Walt Disney’s Creative Link to the Haunted Mansion

 by Ray Keating

Lifestyle

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 31, 2022

 

There’s a lot going on at Walt Disney theme parks regarding Halloween – indeed, for the two months leading up to Halloween. But for me, mention Halloween, Disney and related scary stuff, and I think of the Haunted Mansion.

And while the Haunted Mansion opened after the death of Walt Disney, it didn’t mean that Walt’s creative fingerprints couldn’t be found amongst the mansion’s dust and cobwebs. For example…

 

• The extraordinary success of Mary Poppins prompted renewed awe for the achievements of Walt Disney. While he enjoyed recognition of his talents, Walt distrusted an excess of praise. Among his associates, he responded with an expletive. In the presence of strangers, he was polite but uneasy. One noon he entertained a group of industrialists at his table in the commissary, and they were extravagant in their praise of Walt Disney. Donn Tatum recognized Walt’s discomfiture and tried to relieve the situation by remarking, “Well, Walt, there’s only one thing left for you to do, and that’s to walk on water.”

Walt’s eyes twinkled and he answered, “I’ve already tried that and it doesn’t work.” 

His creative touch extended to everything, from a new cartoon feature based on Kipling’s The Jungle Book to a projected Disneyland attraction, the Haunted Mansion, to a musical film based on a Broadway play, The Happiest Millionaire.

 

- Bob Thomas, Walt Disney: An American Original

 

• [Walt Disney] had thought as well of a New Orleans quarter with a Haunted Mansion, and he had dispatched Herb Ryman and John Hench to the city to take photographs, which later became models for the attraction. 

 

– Neal Gabler, Walt Disney

 

• On August 9, 1969, the doors of the Haunted Mansion first creaked open to ghoulish ghosts (and guests) looking for an unlivable home… The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland was the first major Disney attraction to open without the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Although Walt reviewed many early concepts and vignettes, he never saw the completed show. Construction for the Haunted Mansion attraction began in 1961 and the exterior of the attraction was completed in 1963. It was unoccupied until 1969 while Walt Disney participated in the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair and his Imagineers were re-tasked to work on those timely projects. 

 

– Disney Parks Blog

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Ray Keating is the author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. Pre-Order Persecution: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Keating says, “I think Persecution might be the most action-packed of any of the Pastor Stephen Grant books so far.”

Signed books at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/persecution  

Kindle edition at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHHJNNB4

 

Two great ways to order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks here and the Kindle edition here. 

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks here, and paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions here.  

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

New Halloween Treats Begin Showing Up at Disney World Theme Parks

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 17, 2022

 

It’s still in the 90s during the day here in Florida, but the smell of pumpkin spice in the air leaves no doubt about the fact that the Autumn season has already begun at Disney World.  With the change of seasons also comes the debut of tons of spooky and spicy new treats for Halloween. 

Among the most gorgeous treats we’ve spied?  The “Minnie Ghost Pinata” from The Ganachery at Disney Springs impresses us the most.  So adorable!  (All photos courtesy of Disney Parks Blog except for the Glow-in-the-Dark Mickey Mummy Popcorn Bucket.)

As big Dole Whip fans, we’re also looking forward to trying the “Witch’s Flight” at Swirls on the Water at Disney Springs. It’s a trio of Pumpkin soft-serve, purple cheesecake soft-serve, and DOLE Whip. 

  
And for those of you collecting souvenir popcorn buckets and sippers, this year’s Donald Duck Candy Corn sipper is sooo stinkin’ cute, and will soon be available at a number of kiosks throughout the parks. 

Keep an eye out, as well, for the Glow-in-the-Dark Mickey Mummy Popcorn Bucket, which has already popped up around Disney. (We found ours in Magic Kingdom at the Castle hub popcorn stand two weeks ago.)

 

If you’ll be hitting the ground running at Disney World in the next few weeks, the Disney Parks Blog has shared this delicious sounding list of all the special upcoming treats for you. 

Check in with Disney Parks Blog’s extra list of all the treats at the resorts.  

We actually think the resorts are showcasing some of the more charming treats, like the “Tamatoa,” a chocolate chiffon cake resembling a certain Moana crab, with Hawaiian Chantilly filling and shiny sprinkles at Capt. Cook’s and Kona Island at the Polynesian; or the “Monster Mousse,” made of pistachio mousse, morello cherry, and milk chocolate crumble at Le Petit Café at Riviera Resort; or the “Whoopie Monster,” a purple and green whoopie pie with tiny little fangs and big eyes, jazzed up with spiced apple and marshmallow buttercream and caramel. You can find it at Pop Century.

