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“Goblins and ghoulies from last Halloween… Awaken the spirits with your tambourines!”
Where are all my fellow Haunted Mansion fans at? I have the perfect idea that I think you all will be on board with: How incredible would it be if Disney built a Haunted Mansion Resort at the Disney Parks?!
Okay, hear me out — I’m not saying it should be an actual haunted resort, but more of a fully immersive Disney hotel that makes you feel as if you were actually staying at the Haunted Mansion! We all know that Disney is trying to become more and more immersive — for example, the recent announcement of a Star Wars Hotel being built at Walt Disney World — so it really isn’t that far fetched.
Related: Should Disney Remove Hanging Body Scene from Haunted Mansion?
Being a huge Haunted Mansion fan myself (I mean I even got proposed to in front of the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World), I would absolutely die to stay inside a Haunted Mansion themed resort.
Before diving into what this Haunted Mansion resort would possibly look like, for those of you who aren’t familiar, let’s familiarize ourselves with the classic attraction.
Disney’s Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion is a popular attraction located in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. The dark ride takes guests through a mansion of haunted characters while riding aboard a Doom Buggy. Each spirited Haunted Mansion adventure is guided by the “disembodied voice of the Ghost Host” as he is your private tour guide “through the cadaverous realm of an eerie haunted estate, home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises.” Beware of hitchhiking ghosts!
Disney World describes this attraction as “Glide past a casket-filled conservatory, Madame Leota’s chilling séance room and a ghostly graveyard of singing specters as you attempt to find your way out. Beware of hitchhikers—these phantom pranksters may follow you home.”
Disney’s Haunted Mansion Resort
Below are some ideas for what a Haunted Mansion-inspired hotel could look like. Note: Disney has not said this is happening — these are just some fun ways a Haunted Mansion resort could be brought to life.
The Exterior
As Guests arrive at the Haunted Mansion Hotel, they will pass by a cemetery, just like in the queue area at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, allowing Guests to begin being immersed into the storyline. Again the idea here is to feel as though you are no longer in Orlando, Florida or Anaheim, California — but somewhere deserted and spooky.
The Lobby
Once Guests step inside, they will see tons of couches and chairs for them to sit and relax on right in front of that iconic fireplace. This is also where Guests will check in for their stay (if they dare).
The Elevator
There will more than likely be a few different elevators here as the Resort will have different floors. One for the lobby and sit down restaurant (which we will get to) as well as floors for each of the Guest rooms. Each elevator could be themed off of one of the different stretching portraits and be designed to mimic the stretching room.
The Restaurant
Of course, every Disney resort needs a restaurant! Why not base it off of the dining room scene in the Haunted Mansion. There could be different sections of the restaurant including the long dining room table (perfect for family style dining), a ballroom section, and more!
This restaurant would also be, in my imagination, a character dining experience — Except you won’t be meeting Mickey, Minnie or the rest of the gang — Nope! You’ll be interacting with the Ghosts! I’m talking Constance Hatchway, the hitchhiking ghosts “Gus” (Prisoner), “Ezra” (Skeleton), and “Phineas” (Traveler), and of course, the one and only, Hatbox Ghost!
The Rooms
And of course — the Guest Rooms! Each room will be complete with a “Floating” Doom Buggy bed, an impressive sliding bookcase which would lead Guests to the bathroom, and of course, a ghostly surprise who appears in the mirrors as you get ready in the morning.”
But what would each room be without that famous purple Haunted Mansion wallpaper? Of course this would be plastered all over the walls and on the bed cover!
And last but not least, each room would have its very own Madame Leota to serve as a nightlight/decoration on the nightstand.
Added bonus — Guest can opt to get wake up calls in the morning …only at this hotel you could have the Ghost Host call you! “Is it ACTUALLY time to head to the parks for rope drop? Or is it your imagination….”
Imagineers Almost Made This Happen
The fun part about all of this — Is that Imagineers kicked around the idea of a Haunted Mansion resort years ago. Now, they didn’t have all of the ideas that I came up with in this article, but there are some aspects they discussed including the doom buggy beds and the secret bookcase leading to the bathroom!
Of course, I wish this idea would spark again within the company because personally, I feel this is so long overdue, especially since Disney wants to become more and more immersive, like with the new Star Wars hotel!
So what do you think? Would you want to see Disney build a Haunted Mansion Resort? Would you stay there? Let us know in the comments below.