Strange & Frightening Sounds Blog

The Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Recreation Finally Materializes

2012-01-29T18:52:00.001-05:00

Ah, there you are...

I know I claimed in my last post that the next blog entry would be about the new "interactive" enhancements at Walt Disney World's mansion. Well, current news comes first, when I do managed to get around to reporting it on time. I want to share the hard work and effort of two years. I want you all to see the ultimate recreation of Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion in Roller Coaster Tycoon 3. It took me two years to complete it, due to numerous restarts, re-builds, revisions, and updates, but finally, after teasing the project for two years, it's done:

Maybe someday, I can get the website back up and running. Maybe someday, A Night in the Haunted Mansion will get past the relentless pre-production stage. It just goes to show you that even the projects that I don't give a set release date to; the ones I procrastinate on without a set deadline; can get finished after all.

Here are a few stills and shots of the recreation, if the video isn't enough to suite your visual hunger:

Due to a number of reasons that can be found in the video's description box on You Tube, I will not be able to make the park file with ride recreation in it available for downloading. So sorry I have to have some sort of disappointing news attached to this extraordinary project.

Next time, unless a certain ghost makes his return before I finish writing my review, (which is unlikely; I hope to be done before the end of February) I will dive into my controversial subject mater with a controversial view. Next time, we will take a look at the interactive up-grades to the Walt Disney World Mansion. Until next time foolish mortals...

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Walt Disney World Vacation Report - January 2012

2012-01-20T23:01:00.002-05:00

Ah, there you are...

I have hinted on the Facebook page that changes are on their way to S&FS. Well, your just going to have to take that statement and make of it what you will. I won't be verbally addressing these changes any further, nor addressing exactly what they are. You'll have to take note and make that sort of judgment for yourself. Now, as they say, look alive, and we will take a look at my most recent vacation to the Mansion in Orlando...

(Panorama take by yours truly; you can enlarge it by clicking on the image)

This report will be brief; there isn't as much for me to report on as there was in October, because not as much has changed. The last two Orlando trip reports can thank the 2007 Re-Haunting and the recent 2011 enhancements for being as detailed as they were able to be. (Although the October 2011 one was done up in brief, even though there was so much to talk about) However, given that the Mansion has been in a constant state of change since the Re-Haunting, there are actually a few new additions since my last trip; they are minor additions, but since this blog covers it's subject matter in a detailed way, new details; minor or not, are worth noting.

The first of which are a number of new signs that adorn the interactive portion of the queuing area graveyard; the most notable being the one pictured bellow on the left, stating: Open for Visitation

All of the signs share the same little arrow, which has sprung up in many different locations recently. This wavy little arrow made it's debut in the mansion as a late 2011 replacement for the goofy green glove hand that had been introduced in late 2010 to the exit crypt for safety concerns; and more than likely, because some guests are too confused to realize that they are supposed to exit at this point in the ride.

I recall mentioning how this hand was rather chessey in my oppion after my January 2011 trip; it was either on here (the blog) or on the Facebook page, but I know I voiced my two-cents somewhere online. No matter where I did, somebody, somewhere at Disney must have heard me, and decided to replace this big, gloved hand with this arrow. Thus, this arrow is now used anywhere in the Mansion where direction assistance is needed.

The second, and much more important addition is a new tribute in the cemetery to Harper Goff, the Disney artist responsible for drawing the first known sketch in 1951 of the "Haunted Mansion" for the Disneyland; which at the time, wasn't even opened yet:

This tribute is part of another new addition that makes it much easier to communicate with Prudence Pock in her tomb. The plaque; which is duplicated on both sides of the window looking into the tomb where the book is located; has an attached microphone that you speak into so that Prudence can better understand you. The plaque reads:

"SPECTRECOM: SPEAK WITH THE NEARLY DEPARTED PATENTED: R.H.Goff"

I wonder when a Buddy Baker tribute will materialize? I guess it's just a matter of time. Anyhow, I have come to enjoy spending ample time messing around with the decomposing composers tomb in the new interactive area on nights when nobody was around. I actually manged to get more wet playing that organ with it's mist-spraying effect then I did on Splash Mountain that same night! I will say right now that the next post will further analyze the interactive que and Hitchhikers, so we will not go any further with my thoughts about the que. So, let's look at the ride now...

Nothing wrong here; The Mansion is a spectacular as ever; nothing I could spot that seemed out of place, or wrong. It was open the entire trip, and didn't break down during my stay at all, as far as I know. It's still darker then the Disneyland version inside, but the the lighting has increased just a tad since my last visit. Still, it's darker than my video camera can handle sometimes. Even with some increased lighting on the Caretaker; something that has been requested by a few people online; he is barely visible in this clip of the graveyard finale I shot. It's a major step up from nothing but his lantern being visible in my 2011 recordings though.

NOTICE: Before you watch the video, I want to apologize for my terrible singing at the beginning; I sing along every time I get to that scene. Since I wasn't really paying attention to the fact that I was recording at the time, it's not really my best vocal take; I can sing way better, believe me. And I do shut up by the time we reach the Caretaker. Anyhow, watch just so you get a visual of how it looks on camera:

Hopefully, the video will attract more attention to my blog from YouTube. Also, you can get an idea from this clip of what I did last January. In my desperate attempts to record quality sound loops of all the new vocals, I had to do this over 30 some times; you can imagine how much worthless footage I have that was recorded with intentions for the audio portion only. Note that you can indeed see more with your eyes on the ride than you can in my video. The human eye is a magical thing you know.

I would like to mention that I had a few really awesome butlers and maids who really stayed in character. I also had one butler who gave me a good laugh by saying "Welcome to it's a small world" when he opened the doors. The I also managed to obtain access to the VIP hallway for my second straight trip, where I discovered the old bat-plaque servant quarters signs are residing at the moment. How did I obtain access again? Well, it's a good thing you asked, as this will transfer us into the next part of the report perfectly...

I was lucky enough to take the Keys to the Kingdom backstage tour on my last day. I highly suggest the tour to anyone who reads this blog, and is obsessed with the Disney Parks. The tour not only takes you down into the utilidoors; (where I'd like to point out, there is a good old organ banshee head in a display case for Disney Imagineering in one of the hallways; though that might excite some of you Mansion fans. I was when I saw it that close; they are large then I thought) but it took the group on the Mansion at one point. I'm not sure if the Mansion is a standard part of the tour; we only rode that and Jungle Cruise during the 5-hour time frame. Anyhow, the tour was really amazing, and it filled me in on a number of things I had never heard of/noticed before. It also really renewed my appreciation and respect for what the company does on a whole. It takes a lot of effort from a whole lot of different people to keep that park running. Some of those people aren't as excited as I would be working there, but nonetheless, they are just as important in keeping the magic going every single day of the year. The tour also touched on plenty of other interesting things. Things that made sense. From now on, you might get to a point in one of my posts where I'll say something like "as I learned during Keys to the Kingdom" or something like that. The tour re-enlighten me to the reasons why the Disney Parks have always been such amazing places. It's the effort that goes into presenting the magic, and making guests believe they are in another world.

I'll end this report on another note. I once again, had the pleasure of talking to and hanging out with someone during my trip. While they hadn't heard of S&FS before, I had fun getting to spend time hanging out with someone who was just as obsessed with the Disney Parks as I am. Hopefully I'll run into someone in November, or sooner. Guess what everyone? I'm a Walt Disney World annual pass-holder now!

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

The Dog Dies at the End...

2012-01-12T14:42:00.000-05:00

Ah, there you are...

Just a reminder foolish mortals; I will be down in Orlando, and of course, Walt Disney World from the night of Friday the 13th into Tuesday the 17th. Of course, a trip report will come afterward. Be sure to follow me on twitter and keep up with what I'm doing while I'm there. Now, onto today's post:

This post won't be terribly long, but it's something that some of you may have never noticed in all your trips through the Mansion. In the graveyard finale, we all know there is a Caretaker and his frightened, malnourished dog. The dog is a static figure that shivers and shakes via a hidden motor under "terrain" beneath it. The dog also has a sound effect of whimpering, which was most likely preformed by the legendary Jim MacDonald.

What you might not have noticed is that the dog makes another appearance before the ride comes to a close. The Raven, which was the spotlight of the last post, makes several appearances; Gus, the small, bearded prisoner makes an appearance in the Headsman/Opera scene before showing up again in the crypt as one of the three Hitchhiking ghosts; and the dog too, has another appearance, only this time, he's... well, he's dead... let's take a look, shall we?

The dog already looks sickly when we first see him. He's cowering in fear, whimpering and shivering. He looks as though he might not have eaten for weeks, and is pretty much skin and bones. So would it surprise you to know that the dog drops dead before we even get through the graveyard? The dog is seen as a ghost in the Mumbling Mummy scene, watching the two human ghosts with the same terrified expression on his face.

This official publicity image of the scene clearly shows the Dog is lit with the same blue lighting as the ghostly characters he shares the scene with:

So, I think it's safe to say that the Caretaker's frightened pooch is literally scared to death during the graveyard scene. I guess the Haunted Mansion can now go into that heart-warming category of "The Dog Dies at the End" stories, alongside "Old Yeller", "Marley and Me", and other timeless classics that end in tearful good-byes.

In closing, I'd just like to point out something else that relates to today's topic before I end this post; A weird set decoration that has been added to Walt Disney World's Caretaker and Pooch scene. Please tell me that isn't what I think it is:

Please tell me that isn't a pile of dog droppings... Really? Oh brother...

