Fun Facts about the Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland Resort

2014 marks the 14th year that the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Resort is transformed into Halloweentown for Haunted Mansion Holiday with Jack Skellington, Sally, Zero and the rest of the crew. The Tradition Continues with 14th Creepy Creation: Gingerbread House Traps a Gingerbread Zombie.

The Holidays 2014 season marks the 14th time that Jack Skellington has visited the 999 Happy Haunts who dwell in the Haunted Mansion, transforming this attraction into Haunted Mansion Holiday.  Each year, Jack dresses up as “Sandy Claws” as he and his ghost dog Zero bring ghoulish delights from Halloween Town to visit Disneyland Park.
One of Jack’s holiday traditions is leaving a special treat for the ghosts who dance around the Haunted Mansion’s Grand Hall.  The annual centerpiece for this “waltz of the weird” is always a huge, creepy gingerbread creation. Jack delivers new and thrilling surprises every year.

The Ghost Host of Haunted Mansion Holiday always says, “even a gingerbread house can be scary,” and this year’s design definitely lives up to the “scary” definition. Of course, the Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house adds a little whimsy with a hapless gingerbread zombie trapped inside – and those frightening spikes are very sharp, red-and-white candy canes. The gingerbread house also will feature opening and closing doors and special lights.

A team of five pastry chefs created this year’s Gingerbread Mansion. Three of them have been part of the Haunted Mansion Gingerbread House team since the annual holiday transformation began 13 years ago.

Frightfully Fun Facts about Haunted Mansion Holiday

• Supernatural Sweets – Every year, a new ghoulish concept for the Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house is created for the celebration scene in the mansion’s Grand Hall. This strange and wonderful treat is almost always “supernatural.”

• The Eerie Exterior – More than 400 flickering candles create a ghostly glow on the façade of the Haunted Mansion.  Each night, more than 100 jack-o-lanterns shine their ghoulish light.

• The Haunted Elevator – Jack Skellington and his ghost dog Zero appear in a fully animated sequence on the ceiling of the “stretching” room, which transports guests into the depths of the mansion.

• The Portrait Gallery – Ghost dog Zero makes a surprise appearance among the spooky, transforming portraits in the gallery corridor.

• The Graveyard – The graveyard inside Haunted Mansion Holiday is covered with nearly 7,500 square feet of snow. More than 20 gallons of UV (ultra-violet) paint is used to enhance the snow’s eerie glow.  Nearly 1,000 tiny, orange lights decorate the trees.

• Graveyard Ice Angels – The iconic Graveyard Ice Angels are designed with a jagged, ice-carved look. Their ethereal wings and snow-glow colors shine with a more ghoulish luster than ever this year.

• Deck the Halls – Each season, thousands of feet of “Black Gnarly” garland is draped and hung inside and outside Haunted Mansion Holiday.  Jack’s faithful dog Zero gathered more than 200 bones to use as décor, garland and presents.

• “Come Out to Socialize” – More than two dozen additional animated figures “materialize” inside the mansion whenever Jack brings his Haunted Mansion Holiday around.  From man-eating wreaths to vampire teddy bears, they wait all year to join in the holiday spirit.

• Home Creepy Home – Creepy cobwebs are artistically kept (not swept!) year-round to make Jack Skellington and the 999 Happy Haunts feel right at home.
• Seasonal Séance Room – Madame Leota’s “13 Days of Christmas” are featured in 13 spinning fortune cards that tell of the Christmas gifts which, as she proclaims, “My ghoul love gave to me…”

• Kim Irvine, daughter of the original Madame Leota – For this seasonal attraction, Imagineer Kim Irvine gives a spirited performance as the Haunted Mansion’s favorite psychic, floating inside the Haunted Mansion’s Crystal Ball in the Séance Room. Her mother Leota Toombs, Disney Legend and long-time Imagineer, first gave life to the floating head.
• Haunting Gingerbread Smells – The haunting scent of tasty gingerbread wafts throughout the Grand Hall, tempting Happy Haunts and guests alike.

• ‘Hurry Back!’ – New for 2014, a more “animated” Sally bids farewell to “Sandy Claws” Jack Skellington as he, and Haunted Mansion Holiday guests, depart from the Mansion.

Do you love the transformation of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland to Haunted Mansion Holiday?  My girls and I always love to visit Jack and Sally and the Haunted Mansion Holiday between September and January.  We usually make about three trips that span both Halloween and Christmas.  I’d love to hear your thoughts – leave your comments below!