Halloween Countdown 2019, Day 5

[eldritchhobbit]

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Disney’s dark ride attraction The Haunted Mansion!

Check out this piece from The New York Times: “Disney’s Haunted Mansion at 50: The Ghosts Are Still Grinning! Superfans share their memories of this macabre but delightful Disneyland attraction.”

(Source.)

I always think of “Grim Grinning Ghosts,” the song from The Haunted Mansion, when I recall visiting Disneyland.

“When the crypt doors creak
And the tombstones quake
Spooks come out for a singing wake
Happy haunts materialize
And begin to vocalize
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize!”

"Grim Grinning Ghosts" (Watch on YouTube)

For more information on the fascinating backstory behind The Haunted Mansion, I recommend the two-part series from Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast:

* The Haunted Mansion, Part 1

* The Haunted Mansion, Part 2

Here’s another look into the attraction: “Legends of the Haunted Mansion: Halloween Special.”

"Legends of the Haunted Mansion: Halloween Special" (Watch on YouTube)

Comments

[lizziebelle]

That was one of my favorite attractions when I went to Disney World. I giggled through the whole thing.

[eldritchhobbit]

It was one of my favorites at Disneyland, too! Such fun memories. I was just like you, giggling through the whole thing. :)

[linaewen]

We took our son to Disney World when he was 6, and this attraction was our favorite as a family. We still remember how at the end of the ride, ghosts seemed to appear behind us reflected in a mirror, and we all turned around to look to see if it was true! We laughed so much that we had been taken in!

[eldritchhobbit]

I love this! <3

[febobe]

Riding the Haunted Mansion several times was a highlight of my two WDW trips. Thank you so much for this post! (We had the advantage of disabled access at that time, and so didn't have to wait as long. Also, they were quite happy to let us stay on the ride during some of the less busy times we accessed it.) I absolutely adored it, though I will admit that the one time it stopped dead, unplanned, at the graves, and we sat there, that was pretty creepy. I got quite nervous!

We didn't do many rides, but we did HM and Pirates over and over and over both trips. :) Mostly we did shows and food. :D

[eldritchhobbit]

I love this! I remember this as a highlight for me, too, many years ago.

I'll admit that I got a shiver imagining the ride stopping dead at the graves. That would have been very creepy, especially because you knew it was unplanned! Yikes! Thanks so much for sharing your memories. <3