon Street, solve the escape room, or become lost in the swamp. There is an adventure everywhere.

The Dark Descent

Terrifying haunt full of hidden places, horror, gore, ghosts and zombies. If you live for horror and love to be scared, make your way through the darkness and survive... The Dark Descent.

Spooktakulum 2023

The Spooktakulum shopping and treasure hunt event invites you to a fun and spooky Halloween location with fantasy elements. Find amazing decorations, accessories and outfits, gifts, and test your knowledge around Halloween with the 16 trivia treasure chests. The event runs between 1st and 31st October.

Mieville Haunted Halloween

Mieville Haunted Halloween runs from Oct. 13th through Nov. 12th with six regions of Halloween! From rides through games, a broom race, and shopping. Visit the cute and sweet places of fall, explore the silly and scary, or amble around the witch's huts and explore the Creepy Carnival.

Lakeview Valley Haunted Lake

Zombies, ghosts, and ghouls lurk in the depths of Lakeview Valley, ready to unleash an unexpected wave of terror! Get ready for a spine-chilling fright like never before!

Seanchai Library Presents The Bradbury Project

The newest Seanchai special project celebrates the work of American author Ray Bradbury. It follows the path of eight boys on an adventure to save the life of their friend on Halloween Night. Guided by the mysterious Mr. Moundshroud, they travel through time and space, learning about different cultures, and how they deal with death. Join Seanchai Library as it presents live readings from "The Halloween Tree" and other Bradbury works. The Bradbury Project will open on October 6th and remain open through November 16th. Learn more at www.seanchailibrary.com

Trick Or Treat 2023 Wonderland Beach

The Trick Or Treat shopping event invites you to a fun experience for the whole family, with Halloween trivia treasure hunt, gifts, awesome creative decorations, accessories, and outfits to add to your Halloween collection, broomstick rides, a balloon tour, and a few more little fun things to see and do. The event runs 1st - 31st October.

Shiro's Carnival

Immerse yourself at Shiro's Carnival, a dark fantasy destination where every corner tells a tale, ensuring visitors don't merely observe but truly experience the deep narratives at play. A perfect blend of eerie beauty and captivating stories makes it a must-visit destination, inviting all to dive into the haunting allure of Halloween.

Chaos at the Carnival

Get ready for a hauntingly good time at the most thrilling Halloween Carnival of the year! You are promised thrills, chills, scary treats, interactive games, and fun for all ages. Don't miss out on the spine-tingling excitement!

Bloody Halloween Castle

The Bloody Halloween castle hides little secrets, it's up to you to find them. It's dark so take a flashlight so you don't miss anything. Thirteen secrets are hidden for you. Jack is waiting for you and Mary Shaw will show you her collection. Enjoy!

Haunted Hallows - Garden of Whimsy

A sinister breeze skitters across your skin as you arrive in the town center, and strange noises come to as you wonder. Where do you go? Where is it safe? Stay in town, head up to the farm? Surely not the swamp and its eerie inhabitants...

The Dead Leaf

The Lucky Leaf presents their Halloween region and club, The Dead Leaf - The Blood Forest. Come check out this spooky destination and stay for some kick-ass tunes. Live DJ Events are held Sun-Sat beginning at 4pm slt. There will be contests throughout the month. Join their group for more information.

Shadowcroft Hunt

Once upon a time in the wizarding world, a group of young witches and wizards gathered in the Great Hall of Shadowcroft School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They had heard rumors of a mysterious and valuable magic book hidden within the castle, and they were eager to embark on a treasure hunt like no other. The Shadowcroft Hunt runs from October 1st to November 1st.

The Sister Woods

Bring all your little ghost and goblin friends and have some Halloween fun at The Sister Woods. You will find mazes, ghosts, skeletons, vampires, werewolves, witches, and more! Happy haunting!

Mist Valley Dreadstone Catacombs

Prepare to have your courage tested as you step into the darkness of the Mist Valley Dreadstone Catacombs, where mysteries and eerie legends abound. Be prepared for ghostly encounters, ominous creatures, and eerie apparitions.

Mist Valley Haunted Hollows

Prepare to be spooked and amazed as you step into the eerie realm of Mist Valley Haunted Hollows. This mysterious forest is shrouded in mist and is home to a host of ghostly creatures and supernatural wonders.

