Check out updated Haunted Mansion this week

[surfinmuse]

I'm going later this week or early next to check out the new Haunted Mansion and other stuff. I don't have anyone to go with (Tom's away for work), so I was wondering if anyone else is planning a trip this week?

I'm planning to spend a week-day rather than a weekend-day to avoid the crowds.

[Ghoulish Delight]

We went tonight...I am most pleased with the changes. I'll throw 'em in a spoiler, for those that would like to remain in the dark...

First thing, they've updated the changing portraits. Gone is the slow change from one form to another. Instead, the "ghostly" version flickers into view with the thunder and lightning from the storm outside. And the effect itself is different, very bright and crisp, and the paintings look like real oil paintings. It's gorgeous. One of the portraits (April-December, the young woman who turns old) has been swapped with a portrait of Master Gracy from Florida.

A nice touch they added is that the suit of armor next to the endless corridor has upgraded movement. Instead of just kind of rocking, it had independant movement of the shield and sword arms, as well as body movement.

Then there is Leota. Wow. Just wow. She floats. The effect of her face looks identical, just as good as it did before, but the ball is suspended and moves around above the table. It's spectacular. And below here are some candles, and the flames looked completely real. They did a marvelous job.

The waltzers in the ballroom were very bright and visible. And they upped the blacklight in the attic and through the grave yard. It really made a difference coming down the hill. The trees with faces were rally well defined by it and spooky. The faces of all the ghosts in the graveyard were nice and visible. The only draw back was that the increased light made the scrims aparant, most noteably in front of the opera singer. That was unfortunate.

The exit ramp still doesn't work. Leota is REALLY blacklit, giving her dress a pink glow.


That's everything I noticed. They really did a good job, I'm very pleased. Different, but not defaced.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

What GD said. I LOVED IT. I have no problems with the changes (nay, upgrades) they made.

You swankers heard it first from the Happy Haunts. ;)

[wendybeth]

If CP approves, it must be good.:snap:

[innerSpaceman]

Well, seeing as I could hardly get a thumbs-up from a more authoritative source then the Happy Haunts, I will look forward to my next Park trip with much excitement.

I am reaaally disappointed about the swap of April for Gracey. She was my favorite of the paintings, and the Gracey is such a distinctive WDW item that I don't feel the trade to be anything other than highway robbery with a tar baby twist.



Still, when it comes the likes of the Haunted Mansion, I suppose the devil must be paid his due if we are to get nifty improvements. I was going to skip the Park this week after two weekends in a row .... but with mostly positive changes to the Mansion afoot, how can I resist?
;)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I am reaaally disappointed about the swap of April for Gracey. She was my favorite of the paintings, and the Gracey is such a distinctive WDW item that I don't feel the trade to be anything other than highway robbery with a tar baby twist.I can see the complaint here. Totally valid. Why sully our original Mansion with something from Florida, right? But for some reason, these days, I'm kinda cool with a connection between the Mansions. The idea of adding Gracey to our place is alright by me. Almost a homecoming for a lost soul that was evicted from here long ago.

April/Dec was a favorite of mine, but I'm ok with seeing her go. Maybe it will hit me tomorrow. Why didn't they take out the stupid horse and rider instead? I never liked that one.

[belleh5]

Thanks for spolier GD!! I can't wait to see all the HM changes on Saturday!!

Do you think that they will ever bring the April-Sept painting back?

[surfinmuse]

Thanks for the info, GD & CP. I look forward to seeing the changes in person later this week.

You know, I noticed that the lighting was different too for the Haunted Mansion Holiday, so much so that all the scrims are much more noticeable than their non-holiday counterpart. Guess that's the trade-off though for lighting that casts a great relief on the animatronics.

The highlight of that attraction for me though, is unequivocally the music; from the dirge-like tones of the organ, the theme undergoes various harmonic and timbral variations, and culminates into the various renditions in the graveyard, blending into wildly infectious and harmonoius cacophony.

Then, the best one of all... a musical sleight-of-hand, it ends on a soft haunting a capella coda, the same chord progression (same key even) as you first heard when you walked in... first with words ("... and If you would like to join our jamboree, there's a simple rule that's compulsory: mortals pay a token fee; rest in peace, the haunting's free. So hurry back, we would like your company..."), then as hummed underscore for recited "hurry back.... hurry back..."

The lyrics are great and all, but I think Buddy Baker's scoring and orchestration really nails it.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Awesome post, muse. The sound was really good. The synch of the narration was really good - they had lots of problems with that last year. The only problem was the bride, where the speaker was a bit messed up.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I *so* have to go now. I haven't been to DL since November and I'm dying to go back! Thanks for the report! :)