Welcome to Theme Park Insider! Join the community or log in
Theme Park Insider
Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube

Happy belated 40th birthday to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion

By Robert Niles
Published: September 9, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Disneyland is hosting this evening its 40th anniversary event for the Haunted Mansion, reminding me that I missed the attraction's actual 40th birthday on August 12, when I was driving home from the big summer roadtrip.

So a belated happy birthday to the Mansion:

Disneyland's Haunted Mansion

The Bride and the Groom in the Haunted Mansion

Mansion was the one attraction I really, really wanted to work at in Walt Disney World, but never had the chance to, save a few greeter shifts. I would have loved to ham it up with that stretch room spiel.

Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
The Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

Standard trivia, but repeated here for infrequent readers who might not know: The stretch rooms were installed so that visitors could descend in elevators to a level where they could walk under the Disneyland Railroad tracks to get to the show building, which is located on the outside of those tracks.

At Disney World, the Mansion is contained within the track perimeter, so there are no elevators. The ceiling above rises to create the same effect.

I must admit, I don't know which system is used at Disneyland Paris, but here's a picture for Mansion fans, anyway.

Disneyland Paris' Phantom Manor
Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris

Readers' Opinions

From Manny Barron on September 9, 2009 at 5:39 PM
The Haunted Mansion is one of the best rides anywhere. The theming is awesome and it's always fun to ride a doom buggy through the Mansion. The stretch room is also the best pre show in a theme park period. I'm looking forward to the next 40(or more) years that I'll be grinning my way through this timeless classic.

P.S.-The Paris version of the Haunted Mansion(Phantom Manor) bears close resemblance to the Psycho house on the Universal backlot.

From luis gonzalez on September 9, 2009 at 7:39 PM
"everyone please move to the DEAD center of the room"

If you havent seen it, there is a dead man hanging from the ceiling when the lights go out in the stretch room, if there are any haunted mansion noobs here.

I will ride the haunted mansion till i die, then i will haunt the haunted mansion. When i retire i also hope to work the mansion part time.

From rick stevens on September 9, 2009 at 8:29 PM
In honor of the Mansion's belated 40th, here is a site were you can download a papercraft model of the old girl. It is a free download and comes with instructions. I have not undertaken the build, but it is well done.

http://haunteddimensions.raykeim.com/index305.html

From Anthony Murphy on September 9, 2009 at 9:14 PM
The Paris version has an elevator streching room and has a plot with the house. Its also western/parisian themed which is different than the rest.

Tokyo is almost an exact copy of WDW's

From 62.56.48.224 on September 10, 2009 at 2:37 AM
Just want to say the we love Haunted Mansion and want to wish her many happy returns of the dead.
From Rob P on September 10, 2009 at 2:39 AM
Just want to wish the Haunted Mansion many happy returns of the dead.
From Vickie Boyd on September 10, 2009 at 11:41 AM
I've never been to Disneyland, but when I went to Disney World ages ago, Haunted Mansion was my absolute favorite ride. I really enjoyed it (and not because it was inside... this was late March and it wasn't exactly hot yet). The one thing I remember the most was the ride got stuck when we were right at the end, so the ghost saying good-bye repeated over and over. I had her lines memorized by the time we got out.
From 65.82.210.26 on September 11, 2009 at 9:55 AM
HBD! This is one of the few, true "classics" in my mind! Wish there were more dark rides being built now-a-days...can anyone explain why roller coasters are taking over all the theme parks? Don't get me wrong, I love riding roller coasters but dark rides are just as thrilling, maybe more, when done correctly and a LOT cheaper for a park to build (not to mention the air conditioning factor!). They are also great "family" rides, and you know how much our parks strive to cater to families! It just seems like you don't hear about many of them being built lately...it's a shame.
From Randy Scott on September 11, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Happy B Day, Happy Haunt! I've never been to Disneyland's Happy Haunt but it is on my list of places to go before I die (or after!).

THM is my absolute favorite ride at WDW or any park for that matter. The memories and good times it brings back to me as a child and an adult with children (almost adults now) is priceless.

Walt may be gone, but his dream will always be alive and well as long as there is a Haunted Mansion.

Thank you Walt!

From M.S. Cool on September 12, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I love the Haunted Mansion. I'll never forget my first time on it. It was FREEZING!!!

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

More Theme Park News

Previous article: Should theme parks build kids' lands?

September 2009 Archive