It looks like the frightened pooch might have voided his bowels before kicking the bucket. Be sure to point this detail out to your children or younger siblings, who will undoubtedly be able to appreciate this brief instance of bathroom humor; it was probably added with them in mind.

S&FS

* It appears that I was mistaken about the doggy doo-doo; the brownish-red objects in front of the dog are apparently dog biscuits. I was informed that they are left there by Mansion cast members for the dog, similar to the former tradition of leaving a fresh cut rose on Master Gracey's tombstone. - Updated January 19th, 2011. *

When Birds Attack

2012-01-04T12:50:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Foolish Mortals!

2011 was an very busy year for S&FS and the Mansion. So much so that I forgot to mention that our 2 year anniversary was on the 7th of November! Feels like S&FS has been around much longer, but maybe that's because we've done so much in those 2 years. Let's hope 2012 will be another great year for the Mansion. I also want to mention that I'm headed back to Orlando, and will be there from the 13th to the 17th, so expect a trip report in the future. So, follow me on Twitter if you aren't already, because I'll be posting updates while I'm at the park.

Also, I mixed a new "Re-Haunting" ride through together for New Years. If you haven't already gotten a copy and heard my much-improved ride-through, what are you waiting for? Check it out! As with all my audio offerings, it's for home and personal use only. It's about as good as it will get until Randy Thorton finally releases an Official source mix. Anyway...

Today, we are going to look at the many birds in the mansion; because there are a few more then just Ravens and owls in the mansion. We start with the obvious; the Raven:

Any mansion fan with any worth to calling themselfs one would undoubtedly know that the raven, as seen above, is seen in nearly every scene of the attraction at some point. The bird makes five different appearances during the course of the ride:

Blueprints for Disneyland also show that another raven was to be seen in the Foyer; (read this GDR Blog post for more information about it) but why he isn't there is explainable: The Raven almost ended up as the narrator of the attraction, and the foyer has narration. You see, early scripts by X. Atencio involved having a possessed Raven (or at one point, a one-eyed black cat) as the narrator. Thankfully, we ended up with Paul Free's as the Ghost Host instead of a talking animal. For those of you who have heard "The Story & Song of the Haunted Mansion" Story-Teller LP, you'll recall that the Raven provides terribly chessey lines such as "Caw-Caw! Beware my friends! Caw-Caw!" To think that the mansion would have been as big a success as it is had they used this idea is really hard to imagine. The raven though, remains in the attraction; following you all the way through the ride.

Because this bird is so iconic in the mansion, he was one of the characters who managed to make the jump over to Phantom Manor; here, he appears six times:

While the Mansion bird only makes noise during his fourth appearance, the Manor bird make noise in almost every scene he is featured in. Despite being very hard to catch on camera in the ballroom, he is extremely audible; the same goes for the Seance and Music room locations. Once we get to Phantom Canyon though, were plenty of noise is already being made, the raven finally shuts his beak up for a bit.

That about covers the raven. But while he may be the star bird in the attraction, he isn't the only one. (At least at the mansions) The next most notable birds are the two owls in the graveyard, in a tree directly above the three cats; which is next to the Phantom Five band:

They give off a "hoot-hoot" sound effect while their heads bob up and down. There isn't much more to say about these guys; they are physically and audibly there. The next few don't get both traits; just one or the other. Because the audio is easier for the average guest to notice then something hidden in the dark, I'd say the next best-noticed bird is the un-seen owl in the Walt Disney World stretching room; as sound effect added in 2007 allows guests entering the gallery to hear an owl flying off into the distance somewhere.

I guess the mansion's rafters must have some holes in them, and some un-invited critters are now roaming about the mansion. The owl sound is accompanied by the more prominent bat sounds, who really steal the spotlight. You can read more about the owl, and hear a sample at the Ghost Relations Dept. Blog.

The next few are also 2007 editions to Walt Disney World's Mansion. While these aren't live birds, they sure are notable editions, and one of them is life-sized! Take a look at the new "birds" added as decorations to the Liberty Square Mansion:

(Photos from S&FS collection, taken by Alexandre Grancoin-Vinet)

Look at that majestic Eagle! That life sized bird statue now is used to to decorate the archway on the far left side of the music room, off to the side of the steps the Doombuggies travel up. This huge bird doesn't have proper lighting, and I would have never of know he existed had it not been for these wonderful photos sent to me! I bet nearly none of the people reading this know about it, and if you do, your one of a select few. Talk about a random piece of art in the mansion! The other bird is the peacock statue in the portrait hallway scene, on a table that is situated under a mirror. It's quite a piece itself, though not as impressive as the Eagle. Perhaps it's a tombstone of sorts for the bird whose's feathers have been present in the Ballroom for quite some time:

It's a legal offense in America to kill an Eagle, so let's hope that one isn't a death monument. In fact, because we're dealing with the Liberty Square Mansion, the Eagle fits into the ride nicely, adding an American touch to it. Surprisingly, there isn't a "Bird" in the Disneyland pet cemetery; so those cages in the attic must be for Freddie the bat.

UPDATED: There is a Duck and a Parrot, however, in the Walt Disney World pet cemetery; thought I can only tell you about the Duck at the moment:

Behind beloved Waddle's tomb. you can see the Parrot's tomb. I'll need to located more images before I can tell you about the Parrot. So, expect this post to once again updated later on.

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Grim Grinning Ghosts 2007: A Re-Haunting of the Vocals

2011-12-29T23:07:00.001-05:00

Welcome, Foolish Mortals,

Today, we are going to take a look at something that I have constantly touched apoun here on the blog and my other postings on the web, but have never actually dedicated an entire post too. I think by finally doing this, I might bring more attention to the issue at hand; the re-recorded vocals of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" that have been in use exclusively at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion since the 2007 Re-Haunting took place. I'll cover all the information I have on them, and present the best recordings I have managed to take so far; all so that it will all be located here in one spot online for those who are interested on the topic.

The post 2007 ghosts are a sharp blue & green, no longer a washed-out purple

From June 6th to September 13th, 2007, the Haunted Mansion when under a much needed refurbishment; you can read a very in-depth report of the full make-over at Jim Hill media. Audio enhancements played a big role in the refurbishment, and are part of what make the ride what it is now. Nothing was left un-touched; everything got crisper, cleaner, sounding better than ever before. Despite the official claim from Disney that "enhanced audio systems allows guests to hear the ghosts in the graveyard better then ever before", I have not once heard them say anything about actually altering the original soundtrack itself anywhere but the stretching room. But you don't need an official statement to tell you that what your hearing in the graveyard isn't Betty Wand, Bill Lee, Loulie Jean Norman, and Candy Candido. While I'm still at a loss to figure out exactly who the new preforming artists are, I can safely say that besides the Singing Busts, Mummy, and Old man; all of the ghosts in the graveyard have new voices.

The biggest question that rises from this is "Why?" While those who I have asked who worked at the mansion during this rehab said it was because the tapes degraded, it leaves you wondering how on earth those same tapes were remastered for the official 40th Anniversary album? They could have gotten new copies made from the masters in the archives. Whatever the reason is, they decision was made to use new audio entirely, and I'm not going to reason against it; I myself have come to enjoy the new vocalists performances, and would be devastated to go on the ride and hear the old audio back. There a part of the ride now, and I wouldn't change that for anything.

Which Grinning Ghost Sings Out?

Okay; so let's look at each ghost group, and spot out what's different from the 1969 vocals, and why they might have decided to change them. We will also cover any lyrical differences that the new versions have. (There are a good number of instances) First we have the singing busts on the right-hand side of the track, who are literally un-changed besides new, crispy clean projections. Also, they are finally on cue with the rest of singers. Prior to the refurb, they could normally be heard almost a verse or two off. But were here to talk about the new voices, not every brand-spanking-new effect and enhancement...

(Photo by Jon Fiedler of www.charactercentral.net)

The first group of true "ghosts" who sing is the Duke and Duchess at the picnic table, toasting with martini glasses while bobbing up and down in the air. The original vocals, preformed by Betty Wand and Bill Lee should be pretty familiar to even some not-so-Mansion-savvy Disney Park fans; their "loop" of the song was isolated in many of the "official" park soundtrack completions, following the singing busts, and preceding the final of three loops which included every ghost but them. Which brings to question; why were they not part of the final "all together now" loop of the song? Bellow, you can take a listen to the original 1969 track, if you need a refresher, or just want to hear them. (Like anyone reading this blog needs a refresher)

The Original 1969 Duke & Duchess Vocals

The thick British accents that both Wand and Lee put on make them extremely hard to interpret unless they are brought directly to the forefront. It's also why they don't exactly line up as good as the rest when layered over one another. But with a little bit of editing; they can line up almost unnoticeable with the originals. They stick out still, as being different, off-cue by just a bit. The new vocals are better at staying on cue and sounding like part of the group. Take a listen to the newer, 2007 Duke and Duchess in this live mix I recorded in January:

The New 2007 Duke & Duchess Vocals

See, they are most certainly not the same! Anyone with a sense of hearing will tell you that those are not just "cleaned up" tracks. They are new singers, who, while remaining true to the original performances, are not Betty Wand and Bill Lee. Lyrical changes here include the Duchess saying "Weird glows gleam when spirits dwell" instead of "Where spirits dwell." And at then we have the end of the song, where Betty Wand's "Oh, yes they do" is axed in favor of "Scream! Oh sugar!" or "Scream! or Sugar!" depending on what you really think your ears are hearing. Ironically, while almost all the other ghosts are sipping tea, the royal duo here is drinking wine. Until we have the actual recordings, we won't really know. I want to point something out with a few images; showing you just how they pulled off the "getting closer ever than before" effects:

See the speakers? They are directly behind the Duke and Duchess; the one on the left plays the female voice, and the one on the right (also seen in the middle picture, above, as seen backstage) plays the male voice. It really makes you wonder why that had not been done before. Seems like an obvious thing to do.