Halloween Town

Dare to enter Halloween Town, now in its 12th year! Wander through this interactive town filled with Halloween fun and scares. Explore the many haunts and activities including rides, escape rooms, haunted houses, movie theater, games, pumpkin picking, and more!

Inspire Haunted Caves

Step into the dark caves of Inspire and explore the haunted caverns and secret passages. Make your way through the spooky maze to the surface where you will find a ghostly retreat and escape from this haunted realm to the next. Safe passage!

Drogo's Haunted Halloween Experience

Nestled deep within the eerie embrace of the autumnal woods, there exists a haunted Halloween paradise known as "The Drogo Family Haunted Halloween Experience". This enchanting and spine-chilling destination beckons thrill-seekers and ghost enthusiasts alike with its hauntingly captivating atmosphere. Enjoy 8 rides, 4 haunted houses, and an Asylum along with events every Thursday and on Halloween.

SPooKy Town Halloween Hunt

The Sun&Moon Community Presents SPooKy Town, Halloween Hunt. This haunted town is full of ghouls, ghosts, and things that go bump in the night. Come take a carriage ride through the town or take a stroll and hunt for gifts, be hung at the gallows, or dance with ghouls while you watch a skeleton band. Then head on up to the second level and ride rides including a ghost train and pick your own pumpkin!

Witherwood Thicket

Frogmore presents a Gothic Tale of mood and mystery, a tribute to the works of Edgar Allen Poe. Everyone is welcome to enjoy this spirited and dark experience and be sure to join the many photo contests and challenges.

Atonement-IMPULSE 2023 Bone Hunt

Get your share of a L$20,000 treasure with this year's Halloween Bone Hunt! Start in the Dark Forest and explore the mazes to find all the bones of the Skeleton King. The first 50 winners get to share in the treasure, and then the prize becomes a Trick or Treat goody bag.

Horror on Misfit Row

Follow the bodies into the sinister realm of "Horror on Misfit Row," where chilling tales steal your breath, eerie sounds are shrill deliverance, and the linger of decaying pigs fill the air. Confront your deepest fears in the carnival maze before exploring the secret depths of the misty cemetery. It would be a slaughter to procrastinate solving the hunt hints located at the creepy clown entrance. Bring the camera, spooktasic snap opportunities for daring photographers. Open October 1st-31st.

Kaotikan Family Halloween Maze 2023

Explore Kaotikan Family's 3rd Annual Pumpkin Patch and Haunted Corn Maze. Come hang out with friends, enjoy some Halloween goodies, and get lost in the haunted corn maze. You never know what bloody ghoul may be lurking in the corn.

Lannock County Spooktacular

The citizens of Lannock County have decked out their spooktacular platform for your spine-tingling enjoyment! Come explore various interactive, spooky experiences, a haunted asylum, murder motel, a corn maze, and many other surprises! Best viewed with environment setting at midnight and advanced lighting.

Nightmare on PAL Street

Want some candy or perhaps...a trick? Join PAL Park for their annual Halloween event. Kids and adults alike will enjoy trick or treating in PAL's neighborhood. Ten houses are waiting to give you a treat (or a trick). Explore the graveyard and the haunted house, grab some refreshments and watch a Halloween movie, or take a ride on a witch's broom! Don't forget to stop at the pumpkin patch daily. The event runs from October 1st through the 31st.

Progeny Presents Terror Town

Welcome to "Terror Town" brought to you by Progeny, the folks that know Halloween best! Who better to put on a frightfully good time, a night of terror and scare? As you walk through the old rusty main gates you will be greeted by a moonlit graveyard, with a few special tricks and treats! But don't you stop there! There is a giant cornfield to get lost in, a maze of sorts, and seven very entertaining rides, check them out if you dare! Join the hunt, and mingle with the creatures of the night. Open from October 1st through November 1st, round the clock so bring your family and friends and prepare for a night of terrifying holiday cheer!

The Dark Forest

Nestled within a Gothic Victorian village lies The Dark Forest. Paying homage to horror classics, where ancient vampires rise from their crypts and cunning lycans prowl the streets. You'll encounter ghostly apparitions and unearthly terrors that blur the lines between the living and the undead, inviting you to confront your deepest fears. Will you escape or become a victim of their eternal thirst? This 3rd Annual Haunt/Hunt opens on October 1st!

