Disneyland's Haunted Mansion could lose one in every of its 999 comfortable places if Walt Disney Imagineering ultimately decides to remove the Ghost Host's hanging corpse from the classic dark ride's pre-show scene in order to not upset sensitive guests.

Walt Disney Imagineering may remove the hanging corpse scene from the elevators at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, they are saying Los Angeles Times.

“We’re still looking into it,” Kim Irvine, Imagineering’s creative director, told the Times. “It’s structurally complicated. One thing at a time.”

Disneyland introduces a brand new attic bride from “Haunted Mansion” who has no thoughts of the ax or murder

“These days we have to be really careful about people’s sensibilities,” Irvine told the Times.

Disneyland fans eagerly awaited to see if the hanging corpse scene would survive one other round of Haunted Mansion updates revealed over the weekend.

Imagineering introduced a brand new ghost bride within the Haunted Mansion attic scene and updated “Hitchhiking Ghosts” within the finale, because the classic dark ride returned after shedding its annual holiday overlay.

The hanging corpse scene appears within the stretching room elevator within the Haunted Mansion pre-show, because the Ghost Host narrator offers visitors a “terrifying challenge” to search out a way out of the chamber with no windows or doors.

Suddenly the lights exit and an eerie laughter fills the room because the ghost innkeeper shows the passengers the best way out: a swinging corpse hanging from the rafters.

Removing the hanging corpse will not be complicated. Disneyland does it yearly for the Nightmare Before Christmas ride overlay.

The structural challenge is the limited space within the “rafters” above the span. Imagineering would should make sure that a re-themed scene would slot in the identical space.

The “Nightmare Before Christmas” ride overlay uses a video projection of an animated Jack Skellington. The hanging corpse scene is in a three-dimensional set at the highest of the stretching room, full of support beams, heating and air-con ducts, and elevator cables.

Originally published: January 22, 2025 at 7:56 am PST

By Lisa Wells, Food Drink Life

With fall within the air and Halloween upon us, bring some spooky to your vacation with a spooky itinerary. These spooky destinations offer spooky stories, unexplained phenomena and the possibility for an unforgettable ghost encounter.

Scary movies, haunted houses and spooky costumes are the preferred fall decorations and add a dose of fright as Halloween approaches. But for those really on the lookout for a scare this 12 months, plan a vacation to America's most haunted cities. These cities are wealthy in history starting from the tragic to the macabre, and wealthy in ghost sightings and scary stories based on the reality.

As immersive destinations turn out to be more popular, the opportunities to explore have expanded. The Haunt Industry Report 2024 Ticket company Passage points out that the variety of visits to haunted attractions continues to extend. As a result, many cities have expanded their tourism offerings across the ghostly and paranormal.

In addition to trick or treating and Pumpkin pie Immerse yourself in spooky history in your travels this Halloween. With haunted buildings, walking tours, theater performances and even haunted restaurants, you’ll be able to explore a city in exciting – and sometimes frightening – ways, often discovering a side of your destination you may otherwise miss.

Visit historic ghosts in Atlantic cities

Many of the cities along the Atlantic coast are a whole bunch of years old and were settled by European explorers as early because the fifteenth century. These centuries of history, adventure and intrigue make them cultural destinations notorious for ghost sightings.

Tybee Island, Georgia

Tybee Island in Georgia is a good looking island getaway outside of Savannah with sandy beaches and a relaxed local vibe. It can also be known for its haunted experiences. Ghost walks take you from the historic Carbo House to the island's paranormal hotspots.

Visitors to the Tybee Lighthouse have reported seeing the ghosts of the lighthouse keepers and the ghost of a young girl. Georgia's oldest lighthouse was recently restored and now hosts an annual Halloween party.

Savannah, Georgia

Some think nearby savannah being probably the most haunted cities in America. Historical walking tours help you explore Savannah's darker past in addition to town's beautiful sights. The Sorrel Weed House, featured on several television shows, offers ghost tours and paranormal investigations at the home.