On to the next group of singers; the four ghosts positioned around the hearse to the right of the Duke and Duchess. The group includes the Coachman, the English Lady sitting on the hearse, the midget in the coffin, and the Mariner seated on a tombstone to the far right.

Originally at the three Mansions, this group, minus the Mariner, would sing the "monotone" chorus vocals in hushed voices, while the Mariner would preform a harmonic "La-La" accompany. The Disneyland version discontinued the La-La singing quite a while back. Walt Disney World's La-La singer was used all the way up through June 2007. Tokyo is still using the La-La singer (loudly I might add) and the Walt Disney World ghosts are singing a completely different performance as of the 2007 refurb. Gone are the monotone voices and the La-La vocals. Bellow, you can hear a snippet of the original 1969 Hearse singers:

The Original 1969 Hearse Vocals

The original tracks (The monotone voices and the la-la's are two separate tracks) were preformed by Betty Wand, Ernie Newton, Bill Days, and Allan Davies. So, there are four singers for four ghosts, right? Well, with all the new audio enhancements being implemented, how on earth would all four ghosts get their own speaker track? They decided to completely re-do the entire vocal selection here, and now, I'm pretty sure there are four different tracks coming from this area of the graveyard; one for each ghost. Because the monotone singers where layered over each-other on one track, it was pretty impossible while riding through to really realize that the Hearse ghosts were the ones singing to that track. I originally though it might have been the sound of the dead coming from under the ground. No longer monotone, this lively quintet really adds to the sound of the song; while the track bellow might be hard to hear in some spots because the Duke & Duchess are much louder then them, you should be able to get a feel for what the new four sound like together, especially on that second "Grim Griming Ghosts Come Out to Socialize!" Also, listen for a cackle at the end.

The New 2007 Hearse Vocals

As cool as the monotone singers are, these new tracks really add a bit more to the overall sound of the entire scene. While I'm pretty sure it's four tracks, they sound as though their could be thousands of ghosts singing with them, in a choir like-fashion. The monotone voices could be used to link all the original tracks together, but never did they add that much enhancement to the overall sound. As much as I wish they would have at least kept the La-La singer, I do really enjoy the new chorus as a whole.

The next scene is the Mummy and Old man off to the left side. For the longest time at Walt Disney World, the mummy was almost impossible to hear; some though he wasn't even singing. Well, that isn't true anymore. The original 1969 Allan Davies track of mumbling vocals is back, remastered, and clearly audible. The Old Man, voiced by the great Dallas McKennon, is louder than ever before, really adding to the whole, "I can't hear" gimmick.

But the next new tracks belong the ghosts up the hill-side on the right; the "Opera & Headsman" scene is another complete re-do. This beautiful shot from The Magic in Pixels shows off the scene the way it looks apoun approaching it; all five ghosts standing tall on a patio-style crypt.

(Photo by Magic in Pixels)

We look at this scene from right to left, as we pass it; so that means we start off with the opera vocalists. Originally voiced by Loulie Jean Norman and Bill Reeve, the duo had been using a single, mono-tracked mix of the two singers belting out an insane vocal performance since the attraction opened. Listen to the original track bellow, and try to hear the entire performance of Reeve, who is drowned out for the most part by Norman:

The Original 1969 Opera Vocals

The Original 1969 Opera Vocals were preformed in a Hokey nature; as though the duo were nut-cases; under the instruction of Buddy Baker. It took a number of takes before Baker got what he wanted. Something hokey enough for his tastes. But we don't have two tracks do we? It's one mix down of the duo, and it's not exactly that easy to make out Reeve's tenor; so, they got re-recorded.

(Photo by Magic in Pixels)

We also have the Knight, Executioner, and Prisoner off to the left of them. Confusion about the original voices can be linked to a number of sources. But from the inside, we can safely say that the thick, German voice of Ernie Newton is coming from the Decapitated Knight; the tenor/falsetto voice of Bill Days is coming from the Executioner; and the deep, bass voice of Candy Candido is coming from Gus the prisoner on the far left of the scene. Listen to the originals bellow:

The Original 1969 Headsman Vocals

We have five ghosts, all within a few feet of each other singing in vastly different voices. Things could get a little jumbled up. Not only is this the part of the ride where the Ghost Host's voice kicks back in from the speakers on the Doombuggies, adding another voice; all together, it can be hard to pick a voice out of the bunch sometimes. Listen to them harmonized together:

The Original 1969 Headsman & Opera Vocals

So much is going on audibly in this part of the graveyard, that a number of changes where made to the scene. First off, all of the original vocals got the axe (no pun intended) and were re-recorded. Gus now sounds like Br'er Frog from Splash Mountain (who was voiced by James Avery) with a burly black man's voice that sounds something like James Earl Jones. Lyrical changes to Gus's vocals are as follows: "Spooks come out for a Screaming Wake" instead of "Swinging Wake." The reason I bring up these lyrical changes is because they are dead giveaways that the audio is not just some "Cleaned Up" copy of the original source tapes. You can clean up and modify a track all you want, but changing the lyrics isn't something that can be done unless you re-record the entire thing. The Executioner now has a more harmonic voice; his lyrical changes are short, but "they begin to terrorize" as apposed to "they pretend to terrorize" has raised a few eye-brows of dire hard mansion fans. They say "It doesn't fit the "Silly Spooks" theme of the ride." Well, I think it adds some good variety to the song. As much as I love Candy Candido's original tracks, I really like these new performances and would hate to see them replaced.

As for the Knight; I'm left wondering if he has a voice or not anymore. His mouth moves, but nothing comes out; I wonder if something came un-plugged and his speaker isn't working; or if they made the decision to axe his track because so much is already going on in this area that another voice really made deciphering the voices that much harder. So weather Ernie Newton's Knight is still there, or a new recording is in place, I do not know. I'd be willing to bet it's a new recording if anything; the Knight's track was like hell to restore compared to the rest of the originals; anyhow, here is a live clip of the new Headsman & Opera vocals; I'm pleased at how much I managed to capture considering you only get a few seconds before the Ghost Host booms in over you, adding to the noise.

The New 2007 Headsman & Opera Vocals

So that about covers it all I think. Until more information surfaces on them, this is what we know, and this is what I have come to conclude. As far as I know, I am the only one thus far to thoroughly look into and decipher the entire situation. If anyone has any information regarding who the new voice actors are, why they were re-recorded, or have isolated copies of the vocal tracks that you could lend me, please please PLEASE let me know! Thank You!

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

The Mansion at the Movies

2011-12-26T21:34:00.000-05:00

Ah, there you are...

I hope you all had a merry Christmas. A while back on the Facebook Page, I revealed my thoughts on the Guillermo Del Toro film; to everyone's surprise, I claimed that I hoped it tanks. Let me start this post by rephrasing that statement: Part of me hopes that the film tanks. How could that be? How could any mansion fan make such a blasphemous statement? Let's first take a look back to 2003, when Disney launched three of their classic attractions into Hollywood.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Three classic attractions were about to make their jump to the silver screen that year: Pirates of the Caribbean, The Country Bear Jamboree, and The Haunted Mansion. In all honesty, this wasn't the first time a ride got the movie treatment, (Tower of Terror, etc.) but this was the real beginning of this sudden trend. Let's take a look at each one. Don't worry, this is all part of how I plan to explain my statement about the upcoming reboot. Okay, so we will start with Pirates; even though the Country Bears came out before it, Pirates will be first because it will make more sense to start with the successful one first.

The Good: Pirates of the Caribbean

...Too good for it's own good, actually; Pirates of the Caribbean was Disney's big break with the attraction-to-film idea. The box office juggernaut still is pumping out sequels and revenue. Today if you ask somebody about the topic "Pirate's of the Carribean", you will most likely hear about a movie staring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, and Keira Knightly; not about the veteran attraction at Disneyland that broke major ground for the Disney rides of today. What you have here is a case of something that turned out too good for it's own good. It's gone out of hand, out of control. It was a freak of nature; the attraction that people all around the world knew about when it open is now nothing in comparison with the Hollywood money monster. This is what can happen if the reboot is a sucess. You will get something that brings change to the source material. We're not dealing with something like a book adaptation here; it's a theme park ride, and it's subject to change. Here is just a small visual at what happened to Pirates because of the movie phenomenon:

Above are only two of the dozen or so scene changes that were made to the attraction. Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Tokyo (Thankfully not Paris as of this writing) all modified their rides to revolve around the film. Even the audio wasn't left to be as it had been for the 36 years prior to making it's jump to the silver screen. Bellow, take a listen to some music cues, from before the films, and after the films:

Before & After

Dunking Carlos the Mayor

Before & After

The Chase Scene

For some reason now, all the Pirates are just as interested in locating actor Johnny Depp as they are in finding the treasure. Perhaps another post here will be dedicated to this confusing new story, and my analysis of the additions. But for this post, the important thing I'm trying to drill home is that the movie ended up taking Pirates and changing it from extraordinary, world renowned theme park attraction, to blockbuster Hollywood film franchise. We are going to leave the 2003 Mansion movie for the last in order to make a valid point at the end, so that means we are going over Country Bears next.