Botanica’s 12th Annual Haunted Corn Maze

Visit Botanica’s 12th Annual Haunted Corn Maze Interactive Trick and Treat Hunt, and like every year there are new tricks and treats - 24 Tricks give 24 Treats. Collect all to win the Grand Prize Flying Monkey. It is a little spooky with a whole lot of corn.

Bayou Chat Noir

It seems like there are some unsettling events happening in the Bayou Chat Noir. While it may be tempting to investigate, it is vital to never answer the baby's cry if you value your life. If you decide to visit, ensure you take the necessary precautions and stay vigilant.

Conch Island Presents: Forgotten Sea

Just off the coast of Conch Island, a forgotten dark patch of seafloor has mysteriously appeared. Thick kelp forest and pumpkin barnacles surround a tiny abandoned sea floor cemetery and bayou mansion. The untouched murky atmosphere is beckoning those brave enough to enter. Conch Island's Forgotten Sea is a bespoke, petite immersive underwater environment with Crystal Craze, Fish Hunt, and board games.

Roadhouse Cemetery

Avies are dying to get in! Enjoy photo ops with spooky graveyard ambiance... and some Mamere Scary Cocktails!

An FNA Halloween

Come on out to an FNA Halloween presenting Fishermens Cove. Walk along the ghostly pier full of Halloween delights, and explore the haunted town of Fishermens Cove where terror and monsters await you. Beneath the town crawls the darkest of your fears, fun for all, and everyone is welcome - if you dare. A full region of rides, thrills, fears, and hours of fun. A Halloween you will never forget runs from October 1st through the 31st.

Zombie Drive-In

Welcome to Homeland Drive-In! The quiet town of Homeland, Kansas has been invaded by zombies, and fighting the undead can get tiresome! Homeland Drive-In is still open to zombie hunters everywhere. Enjoy your favorite scary movie, explore what's left of the town, or just relax. Brought to you by Outlander Music Group (OMG!)

Ride of Doom

Ride of Doom by Bubble Productions is back for Halloween 2023! It is a 16-minute long and gruesome, graphical ride through one of the most haunted venues in Second Life. Visit and get the perfect amount of spooks coming at you! Learn more at facebook.com/HeadBubble

Maple Grove Psychiatric Hospital

Maple Grove Psychiatric Hospital is a haunted asylum with rooms down every hall. Enter the unknown with twists and turns in every room you visit.

Love Valley Halloween

In the deeps of the night, under the bright moon lays an abandoned park. A place close to a village, where folks sing happily "Trick or treat!". But they never visit the park, as they are afraid of the dark that lives there. Are you afraid of the dark? Or do you wanna trick or treat with the village people?

The Briar Woods

The Briar Woods is inhabited by a host of mystical creatures, from ethereal sprites and ancient forest spirits to whimsical talking animals. These beings coexist with the land's human inhabitants, creating a unique and harmonious ecosystem. Throughout Briarwood, hidden portals exist, leading to otherworldly realms and dimensions.

The Overlook at Cha

The Overlook at Cha is a getaway hotel for the rich and famous and those seeking a little escape from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of everyday life. Enjoy and explore the famous Hedge Maze and spend some time lounging and listening to live music in the Gold Room. The hotel recently closed for the season but there should be a caretaker around here someplace. Please feel free to enjoy the hotel and the maze, but watch the weather as the roads close with the first major storms.

The River's Spooky Halloween Walk

Walking Shoes or Running Shoes? Your choice! Stroll through the winding path through several different scenes of Halloween. Bring your friends, but it isn't for the faint of heart! Bring your treat bags and fill them up! Everyone is welcome!

Horror Night SL23

Welcome to the second year of Horror Night, one of the largest haunted house experiences in Second Life! You will find a massive 4096 hand-designed corn maze filled with zombies, haunted forests, spooky graveyards, and a 50x50m haunted house. Get ready and prepare because you're in for a scare!

Hidden Melody

Hiding in the clouds is a little town of spooks and fuzzy (very scary) creatures. A chill will run through your spine but your heart will say "awww". Confused? Well, so am I. A town in celebration. Made especially for the Halloween Season.