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Mickey's 2022 Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties Now Sold Out

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 13, 2022

 

You snooze, you lose… 

 

If you haven’t already purchased your tickets for the very popular “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party,” you are out of luck.  All the remaining party dates have sold out.  

 

The specially-ticketed Magic Kingdom after-hours party, returning for the first time since COVID closures, opened on August 12, and runs through October 31.  (Remember the days when you could check the weather forecast, then walk up to the ticket window and buy tickets for that night’s event?)

 

Ticket prices for the 37 party dates ranged from $109 to $199, with prices increasing closer to Halloween. While the scheduled party activities run from 7 p.m. until midnight, ticket holders are able to gain admission to the park as early as 4:00 p.m.   (The Magic Kingdom closes to regular park guests at 6 p.m., so if you are coming to Disney World in the next few weeks and aren’t planning to attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary, be sure to check the party dates so you know if your park day will be cut short by an earlier closure time. Maybe plan on park hopping, or choose a different park for the day.)

Returning this year as part of the festivities is the Headless Horseman’s ride down Main Street, the “Boo-to-You” parade with its haunting music and special holiday costumes for characters, and the Sanderson Sisters’ Hocus Pocus “Villain Spelltacular” on the castle stage. Trick-or-treat stops are available to fill your goodie bag, and the Cadaver Dans are back with their “dead pan” humor. A holiday fireworks and projections show at the castle also adds to the party atmosphere.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Freeform’s “31 Nights of Halloween” Begins October 1

 by Beth Keating

News/Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 25, 2020

 

Fall has officially arrived, and in parts of the country, people have started donning sweatshirts and cozy sweaters (sorry, Floridians… the tables will turn in January, I have no doubt).

With Halloween just around the corner, the Freeform channel released the schedule for their annual “31 Nights of Halloween” series. (Freeform is owned by Disney…remember back when it was called “ABC Family”?)  And while the event is billed as the “nights” of Halloween, most of the “nights” begin by showing movies as early as 7 am on weekends, or as early as 11 am on some weekdays. 

 

Each day features a different lineup, but the movies are taken from a stable of 44 films in rotation, including a few that will be making their Freeform premieres. If you miss your favorite frightfest, fear not, because the odds are it will be around again in a few days. 

 

Among this year’s cinematic offerings are Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride; Casper (1995); The Goonies; Beetlejuice; The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror-thon”; Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins; Ghostbusters (1984); Ghostbusters II; The Craft; The Addams Family (1991); Addams Family Values; Boxtrolls; Matilda; Jumanji (1995); Goosebumps (2015); Warm Bodies; The Mummy (1999);The Mummy Returns; Twitches; Twitches Too; Halloweentown; Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge; Shrek; Scared Shrekless; Scream; Scream 2; Scream 3; Toy Story of TERROR!; Hotel Transylvania; Monsters, Inc.; Monsters, University; Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Gremlins; and Sleepy Hollow (1999).

 

Freeform will also be premiering Hotel Transylvania 2 and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacationon Saturday, October 10; The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and The Scorpion King on Monday, October 12; and on Saturday, October 24, Ghostbusters (2016).

 

Of course, no scarefest would be complete without the cult status Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas or Hocus Pocus, which make a number of showings during the month.  With Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on hiatus this year, it’s as close as you’ll be able to get to the Sanderson sisters, though you’ll still be able to see Jack and Sally in their own cavalcade at the Magic Kingdom.  And….wait for it… there is also the obligatory plug for the Disney Parks, which probably need all the help they can get this year anyway, with Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic, which shows up several times in the line-up.  

 

If you want to “plus-up” your screen time during the season, Freeform is also offering a series of free downloadable backgrounds for your video calls based on the “31 Nights” films, including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, or The Addams Family.  You can get them here.

 

We won’t print the Spook-tacular schedule in its entirety here (you can go to Freeform for that), but you might be interested in the offerings for Halloween day (and night). Chances are, you won’t be out running “Amok, Amok, Amok” this year anyway… Socially distanced Trick-or-Treating is hard!

 

Saturday, October 31st
7:00 am – Twitches
9:00 am – Twitches Too
11:00 am – Halloweentown
1:00 pm – Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge
3:00 pm – Hocus Pocus
5:10 pm – The Addams Family (1991)
7:15 pm – Addams Family Values
9:20 pm – Hocus Pocus
11:30 pm – Ghostbusters (1984)

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.