Behind the Magic: 5 Secrets of The Haunted Mansion You Probably Didn't Know
At night, keep an eye on the windows, you may notice a ghost or two passing by. Image credit: Walt Disney Co.
Everyone knows The Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom Park is a classic and one of the most beloved attractions at Walt Disney World Resort. The 999 happy haunts have been eliciting no-so-scary chills and shrieks since Walt Disney World Resort opened on Oct. 1, 1971. But here are some insider secrets that you may not know.
The Raven - Why He’s There:
In the original plans for the Haunted Mansion, the raven was going to be our narrator as we toured the attraction. It was even going to be a water ride at one point. But it was later decided to have Paul Frees be our ghost host, the voice that we hear today. You’ll still see our fine-feathered-friend four separate times throughout the ride.
We are first introduced to the raven in the stand-by queue just above the Ravenscroft organ. By the way, the graveyard in the queue area is full of references to Walt Disney Imagineers like X Atencio and Marc Davis, just read the tombstones. Thurl Ravenscroft, a voice actor also known as the original voice of Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes cereal, gets a little nod on the organ itself. He voices one of the singing busts in the graveyard scene in the ride, the one that resembles Walt Disney.
2. Chess Pieces on the Roof
It’s often said, especially on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, that Imagineer Marc Davis, an avid chess player, cleverly hid chess pieces in plain sight on the roof of the Haunted Mansion as a nod to his favorite pastime. But in his book The Art of the Haunted Mansion, former Imagineer Jason Surrell writes that this was simply a design element that was popular when the Haunted Mansion would have been built. But Marc Davis is also credited for adding the scene in the Pirates of the Caribbean queue where 2 skeletal pirates are playing chess, deadlocked where neither player can make a move. No matter which version you believe, there are chess pieces on the roof, and they are hidden in plain sight. All pieces but the knight. Why? Because it’s always night at the Haunted Mansion.
Chess pieces are hidden in plain sight on the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World
3. Park Benches
There are a few park benches located just outside the Haunted Mansion. While most of us sit on a bench to rest relax for a bit, I can’t think of a bench that would make someone more uncomfortable. Look closely, the iron work is actually a serpent with red eyes.
4. The Stretching Room - are you actually going down?
Is this room actually stretching? Or is it just your imagination?
The stretching room is one of the best special effects of any attraction at Walt Disney World. Once inside, the room begins to stretch, leaving us to wonder if we are actually moving down in an elevator, or staying put.
I believe that knowing the effects enhances the magic at Walt Disney World, helping us to appreciate the details even more. But I would hate to ruin this for anyone who doesn’t want to know. If you wish to keep this one a mystery, skip over the spoiler alert below.
Spoiler Alert!
In the Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, the show building, where the ride actually takes place , is on the other side of the Disneyland Railroad tracks. In order for guests to access the ride, they need to take an elevator down to a tunnel, under the tracks. So in Disneyland you’re actually in an elevator. But in Walt Disney World, there is no need to move guests down, so the stretching room doesn’t actually move.
Speaking of the show building, here’s another secret that is sure to impress.
5. The Show Building
Most of us assume the ride takes place inside the mansion itself but this isn’t actually the case. What we see on the outside is simply a facade. Other than the stretching room, the ride takes place in a massive warehouse-style building backstage. And while the Haunted Mansion is set in Liberty Square, it sits right along side “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland.
Here’s a bonus secret: In addition to its home in the Liberty Square area at Walt Disney World Resort, The Haunted Mansion is featured at Disneyland Resort (in New Orleans Square), Tokyo Disneyland (in Fantasyland) and Disneyland Paris (known as Phantom Manor and located in Frontierland). It is the only Disney attraction to be featured in four different park “lands” worldwide.
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Behind the Magic: How to Travel Through Time at Magic Kingdom
Today I have a special guest writer, my son Martin who’s in 4th grade. He has been helping with my Behind the Magic posts and wanted to share one of his favorite hidden details at the Magic Kingdom. We hope you enjoy our Behind the Magic post for today!
We have all been to Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom, but if you look very closely you can see some hidden detail that are pretty cool.
This is the Liberty Bell, over by Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square. It was made from the same mold as the original Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania.
Walking through Liberty Square towards Frontierland, you travel through time from the when the American Revolution took place to the Gold Rush era over by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. You can tell what year you’re in by reading the building numbers as you walk by.
But first, one of my favorite hidden details in Liberty Square: Look in a round brick building near Columbia Harbour House restaurant and you can see two lanterns in the window. Those are supposed to be Paul Revere ‘s famous signal.