Pendle Hill

Explore the timeless atmosphere of Pendle Hill, with its haunted manor house and photogenic scenery. Enjoy the creepy landscape shrouded in mist. Will you take in the sights alone, or bring a friend or loved one to hold your hand? Remember, it is not what you can see that is scary, it is what you can't see. Don't forget to take the flashlight upon arrival!

Haunted Asylum

Explore this abandoned Haunted Asylum for Halloween. Interact with the guests, and walk into the door to find the ex-owner's house. Examine the scrolls upstairs to see what really happened here. If you walk through the exit door you will have more to explore and see. Turn on the music for the best creepy effect!

Autumn & Halloween at Snuggles

Since 2008, a unique selection of Halloween and Fall decorations for your home or garden can be found at Snuggles. From whimsical to scary animated ghouls and Autumnal furniture; everything you need is in one place for the season!

Exotic Island Breeze Comfort Abodes

The SLRandom ArtCrew invites you and your party of guests to come enjoy a relaxing meal at 192 9th Avenue Bistro. As a luxury resort of the modern era, the AI receptionist will be there for you to book the perfect dining experience. They do request that you do not question the organic sources of their products but ensure that you will be fully fed to the guests of their establishment.

Halloween Attractions at The French Farm

Welcome to Halloween 2023 Attractions at The French Farm! Visit the pumpkin patch, go trick or treating, and stop by the barn to see the animals. If you dare, then step into the haunted woods and corn maze, then find your way out of the escape cabin. Rezzing is open to everyone to take photos. Please be mindful and pick up any prims afterward.

This Is Halloween

Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange? Come with us and you will see... this is Halloween. Fun for you and fun for me; Witches, Goblins, and everything in between. Zombies to hunt, club for fun - just don't get stuck in the Asylum!

It's when loneliness burned down what was left of my soul, that I chose to hide in the shadows. We all go a little mad sometimes. ALONE is a Halloween hangout where you can also go shopping.

Fall at Evolving Images

Explore and create memories at Evolving Images pumpkin patch, fall nature path, fall foliage, haunted house, forest, and graveyard. There are lots of photo opportunities, and even photo contest winner exhibits at the top level of the Fall Main Hall. There is also a food truck, fall desserts, a witches' shop, a Halloween party shop, and Autumn furnishings and decor. Hunt for L$1 gifts throughout the region.

Khargo Halloween Market

Spooky fun at Khargo Halloween Market with pumpkins, skeletons, and zombies. Creepy landscaping and scary decor for your home and garden. Watch out for the Trick or Treat hunt, bat trees, ruins, campfires, and scarecrows. Keeping SL spooky since 2009!

Halloween Haunted House at Buell Region

Explore the Halloween Haunted House at Buell Region for spooky chills and freaky nightmares! Turn on media and use shared environment for a better experience.

The Asylum at the Bayou

Welcome to the Asylum. Deep in the Bayou where magic still exists and things truly never die, the Asylum is left abandoned in the swamp. Or is it? Screams can be heard late into the night and if you dare to enter you may even see the unseeable. Enter with caution, parts of the building may be falling apart. Or ... are they? What ever IS alive within these walls may be just as dangerous as what is dead.

Charlotte's Lucid Nightmare

Charlotte's Lucid Nightmare is a haunted Second Life experience. Journey through a lucid nightmare where you will find aliens, mad scientists, vampires, witches, and more! There are free gifts to help you along your way. Open through mid-November of 2023. Warning: features gore scenes of violence, and strobe lighting.

Halloween Back Lot

Halloween Back Lot is an adult destination that is full of fun, based on different horror movies. Come check out this scary village!

MadPea Witch Hunter

Travel through this minecart adventure to rid the neighborhood of the creatures who only come out at night! Sit in the cart and shoot the targets to earn prizes! Can you get your name on the leaderboard?

Blood Moon Island

Tainted by supernatural magic, the land has darkened and decayed. Witches have moved onto the island, causing havoc and death. From the now abandoned town, wildlife overgrowth is now a danger in the swamp and woods, along with the hidden wonders of the caves, the magic has created even more death within the cemetery and ruins as wandering souls seek redemption. What else will an adventurer find?

