New Imagineering Behind the Scenes Video : How the Hitchhiking Ghosts Come to Life at WDW Haunted Mansion

Walt Disney Imagineering just released a new video going behind the scenes at the new and amazing hitchhiking ghosts effect in WDW Haunted Mansion. The effect, now in place since two weeks, is unbelievably cool and all Haunted Mansion's fans around the world will love it.



WDW Magic filmed the new hitchhiking ghosts effect and posted the video two weeks ago. If you've not watched it yet on Youtube here it is below.



I'm sure that DLP fans would love to have the same effect at the end of Phantom Manor and some weeks ago i told you that the park was planning to enhance Phantom Manor effects - and introduce new effects, too, at Big Thunder Mountain. There is little doubt that this new hitchhiking ghosts effect would be part of it. Unfortunately i have bad news for you as the latest news say that both Phantom Manor and BTM new effects are on hold for now and won't be installed for DLP 20th Anniversary. It's a bit a pity as both PM and BTM needs really some enhancements. Let's cross our fingers, may be they will change their mind, they still have time to put these amazing effects in place at the end of Phantom Manor.

Picture: copyright Disney

Videos: copyright Disney and WDW Magic

Disneyland's New Orleans Square Original Artwork

The artwork topic of this week is a special Disneyland's New Orleans Square artwork. The renderings below were done by great WDI artists such as Sam Mc Kim, Herb Ryman or Dorothea Redmond. As usual don't forget to click on each image to enjoy them in big size!

This first painting above - by Herb Ryman - was the first detailed visualization of New Orleans Square. The masts of sailing ships, seen over the rooftops are not at Disneyland, but add an authentic touch to the painting. Many of Ryman's renderings for New Orleans Square are peopled with the sister of charity, who were a common sight in 19th century New Orleans.

The next one, also from Herb Ryman, depicts an early concept for the Royal Courtyard, located adjacent to the One-of-a-kind shop. Stairs from this courtyard lead to a suite planned for the Disney family, which became the Disney Gallery before it was transformed in the Disneyland Dream Suite.



This next rendering show the french quarter of New Orleans Square.



This painting below show the "Cristal d'Orleans" shop. Its elegance recalls the film "Gone with the wind". Interior designer Dorothea Redmond who did this painting worked on the 1939 classic.



This next painting, also by Dorothea Redmond, show the Walt Disney Suite project. Imagineers took part of their inspiration from this artwork when they've designed the Disneyland Dream Suite last year.



This last and famous painting from Sam Mc Kim was a design for an eerie "Haunted Mansion" and was based on an actual antebellum home. Walt Disney who didn't want anything so run-down looking in Disneyland remarked "We'll take care of the outside, let the ghosts take care of the inside.




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All Artwork: copyright Disney Enterprises Inc.

Michael Jackson " This is It " documentary pays tribute to the Haunted Mansion !

I saw tonight in Paris the Michael Jackson doumentary "This is it". And it's great, really. You should go see it for two reasons: First, the editing is perfectly done and it's almost like a concert. You don't see Michael's death, they stop the movie before. Michael is in good physical condition - he was almost 50 so he don't have the same energy he had at 35, but you definitely don't have the feeling that he was at "the doors of death".

But there is also one very good reason for you, Disneyland super-fans, to go see it and it's this one: They've filmed for this concert-that-never-was a new video for the "Thriller" sequence which was supposed to be projected on stage, and guess what? a big part of it is totally inspired by the Haunted Mansion! No doubt that it is due to Michael's love of Disneyland.

For instance, do you remember the key-keeper Audio-Animatronic that we see in the attraction shaking at the doors of the cemetary? Of course you do. Well, he is in this video as one of the ghosts. Just like the other ghosts which are sit on the chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the Haunted Mansion ball room! And guess what? They had envisioned to have people holding ghosts walking in the walkways during the concert, and the ghosts look just like the one flying in the cemetery of the HM!

For all these reasons, beginning by the fact that it is a great documentary and almost a concert, go see it while it is in theatres, i promise you'll enjoy it!

Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Celebration - A " Behind the Scenes " Tour

It's Disneyland's Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary, and to celebrate this event we will have today a look "behind the scenes" of this beloved attraction.



First, the famous Sam Mc Kim painting of the exterior of the Mansion.



As everybody knows, Marc Davis designed most of the scenes of the Mansion, so let's begin by some of Marc's artwork, more or less in chronological order...





















Here is the famous Hatbox Ghost Marc Davis rendering



...and another scene concept never used for the attraction.



Please note that you can find the Dueling Portraits artwork in big size on Kevin Kidney's site!


WED special effects wizard Yale Gracey recreated in 3D Marc Davis scenes...




