Our very own Chris Lastrapes is currently on location at the Disneyland Resort and reports to us with the news that The Haunted Mansion has re-opened early from its refurbishment. According to Chris, nothing much is new, except for some fresh coats of paint.
Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as I will be visiting the Resort tomorrow, and will bring back plenty of pictures of The Haunted Mansion.
According to the OC Register:
Disney fans snapped up several hundred hotel-and-park packages — for as much as $475 each — within minutes of their going on sale to celebrate Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion’s 40th anniversary.
“I think this just speaks to the legacy of the Haunted Mansion and the appeal it has to our guests,” said Mary Murray, director of merchandise for Disneyland.
Four packages for Sept. 9 went on sale earlier this week, some of which included exclusive seminars discussing the Mansion’s history with top Imagineers like Tony Baxter and Kim Irvine, hotel stays, food and merchandise.
The first two tour packages – titled “Grinning Ghosts” and “Foolish Mortals” — cost $475 and $430, respectively. They sold out within five minutes of going on sale online Tuesday morning, Murray said.
The Dearly Departed and Hitchhikers packages were $250 and $85, respectively, and sold out within two hours after going on sale Wednesday morning, Murray said.
She said that Disney wouldn’t comment on exactly how many tickets were available for the packages, but said several hundred had been up for sale.
The packages follow the Haunted Mansion’s back story of the Black Widow Bride — “Has she found her soul mate or will another groom meet his doom?” reads the Haunted Mansion anniversary site.
Below is a synopsis of what each package includes, or you can find out by clicking here:
Grinning Ghosts, $475: A dinner, a seminar with top Imagineers Tony Baxter and Kim Irvine, a night in the Grand Californian Hotel, a meal and desert, admission in the evening to both Disneyland and California Adventure, photo opportunities, rides and merchandise.
Foolish Mortals, $430: The same benefits as the Grinning Ghosts, but includes a night at the Disneyland Hotel instead of the Grand Californian.
Dearly Departed, $250: Same as the above, but includes fewer parting gifts and no hotel stay.
Hitchhikers, $85: This includes admission to Disneyland, but not California Adventure, no dinner or hotel stay, and only one gift.
Disney has posted pictures of a majority of the merchandise being released for The Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary event this summer, most of which will only be released at the event. Here are a few of the more interesting ones (you can find the rest HERE):
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A figurine of the griffin statues that adorn the staircase at the start of the attraction. The price is to be determined.
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The event T-Shirt, on sale for $29.
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A shirt featuring the original opening poster used for promotion. The color of the shirt & the price are to be determined.
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The event pin for $12.95.
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5 pins like this with Constance’s 5 husbands will be on sale for $14.95.
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Each of the 4 stretching portraits will be released for $95.
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Robert Olszewski’s latest Gallery of Light item on The Haunted Mansion will on sale for $85. This is one of the few items that will be available outside of the event.
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Robert Olszewski’s great Pokitpal series continues with this Haunted Mansion themed item, to be on sale for $20.
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The last item I wanted to showcase here is this $75 Jim Shore Disney Traditions piece.
Both Haunted Mansion Holiday & It’s a Small World Holiday close tomorrow to have their respective holiday overlays removed. In honor of this, I felt it right to post this little bit of interesting Haunted Mansion Holiday related news:
Quirky filmmaker Tim Burton gets a first glimpse of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction, which is based on his 1993 film ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’
Burton was accompanied by his partner — actress Helena Bonham Carter — for his first look at the mansion, which undergoes a Christmas makeover each year at the Anaheim, CA theme park.
I find it really shocking that Tim Burton has not once been on the attraction since the holiday overlay started in 2001. Shows that he cares about his creations, huh?
Both attractions will re-open in their original forms (well sort of for It’s a Small World) on February 15th. There may be some small changes/additions to The Haunted Mansion, & of course It’s a Small World will see a ton of changes! But I’m sure you already know about those…
A lot more of SHAG’s art pieces for the Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary next year have been unveiled. Here are a few of my personal favorites:
You can find many more of SHAG’s upcoming Haunted Mansion pieces by following this link.
Disneyland is going to be holding a big event for the 40th anniversary of The Haunted Mansion on 9/9/09. Here are some of the products being released, & some info on the events:
Date: 09-09-09
Location: Disneyland® ResortThe Plot Thickens. . . After five husbands and five untimely deaths, the Black Widow Bride of the Haunted Mansion will wed once more. Has she found her soul mate? Or will another groom meet his doom? Join us, Foolish Mortals, and we’ll dig up the answers at our ghostly celebration that everyone’s dying to attend.
Event packages are as follows:
Grinning Ghosts – $TBD Foolish Mortals – $TBD Dearly Departed – $250 Hitchhikers – $85 Early Demise Offer:
Guests that register through February 28th only, will receive an “early demise” pin.
* Reservations for the Grinning Ghosts and Foolish Mortals packages will be accepted only via www.DisneyGallery.com beginning Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time). * Reservations for the Dearly Departed and Hitchhikers packages will be accepted only via www.DisneyGallery.com beginning Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time).