Never's End Post-Apocalyptic Theme Park

Never's End is a visually immersive dark post-apocalyptic theme park. There is something for everyone and you never know what you might find hiding or lurking around every corner! Rides, arcade games, mini golf, trivia, Second Life's premiere funhouse, and more, all within this unique and spooky environment. Bring your date, bring your friends, or do you dare go alone?

Blue Finch Halloween Madness

Blue Finch Presents, Haunted Halloween Madness at Pottery Hollow! Inspired by their love for Halloween and their imagination. Come ride the haunted inner tube ride or take a walk through the swamp. Walk across the haunted bridge, and dance with your friends or loved ones at the dance area. Explore the caves or sit by a fire and snuggle or chat with friends and take in all the eerie sounds of Halloween.

The Magical Kingdom

Get ready for the enchanting arrival of the Halloween season at The Magical Kingdom, where the air is filled with spooky delights and autumn magic. Celebrate this mystical time by participating in a thrilling Flickr photo contest, where you can capture the essence of the season and win bewitching (L$) prizes. From whimsical costumes to eerie decorations, let your creativity run wild as you immerse yourself in the enchantment of Halloween at The Magical Kingdom. Share your images in their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/the-magical-kingdom-sl

The Shimmering Swamp at LeLoo's World

Embark on a journey through the mystical realm of the Shimmering Swamp. Where the cool crisp air carries the flight of dead leaves and the sounds of eerie creatures. Whether by foot or by raft your adventure will surely get you in the Halloween spirit. Pick up the free Wearable Raft and Torch to help light your way! For the best viewing experience please turn on Shared Environment, Sounds, and Advanced Lighting. As always, feel free to share your Halloween pictures in the Flickr group. flickr.com/groups/leloosworld

Castle Dracula: Gothic Horror Experience

Journey to 1890s Transylvania in search of the missing Jonathan Harker. Explore the colossal castle of Count Dracula in search of his journals, meet the Count Himself, and do try to stay among the living...if you can. Castle Dracula: A Gothic Horror Experience is a massive, immersive narrative-driven haunt unlike any other, 14 years in the making. In October 2023, plunge into a brand new tale of terror and embrace another classic of gothic literature with our first expansion storyline. Follow the fate of Laura as she pursues the echoes of dread and desire in CARMILLA: THE LOVE OF THE DEAD.

Haunted Hollow 2023

Cooling breezes whirl the falling leaves under the glow of the Hunter's Moon in the hollow haunted by ghosts of small creatures. Haunted Hollow features music, live trick or treat, treasure hunts, u-pick pumpkin patch, a horseback tour, pony rides, and a region of fun to explore. Take the rambler tour of the Hollow, or stop by for one of the live Tarot readings offered by taromancer Honey Heart. Open from October 1st to November 1st.

Trick or Treat Lane 2023

Trick-or-Treat Lane returns! Grab your treat bags and your favorite ghouls to explore this year's venue. 64 designers have been conjuring some amazing creations and special gifts just for you! Beware, some of the "trick-y" ghosts hid some of the free treats in the booths too! The event runs from Oct 7 - 31. More Info at darkpassionsevents.wixsite.com/secondlife

Sacred Hills

Are you looking to visit somewhere dark, ominous, and creepy? Sacred Hills is for the darker side of Halloween. There are strategically placed scenes throughout the destination, you never know what could be lurking around the corner. You can also participate in the region-wide hunt with prizes!

SHADOWFELL II

Continue the journey as Calas Galadhon creators Tymus Tenk and Truck Meredith reopen the dark Elven gates of SHADOWFELL, this year traveling by elven boat or on foot into a 3rd new region of swamplands and dark forests. The new boat tour will carry you through all three regions ending up at the beautiful SHADOWFELL PAVILION where live music events are held during the month.

Halloween Haunted Tour

The bone-chilling Halloween Haunted Tour by Linden Lab is back again! Hop in a coffin and enjoy the wild ride through the twisted mind of madness.

Halloween Haunted Neighborhood

The Millbank region has undergone a spooky overhaul, with numerous Linden Homes getting a haunted horror theme. Visit the many haunted houses, and see the scary sights! Take a step inside the homes while you’re at it: there are such sights to show you!

