Disneyland celebrated the 50th anniversary of THE HAUNTED MANSION back in August with late-night special events and some commemorative merchandise. And today we've learned that the attraction will undergo a two-month-plus refurbishment in early 2020.
The scheduled refurbishments begin on January 21st after it finishes up it's annual THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS-themed seasonal holiday run. Transforming the ride back to its regular mode usually takes about two weeks but this 2020 renovation is expected to take until late March or April.
The last day to ride the Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction will be January 20th. The Haunted Mansion will return in spring after the planned refurbishments which include paint and trim on the interior and exterior along with lighting and mechanical work inside. The renovated ride will look refreshed, but no visual changes are expected to be made to the attraction.
Guillermo del Toro's THE HAUNTED MANSION was happening at one point, but the last update we got was way back in July 2014 when Del Toro said:
I went back to Disneyland with the executives with whom I am developing the screenplay. It’s a hard screenplay to crack. We’ve done it a few times. We are on our third or fourth draft, with 2 different writing teams, and I think the main thing is to try to combine everything that is great about the ride into the movie, and to make it a really intense but with a sense of fun – just like the ride. It’s a tough balance, and I would be happy to report if we had the screenplay. We always feel like we are very close, but not yet. We have developed 50-60 pieces of art. We’ve developed maquettes of the Hat Box Ghost, over the body and face of Doug Jones, but we have not succeeded yet in cracking the screenplay. I have to believe that Disney will make this movie as soon as we crack the screenplay, but until then we cannot tackle it. It is a movie I would love to direct, but I would be happy to just produce it if the timing is not right. I, by the way, was named Guest for the Day for the Haunted Mansion the last time I did, which gave me unlimited access to ride the mansion several times during the day. Unfortunately, it was just the moment my left knee decided to bust and I had to go back home with a busted knee.
THE HAUNTED MANSION is a dark ride attraction that places riders inside a haunted manor resided in by "999 happy haunts." The ride features a tour in vehicles called "Doom Buggies", and utilizes a range of technology, from centuries-old theatrical effects to modern special effects. Music includes "Grim Grinning Ghosts" composed by Buddy Baker. How many times have YOU visited Dinsey's HAUNTED MANSION? Let us know below!