Just outside Columbia Harbour Hous , you’ll notice a tower with two lanterns in the window.
Two lanterns remind us of Paul Revere. Remember the saying, “Two if by sea?”
As you walk toward Frontereland look up at the buildings, you can see that there are numbers on some of the buildings. But did you know the numbers are trying to tell you something? They are telling you what year you are in. If the number says 1876, it means that you are in the year 1876.
Here we see building number 1871, but it also represents the year we are in: 1876.
Look at the top of Pecos Bill, you can see 1878.
Then we get to my favorite ride, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This is a mine train rollercoaster in Frontierland. By the time you reached Big Thunder Mountain, you traveled west from Liberty Square by the Haunted Mansion and Hall of Presidents to the Gold Rush period.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad marks the end of Frontierland at the Gold Rush period in time.
When you start at Haunted Mansion and walk towards Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, you’re walking east to west in American history.
So that’s my Disney World secret for today. I hope you can check this out when the Magic Kingdom opens.
This Disney secret has been brought to you by Darren Wittko’s son, Martin.
Behind the Magic: Go Away Green Paint
You've probably never realized this (because that’s the whole point!) but some of the no-so-pretty parts of Disney theme parks, like fire hydrants, show buildings, construction fences and some backstage areas, are all painted a lackluster shade of green known as "Go-Away-Green."
Color experts figured out that by using different shades of green paint, some objects do go unnoticed by guests. For more information on Disney using the magic of just the right color, view my post on why many of the sidewalks are stained red at Walt Disney World.
For those of you who like to use Disney colors in your home, the most common green used is Pear Cactus, made by PPG Paints. However, Disney often uses variations of Go Away Green to match a particular area.
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Behind the Magic: Why The Sidewalks are Red at Magic Kingdom
Why did Disney choose red concrete for the sidewalks of Main Street USA at Walt Disney World? Some say it’s to represent a red carpet as you enter the show. Others say it was chosen to make photos look better. Still, others claim it is supposed to represent brick. So who’s right?
Red sidewalks on Main Street USA inside Magic Kingdom create a vibrant contrast with their surroundings.
There are a few reasons actually. When the Magic Kingdom was being built, Disney turned to Eastman Kodak, a research and development company and a leader in photography, for help in choosing the right color.
First, grey sidewalks would be highly unimaginative. We expect more from Disney and grey cement just wouldn’t cut it.
Florida is, of course, the Sunshine State and sun glare off light-colored concrete would cause people to squint. So the color of the sidewalks needed to absorb sunlight rather than reflect it.
Kodak, who was to be a major sponsor of Walt Disney World, performed a study to identify which colors would absorb sunlight, blend in with the surroundings, and yet, make things “pop” in photographs. And maybe, if they got it right, people would love their photos so much, they would buy Kodak film for their cameras once again.
I think they nailed it with the color red they chose. Just look at the contrast between the sidewalks and the gardens. Brilliant! Most visitors don’t stop to question why the sidewalks are red, they just know that their digital photos look visually stunning, even if they have never heard of Kodak Film before.
Related:
Behind the Magic: Secrets of Walt Disney World
Behind The Magic: Why Disney Doesn't Follow U.S. Flag Code on Main Street USA.
Main Street USA | Magic Kingdom Park
Did you ever notice how many flags and buntings there are throughout Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom Park? In this fictional town, modeled after Walt Disney’s childhood home of Marceline, Missouri, we see red, white, and blue just about everywhere. You may even see the mayor, fire chief, the Dapper Dans, Main Street Philharmonic, and other characters interacting with guests on the street. The entire town has come out to celebrate. Why all the excitement? Because it’s the 4th of July on Main Street USA. In Fact, everyday is the 4th of July, even in March!
Maybe that explains why we have a parade every afternoon and fireworks each evening, hmm.
Every day is the 4th of July on Main Street USA.
With so many flags presented all over Main Street USA, how does Disney honor the U.S. Flag Code? Here’s a secret: most of the flags we see, are not official U.S. flags, they’re props. They don’t have 13 stripes and are missing a few stars. These fake flags do not need to be taken in during inclement weather nor do they need to be illuminated at night allowing Disney to tell the same story consistently every day. It gets a little confusing during Halloween and Christmas but that’s another article.
The flags on Main Street USA are not official U.S. Flags, they’re props.
Flag Retreat at Walt Disney World
Speaking of flags on Main Street USA, since opening day at Walt Disney World, there has been a flag-lowering ceremony in Town Square every day. Yes, this flag is official, that’s why it’s lowered each afternoon. The ceremony often invites an honorary veteran to assist with the flag retreat.
