Showing posts with label Haunted Mansion. Show all posts
New Haunted Mansion Queue At Magic Kingdom Is Scary Fun
In continuing with the trend of adding interactive activities for Disney World Guests to occupy their time while waiting in line, the Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom is the latest to "plus" its queue.
Guests are given the option to explore the interactive portion of the queue or to bypass it and proceed directly to the Haunted Mansion. Taking the path to the new queue extends your wait by a couple of minutes, but it takes that long to play with the interactive features so you don't notice the extra time.
If you touch the musical instruments pictured above it adds those instruments to the music that is playing.
The organ is emblazoned with the name "Ravencroft" in a tribute to "Thurl Ravencroft" had added his voice to a number of projects and is most recognizable as the voice of Tony the Tiger (Kellogg's), singer of "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch", and lead singer of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" at the Haunted Mansion. He also lent his voice to a number of characters at Disney World.
There was concern that the original tombstones that Magic Kingdom Guests have enjoyed reading would be removed to make room for the new queue, but rest assured that the tombstones do have a place in the new queue, like the one for Master Gracey shown above. It is also a tribute to Disney Imagineer Yale Gracey. Yale created many of the classic illusions that you enjoy in the Haunted Mansion.
The giant bathtub pictured above periodically spews forth a stream of bubbles to entertain the passersby. Captain Culpepper Clyne is a character who's picture has been inside the Haunted Mansion since its inception.
The bookshelves move books in a out as you touch them.
There is also a magic book where the words appear before your eyes.
If you compare the two above pictures you will see that the word "cemetery" has appeared. It is even more fun in person because the words appear as if they are being written one letter at a time.
Another wall of epitaphs uses humorous quips that also pay tribute to Disney Legends and Imagineers.
The above tombstone pays tribute to Marc Davis who is responsible for designing many of the humorous gags found in the Haunted Mansion.
X. Atencio, referenced above, penned many of the catchy songs for the Disney World attractions including: "Grim, Grinning Ghosts" & "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me.)"
Great New Addition
The addition of the interactive queue to the Haunted Mansion was very enjoyable. The added features all fit within the playful boundaries of the existing gags and features of the Haunted Mansion. The guests in line were enjoying playing with the various items.
Time will tell if people continue to go through the interactive portion of the line even after they have been through it a couple of times.
We are also glad that the original tombstones were preserved and integrated into the new queue. We are especially glad since they pay tribute to the people that designed and built the Haunted Mansion.
Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion Interactive Queue
Interactive Queue
Throughout Disney World there have been projects aimed at improving the experience for Disney World guests while they are waiting in line. The first notable change occured in Epcot to the Soarin' attraction where interactive games were added for guests in the standy-by lines.
Much time went by and then during the Space Mountain refurbishment there was a major change to it's queue to include video monitors with an interactive game that could be played in short intervals and then you played more as you moved along in the line.
Next to receive the improved queue was The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. This area was aimed at the younger Disney World guests and it has been very well received.
Fear Of Change
The latest to receive an updated, interactive queue is the Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom. Whenever a classic Disney attraction is changed there is always some fear that your favorite part shall be removed and the attraction won't have that same charm any more.
From the video shown below it appears that some of the "old" has been mixed in with some of the "new." Time will tell how well the new queue is received, but I think that this addition will definitely "plus" the attraction.
Enjoy the video from Disney Parks and leave a comment as to your impression of the changes.
Disney World's Haunted Mansion Tombstone Secrets
Haunted Mansion Tombstone Secrets Unlocked
While the casual observer only notices the humorous epitaphs on the tombstones, the Disney World fans know that each epitaph provides clues to unlock the secret tributes to Disney Legends and Imagineers who help create this legendary attraction.
Here Rests Wathel R. Bender. He rode to glory on a fender. Peaceful Rest
This tombstone refers to Disney Legend Wathel Rogers who was an innovator in the field of audio animatronics. He contributed to some of the early Disney audio animatronics like the Abraham Lincoln Figure for the 1964 - 1965 New York World's Fair, as well as, figures for the Carousel of Progress. Later he became the Art Director for the Magic Kingdom, as one of his many roles.
In the above picture we find 3 tombstones. The first one declares: "In Memory Of Our Patriarch Dear Departed Grandpa Marc."