Ghoulish Halloween

Double double toil and trouble! Cauldron burn and cauldron bubble! Witches, ghouls, demons, bats, ravens, haunted cemeteries and more! It's spooky season! Revel in the gloriousness of Halloween!

Eclipse Presents All Hallows Gala 2023

Eclipse brings the All Hallows Gala back for 2023, a Halloween Haunted Dining experience! Guests can experience their excellent full-service, roleplay fine dining but with a haunting twist as you dine in one of their several Halloween-themed dining venues! Plus, you never know what mischievous Halloween fun will await you during your dinner! The event runs from October 1st to November 1st.

Dark Adventures 2023

Go on another Dark Adventure! Halloween is the ideal time to embrace the nightmares but when one escapes and starts causing chaos, it's up to us to catch the darkest of things. Join the hunt within the nightmares and help to save magical realms from changing forever! Bring friends, bring family, bring your enemies if you wish! There is only one way out. Open all day, every day from October 1st until November 4th. Come and get lost in the dark!

Bay City's Halloween Hay Maze

It’s the creepy time of the year, and Bay City is celebrating with their annual Hay Maze. Can you make it through - or will you be dinner for the ghouls and creeps within? It's a-MAZE-ing fun for all!

Halloween Island Amusement Park

Zombies, graveyards, and rides, oh my! Wild Pack Attractions presents this full-region amusement park offering 19 rides, creepy games, a maze with endless twists and turns, and a haunted house filled with spooky creatures. Don't forget to play some haunted mini-golf while you're there and take your chances at Zombie City.

All Hallows at Moochie

Established in 2016, All Hallows returns for its eighth year. Throughout the witching season, visit All Hallows for haunted meanderings, autumnal hoodoo, darkly roaming, and Halloween encapsulated. Be strange, but don't be a stranger, and remember, if the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely and always looking for company. Halloween has arrived!

Haunted Nawlins Howloween 2023

Celebrate the scary season in Haunted Nawlins. Trick or treating for all ages, not just kids. Enjoy Halloween and Dia de los Muertos! All things dark and monstrous, just not gory. There are lots of games, free unisex gifts, and tons of food both creepy and Cajun! Explore the French Quarter, dodge the zombies, and barrel through the Bayou! Sponsored by ~Lantian/Flox~.

Haunted Acres

Every season, every day, all year round, Haunted Acres brings a unique experience for everyone! For Halloween this year at Haunted Acres Manor enjoy a dark ride with 15 rooms and 3 scary stories. There are also 2 interactive haunted cabins and an interactive haunted church, a haunted trolley ride around the region, horseback riding, a haunted log flume that zombies have taken over, 2 roller coasters, and at the motel each room is a reflection of the guests murdered there. There is lots more to see so teleport over now, all are welcome!

Laurel's Nightmare 2023

Halloween season is back for 2023, and Laurel's Nightmare is a land where your favorite horror movies, books, and TV are seen in this haunted walk-through of mayhem! The portals will take you through a multi-verse of twenty famous scenes.

Halloweentown

Once a year a portal opens leading to a world full of magic, fantasy, and dark creatures. In Halloweentown, you can walk around the cute roads with a mall and lots of decor and fall items, Go exploring a fantasy forest, Dragon's shrine, haunted houses, a castle, a horror circus, dark forest, hidden tunnels, and more! Halloweentown stays open from September 1st to October 15th!

Moody, ghostly, creepy, and fun, Hauntings is another delightful venue in Old Town. Once a charming and peaceful spot in rural America, when the events began happening, folks moved away. No cars stopped at the motel; the farm lies abandoned. What happened here? What went on in that house? No-one knows. But once a year, the spirits of those who were innocent walk, looking for treats.

Spooky Interactive Haunted House

The ghosts are always watching you in this fun, interactive haunted house. Don't forget to check out the basement and see if you can find the hidden laboratory!

Why was this New England coastal town abandoned in the 1930s? Perhaps the giant sea-monster emerging from the south ocean might be the answer. Nevertheless, Innsmouth remains a dark, damp place with perpetual rain and ruined buildings well worth exploring.