Dine among the many spirits of sailors at The Pirate's House, a restaurant that was once an inn for sailors and pirates. Many hotels and inns in town have also reported ghost residents in the event you are brave enough to remain in a haunted constructing.

St Augustine, Florida

Explore the St. Augustine Lighthouse on a ghost tour and learn in regards to the area's maritime past and spooky history. Flagler College is a feature of the St. Augustine walking tours and is claimed to be haunted by several ghosts. Apparitions include Henry Flagler, the person who built the hotel that later became one in every of the school's buildings, in addition to his wife and mistresses.

Castillo de San Marcos was built by the Spanish to guard their trade path to Florida. Today, locals report sightings of the ghosts of Native Americans once imprisoned there, Spanish soldiers and an unfaithful woman who leaves behind the scent of perfume.

Discover probably the most haunted cities within the South

When it involves spooky vacations, few destinations have a status for being as energetic as those within the South. New Orleans, Louisiana is usually considered probably the most haunted city in America, while Texas is probably the most haunted state Forbes.

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans brings together stories of witchcraft, voodoo and vampires that bring each joy and terror. Founded in 1718, the historic French Quarter is home to lots of the city's ghost stories. Stay in one in every of the haunted hotels just like the Bourbon Orleans, considered one in every of the haunted hotels in New Orleans. You may encounter an elderly ghost smoking a cigar and reading a newspaper within the lobby or a lone dancer within the ballroom.

During the day, you’ll be able to take walking and bus tours to town's many cemeteries, plantations, and haunted houses, each with their very own unique stories. If you would like something to eat, order Bananas Foster at Brennan'sa dish invented by chef Paul Blangé, who now haunts his old restaurant.

San Antonio, Texas

Of all of the cities in Texas, San Antonio is among the finest to your haunted vacation. The city is the positioning of The Alamo, a devastating battle by which nearly 200 soldiers, everything of the Texas troops, lost their lives against Mexican forces. Shortly after the battle, there have been reportedly sightings of ghostly guards within the fortress.

Ghost tours in San Antonio often visit the Alamo and the Menger Hotel, often known as probably the most haunted hotels in America, together with haunted churches, parks and other historic buildings. You also can take a spooky pub crawl through town's historic and haunted pubs and taverns.

Haunted hotels and race tracks in California

From screen ghosts in Old Hollywood to gold miners within the Sierra Nevada, California has its own ghost stories. San Diego, particularly, is right for those on the lookout for an enchanted hotel stay. In the Victorian Gaslamp Quarter, the Horton Grand is home to the ghost of card fraudster Roger Whitaker. On Coronado Island, the luxurious Hotel Del Coronado continues to deal with Kate Morgan, a young woman who committed suicide on the hotel.

The Del Mar racetrack in Southern California is claimed to be haunted by George Raft, a Forties actor and dancer, in response to Mac McBride, media director for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Raft, an in depth friend of track founder Bing Crosby and an avid racing fan, was reportedly seen waiting in line to buy a ticket long after his death.

Others have reported paranormal experiences on the track, including voices in empty bars, laughter and drink orders, strange apparitions in hallways and cold spots with a slight draft in enclosed areas. Those hoping to see ghosts can visit Del Mar starting on Halloween, when the Bing Crosby racing season begins in the autumn.

Enjoy a soothing autumn holiday in these enchanted hotspots

Whether you’re taking a ghost tour of town or dare to remain in a haunted hotel, a ghost hunting vacation—or simply a couple of stops at your destination's spooky locations—is the right option to get into the autumn spirit. Wherever your ghostly escape takes you, make sure to take a number of photos and study them fastidiously once you return. You never know what horrors you may find.

Originally published: October 22, 2024 at 11:42 am

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is preparing to rejoice 25 spooky years of Fright Fest with 200 dedicated horror actors—a brand new record for the park—and a brand new nightmarish maze.

