PICTURES: NEW Interactive Queue at the Haunted Mansion Open to Guests
The new interactive queue area for the Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion that we have been watching the construction of since October 2010 has finally been completed! WDWNT Reporter Taylor Martina was on the scene to bring us pictures and a first-hand report of the new elements:
The line was long, really a perfect day to open the new interactive queue
Some small trees are still up in the queue, even though the new area is open
The manager told guests they could take the quick way in or what he called “the more fun way” through the new queue
After a few switchbacks…
Guests funneled down the side…
Cast members can switch this gate open if the interactive queue is not operating
We’re going in!
These busts are still behind small trees, not ready for guests quite yet
Some of the old tombstones are peppered through the switchbacks of the new area
The band from the graveyard scene represented here
Each instrument plays Grim Grinning Ghosts when guests touch it
They are all synced up, so guests can jump in with multiple instruments half-way through a song
Guests were loving it!
The front of this tomb has the organ from the ballroom scene, and you can play it by touching it! Air even comes out of the pipes of the organ!
What’s this?
It’s a Ravenscroft, a great nod to Thurl Ravenscroft
The other side has some more sinister instruments for guests to play…
Master Gracey has a new plot in the DEAD center of the new area
Some of the other old tombstones are up on the hill next to the new area
The Sea Captain’s tomb sprays water all over guests randomly
There is a constant mist and water spurts from the sides and top. It was warm today, so expect this to be turned off in colder weather
Bookcases reminiscent of the library scene
This book writes courtesy of the individual who wrote all of the rhyming epitaphs
A voice reads the writing as it is transcribed and then asks guests as muses to finish the rhyme by yelling out the proper final word
The page then wipes for a new one
You can finish this one since the photo was taken before the final word was written
The books on the opposite side of the crypt pop in and out, we are not sure if this will pertain to an activity at this time
A new door is in place for handicap guests to enter towards the back of the new queue area. Notice the references to Paul Frees, Ken Anderson, Rolly Crump, and Blaine Gibson!
It didn’t look like this was being used yet…
Stairs are probably for cast members, but we can’t be sure yet
Prudence Pock is identified as the writer on the back of the bookcase crypt
Guests were really enjoying this
The back of the Sea Captain’s crypt has portholes… am I being too optimistic in thinking these might be from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?
Here is the merge point of the two queues
The area near then entrance is still behind scrims, but you can see MAdame Leota’s tomb is still there
The old servant’s quarters hallway is being widened. This shot was taken right after the exit from the stretching room
Here is the other side by the exit, where they have already removed the old handicap entrance signage and widened the doorway. Still no word on how handicap loading will be changing yet…
Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we continue coverage of changes to the Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom, including some video of the new interactive queue coming later this week!