The Ugly: The Country Bears

I'm still baffled as to how this film ever got through production without getting canceled. Country Bear Jamboree might have made a good animated movie, but a live action film? And without any of the music from the attraction, or ether of it's two overlays? (Country Bear Vacation Hoe-Down, and Country Bear Christmas) This movie was, in polite terms, a terrible waste of celluloid film. It's 88 minutes my life can never get back. The film was the polar opposite of Pirates of the Caribbean. It did everything wrong. The plot involves a anthropomorphic bear who has been adopted by a human family. He runs away after realizing that *gasps* he was adopted. He goes on a mind-numbing road trip of self-discovery to try and bring his favorite band, the Country Bears, back together, after they have been split up for a good amount of time. They travel all over the South, looking for the band members at various human-run establishments while breaking out into really awful song and dance numbers. I would go into more detail here, but all you need to do is check the movie's page on Rotten Tomatoes to realize this movie wasn't a hit. I wasted 88 minutes waiting to hear the "Bear Band Serenade" from the attraction preformed in the movie. Not once did they sing or play anything remotely similar to the music in the ride. If you haven't seen this film, I urge you to avoid it and forget that it ever existed. If you have seen it, you have my sympathy, and I urge you to keep acting like it never existed. I doubt that Del Toro's film about the mansion will end up like this though; this is the lowest of the low. Expect to see the Enchanted Tiki Room, Matterhorn, and Tommorrowland Indy Speedway films in this category if they make it to the big screen.

The Bad: The Haunted Mansion

Okay, let me start off by saying that 2003's Rob Minkoff's Haunted Mansion film was not a bad film. I enjoyed it; it could have been much better, but it could have been way worse; it didn't fall into a category of extremley successful, or ungodly terrible. There were some really good things this movie had going for it, and some pretty bad things as well. Let's look at the positives:

The Settings:

You really can't complain here. Nearly all the scenes within the mansion are extremely eye-pleasing. The set design had to be one of the best things in the film.

The Music:

Or I should say, the score, by Mark Mancina. The official soundtrack release was rubbish. We really didn't get a full out, vocal, Graveyard jamboree version of "Grim Grinning Ghosts", but we did get a very lush composition of the instrumental tune in a cinematic sound, similar to Phantom Manor, but in a non-looped, realistic film-style format.

And then, we have the okay stuff; some people would say that Rick Baker's make up and Special Effects go in the category above, but I wasn't as impressed by most of it as others were; on the whole, I though the special effects were passable for the most part. The way they did the ghosts still looks kind of odd to me; and I hate how the singing busts look like Claymation; in A Night in The Haunted Mansion, you will all witness my vision of the bust coming to life. The acting was so-so for the most part; but then again, some things were less than pleasing...

The Story and Script:

We get a variant of the "Story & Song" plot in which we see a group end up stuck in the mansion due to a rainstorm. But they are more than a few instances that had me shaking my head in shame at the way the action was playing out, and the characters were speaking. Madame Leota should not be used for comic relief!

Eddy Murphy:

As much as I like Eddie Murphy as an actor and comedian in movies like Shrek, Daddy Daycare, The Nutty Professor, and his stand-up acts like Delirious, (which I love) I really felt like he was just thrown into this movie because of star-power. While he delivers laughs in the film, the Mansion is not something I feel I should be laughing at for comedic value as a fan of the attraction.

The Haunted Mansion wasn't a box-office flop, but it wasn't a mega-success like Pirates. I prefer watching the mansion movie to Pirates myself. The movie really didn't need to be a theatrical release though, because watching it now, it really doesn't feel like one. It feels more like a really expensive, made for TV film. Not that it's a bad thing. Rose Red, Stephen King's Haunted House film is one of the best "Ghost" movies in my book, and it was made for TV. With this film not being so successful, we got a decent Mansion based film without all of the added ride-changing baggage that came with Pirates. But what would have happened had the movie been a mega hit? While these additions were rumored in 2003, I'm sure that they would have been physical fact had the movie been a major hit:

So yeah, we dogged a huge bullet and got the better of the three situations that came out of the films in 2003. So, why do I partially hope the new film tanks? Del Toro seems like THE guy in Hollywood to do a Mansion movie, so why shouldn't I be anything but excited to see an enthusiast like myself making the movie* out of my favorite Disney attraction?

* "Duh, your making one and your not happy seeing a film with a bigger budget and resources, and, duh, you think your's is better because it's your's" Your wrong there; A Night in The Haunted Mansion is completely void of this issue. I am not comparing a Hollywood film to my out-of-pocket, time-consuming, non-profit project, but I'd expect that sort of remark out of quite a few; so we will start off by staying that this is NOT the reason behind my partial desire to see the film fail. The two movies are both tributes to the ride; Del Toro's is just an official, legally-licensed for profit production.

The artwork above got everyone excited. Because we all know who that is. Ol' Hattie is being used as the central character, according to Del Toro, in this new film. If this isn't a reason to worry, I don't know what is...

"Wait, what? The Hatbox Ghost as the main character is something to worry about? What could be bad about that?!?"

...I could see why many a fan would look past the reason. Because his presence as a main character in the film would mean he would obviously come back in the attraction, and not to many mansion fans have anything against that. Even though we almost got Hattie back in 2009 before the film was announced and his re-installation was put on hold, the re-inclusion of the infamous ghost needs to be done very carefully. Because if he isn't done right, he will loose a lot of the aura and mystique that make him such a popular persona. First, we'll look at him in the ride, then, in the film.

I'm not going to go back over the entire Hatbox Ghost History; that can be found on plenty of other blogs. What you need to really remember is that the attic was a different place back in 1969. No talking, no music, no wedding vibe about the entire scene. Just pop-ups and blast-ups, the Corpse Bride, and the Hatbox Ghost; all accompanied by a few shrieks, screams and the heavy thumping of a heart. Now, in 2011, we have a clear wedding theme about the entire room; the pop-ups, blast-ups, and screams are all gone. The Hatbox Ghost is nowhere to be seen, and the bride is now a fully developed, story-driven character with dialouge and an axe in hand. Oh, and she is directly across from Hattie's old spot too. Well, this brings up a really serious question that might set some Mansion fans on edge:

"From an Imagineering standpoint, how do you make the scene bellow work, so that the bride doesn't get all the attention from the majority of the guests, and that both characters get equal time in the spotlight during this extremely short scene?"

Sorry mansion fan-boys and fan-girls, but if your looking at this in a majority perspective, the talking character is going to get the most attention. Especially if the character trying to divert some of that attention is merely a static figure with lighting changes.

"HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH THINGS ABOUT THE HATBOX GHOST!!! HE IS NOT JUST A STATIC FIGURE! HOW CAN YOU CALL YOURSELF A MANSION FAN!?!?"

Because putting myself in the shoes of an average Disney guest, the technologically advanced, axe-wielding, attractive, pun-loving bride on the left side is much more eye-popping and attention grabbing then the static, quivering, skeletal senior citizen on the right. Just because us mansion fans love Hattie and a good few hate Constance doesn't mean are views are that of the average rider. I expect you know where this is going...

Above is an updated, un-cropped version of my April Fools 2011 "Updated Hatbox Ghost" photo I created, showing a projection-style version of Ol' Hattie. As much as I hate to say it, the only logical way to go about the problem is to make Hattie a projection effect the way Constance is achieved. This way, not only will he look like he belongs across the track from bride, but he will be able to talk and interact with her from across the track, and therefore, draw in more than just a little visual attention. And if this isn't done the right way, it could be disastrous. But unless the imagineers just throw in an updated static figure with lighting effects or a low grade AA figure just to please all the Mansion fans, (which would be a Miracle if there ever was a perfect definition of the word, as well as a complete head-scratcher) I highly doubt he will return in a form that is anything as quiet or as still as he was in August 1969.

Now look at this situation from your inter-mansion fan (assuming that if you've read this far, you have some of that in your heart); what kind of voice does the Hatbox Ghost look like he'd have? What kind of personality would he have? If you ask a group of ten mansion fans individually, I doubt you'd get the same answers from everyone. Those who think he should be a hoarse-voiced joker, whose insanity makes Constance look like Mother Teresa would be less than happy to find a stuttering, bass-voiced ghost who cowers in fear of his axe-wielding bride. There are so many ways to go with this scene and this character that you have to wonder how many different versions of the Hatbox Ghost could they create? He really doesn't have a defined back-story as of right now. Why is his ghost present in the attic, and not Ambrose, Reggie, or the other husbands? Why is he so skeletal looking, while Constance's ghost is young and beautiful? I could go on and on. The expectations each mansion fan has for Hattie are different, and each is just as likely to fell let down when he returns.

This ties into the movie; I promise; we have the same issue in the movie as in the ride now; who would play him? Knowing Del Toro, he could possibly end up being a Muppet like Yoda or all those soul-eating, Nightmare fueling creature puppets in the Dark Crystal. We could see him in a form that doesn't have the pop-eyed skeleton face we associate with the character; after all, he's the Hatbox Ghost, and his name never refers to a skeleton with a popped eye; only one carrying a Hatbox. I doubt he looked so darn scary in his lifetime as young man. Each mansion fan has a different feeling on how the Hatbox Ghost should be portrayed. Have you ever read a really bad fan-fiction story where a character is put in a situation that makes you think, "What the...?" Or they have them say or do something that you see as completely out-of-character for the guidelines and personality boundaries that the character has set up for them in whatever book, movie, show, ride, etc that the character comes form;

(Examples; Harry Potter trying to get it on with Hermonie; Jack Sparrow being sober for more then half of a story; Darth Vader reading a story to Jedi Younglings during reading month; Mickey Mouse spontaneously coming out of the closet and sharing sexual feelings for Pete, Goofy's Overweight friend; you get the drift, these things do happen online, and are as baffling as anything could be)

With Hattie being the main character, (unless he ends up mute, which I doubt will happen) he will have a voice, and a personality. His boundaries and guidelines are non-existent for the most part. (If I see Hattie making bathroom jokes or wearing a swimsuit and acting feminine, then we have a serious problem) Once you give him those traits, a lot of what makes him so cool, so popular among mansion fans; will be hacked off of his reputation forever. The mystery, the mystique, it will all be washed away.