There will also be an event & merchandise release with the artist SHAG to be held on August 9th
SHAG Haunted Mansion Product Release & Signing
Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Purchasing Location: Disneyana Shop, Disneyland® park
Signing Location: Main Street Cinema, Disneyland® park
Product & Event Information:
Artist, SHAG will be on hand for a special meet & greet and signing opportunity as we celebrate the release of his “Haunted Mansion” inspired artwork created in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland® park. Represented in the artwork are some of the attraction’s most beloved scenes, including the Stretching Portraits, the Ballroom, the Seance Room, the Attic, Graveyard, among others. This unique collection is a must have for any SHAG and Haunted Mansion enthusiast. To view the Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary inspired artwork by SHAG, please click here. Please continue to watch for a complete list of merchandise that will be offered in conjunction with the cocktail reception and product release events.
Please Note: Guests attending SHAG’s Spirited Cocktail Reception on August 8, 2009 will have the first opportunity to purchase this product. Remaining quantities will be released as part of the product release on August 9, 2009).
SHAG “Spirited” Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Cocktail Reception
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009
Time: 8 PM – 11 PM
Location: Crystal Cove, Disney’s Paradise Pier® HotelIt’s sure to be a spirited and swingin’ party tonight! With the hippest artist in town attending, groove with ghouls and spirits of all kinds as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion in style.
Event Packages Include:
Swingin’ Spirits – $TBD (please continue to check back)
- ONE (1) Night Accommodation at Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel (night of 8/08/09)*
- Spirited Cocktail Reception
- Photo Opportunity
- Opportunity to purchase SHAG “Haunted Mansion” inspired merchandise via Random Selection Process (Merchandise purchased via RSP will be pre-signed)
- Opportunity to purchase remaining themed event merchandise in event stor
- Artist Meet & Greet
- TWO (2) Commemorative Gifts
Groovy Ghouls – $185
- Spirited Cocktail Reception
- Photo Opportunity
- Opportunity to purchase SHAG “Haunted Mansion” inspired merchandise via Random Selection Process (Merchandise purchased via RSP will be pre-signed)
- Opportunity to purchase remaining themed event merchandise in event store
- Artist Meet & Greet
- ONE (1) Commemorative Gift
* Reservations for the SHAG “Spirited” Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Cocktail Reception will be accepted only via www.DisneyGallery.com beginning Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time).
* Please note: We are now required to have only one (1) Guest per reservation. It will be necessary for each Guest to register individually. Thank you!
Myrna Litt is back with another excellent, yet small photo report. Here are a few updates from the Resort on September 11th:
The Town Square flag was held at half mast to honor the tragic events of September 11th, 2001.
A look at some of the Halloween merchandise & displays inside Frontier Mercantile.
The Golden Dreams banners have been removed from the Palace of Fine Arts.
Walls up for some reason at Carnation Plaza Gardens.
The smallest construction wall I’ve ever seen outside River Belle Terrace.
Myrna however did pass on some interesting information to me that she received from various Cast Members around the Resort. Here’s what she had to say:
They are currently testing the new boats at It’s a Small World. The Pirates of the Caribbean are not testing the new boats with the public. They may start using them in November and they are lighter boats. The concrete is being replaced in front of the Haunted Mansion (I tried to take a picture but was stopped). Also they are testing a new guest interactive exit at the Haunted Mansion. The ghosts will mimic what the guest does and react to them. We were told there will be a lot of new surprises.
Thanks again Myrna!
Our sources are reporting that the planned repaving of the New Orleans Square Railroad Station, although removed off of the Disneyland.com calender, will still be happening as planned from September 2nd to October 16th. During this time, the train will not stop at the NOS Station, & will continue on to Toontown Station.
We’ve also heard talk that the area outside Star Tours may also be getting repaved. This will mean that the outside portion of the Star Tours queue will not be in use, & guests will enter on the other side of the Star Tours entrance marque. Hopefully the line doesn’t get too big, for there’s not a lot of space on that side, thanks to the Astro Orbitor! The tentative time for this to happen September 2nd through the 21st.
Also don’t forget that the area surrounding the Haunted Mansion will be repaved while the attraction is closed for it’s conversion to Haunted Mansion Holiday from September 2nd to the 25th.
We have a few updates to the attractions refurbishment list for you today. First up, the Haunted Mansion refurbishment has been pushed forward to start on September 2nd, as opposed to the 8th. It will still end as originally planned on September 25th.
The removal of McDonalds from Burger Invasion, Harbor Galley, & the Conostoga Wagon was originally supposed to last from September 2nd, to September 26th, but they have seem to of been extended all the way through the end of November. However we have no concrete date for when they will re-open.
The Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries will end on September 1st, which means no more performances of both the Secret of the Stone Tiger & Random Acts of Indy. There is currently no word when or if Aladdin’s Oasis will return.
Finally, it seems that the planned refurbishments of the New Orleans Square Railroad Station & Flik’s Flyers have been completely removed off of the list. So no word on if the repaving of the pavement around the NOS station will happen.
Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!
A whole load of new refurbishments during September & October have been announced. There’s so many, that I’m just gonna bullet them bellow:
It’s interesting to note that all 3 McDonalds locations in the Resort (Conostoga Wagon, Harbour Galley, & Burger Invasion) will be closed starting September 2nd, for an undetermined amount of time. Could this be the end for McDonalds at the Disneyland Resort?
Also, the Hyperion Theater refurbishment has been pushed back to start on September 29th, instead of September 2nd. We still have no information on when it will end, but it should be in time for the Christmas season.
Finally, I just want to remind everyone of the already announced refurbs:
Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!