Skeleton House - Halloween Store

When the moon is full, little creatures scamper and lumber out of the old haunted house. Dancing through the halls, they cavort in the pale moonlight as they keep a watchful eye on the cemetery below. They say zombies and skeletons enjoy these moonlit nights.

Witchwood is home to Petite Mort & Oubliette, They encompass both the light and dark witchy, boho aesthetic. Shop for unique and whimsical home decor as well as a curated collection of apparel and accessories. Join them in body and soul from October 14th to November 1st for the Witchwood Haunt, Hunt, and Sale. Dry leaves crunch underfoot as you move down the dimly lit path. A branch cracks, is something moving in the dark forest? Ghostly whispers float on the wind as you approach the abandoned mansion, warning you to turn back! 13 haunted hunt items lie in wait for you to find! 50% off sale too!

Fallmoore Village and Bayou

As the bonfire crackles and the scent of apples and wheat fills the crisp air, an idyllic fall village lights up the night. Take a stroll through the corn maze and enjoy the beauty of Autumn! But beware, in the bayou, secrets lurk in the dark and murky waters. Will you survive the swampland? There's only one way to find out...

What's Lost Spirits

Explore a region of lost dreams, an ongoing project based on a series of vivid nightmares.

More Related Destinations

Got a favorite spot.

Suggest your venue or favorite place for consideration in the Destination Guide today. It’s easy and it will broaden the horizons of residents just like you.

Second Life

Partner with us, find us on social.

• SL Terms and Conditions LL Terms of Service LL Privacy Policy Cookies © 2022 Linden Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
• SL Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Cookies © 2022 Linden Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Trending topics

Haunted House

Select a product

This item will be sent to your system automatically after purchase.

Creep, sneak, and dash your way through hordes of ghouls and eerie ectoplasms in this roguelite reimagining of the classic Atari adventure!

Chills and stealthy thrills abound In Haunted House, a reimagining of the classic Atari adventure! Players take control of Lyn Graves, the precocious niece of legendary treasure hunter Zachary Graves. Lyn visits her uncle’s mansion with her closest compatriots, only to find the house overrun with ghouls and monsters who quickly grab and spirit away her friends. In order to free her uncle and her friends, and capture all the supernatural foes, Lyn must find the shattered pieces of a magical urn and put them back together. Through procedurally generated room layouts, shifting walls, unpredictable enemy placements, and unique ghostly encounters, Lyn must creep, sneak, and dash her way through hordes of ghouls and eerie ectoplasms in order to locate her friends and uncle. Each urn shard is fiercely guarded by a bone-chilling boss — with 3D isometric stealth gameplay, Lyn must think on her feet to conquer each challenge. When she gets knocked out by a shadowy specter, she winds up back at the Haunted House’s entrance and must face an entirely new floor layout and enemy placement, ensuring each run is unique. Features Resurrected Roguelite: Haunted House doubles down on stealth and mystifying challenges while adding roguelite elements, ensuring no two runs are the same. All-Ages Thrill Ride: The whimsical, cartoonish art style only thinly veils the chills and thrills in Haunted House! Expertly riding the line between goofy and spooky, Haunted House features primarily stealth-based gameplay and light combat sequences. Unlockable Characters: As Lyn explores the Haunted House, she’ll free her trapped friends, who become playable characters you can use to dive deeper into the mansion. Each friend possesses different stats, so depending on who you explore the mansion with, it’ll be a new experience! Atari Easter Eggs: The game is full of collectibles and lore based on the original Haunted House and other classic favorites from Atari’s golden age. Sneaky Shivers: With combat de-emphasized, players must focus on stealth movement and solving challenges unseen in the shadows, along with utilizing the arsenal of traps and items at their disposal to distract the ghoulies hunting Lyn. Lyn must collect gems to power up the skills and perks that make her that much stronger during the next trip through the mansion’s labyrinth.

Software description provided by the publisher.

ESRB rating

Supported play modes, product information, release date, no. of players, game file size, supported languages.

Play online, access classic NES™ and Super NES™ games, and more with a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

This game supports: Save Data Cloud

WARNING: If you have epilepsy or have had seizures or other unusual reactions to flashing lights or patterns, consult a doctor before playing video games. All users should read the Health and Safety Information available in the system settings before using this software.

A Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) is required for Save Data Cloud backup.