So that's why I'm not going all in with Del Toro's Haunted Mansion till it plays out; that, plus the fact that it's in 3D. If the Haunted Mansion isn't a prime candidate for 3D gimmick effects, I don't know what is. I will however, go all in with A Night in The Haunted Mansion, but that's because I'm the director, co-producer, and screenwriter, and I know what I think is safe territory for the Hatbox Ghost to venture into; and that is virtually being a terrifying presence and nothing but...

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Pirates at Disneyland Paris

2011-12-25T14:30:00.001-05:00

Ah, there you are!

I wish all you foolish mortals a Happy Holiday. For today, we are going to take a look at Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Paris, and review it in brief as I have happy haunts who will be expecting me in an hour or two. So, lets begin. I want to first shamelessly plug my own 22 minute point-of-view/tribute video which I finally finished editing and uploaded earlier this week. It's about as good as DLP Pirates videos get as I've seen online thus far, which makes me proud; I caught a lot of stuff on video (not everything though) that is extremely hard to catch in the dark interior without night vision:

There are two ways to look at this ride; how much more awesome it was compared to the other three before the movies were ever made, and how much more awesome this version is now that it's the only one without movie-related installations in it. (For those of you who don't already know, I am not a big fan of the Pirate's movies, and am appalled that the characters had to be installed into the attraction) Disneyland Paris's Pirates took the original version and flipped it around, telling the story of the buccaneers first, then showing off their skeletal remains and reminded riders the moral of the story is "Dead Men Tell No Tales" at the end. The ride includes two drops, one of decent length, and a first for Pirates, an on-ride-photo opportunity. The que takes Walt Disney World's fortress and dungeons and expands them in size. This version also has the original chase scene that was replaced at both American parks because it was to risque. They have taken the liberty of making the scene even more sexually tense by adding a 'Not-so-Disney-like' projection of the a maiden fighting off two intruders in an upstairs window. That had to be my favorite effect I hadn't seen or heard of before.

As you will see in the video above, the infamous sword dueling animatronic pirates where out of commission the entire time I was there. So, that explains why they are not in the video. Bellow, you'll find images of the ride I took, all flash; so if your not a fan of flash photos, be forewarned. You can enlarge them by clicking on them. They provide a sort of visual tour that will show off a few things I couldn't catch on video, although many things in the video are not shown here, so don't skip up on watching it!

The Queuing Area includes many skeletons; this one is actually situated right over the Crew's Quarters vintage, and is viewed from eye level in the line on a balcony right over the trough the boats pass by it in.

This scene in the Que has a pirate stabbed in the back in a cell.

We float by the diners at the Blue Lagoon in the first scene, a tropical stand-in for Disneyland's Bayou scene; the food there is really really good. And you can't get much better ambiance to dine by.

Floating through the middle of a shipwreck that is submerged in the Lagoon. The ship is used as a dividing line between what is visible to the diners at Blue Lagoon, and the vast ocean beyond.

The lift hill; while themed as a cargo lift in the fort, and not a waterfall; has lots of water running down it. So much that you would get sprayed going up the hill!

Once we reach the top, we get a brief view of the ship in the harbor bellow; but the sounds of gunfire, flickering flames, cannon fire, and swords clashing can be heard echoing from an archway ahead; the boat disengages from the lift chain, and we quickly float past this sight, under the archway and into the fort under siege.

One of my favorite scenes I didn't manage to capture on camera is this one; two cats stranded on floating debris, yelling out while trying to get to higher ground. They can be heard in the video, but due to the darkness, are not seen clearly.

The boats float though the fort, passing by the jailed pirates scene, only to end up directly in front of the first (and largest) drop in the ride. This drop leads directly into the harbor we saw from the battlements at the top of the lift hill.

We proceed from the harbor past the dunking of the mayor, and then the auction (above)

The pooped pirate in the chase scene now brandishes a shoe; although the version in Paris at one point has held a bra.

"We Pillage, We Plunder, We Riffle and Loot, Drink Up! Me Hearties Yo-Ho!" The merry musicians sing the infamous song, the first completely English track we have heard in the ride thus far.

A enterprising buccaneer attempts to make away with some cargo in a rocking row-boat.

The pirate's pyrotechnics cause the the town's arsenal to explode, and we go down the last drop, getting our picture taken in the process; the resulting explosion sends the boats splashing into the caverns ahead.

On-Ride-Photo

The caverns include all the vintages from the Disneyland Original, including the treasure cave above, and a new "Shipwreck" scene.

So, Pirates at Paris is essentially the best version ever created, and sadly, it is most likely the last one to ever be built without a direct influence of the films driving the creation of it. Enjoy this version while it lasts in a non-movie form, because It's sadly only a matter of time before all the "Classic" versions of Pirates end up in Yesterland for good. Happy Holidays!

S&FS

The "Room for 1 More" Event; Walt Disney World's 40th Anniversary; Recap & Review

2011-12-19T16:13:00.001-05:00

Ah, there you are...

I'm so sorry I've kept you all waiting this long, but we spirits were very busy during the months of October and November, preparing for Halloween; and in our case, the release of "Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion: 40th Anniversary Soundtrack". Add that to the workload involved in finalizing "The 13 Days Of X-mas" event and "Haunted Mansion Holiday: The Unofficial 10th Anniversary Collection" which is still being fine tuned, plus continuing work on "A Night in The Haunted Mansion", the Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Recreation project, and more. Then I have my laundry list of up coming blog posts...lots of content to keep me busy...

So, let's us begin with the mansion event: 'Room for 1 More' was a celebration for the Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion. Not exactly what you'd call a full day's outing, but with the lines we waited in, I was lucky it didn't end up that way. Aside from the length of the line at the special "Store" for the event, Disney's typical people-eating nature shined through. I was very pleased to meet a few fans of S&FS in person, and even more pleased to get to chat with some of the Mansion fans who knew what I was talking about when I said that "They had changed to vocals in the graveyard" and such. It was very enjoyable experience, but having to wait all day to ride the Haunted Mansion was something that hindered it for me a bit. Let me begin this "abbreviated" trip report, because I still have so much on my plate to talk about from Paris, and news that has leaked about the return of the infamous Hatbox Ghost. So, where to begin...

Day 1 - Friday, September 30th, 2011 - Animal Kingdom, "Room For 1 More", and "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party"

Okay, so I began my day by getting up really early after flying into Orlando that previous night to go take advantage of the extra morning magic hours at Animal Kingdom. I was exhausted, but had to hit as many rides as possible since I knew the trip was going to be way shorter then last time. I knocked out Dinosaur twice, Expedition Everest twice, and Kilimanjaro Safari in a little more then an hour, and got back to the hotel; the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House; for breakfast. Expedition Everest isn't as thrilling in the daytime as it was in my first ride at night back in January, which I wrote about in a previous entry. If your ever in Animal Kingdom Lodge for breakfast, make sure to get as much Jungle Juice as possible; that stuff is to die for. Anyhow, now it was time to go an register for the event at the Contemporary.

Oh, how it brought back memories of January, when I would take that Monorail ever single day to the Magic Kingdom, and run to the Haunted Mansion to record the Graveyard singers with my video camera mic. That's a week I'll never forget. Taking one of the buses helped me really remember what it was like back in 2000 and 2003 to have to use something other than the monorail to get around. Anyway, let's get on with the "event" stuff. We started, as I said earlier, by waiting in a line to register, and receive our thankfully not-so-heavy Mr.Toad statues, which are really nice. Throughout the event, they played the Official Disneyland "Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary" CD on a loop, (the wrong vocals and missing music room and Library scenes. Wrong music Disney! We fans take notice of this! Your aren't fooling us! Release the new vocals!) Once we got our products, we roamed around, looked in the amazing art gallery, and got pictures taken for our "ghostly photo opportunity" that was done in front of a green-screen. And after this, we left to go get in costume for the night's festivities. Here is a panorama of the entrance to the "Great Hall" that the dinner would take place:

So, we arrived back in a hour or two and it was getting dark our, and we entered the hallway above which was now filled with plenty of Mansion Fans, many in costume, waiting to enter. While waiting, they again were playing the Disneyland "Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary" CD on a loop, but I swore I could hear the rumbling bass of a real organ from somewhere within the building. Finally, we were permitted to enter, and walking in was one of the most amazing things I ever experienced. The rumble of live pipe organ (okay, it was probably a multi-keyboard set up with a lot of sub-woofers) with a man dressed as the organist from the ballroom at the keys. It was macabre magic at it's finest. Here is what the inside looked like, panorama style:

The organist provided music while I ate and spoke to the mansion fans around my table about topics like Haunted Mansion Holiday, D23, the new Del Toro Film, and other things. The food was much better then I had anticipated. Extra entertainment was provided by the "Ghost Host", a mustached character, and "Diggs" the mentally insane Caretaker. Bellow, you can take a listen to the Organist playing a few sections that I had to record, because I am a fan of "Phantom", and the rest were filler for you all to enjoy:

