We may finally know when Haunted Mansion is debuting its latest updates.
The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland is one of the park’s most enduring and beloved attractions, captivating guests with its mix of eerie charm and whimsical humor since it first opened in 1969.
The ride’s combination of spooky effects, intricate storytelling, and the whimsical presence of its 999 “happy haunts” has made it a must-see experience for millions of visitors. Its unique blend of macabre fun and imaginative design continues to make it a standout feature of Disneyland, maintaining a loyal fanbase for over five decades.
In 2001, Disneyland introduced a seasonal overlay for the Haunted Mansion, transforming it into Haunted Mansion Holiday each year from late August to early January. Inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), the overlay brings a festive twist to the beloved ride, featuring characters like Jack Skellington and Sally, as well as vibrant holiday decorations.
While Haunted Mansion Holiday is an eagerly awaited seasonal event, it also means that Disneyland’s standard Haunted Mansion ride is closed for a significant portion of the year. The seasonal overlay offers a fresh perspective on the attraction but also leaves fans anticipating the return of the classic ride – especially in recent years, as some have grown increasingly frustrated with the lengthy periods of downtime for the standard version of Haunted Mansion.
Disneyland hasn’t actually hosted the regular version of Haunted Mansion since August 2023, when it closed for Haunted Mansion Holiday. When the latter wrapped up in January 2024, the ride closed for refurbishment until July, when it then reopened early as (you guessed it) Haunted Mansion Holiday.
Reopening Date for Haunted Mansion
According to the Disneyland Resort calendar, Haunted Mansion Holiday will run until January 6, 2024. The ride will then be closed for refurbishment until January 17, with the calendar seemingly listing a reopening date on January 18.
When it reopens, a new gift shop, Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond, will also make its debut. While the shop has faced some criticism for its generic design, it will still enhance the experience. The ride also previously received an updated outdoor queue and ADA-compliant elevator for better accessibility.
Exciting though it may be to see Haunted Mansion return, the ride may not be entirely intact.
There’s been speculation that Disney may remove a key scene from the attraction: the hanging corpse in the Stretching Room. This moment, in which the Ghost Host reveals the figure after mentioning the room has no way out, has raised concerns due to its sensitive portrayal of suicide. Disney has confirmed that the removal of the scene has been discussed, following the trend of updates to other classic attractions, such as the removal of the “we wants the redhead” scene from Pirates of the Caribbean.
In Haunted Mansion Holiday, the Stretching Room ceiling is covered with a tarp, and projections replace the hanging figure. Over time, nooses have been removed from various versions of the Haunted Mansion, including Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris, where only the one in the Stretching Room remains.
When the ride reopens, it will be interesting to see if the hanging corpse stays or is replaced. Fans are also keeping an eye on rumors suggesting that the Hatbox Ghost scene could be updated to match the effects used in Magic Kingdom Park’s version of the ride.
Do you think Disney will scrap the hanging corpse scene of Haunted Mansion?
