Magic in the Details: Raven About the Haunted Mansion By Guest Author Adam Berger

Published October 29, 2014 by jpmdo

MAGIC IN THE DETAILS: RAVEN ABOUT THE HAUNTED MANSION By Guest Author Adam Berger

The Haunted Mansion has always been one of Disney’s most popular attractions. Yet no matter how often you may ride, you’ll probably notice details you missed during your previous visits. That’s because the Disney Imagineers intentionally filled the attraction with far more details than anyone could possibly discern, even after numerous excursions. They knew that this approach would entice guests to experience the Haunted Mansion again and again, appreciating previously unnoticed content each time. And now, with Halloween fast approaching, I’d like to share one of my favorite overlooked elements with you: the Mansion’s sinister raven.

Because of the faint lighting levels inside the Mansion, the raven can be difficult to make out. But if you know where to look, you’ll spot the bird not just once, but FOUR separate times during the ride. Its first appearance occurs in the conservatory, perched atop a wreath next to the casket. The large black bird, with its glowing red eyes, is a suitably ominous presence. The Imagineers even recorded the raven squawking, “Nevermore!” in an audio tribute to Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem, “The Raven.” The bird’s voice, provided by actress Eleanor Audley, (the voice of Cinderella’s stepmother and Maleficent), was never used in the ride. Yet Ms. Audley is still heard inside the mansion…as the voice of Madame Leota.

Copyright – Disney

Speaking of Madame Leota…the raven’s second appearance is in the séance scene, perched on the back of a chair behind Madame Leota’s table. You’ll see the bird a third time in the gnarled branches of a spooky old tree as your Doom Buggy begins its backwards descent into the cemetery scene. You’ll then encounter the raven one last time, perched atop the stone archway as you enter the crypt scene.

At the Magic Kingdom version of the attraction, you’ll also find a fifth raven: a stylized brass figure that adorns the stone pipe organ in the interactive area in front of the Mansion entrance. The front of the organ is inscribed with the name “Ravenscroft”—a not-too-subtle nod to voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft, the deep bass voice of the broken singing headstone in the cemetery scene.

Copyright – Disney

Obviously the inclusion of the raven in so many locations can’t be a coincidence. Which leaves you with this chilling challenge: to figure out why the Imagineers decided to give it such a prominent role.

One explanation refers back to the Poe connection—the idea that the Imagineers found inspiration in Edgar Allan Poe’s famously unsettling poem. A second possibility suggests that the designers may have been influenced by Maleficent’s raven sidekick in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, the production of which coincided with the early conceptual stages of the Haunted Mansion. Of course, ravens have always had a strong association with the spirit world, predating Poe’s 1845 poem. For example, they are prominent figures in both Norse mythology and in the creation myths of some of the indigenous peoples of America’s Pacific Northwest.

So do you have a favorite Haunted Mansion detail that you only noticed after repeated rides? Feel free to share. But remember one thing: Beware of hitchhiking ghosts!

Adam M. Berger is president and senior show writer at Berger Creative Associates, Inc., an Orlando, Florida-based creative writing and consulting firm serving themed attraction and design clients around the world. He is also the author of the book Every Guest is a Hero: Disney’s Theme Parks and the Magic of Mythic Storytelling—available in print and e-reader editions from Amazon.com and other fine online booksellers.

Prize Giveaway and an Interview with Jeff Bahm: Owner of Doombuggies.com

Published October 30, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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Check out show #74 with the impressive Jeff Baham! Jeff has had a long history with Disney which is very interesting. Besides all of that though, I think Jeff is SO cool. You know how you get to talk to someone and from that day on – you just think wow…that person is SO cool? Yeah…that is Jeff.

You will hear on the show that he is amazingly humble and knowledgeable. I don’t listen to a lot of other Disney podcasts but Jeff’s podcast – Moustalgia is on my list. I love learning about Disneyland since I have never been there. The team has great chemistry on the show, and each podcast ropes me in from beginning to end! It’s no surprise that Mousetalgia was nominated for the Podcast Awards this year. You can vote for them here.

Jeff is the author of THE Unofficial History of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. He has years of involvement with his award-winning Disney fan sites, such as Doombuggies.com – AND he hosts the Moustalgia Podcast. You can also check out Doombuggies.com for a link to listen to his brand new podcast all about the Haunted Mansion. He has served a term on the Disneyland Creative Advisory Council, and has worked closely with Disneyland and Walt Disney World to help develop and promote special events, including a re-creation of Disneyland’s Tahitian Terrace in 2012. This guy has even rubbed elbows with some of Disney’s greatest legends– including Richard Sherman!

For a limited time, you can enter here to win a free autographed copy of Jeff’s book!