I would like to point out how the background is clearly a projection or LED screen. Very convincing, like the Library murals. They were running a slideshow most of the night on the two screens seen on ether side of the organist in the panorama above that consisted of Doombuggies.com's desktop wallpapers with the Doombuggies.com logo removed. Pretty lazy of them if you ask me. But we can't have it perfect every time. At least they had finally stopped playing the 40th CD. The highlight of the night was hearing Imagineers Jason Surrell, Jason Grandt, Pete Carsillo and Eric Goodman talk for about an hour, explaing things about the new queuing area, the updated Hitchhiking ghosts, and showing off unseen pics from the archives on the slideshow. I did film the entire presentation, but rendering and editing it has fallen behind on my list of things to get done, and their are plenty of videos up of it already, so it's not like I'm in any hurry, when these are to some extent, better then mine:

They revealed a lot of things about the new additions. I personally enjoyed hearing about the idea of a "Nursery" that got axed as soon as it was mentioned for the Re-Haunting. I was a bit disappointed that Tony Baxter wasn't there, but hey, we got Jason Surrell at least, so that was one familiar face. So much was revealed, you might as well watch Ricky's video above instead of waiting for mine if you haven't already seen it. You can also check out Inside the Magic's report here. Anyhow, we jump to the the Magic Kingdom now, for the Halloween Party.

So, we finally entered the gates of the Magic Kingdom! I was just dying to get to the Mansion by that point in time. After waiting nearly the entire day, I finally got to see the new effects that had been added right after I left in January. But we'll talk about that in day two, since the Halloween Party is a one night thing. So, we ended up missing "Hallowishes" due to the event letting us out a little late, which was a disappointment; but the decorations and party exclusive area music was awesome! They were playing the Police's "Message in A Bottle" by Pirates of the Caribbean! Talk about awesome! The night was also my first time getting on Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain. Every time I was there, it seemed it was closed. Since I had only been on the Disneyland version 22 times prior, I was excited to see what this version would hold in store. I liked it, but the new safety bars were a hindrance on the air-time. Over all, the music is more catchy here, but I like Disneyland's "Ride better"; wear as I like Walt Disney World's "Show" better. Also, I took an awesome on-ride photo, hitchhiking ghost style.

I was limited to how much I could do in the allotted time, but I ended up spending most of it taking advantage of Splash Mountain's non-existent lines. I left the party around 12:45, strangling behind a bit. Tomorrow, it would be back to the Magic Kingdom again for the 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World.

Day 2 - Saturday, October 1st, 2011 - The 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World

I think I got off to a later start that morning. The Magic Kingdom was extremely busy with people fighting for cupcakes in the bakery that were special "40th Anniversary" breakfast items. So, it took about 45 minutes to get my fruit cup for breakfast. Then, I headed over to the Haunted Mansion. Let's take a look at the new effects, shall we?

The new graveyard. Let me just start by saying it's a matter of "do I want to have a bit of fun, or get on the ride already?" Don't be surprised if on a busy day, the new "interactive" area is empty. The lines seemed to just pack off into which ever way looked less crowded; which was sometimes the direct path, and sometimes, the new area. The new que area has it's pluses and minuses, but overall, I see the addition as a pretty nice one. It really doesn't take anything from the atmosphere. Heck, if nobody is in there, you really won't hear much from it. The instruments only play if touched for at most, 5 seconds, and then you have to press again, or they go silent. The Prudence Pock tomb didn't seem to be working while I was there. The sailor tomb is odd, but fits in better than I would have thought possible. The best part is the new tombstones along the hill. The graveyard much more resembles the one you see in the finale now, sprawling over the hillside and beyond.

The new hitchhikers are pretty neat, but for someone who rides alone most of the time on a ten-or-more rides-at-a-time basis, they really don't do much more then the old ones to liven up the scene. Let's just say the novelty wears off if you ride to much. They become a part of the ride that you come to expect, just like the old ones, and not something you get all excited to see "Oh what animation will I get this time" and such. But that's not a bad thing, because like floating Leota, Constance, the Endless Staircase, the new stretching room, and the portrait hallway, the novelty wore off, but they are still all part of the ride. (It's worth noting that to me, the new vocalists in the graveyard's novelty has not worn off, because I love them so much, and am so determined to hear each one clearly on a full loop; Randy Thorton, I urge you to make them present on the next CD!) And because I love the ride, they are there, and they all feel right after a while, once the novelty of being new wears off. They do look much more real in person then in video, so please, until you've seen them for yourself, don't be judging them.

Anyhow, part of my day on that 40th Anniversary was spent talking to a former Haunted Mansion CM (or Butler if you prefer) and Facebook friend of mine, Tim, who shared his knowledge and insight with me on the park, management, and rides. He told me a lot of information I hadn't heard before, and also got me in the "Secret Corridor" that is part of Walt Disney World's Mansion. It was cool to yet again, meet with people who I've met online through my site and through the interest of the Haunted Mansion in person. Thanks for making my day more interesting then the typical day in the Magic Kingdom Tim! Above, you can see the Haunted Mansion still draws in fairly long waits on the weekends. This line above was about 30 minutes.

Also, I must report that Pirates of the Carribean, which was suffering from neglect in January 2011, has been patched up really well! (Looks like all that complaining back in January wasn't a waste, somebody heard me) They fixed it up when they installed Blackbeard, and it's looking better then normal! (Not really something to get too excited about. It's condition is still the worst of the four incarnations) We got lucky, and out boat got backed up because of a "protein spill", and we got to witness the entire loop of the Musical Trio play out. Check it out, an notice how they are indeed using a new musical score that was added in 2007, not the version you hear near Jack at the end that was used in this scene prior to the movie overlay:

If anyone really wants to hear about my last day at MGM Studios... oh, wait, I forgot, that's Hollywood Studios now; I'll write about it later. Star Tours II is pretty cool, and Tower of Terror and Rock'N Roller Coaster are pretty awesome. But that's not really something I think everyone here wants to hear about. I've got things I have to do, so, until next time, I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Oh yes, there's a little matter I forgot to mention: If you have Google plus, S&FS now has a page there. So go join our "Circles" or whatever they call them, there, on Google Plus.

Phantom Manor: Trip Report & Review Part 3

2011-09-16T16:08:00.013-04:00

Continued from Part 2...

"Ah, there you are! Welcome, foolish mortals; there's no turning back now..."

We left off right after the Bride's Boudoir scene; we have just crossed the line where the Mansion and the Manor go in completely opposite directions. Where as the normal Haunted Mansion would have us headed out onto the balcony looking down into the graveyard we will soon be venturing through, Phantom Manor lets us out of the house into a graveyard garden of sorts on the same level as the Boudoir. The Phantom reveals himself to us in full figure, right in front of us, for the first time in the ride. No longer hidden in shadow, he gestures toward an opening grave which the never-ending ring of carriages plummets into as he laughs madly.

We begin our descent into catacombs of Thunder Mesa. Skeletons are seen rising out of coffins the carriages plunge further down the tunnel into the ground. The music at first is played in a way that makes you wonder if the skeletons are going to harm us or not. We round a corner and find that the skeletons have no intention of doing us in, and are merely having a jam session of sorts as the wake from their supernatural slumber. The music goes from suspenseful to jazzy right on cue. The singing busts, pretty off cue (Thurl seemed to be playing a second too slow, and the 3 others were playing a second too fast) begin to sing our favorite song, set to an amazing new underscore. We pass by a skeleton playing the "Skull-O-Phone" before venturing out from under the ground into the big finish.

Phantom Canyon, the hellish ghost town finale is where many fans of the original mansion seem to have there problems with Phantom Manor. Gone is the extended performance of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" as sung by the many ghosts from creepy-old-crypts all over the world. The Pop-up ghosts and the many Marc Davis sight gags that cover the original finale of the Haunted Mansion are all missing. Some have a problem with this, but not me. For me, it was a breath of fresh air. Something that was completely tolerable, and in some ways, more than I was expecting it to be. Let's begin our journey through Phantom Canyon, looking at the many gags presented to us along the way.