“We really wanted to focus on making the scare zones and ghost mazes as full as possible, especially given the 25th anniversary,” said Marc Merino, Six Flags marketing and entertainment manager.

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The park opens its hottest season on Saturday and continues through November 3 with five scare zones and five themed haunted mazes: Club Fear in 3D, CarnEvil, Midnight Mansion, Lost Souls and the brand new Haunted House on the Block.

This yr's debut ghost maze, called Hotel Hellview 666, is housed within the park's old elephant stables and features the bloody interior of a Nineteen Twenties hotel.

“Weary travelers stumble upon this hotel, but it is not quite what it seems, and you actually pay for your stay with your soul,” Merino said.

“We had an interesting challenge,” said Merino. The large interior originally housed two different themed labyrinths. On one side was a house with the theme “Saint Hades Hospital,” while the opposite side was called “Demon Cave.”

Combining the 2 sides right into a latest, oversized ghost maze required a brand new backstory. Merino said that they had to work out the best way to “understand why you were suddenly in a hotel and now in a demon's lair.”

As visitors to the haunted house – or hotel guests – make their way through claustrophobic tunnels, doors product of hanging “skin” and a kitchen with a questionable menu, each room regularly leads them from the hotel right into a hellscape.

After 13 years of experience at Six Flags, Merino knows the ins and outs of a successful scare experience, although he's not an enormous horror fan himself. “Seeing other people get scared and scared and being able to laugh together – that's the best part. That's what makes it so rewarding and fulfilling.”

Each yr after the festival, the park reviews audience feedback and park logistics to see what worked and where improvements have to be made. Then, when preparations begin again in July, the team implements latest features to deal with issues like crowd control or guaranteeing areas scarier.

For show technician Robyn Smithson, the thrill lies in organising the scene and background for Fright Fest.

“It's really impressive to see how people get scared just by seeing the area and the surroundings,” said Smithson, who will tackle a senior role as house manager when Fright Fest begins.

Smithson began working as a seasonal employee at Six Flags in 2017 before moving to full-time three years ago. In 2020, Smithson worked on Napa Valley College's production of “The Addams Family” and “decided this was my passion.”

Fright Fest runs parallel to the park's Oktoberfest and the family-oriented Kids Boo Fest, which incorporates trick-or-treating trails and hay and corn mazes. For those that wish to avoid encounters with ghouls, Merino recommends leaving the park before 6 p.m. – “That's when the scares come out.”

Access to the park's five scary zones is included in a Six Flags ticket, while admission to the five ghost mazes requires a separate wristband. After 4:00 p.m., minors won’t be allowed into the park without an accompanying adult over the age of 21. Tickets might be purchased online at sixflags.com.

Originally published: September 19, 2024 at 5:37 am

July is Christmas at Disneyland, when the Haunted Mansion returns in holiday mode after a six-month renovation. Construction partitions are expected to stay up for several more weeks as employees proceed to work on the encompassing grounds of the classic haunted house.

“Haunted Mansion Holiday” returns on Monday, July 29, a few month before the Halloween season begins on the Anaheim theme park.

The holiday overlay version of the classic dark ride can have a virtual queue when the attraction returns after a serious overhaul.

A second virtual queue opens day by day at noon for ticket holders and pass holders with Disneyland or Disney California Adventure reservations. Visitors have to be physically positioned at Disneyland or DCA to enter the noon virtual queue.

The dining room scene within the haunted house will once more have a brand new spooky gingerbreadhouse.

The Haunted Mansion closed in January for extensive renovations to the outdoor waiting area. This includes adding a brand new accessible elevator for wheelchair users exiting the attraction and adding a brand new retail shop themed after Madame Leota's Carriage House on the attraction's exit.

Disneyland's Haunted House has been decorated within the kind of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” based on the Tim Burton animated film for over 20 years. The attraction in New Orleans Square was closed, however the Christmas cover remained.

Originally published: July 26, 2024 at 04:59