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Highlights of this awesome interview with Jeff include:

My terrible impression of the ghost host (OK that’s NOT a highlight…)
How Jeff got to go to Richard Sherman’s birthday party
Here is a link to buy your copy of “The Boys” – a fantastic movie produced by the children of the Sherman brothers about their Dads – and what really happened in their career
The story of how a family got to sleep in the Haunted Mansion one night
How Jeff and his team celebrated the 10th anniversary of Doom Buggies – wow what a party!!
How Jeff got to serve a term on the Disneyland Creative Advisory Council
Learn about all the cool stuff they do at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion for Halloween
If both were falling off a cliff – would Jeff save Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion or Disney World’s Haunted Mansion? Find out here!

Click HERE to listen to the show directly from your computer. Look for the small grey circle with the sideways white triangle inside. Click on that circle and make sure your speakers are on. The show will begin immediately.

Thanks for listening and be sure and send us your feedback! Have a magical day!

Solving the Mystery around Rapunzel’s Tower Rising Up out of New Fantasyland: February 2013 Rumors Edition

Published February 8, 2013 by Disneyways.com

UPDATED!
Click here to see the March 9th Grand opening video of the Rapunzel Tower’s big reveal!

We have 2 new rumors to share with you today regarding Rapunzel’s tower!

If you haven’t heard about the tower, you may want to start by checking out these two links first, to see photos and get more information:

The latest rumors indicate the tower WILL be home to a new meet and greet area for Rapunzel, despite earlier indications that we would be seeing Rapunzel in the new Princess Fairytale Hall, which is yet to be completed.

The second, and perhaps most exciting new rumor is that the Rapunzel area will open in just a few days – on February 25th – at the Magic Kingdom, and that it will connect Small World and the Haunted Mansion. It won’t be long before we will know if this rumor is true!

What are your thoughts? Do you have any new information to share?

Solving the Mystery Surrounding the Rapunzel Tower in New Fantasyland: January 2013 Edition

Published January 13, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Updated March 2013! Click HERE to see a video of the grand opening of the Rapunzel Tower!

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January 10, 2013 I had a chance to check on the progress of the Rapunzel tower. The photos above are from my visit that day.

Attempting to Solve the Mystery of the Rapunzel Tower rising from New Fantasyland has been fun. The latest from our Disneyways sources have speculated that besides bathrooms, we will see charging stations for our cell phones, ECV’s, as well as a gift shop. The entire area is being built up very fast, which leads me to believe the other bit of gossip I heard, that the area is expected to completed this spring.

DaMouse.com has posted some wonderful, detailed pictures. Click this link to see what is going on behind the construction wall.

Just for fun, I thought you might like to see this picture of the Rapunzel meet and greet area in Disneyland – California. Photo credit mintcrocodile.blogspot.com

Please share your thoughts and any information you have heard about this area! We’d love to hear from you. Have a magical day!

Solving the Mystery surrounding the Rapunzel Tower in New Fantasyland…

Published December 13, 2012 by Disneyways.com

UPDATE ADDED MARCH 8TH 2013! Click here to see photos of the new tower!

Disney fans who have been to the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World recently have noticed something new rising out of New Fantasyland. Located next to the “It’s a Small World” attraction, right where the old Fantasyland Skyway ride was, an adorable tower can be seen from Fantasyland, Frontierland and even from the Haunted Mansion cue. This addition comes as somewhat of a surprise to Disney fans as Rapunzel’s tower and village was never included in any concept art of New Fantasyland released by Disney. It all seems so mysterious because details have been hard to come by.

We are now able to see for ourselves, because the tower is peeping up from behind Imagineer construction walls. Despite the rumors, there will not be a meet and greet in this spot. Rapunzel will be found in the new Princess Fairytale Hall (where Snow White’s Scary Adventures use to be) when it opens in 2013. Therefore the tower area does not need to be a meet and greet because we will already have Princess Fairytale Hall for that purpose. In case you haven’t seen them, here are some of the beautiful concept drawings released by Disney of the new Princess Fairytale Hall scheduled to open in 2013.

So why the tower? Believe it or not Disney sources say this is where they will be placing new BATHROOMS. It seems so funny now that we know the truth doesn’t it? It actually makes a lot of sense if you think about it. When nature calls, and the kids have to “go” – this tower will be like a beacon in the night – letting us know that relief is not too far away. The new facility will include increased handicapped and family bathrooms, and is meant to replace the current bathrooms in the area by the Peter Pan’s Flight attraction. With those older bathrooms gone, my thoughts are that they will add an expanded interactive queue for Peter Pan, sort of like the one Winnie the Pooh has (only Pan themed of course!) Imagineers are also planning to expand the walkways to help with traffic flow between Fantasyland and Liberty Square on those crowded days. Having a meet and greet here would actually crowd the area with folks waiting to meet princesses. I hope this helps explain things – let me know if you have heard or seen any new information that I am missing! Personally, my thoughts are that maybe Disney doesn’t believe it’s very magical to brag about new bathrooms, so we are going to have to keep each other in the know on this one as things develop. Have a magical evening!