We begin by passing projections of Night on Bald Mountain wraiths on scrims that line the caves on either side of the exit archway that leads out of the catacombs. (See the flash photo I took to the left to get an idea of the exit archway) A swaying noose hangs off to the side of the track, and a flipped over carriage sits by a horse's skeleton. We then see Ezra, the Phantom Canyon train-station ticket-taker off to the right in the first of many collapsing buildings. He goes by this nick-name because of his resemblance to the skeletal faced Hitchhiking ghost by the same name in the American mansions. He nods his head along to the music as we pass by him, and off to the left, a familiar voice from the American Mansions fills the air. Paul Free's Ghost Host material is heard coming from the Mayor as he welcomes you to this hellish version of Frontierland; the collapsing city hall building directly behind him. (See picture on the Left) We enter the heart of the town; an subsequently, a cross-fire between a bandit on the left and the cowardly sheriff on the right. The Bandit can't get his stubborn pack-mule to cross the green-glowing trench that has just cracked open in the ground as the underworld version of the earthquake that destroyed thunder mesa begins to shift the ground. He shoots at the sheriff on the opposite side of the tracks, trying to keep him at bay while he tries to get his Donkey to pass over the crack in the ground. Off to the left, the town's pharmacist is seen drinking something that has him coughing up a storm. We are then directed towards the first half of the saloon; which has been torn in half by the earthquake, and now resides in pieces on both sides of the track. Still directed toward the right side, we see a Honky-Tonk Piano player, preforming Grim Grinning Ghosts. A wild west Can-Can Dancer (above right) waves to us as we pass by, while the Bartender offers us a drink. We then turn to face the best effect not seen in any of the other Haunted Mansions; the ghost poker game. On the opposite side of the track in the other half of the saloon, a group of invisible cowboys are having themselfs a game of poker, while enjoying a beer and cigars. The cards float above the table, held by unseen hands, and the cigar floats in mid air, puffing out smoke. Poker chips shift about the table as the game progresses. This was by far the most amazing effect in Phantom Manor. It's so original, and it doesn't have a similar effect to be compared to in any of the Mansions. This was one thing I hadn't seen before I rode it; I had heard about it, but had no clue what it looked like. Anyway, we continue up a slight incline towards a glowing horizon at sunset, right out of the finale of any old western film. The Phantom is finally seen without his skull "Mask" and revealed as a rotting corpse; quite a graphic looking visual for a Disney attraction. He laughs maniacally without ever stopping to take a breath in between. He gestures toward an open casket, urging us to remain in Phantom Canyon forever. But the carriages continue past in an effort to escape. We pass into a cave-like opening under the distorted shadow of the Mansion atop a rocky hillside to the left of the scene, out of ghost town.

The ghost town, as I said before, is a breath of fresh air. It doesn't go as far as Mystic Mess does in pulling away from the original Mansion concept. The whole point of Phantom Canyon is to show a more demented version of the earthquake that took the life of Henry Ravenswood, and created the legend of Phantom Manor and the rest of Frontierland.

We continue onward to the finale, where the Hitchhiking ghosts are replaced with the finale vision of Melanie Ravenswood; now a mere skeleton in a tattered wedding dress, she points the way out of the Phantom's demonic version of Frontierland. We proceed down a hallway with three ornate mirrors, in which the Phantom is seen one last time, creeping over the top of the carriage in one last effort to keep you in Phantom Manor for good. We then exit into the Manor's wine cellar, where we see what has been listed as Little Leota backstage according to ghost relations department. We then proceed out a shed on the side of the Manor back into the daylight of Frontierland.

IMPORTANT STUFF

(No longer that important, really)

From here on out, I must leave the subject of Phantom Manor and my trip to Pairs on hold. As much as I want to tell you all about boot hill, the gardens, Pirates, and the rest of the attractions and experiences, I have become extremely busy with projects. Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion: 40th Anniversary Soundtrack is becoming a challenge to complete on time for the release date, and I have the Haunted Mansion Holiday 10th Unofficial Anniversary Collection I need to get working on, (Along with the help of Haunted Mansion Fan72, whom I'm sharing the project with) Then, I have the video footage from the trip to edit together and upload for all you to see. I also have to continue pre-production efforts on A Night in The Haunted Mansion. And to top it all off, I'm spontaneously heading back to Walt Disney World for the 40th Anniversary festivities, and the "Room for One more" Haunted Mansion event in a week or so. So, this brings up a number of things I need feedback on from you, the fans of S&FS:

Should I release Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion: 40th Anniversary Soundtrack before the originally intended release of October 1st, 2011 at 10:00 am (EST) so that you can hear it as is? Or...
I could release Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion: 40th Anniversary Soundtrack after I return from Orlando and possibly obtain more content on my trip for the set; (Here's hoping that Thorton finally puts the proper version of Grim Grinning Ghosts from Walt Disney World as of 2007 onto an official CD for the 40th anniversary) And you would all get it a couple of weeks afterward.

I need to know ASAP so I can make up my mind and change the date to the desired time. Because it will be impossible for me to release the CD while I'm at the park. So, it's one or the other, but I need input from you guys.

Expect a report on the event, and a review of the new "enhancements" from yours truly. So yeah, I need feed back. Let me know on the Facebook page what your oppion is on the release date.

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Phantom Manor: Trip Report & Review Part 2

2011-09-12T19:33:00.012-04:00

Continued from Part 1...

"Let us continue our tour; there is much to see, so look alive, and stay together; I'd hate to loose you all so soon..."

After boarding our Vekoma carriages, we progress up the up a short staircase and under an archway into total darkness. Out of the darkness, the first thing we will catch a glimpse of is a mirror on the wall which reflects the light from the previous room, the grand staircase. A little matter I forgot to mention in the first part of the post is that Phantom Manor pulls off nicely is the transition from light to dark. When we enter, the house has both natural and ambient lighting in the Foyer, unlike the Walt Disney World mansion, where you step straight into the disorienting darkness of the underground foyer. We round a corner and come face to face with the veiled figure of Melanie Ravenswood herself. Still young and beautiful, she bows as we pass further into the darkness.

Turning another corner, we are pointed down the endless hallway that appears at all the other Mansions. A candelabra floats midway down the shaft of doors. But before we can move onward, who should appear out of thin air but the beautiful bride herself, holding the candelabra, floating mid-way down the hallway, with a ghostly glow to her airborne figure. This effect is achieved in a similar way to the ballroom ghosts at all the other mansions. Pepper's Ghost; as they call the effect; is a reflection & lighting gag that can make things reappear and disappear, or create ghost-like figures in a way similar to seeing your reflection in a piece of glass. The effect is quite amazing here, because of the condensed space it's being created in, and the fact that your facing directly towards the figure at eye-socket level, unlike in the ballroom, where the ghosts are bellow and above you. We move onward as John Debny's Orchestral arrangement's of "Grim, Grinning Ghosts" is suddenly accompanied by sound of a piano. The shadowy figure of the pianist, who is actually the Phantom himself; according to official Disney documents; is seen spread across the floor of the conservatory. The keys of the piano move on their own, and the sound of the air-pistons that accompany the gag in the states is no where near as loud or obnoxious. The cars continue backward into the darkness, still facing in the direction of the endless hallway; as though the cars wish to proceed down the hall, but are being dragged onward by a more powerful, unseen force. It's been said that Melanie may have been warning us not to go down the hallway; so the unseen force could be her trying to pull us onward to safety; or it could be the Phantom dragging us away from his heavenly daughter towards the hell he has in store for us. You can decided that for yourself!

The carriages proceed blindly backward through the darkness, which is only pierced by the light of a few flickering chandeliers above our heads. The sounds of terrible monsters and creatures fill the air, trying to get out of the doors that are just visible a few feet from our faces in the inky blackness. Looking closer, it's apparent that the door knockers are turning on some of these doors; some are even shaking in their frame as though something powerful is pounding away on them. One looks as though it's a breathing body, inhaling and exhaling like it was made of rubber (it probably is, but it's supposed to be made of wood) and another is about to be pushed out of it's frame by skeletal hands that have grasped the top of the door itself! The sounds in Phantom Manor's Corridor of Doors are much scarier then the original Disneyland recordings. Gone is Thurl Ravenscroft's comical "Let me outta Here" or the helpless wining of the trapped ghosts. These spirits sound more demonic, and give the scene scarier flavor. We round a corner and face a grandfather clock, whose hands are spiraling out of control; backwards; chiming the hour 13. The eyes in the infamous Rolly Crump wallpaper glow green as we pass onward into a huge dark room.

The Seance will start us with a few problems that some fans have with Phantom Manor. Many people criticize the way Madame Leota looks in the attraction. They say she looks hideous. Well, I hate to break it to you all, but the Madame Leota we are all used to in the American parks isn't exactly your stereotypical Gypsy woman. Generally, they are portrayed as unsightly, middle-aged laddies who are ether overweight or sickly thin, wearing way to much make-up, and covered in zits and moles. Oona Lind is not ugly by any means, but the way she is projected gives here a plump look that fits the general stereotype. So we have a slightly more realistic looking gypsy head; anyhow, she begins to summon the ghosts for a supernatural wedding party for poor Melanie. Gone are the instruments and objects that float about the room. Instead, they are replaced by great pillars with leering gargoyles that frame the circular chamber. The carriages progress onward, up an incline toward a balcony overlooking a grand hall.

The heart of all the Disney Haunted Mansions is the Ballroom, where the worlds largest pepper's ghost effects are staged daily. The Phantom Manor ballroom is slightly different then the versions we see in America, because it refers back to Ken Anderson's original idea of a wedding party instead of the Birthday (or Death Day) party we are all used to in the Mansions. The ghosts are all dressed in Victorian area clothing; no Kings, Queens, Pharaohs or Sultans are seen mingling about the crowd. (Seen to the Left is a Doll-Faced Ghost Girl who occupies the space normally occupied by the Knight and Egyptian Princess) They are all local ghosts here in Frontierland. They have dumped their wedding gifts in a pile near the entry side of the room, and ghosts have gathered around a table topped with a huge, moldy, collapsing wedding cake. Melanie stands on the balcony looking over her party; she's the only human other then an mysterious laughing shadow-like figure seen standing in an open window. This is of course, the Phantom, watching from a far. The dueling ghosts are no more, replaced by a formal painting of the Manor in it's better days. The ghosts waltz about the floor on the far side of the room to a haunting solo played by a man in a purple tux with curly hair seated at an enormous pipe organ. The carriages turn away from the party and head down a long, dark passage; the sounds of the evil laughter and the pipe organ still echoing in the air.