I asked Imagineer Pat Burke if he had some untold story about the Haunted Mansion. Here is his answer!

"Disney Legend, friend, and co worker, Fred Joerger told me a few stories as he worked on the original Haunted Mansion. As you know Walt had been very sick with Cancer and passed away in December of 1966, before they could complete and open the Haunted Mansion. Fred said he and fellow Art Director Legends Claude Coates and Mark Davis, were hesitant to complete and afraid to open the Mansion to the public, as it was the first attraction on which they could not get Walt's official walk through and final approval. So this of course was a major reason for its delay. They wanted it to be everything that Walt would have asked for and approved. Seems like I remember a soft opening and then it was closed again for changes.

I was told some effects were deemed a bit too scary for guests back then. Sam McKim had shown me some of his original concept sketches which showed boats floating through the halls of a half floated, and flooded mansion much like the Blue Bayou themeing. I was responsible for the props and sets on the TDL Haunted Mansion and used Disneyland's HM as a guide. When Disneyland's opened the HM it had the best Victorian antiques in the attic scene. Over the years as antiques of the Victorian era increased in value, the great antiques slowly were replaced with cheaper substitutes. You know of course that the Nautilus pipe organ was added to the mansion after the 20,000 Leagues attraction closed at Disneyland.

Leotta Toombs had a funny story about when they cast her head for the famouse crystal ball scene. She said that at the studio they placed her head in a kind of a clamp to keep her pose steady. They applied a warm mold making wax to her head. She said it was a little too warm and slid down further forming a true capture or her bust! That was before plaster I guess, as I did later in college. Just a few funny memories from my coworkers..."

Most of the Haunted Mansion guests are always wondering how the special effects were done. Tne next videos will learn you (almost) everything about them.

The first video below is with Walt Disney himself presenting the future attraction surrounded with legendary Imagineers like Marc Davis and others...



The next one is from the Discovery channel and is a short walk-through with legendary Imagineer Tony Baxter. Tony don't reveal a lot of secrets in this one, but it's always a pleasure to see Tony!



This other 10 minutes video will tell you more about the history and the effects of the Mansion. And Tony Baxter, Marty Sklar, Bruce Gordon, sculptor Blaine Gibson, Wayne Jackson, and many other imagineers will show you much more of the "behind the scenes.





But it's this other 10 minutes youtube video that will show you the imagineers at work in the sixties, creating the ghosts of the mansion. This video is coming from Disney's tv show "The Wonderful World of Color" in which the Haunted Mansion made its debut.
The first part of it is with the imagineers and the second part is a ride-through with - guess who? - Kurt Russell and the Osmonds , and, yes, they were young at that time!





You can find much more renderings and the whole story of the making of the attraction in the great Jason Surell book - the best book ever written on the "Haunted Mansion" - a "must have" if you don't have it yet!



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Artwork: copyright Disney

Videos: copyright Discovery channel and Disney

Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary - All about the Sept 9 Collectibles Event

It's the Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary and Disneyland will have a special collectibles event on 09-09-09!

LOT of artists are designing great Haunted Mansion collectibles for this event, and here below is a selection of them. The bad news is that all Disney packages which allows to be part of this HM collectible event on September 9 are now totally sold out... If you - like me - won't be able to attend the event and buy some of these collectibles, don't worry, you will be able to order them directly to Disneyland mail order service...or should be able to find them on EBay!

So, let's have a look to these awaited collectibles and let's begin by the two collectible designers genius Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily who are designing many different collectibles for this HM 40th anniversary. For now, two only have been shown. First this great Haunted Mansion Coffin - Edition Size: 500 - $75. Actually, the coffin will have a mechanism and the top of it with the skeleton arms will go up and down! In the same time, the green light in the coffin will switch on and off.



...and this also great 12" high Candelabra - Edition Size: 500 - $85.



Designed by Walt Disney Imagineer, John Mauvezin, this 24" high Haunted Mansion Door - only ONE available and at $5800! But it's going to be an amazing item, read details about it below.



This impressive piece stands two feet tall and was built from scratch by Walt Disney Imagineer John Mauvezin, from original WED blueprints. The wonderful attention to detail leaves nothing to the imagination. From the snake door handle to the carved skulls guarding the entrance, this free standing door has a hidden surprise.



Turning the door knob activates the ticking of the hallway clock along with its haunting chime. If you look through the keyhole you can see the clocks swinging pendulum and backwards spinning hands, while the ghostly shadow of a boney claw passes slowly by. this amazing illusion is accomplished through hidden mirrors and the magic of Disney. Keeping to true WED tradition , this is not a video playback, but an all mechanical effect. The clock itself is only 2" tall and is mounted deep inside the lower casework.





