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Hellos my few readers. Sorry I have been not posting recently but I was in vacation but it’s school again so I have my schedule again! Let’s get down to business. Since the Halloween holiday season is quickly approaching us most Disneyland fans are well aware of the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay that is done this time of year. It runs from Mid-September to the first week of January. It’s part of the seasonal celebrations of Halloween and Christmas. Recently there have been some mixed views on this attraction. Here is one.

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I seriously think Haunted Mansion Holiday has outstayed it’s welcome. And just a note of clarification at the beginning: I saw the movie Nightmare in theaters upon opening in 1993, shortly after my grandmother passed away, and loved it. It’s a fantastic film, and back then, it made me feel better somewhat at a time that was pretty shitty for my family in general. But the whole premise..to me…of the ride overlay was flawed from the get-go. Is the overlay fun? Sure, and I like elements like the gingerbread house they change every year. But the theme, premise, style and execution of the elements added are woefully mismatched and inappropriate for the host attraction.

It is no secret, and I am sure many here know very well that basically the classic Haunted Mansion is my favorite Disney-designed product/experience anywhere. Ever. So for starters, having that ride be out of commission in ‘original’ format for basically 5 months is fucking ridiculous to me. I would find it a little less bitter of a pill to swallow if it was open as normal HM through Halloween, closed in November and re-opened concurrently with Small World Holiday.

But the larger issue is just..the style. Cartoony black lit cardboard cutouts, in some cases, or Tim Burton style curvy structures do not match the backdrop in any way shape or form. It is the equivalent of if they added Captain Hook and his pirate crew to PoTC and said…”It’s fine, it’s all pirates…good enough!”. Just because HM and Nightmare are both “spooky” is not good enough..they are vastly different in tone, setting, goal and execution, let alone visual style. I’d go so far as to wish that the Holiday overlay never came back, and took all the crappy Nightmare merch clogging shelves with it (some quality pieces, but not many)…Mansion could very elegantly and effectively host a sedate, creepy Victorian themed Christmas overlay with rotting trees, cobwebbed presents, vintage decorations and the like and slight rearrangements of Christmas carols at points. The neon overload and Nightmare characters (regardless of my liking them on own merits) need to be shown the crypt door. It’s time theme and atmosphere, strength of idea, took precedent over marketing a (admittedly awesome) film just to do so and making related merchandise. “

Ok, Here is my take on this topic. There are a few key topics and issues that this blogger has stated that are valid but unreasonable. First, the length of time it takes to put up and down the overlay. Now we all need to remember that these people behind the attraction are actual people so they have to understand just the amount of work it takes to rearrange and switch out everything. Personally, I thought they have gotten much better on timing since they are now only closed roughly two weeks before and after the overlay. I do do some holiday decorating in my home and just from experience I understand the hard work it takes to make things perfect.

Secondly, The idea of him thinking the style of NBC and HM don’t mix well. Firstly, do you really think that Imagineers will really do something stupid to a classic attraction? Overall,no. Just from the pictures I have collected and the music I have listened from the attraction I do think it is very well integrated in the overall tone of the attraction. You can’t say it is “childish” from the curly iron work,silly faces….. Actually take a closer look at this piece of work. Just starting on the outside, from the very chic version of winter garlands to be made from black pine branches combined with the traditional foliage of fall creates,then elegantly draped over the wrought iron railings creates an eye popping and fantastic contrasts from the very straight/angular design of the mansion itself. Obviously, the garland does have some inspiration from  over the top Christmas decor that is done in the New Orleans Square area. This is just brushing on the subject.

The stretching room, again with the reference of New Orleans Square style architecture with the stain glass panels, obviously was done to recreate something more can i say classy and grown up which would fit the style of the attraction…hmmm… And really be reasonable, this is HOLIDAY attraction so of course there will some elements of youth and lightheartedness so just chill.

The overall music, Personally not as great as the first version of the Haunted Mansion Holiday soundtrack but still pretty in tune with the overall tone that this attraction overlay is going for. I do feel that the music doe ignore the Grim Grinning Ghost beat a little too much so I can understand why people say it is too NBC driven but there are a few key portions of the ride that still reference back to the mansion.

In an overall sense, I see nothing outstandingly wrong with this overlay. I do see some readjusting with how they should still keep more of the original Haunted Mansion story of the 999 Happy Haunts but really these are just little minor changes.