This refers to Marc Davis. Davis was known for creating the ideas and stories that went into many of the Disney attractions, such as: The Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Haunted Mansion. He had a knack for creating sight gags that gave these attractions their lasting charm.
The next tombstone says: "Requiscat Francis Xavier, No time off for good behavior. RIP"
Disney legend Xavier (X.) Atencio was an animator that was best known for his contribution to many of the classic songs within Disney attractions. He started writing these songs because Walt Disney himself told him he would be good at it and assigned him to do so. X. Atencio is best known for writing "Grim, Grinning Ghosts" & "Yo Ho A Pirates Life For Me."
The 3rd tombstone is states: "Here Lies A Man Named Martin. The lights went out on this old Spartan."
Note: Martin is actually credited to 2 different Disney Imagineers in different books and references.
1. Bud Martin was the head of the WDI Special Effects Department working with Yale Gracey when the Haunted Mansion was developed.
2. Bill Martin was an art director and set designer when he join Disney in 1953. He was a key planner for both Disneyland and Disney World. In 1971 he became the Vice President of Design at WED Enterprises (the precursor of Disney Imagineering.)
The tombstone on the left says: "Dear Departed Brother Dave. He chased a bear into a cave."
Dave Burkhart started his career at Disney in 1967 serving as an artist model maker He built architecture and show models. Later he became became a show designer and field art producer. He biggest projects at Disney World included: The Haunted Mansion, Swiss Family Treehouse and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
The next Tombstone is one of the most prominent stating: "Master Gracey Laid To Rest. No Mourning Please At His Request. Farewell."
Master Gracey is named after none other than Yale Gracey. Yale joined Disney in 1939 as a layout artist. He developed a talent for creating illusions and Walt Disney tabbed him to be part of his team working on the new "Disneyland" project. Yale is credited with coming up with many of the illusions that you see in the Haunted Mansion.
The tombstone on the left states: " RIP Good Friend Gordon. Now you've crossed the River Jordan."
The Gordon mention here refers to Gordon Williams, who was an audio designer and Audio-Animatronics expert who worked on many classic attractions at Disney World.
The tombstone on the right declares: "In Memorium Uncle Myall, Here You'll Lie For Quite Awhile."
Uncle Myall is really Chuck Myall, who was an Art Director and Master Planner at the Magic Kingdom.
Hidden on the right, the tombstone reads: "Rest In Peace Cousin Huet. We All Know You Didn't Do It."
Cliff Huet was an architect and a Lead Interior Designer for Disney and involved with the creation of The Haunted Mansion.
The other tombstone reads: "Here Lies Good Old Fred. A Great Big Rock Fell On His Head. RIP"
Fred Joerger started with Disney in 1953 as a model builder. He was involved in such classic attractions as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates Of The Caribbean, The Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Tree House, and Tom Sawyer Island.
On the left you find the tombstone that says " RIP Mister Sewell The Victim of a Dirty Duel. Peaceful Rest."
Bob Sewell was recognized for his model making talent and the work that he did with the Haunted Mansion.
On the right is the tombstone that reads "At Peaceful Rest Lies Brother Claude. Planted Here Beneath This Sod."
The Claude in mind was none other than Claude Coats. Claude started at Disney in 1935 as an Animation Background Painter. Claude Coats, along with Marc Davis, was instrumental in coming up with the story for the Haunted Mansion and creating the track layout. In contrast to Marc's sight gags, Claude provided some of the darker elements for the Mansion.
Last, but not least is the special Tombstone for Madame Leota that reads "Dear Sweet Leota, Loved By All. In Regions Beyond Now, But Having A Ball." The epitaph certainly refers to the fact that Madame Leota is the one performing the seance with the Crystal Ball within the Haunted Mansion.
Madame Leota is a tribute to Disney Imagineer Leota Toombs. Leota began her tenure at Disney in 1940 in the Ink & Paint Department. After becoming part of WED in the 1960's she became involved in the Haunted Mansion project. Yale Gracey thought her appearance had Gypsy like qualities and asked her to be the model for the floating head Illusion.
Appropriate To Honor These Disney Imagineers
All to often the creative people involved in creating the Disney World attractions are not household names. Fortunately with the advent of the internet and fan groups like D23, these talented people are starting to get some of the recognition that they deserve. Credit the Imagineers to have the foresight to add these talented people into the attraction itself through the creation of these Tombstones.