© 2023 Atari Interactive, Inc. ATARI, the ATARI logo, and HAUNTED HOUSE and its logo, are trademarks of Atari Interactive, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved.

Atari’s Spook-tacular Stealth-Strategy Roguelite Haunted House is Now Available on PC and Consoles

The reanimated roguelite introduces players to chills and thrills in this reinvention of the first-ever survival horror game.

New York, New York, UNITED STATES

NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atari ® — one of the world's most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers — and developer Orbit Studio are delighted to announce the roguelite revival Haunted House is now available on Windows PC via Steam and Epic Games , Nintendo Switch , Xbox One and Series X|S , and PlayStation 4 and 5 .

An all-ages tribute to the classic Atari 2600 game, considered the first-ever survival horror title, Haunted House presents a 3D isometric adventure in a spooky mansion filled with colorful characters. In a nod to the original, Haunted House rewards stealth gameplay and problem-solving while de-emphasizing combat. A modern touch is the addition of a roguelite element, as rooms within the mansion shift and change with every run.

Watch the Haunted House launch trailer: YouTube | Download

In Haunted House , players take control of Lyn Graves, the precocious niece of legendary treasure hunter Zachary Graves. Lyn visits her uncle’s mansion with her closest friends, only to find the massive house overrun with ghouls and monsters who quickly grab and spirit away her friends. In order to free her uncle and her friends, Lyn must find the shattered pieces of a magical urn and put them back together.

Through procedurally generated room layouts, shifting walls, unpredictable enemy placements, and ghostly encounters, Lyn must creep, sneak, and dash her way through hordes of ghouls and eerie ectoplasms in order to locate her friends and uncle. Each urn shard is fiercely guarded by a bone-chilling boss — Lyn must think on her feet to conquer each challenge. When she gets knocked out by a shadowy specter, she winds up back at the mansion’s entrance and must face an entirely new floor layout and enemy placement, ensuring each run is unique.

Key Features of Haunted House Include:

• All-Ages Thrill Ride: The whimsical, cartoonish art style only thinly veils the chills and thrills in Haunted House ! Expertly riding the line between goofy and spooky, the game keeps things rated E with its primarily stealth-based gameplay and light combat sequences.
• Unlockable Characters: As Lyn explores the Haunted House, she’ll free her trapped friends, who become playable characters you can use to dive deeper into the mansion. Each friend possesses different stats, so depending on who you explore the mansion with, it’ll be a totally new experience!
• Atari Easter Eggs: The game is full of collectibles and lore based on the original Haunted House and other classic favorites from Atari’s golden age.
• Did We Mention Stealth?: With combat de-emphasized, players must focus on stealth movement and solving challenges unseen in the shadows, along with utilizing the arsenal of traps and items at their disposal

To learn more about Haunted House , visit the official website .

A press kit including logos, videos, GIFs, and box art is available here: https://uberstrategist.link/haunted-house-presskit .

Stay up-to-date on all things Atari and retro-pop culture by following on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube , and join the community on Discord .

About Atari

Atari is an interactive entertainment company and an iconic gaming industry brand that transcends generations and audiences. The company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment, and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 unique games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids® , Centipede® , Missile Command® , Pong® , and RollerCoaster Tycoon® . Atari has offices in New York and Paris. Visit us online at www.Atari.com .

Atari shares are listed in France on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN Code FR0010478248, Ticker ALATA).

©2023 Atari Interactive, Inc. Atari wordmark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.

• About Orbit Studio

Founded in 2016, Orbit Studio is comprised of a group of passionate game developers with a shared vision of creating captivating and innovative gaming experiences. Over the years, Orbit Studio has grown from a small indie team to a full-fledged game development company, earning recognition and accolades, including the prestigious Big Award for our groundbreaking game, Retro Machina . Learn more at www.orbitstudio.com.br .

PRESS CONTACT Jessica Timms and Tabitha Beidleman UberStrategist Inc. [email protected] 1-646-844-8388

Related Links

• Haunted House Official Website
• Atari Official Website
• Haunted House Launch Trailer
• Haunted House Press Kit
• Haunted House on Steam
• Haunted House on Nintendo Switch
• Haunted House on Xbox
• Haunted House on PlayStation
• Follow Atari on Twitter