It’s a very touching and moving ceremony, one that is truly a must-see event at the Magic Kingdom. The ceremony will start with a child volunteer who recites the Pledge of Allegiance with the help of the Dapper Dans. The Main Street Philharmonic will be there to play “God Bless America” and the National Anthem. I promise you won’t regret taking the time to go see it.
How do you get selected to participate in the Flag Retreat ceremony at Magic Kingdom? First, you should be a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. Go to City Hall on Main Street USA first thing in the morning and mention that you would like to volunteer for the Flag Retreat. Here’s a great article on AllEars.net written by a veteran who participated in the event. He walks you through the entire process.
Have you participated in this the Flag Retreat at Walt Disney World? If so, share your story below!
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Behind the Magic: Secrets of Walt Disney World
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Walt Disney World Behind The Magic: Smellitzer Machines
Have you ever noticed the smell of grass in the elephant scene of Soarin’ or the smell of burning wood in the Rome scene of Spaceship Earth?
Imagineers at Walt Disney World sometimes use scents to help immerse guests into their story with smellitizers and other devices.
In the picture above, a fan in the Main Street Confectionary vents out towards the sidewalk at Disneyland Resort.
Next time you’re on Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom Park, you may notice the enhanced smell of popcorn. The entrance to Magic Kingdom is modeled after the lobby of a theater, so it’s only fitting that you would smell popcorn. Walk by the Main Street Confectionary, you’ll notice the smell of cinnamon and sugar, hoping to attract a few customers.
Scents are also used in few hotels: the lobby of Disney’s Contemporary Resort smells like green aloe and you’ll smell hibiscus flowers in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
If you want to bring your favorite scent from Walt Disney World to your home, check out Magic Candle Company, it makes a full line of Disney parks scents.
Do you have a favorite scent from somewhere in Walt Disney World? If so, share below!
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Disney Dream Secrets You Probably Didn't Know
The Disney Dream dwarfs the nearby buildings when in port.
If you've been on the Disney Dream you know just how big this ship really is. On my last voyage my son and I were playing the Midship Detective Agency game and there were a few times where I honestly couldn't tell which side of the ship I was on nor which direction I was headed. And let me just say I'm very good with navigating, I never have pull the car over and ask anyone for directions. My wife will attest to that.
So here are a few tips I learned to help you navigate the Disney Dream while onboard. Plus, I thought it would be fun to include a few fun facts and secrets.
If the room plaques have a fish on them you're on the port side of the ship. If you see a starfish, you're on the starboard side of the ship.
These maps in the carpet help you determine which direction you are walking. If you're facing north, you are walking to the front. See those nautical flags? They spell out the name of the ship in signal flags.
Even More Secrets
Disney first got into cruising by partnering with Premier Cruise Line and the Big Red Boat. But there were too many guest complaints about customer service. But Disney was able to establish that there was indeed a market for cruising and in 1994, Disney Cruise Line was born.
The Disney Dream can accommodate 4,000 guests.
Head up to Deck 13 and 14 midship, you'll find an overlook deck.
The Disney Dream isn't black, it's actually blue - Monica Blue to be exact. The color was inspired by a pair of pants worn by a Cast Member at a meeting. Yes, her name was Monica!
The Disney Dream is actually blue, not black.
If you look at the Disney Dream, you won't many many straight lines. Curved lines help give the ship a beautiful design. The design team did everything they could to avoid making it look like a floating milk carton.
The Disney Dream cost more to build than the Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship.
Pub 687 is named for the Disney Dream's working title while it was being built. It's bad luck to call a ship by it's name until it is completed. The Disney Dream is the 687th ship to be built at Meyer-Werft Shipyard in German to is was known as "Project 687" respectively.
The AquaDuck was originally supposed to be a lazy river attraction but engineers studied the design and thought it would make the ship top heavy.
Why did Disney register their fleet in the Bahamas and not the United States? American maritime law requires that 70% of the crew be American. The cruise line industry prefers non-American crew members to save money on salaries. But don't let that fool you, the crew members on the Disney Dream are absolutely amazing.
With the ships being registered in the Bahamas, Disney is required to have its fleet stop in the Bahamas at least once a year.
When a Disney ship goes to drydock for refurbishment, the crew is put to work supervising vendors, hauling trash, running keys, and standing by on fire watch.
>> View the Disney Cruise Line Offers Page
Darren Wittko is rated a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent by readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.