Due to the complexity of the inner merchandise, the artist recommends short runs and limited cycles. Made from plexiglas, styrene, wood and plaster. Hand painted.

Always from John, this 20" high Haunted Mansion Tabletop Clock which will work for real! - Edition Size: 40 - $250.



Sculpted by Dusty Horner, for Walt Disney Classics Collection this "Organ: Spirited Entertainer" will have an edition size of 500 - $225.



Artist Jim Shore is creating in his Disney Traditions series these "Hitchhiking Ghosts". It's an "open" edition - which mean it's not limited and the price will be $75.



Next, this "Haunted Mansion Serpant Door Handle Walking Stick" Inspired by the serpant door handle as it appears in the hallway scene in the attraction. - Edition Size: 50 - $295.





Then, these 9" high Haunted Mansion Griffin Bookends sculpted by Walt Disney Imagineer, Jim Crouch and Inspired by the griffin statues as they appear in the Haunted Mansion. Edition Size: 150 - $95.



A great idea for all chess players, although a bit expensive, this Haunted Mansion Painted Chess Set designed by Walt Disney Imagineer, Scott Goddard. Edition Size: 40 - $2000.

Pieces include the following:
Pawns - Tombstones
Rooks - Mausoleums
Knights - Singing Busts
Bishops - Opera Singers
Queen - Raven
King - Graveyard Caretaker







From the "Gallery of Light" collection of the great miniaturist Robert Olszewski these "Hitchhiking Ghosts" are an open edition and will cost $85.



Always by Robert Olszewski a Haunted Mansion Plaque Pokitpal. Open edition - $20.



Also, a beautiful Pocketwatch in Haunted Mansion Door Box. Inspired by the hallway scene, the door opens to reveal the wallpaper in the background and a pocketwatch which is reminiscent of the face of the ticking clock. Edition Size: 300 - $150.



Inspired by the famous opening scene, these Framed Glass Stretching Portraits. Edition Size: 500 - $95.



The Pins fans will specially like this series of lenticular pins of the "Attic Bride with Groom". Here are two of them (Before Beheading, After Beheading) - Edition Size: 999 - $14.95.





Also, this Black Widow Jumbo Slider Pin. Pull the black widow spider down and watch the grooms heads in the portraits disapper and Haunted Mansion 1969 - 2009 appear on a web! Edition Size: 999 - $13.95.



And one more item for the road, which is the least i can say as it is these "Haunted Mansion Wallpaper High Top Sneakers" - Edition Limited to Special Orders Only - $75.



The collectibles above are my personal choice - so, it's a totally subjective choice! There is many more items to discover on this special Disney HM 40th anniversary page.

So, what do you think of these Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary collectibles? Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

All pictures: copyright Disney

SHAG Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Artwork event is tomorrow Sunday August 9th at Disneyland !

I repost this previous article about SHAG Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary artwork and collectibles as tomorrow Sunday 9th of August is the "D" day at Disneyland! From 10 am to 1pm this sunday, SHAG will be at Main Street Cinema to sign the items previouly purchased at the Disneyana Shop. If you don't live in L.A and are interested by some of the items below, i remind you that you very probably can order them through the Disneyland mail order service.

A bit more about this even from the official release: "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."

And now the previous article with a best-of pictures of the items.

SHAG, the trendy artist famous for his Adventureland and Tiki Room inspired artwork did new artwork for the Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary celebration and i think as you will see below that he did a brilliant job.

Here is a series of SHAG paintings inspired by Haunted Mansion different scenes, and each of them will be available in prints, serigraphy or giclée printing. The original paintings will also be on sale with prices between $6000 to $16000. But don't worry, the 14" x 18" prints will cost only $35.














SHAG did also a Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion version of his "We're Dying To Meet You" painting.



The artwork will also be used for other items, some of them in limited editions like this Cookie Jar Urn at $55...



This Appetizer Tray at $35...



This Haunted Mansion Lantern at $45...



These Lunch Bags at $24...



This Aloha shirt at $75...



This Boxed Pin Set at $50...



And a 5" x 7" Postcard Set in Tin which will include all the different SHAG Haunted Mansion artwork will also be available at $18.




There are many more infos about this SHAG Haunted Mansion artwork, with details on edition sizes, prices, etc on the Disney Gallery web site. Have a look!

Also about this Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary, the Disney Summer Pin Festival 2009 - Haunted Mansion O'Pin House is ending August 9 and here is some nice artwork about it.



MORE Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary collectibles are coming soon, this time designed by Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily and many others, and you can see most of them in this previous Disney and more article.


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All pictures and SHAG artwork: copyright Disney