A glimmering light at the end of the passage reveals itself as a fireplace. Above it is a painting of Melanie Ravenswood, in her wedding dress as usual. (You'd think it's the only piece of clothing she owns) The sounds of clock chimes are heard in the room while the tinkle of a music box and wine of an old gramophone (seen to the right) add to the atmosphere. Melanie is seen seated at here distorted make-up table, looking very old. In three minutes, she goes from beautiful young woman, to frail old granny. Anyway, the distorted mirror isn't the only piece of distorted furniture. This room, the Bride's Boudoir, gives me second thoughts about McMansionland's abstract design.

"WHAT!?! ARE YOU INSANE!?! McMANSIONLAND IS PURE EVIL!!! A FREAK OF NATURE! HOW COULD A ROOM IN PHANTOM MANOR POSSIBLY GIVE YOU SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT A TUMOR ON THE WALT DISNEY WORLD MANSION!?!"

Hear me out. In the darkness, this room fits into the house perfectly. Light it up, and your sure to be scratching your head. This room is filled with cartoony-looking furniture and elements. Maybe I'll do a post about this room later, to explain. As we only spend about 15 to 20 seconds in this room before we are dragged out into the garden where the Phantom is waiting with a surprise for us. We are about to take a huge detour in the attraction; Where the American version is scrapped for a more story-realistic climax; and that I'm sure your all interested on hearing what I have to say about it. We shall continue onward in part 3...

"I'll be waiting for you on the... Other side... Have a frightfully good time... "

To Be Continued...

Phantom Manor: Trip Report & Review Part 1

2011-09-04T09:43:00.015-04:00

Ah, there you are...

Yes, I have returned form the, other side... Other side of the pond that is. Europe was an experience I'll never forget. Disneyland Paris was, of course, the main highlight of the entire two and a half week journey for me. Let me just say that the only thing they were missing was Splash Mountain. Everything else was perfect, and in some ways, better than both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. But I'll dive deeper into the entire resort experience later; for now, let's stick with the one ride: Phantom Manor...

Phantom Manor is obviously different from the Haunted Mansions in many respects. I won't dive into the obvious things that so many of us reading this already know of. The story of Melanie Ravenswood; the young bride forever trapped in the walls of her father, Henry "The Phantom" Ravenswood's dilapidated Victorian manor after an earthquake stuck the town of Thunder Mesa; is one any Mansion fan with any credit to his or her name has heard at least once. (Any Manor fan who hasn't has no credit to their name, period. Honestly, how can you be a fan of something like this and Not know the story?) As with my previous trips to both Disneyland in 2008 and Walt Disney World earlier this year, I started my vacation and ended my vacation at the resort with rides through the happy haunting ground. I lost count of how many times I rode, and unlike my January trip to Walt Disney World, I can't go back and look over the number of recordings to gauge the amount of times I rode. Okay; enough stalling... let's get on with the review...

Phantom Manor all begins with the same thing nearly ever other ride in Disney Park History begins with: a queuing area. Of course, not all attractions have a magnificent setting and abundance of themed elements as Phantom Manor does. (Dumbo, that one was directed at you...) Phantom Manor's garden queuing area is about as good as realistic "Haunted House" style exterior environments can get. From the cracked cobblestone, to the twisted trees and real spider-webs, the exterior area of Phantom Manor wins the best exterior of all Disney's Mansions in my book. Everything is set up perfect. Even the water fountains in the que are all dried up, keeping with the Frontierland theme of the boom-town that turned into a ghost town! (Though I doubt that was intentional...) Any mansion fan worth their name knows the haunting music box tune played in the gazebo. Slightly less well known is the 3 minuet loop of echoes from past parties and wind-chimes in the pavilion queuing area. And like all statues in Paris, the pavilion boasts four loosely dressed women made of cracked stone. Classy; just like in the Louvre or the Opera House.

I could go in to extreme detail about everything in the que; from the unique, twisted trees that cover the grounds, to the dusty lanterns and ornamental debris; but that would take far to long, and we must continue on to the interior of the attraction; as they say, "the real beauty of this house awaits us, farther on, and she'll just die if we're late..." What I mean to say is, I will devote a post later on discussing the intricate details of the gardens that only Mansion -Manor nerds will find any interest in. This is a report/review, not a break down of the fabric of nature.

So, the foyer. One thing that was neat about the foyer was the fact that when Big Thunder Mountain would go through the unique on-ride-photo section (right across the river from the front of the Manor) at night, it would look like lightning flashes in the window. Speaking of Big Thunder Mountain, check out the on-ride-photo; it comes with an image of Phantom Manor surrounded by bats in the background! As any Phantom Manor fan knows, but some Mansion fans may not know, the face of Melanie Ravenswood (the bride) fades in and out every 15 seconds or so in an ornate mirror hanging in between the two stretching room doors. Another thing that I failed to take a photo of that I liked was the "Sortie" signs like the one in the Foyer. For those of you who have no idea what "Sortie" means, it's the equivalent of "Exit" in french. However, these signs are themed with a Frontierland style font, making them much less of any eye-sore then the Exit Signs in the Mansions here in America.

The stretching room is where things are noticeably different to any average American tourist who has visited the local Mansion. For them, they would be surprised to see a look-alike of the tightrope walker girl in all four paintings. These four girls are all Melanie Ravenswood; and as the stretching room elongates, a chilling premonition of her ultimate fate is revealed in each. The paintings are not meant to be four different deaths she suffered, for even in Disney-logic, dying four times in such bizarre ways goes against the laws of nature. These painting are purely meant to cement one grisly fact into the story; Melanie Ravenswood will die in time. Of course, everyone will die in time, but the story of Melanie Ravenswood is essentially the story of the attraction that you witness on your journey through the ride.

When the lights go out; the image rafters above reveal the Phantom; also known as Melanie's Father, Henry Ravenswood; strangling the intended-to-be groom to death. While I knew what was above prior to visiting the Manor, I really never got a good view of it; both the stretching rooms had dusty scrims, preventing me from seeing the scene clearly. I was also lucky enough to become trapped in a thankfully half-full stretching room once it had reached the bottom. For those of you who do not know, Phantom Manor, like Disneyland in California, has the elevator incarnation of the stretching room. The door became jammed once we reached the bottom, and the floor lurched a few times. Even though it was half-full, the elevator's lift capticty is much lower then it's descent capticty. You can't take a full stretching room back up without creating a true-life tower-of-terror scenario. The house lights came on at one point, but we were only stuck for ten or so minuets at the most. Now I know how my guests feel in the themagical simulation, where the ride's stretching rooms constantly break down. On a more positive note, the eye-sore wall that appears in Disneyland's version of the ride has been painted over with wainscoting here.

And so, we enter the portrait hallway. This is the last time we hear the voice of our host, the Phantom. He bids us farewell, leaving us to board our carriage headed for the party, and beyond. He claims he'll be waiting on the other side for us. (Hint-hint! Foreshadowing!) The Phantom is a much more villainous spirit then the original Ghost Host from the Haunted Mansion. He's not leading you on a safe journey through the house here; he's hell bent on keeping you and ever other visitor trapped in his haunted home for all eternity. The paintings in the hallway contain Marc Davis' Medusa, Panther Lady, Knight, and Ghost Ship; along with various old, sepia tone photos of what is presumed to be some of the former residents of the manor, and plenty of ornate mirrors. It is in these mirrors that first time riders will undoubtedly lay eyes on the grand staircase for the first time; which waits around the corner. At the end of the hallway hangs a large bridal portrait of Melanie Ravenswood in her wedding gown; her haunting soprano seemingly emitting from the painting. We turn the corner, and enter one of the more impressive scenes exclusive to Phantom Manor. The grand staircase loading area is Phantom Manor's step up to Disneyland's still existing problem of the massive empty space that sits between the Loading Belt and the Endless Hallway in the floor plan. Not so impressive is the Staring Bust illusion, which is lit to heavily and is less then convincing. Sure, it doesn't help knowing how the gag is executed, but it's been effect still when seen at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Speaking of lighting; due to the real windows in the foyer, Phantom Manor gradually takes you from a naturally lighting into darkness; unlike Walt Disney World, where you step into darkness and have to pause to let your eyes adjust to the drastic change. One thing I noticed is that until you step onto the loading belt, you can't hear the Loading Area Music; instead, the Portrait Hallway music is clearly audible.

So, we board our Doombuggies... excuse me, carriages; there is never a mention of the word doombuggy in Phantom Manor. These Omnimovers, built in the early 1990's are a bit different from the versions used at the Mansions. These Vekoma cars have no speakers, as Phantom Manor was never intended to contain narration during the ride-through portion of the attraction. And so, we board the cars and venture off into the dark bowels of Phantom Manor...

I leave you now, but I'll be waiting for you on the other side...

(TBC - Part 2 Coming Soon)

I Spy Something Ugly; Eyesores with No Excuses

2011-07-18T16:46:00.019-04:00

Ah, there you are...

There is quite a lot of news to report since the last post. First off, video footage of the legendary Hatbox Ghost has surfaced. View the amazing video by Disney History Institute here.

Second, S&FS's digital download of "Splash Mountain: The Unofficial 22nd Anniversary Collection" has been released. You can find the link to it on our Facebook Page, as well as the terms of use for downloading it. Third, I will finally be making the pilgrimage to Disneyland Paris to experience Phantom Manor this August. Expect a huge review of the Manor, the park, and my vacation afterward. Now, onto today's post...

I've been interested in doing a post about a number of certain elements in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion for quite some time now. The problem has been getting pictures of them. I'm not able to visit Disneyland like so many lucky people are on a regular basis since I live on the opposite side of the United States. Thanks go out to Robert Padilla for taking pictures of these elements for me on request. Now, I can finally explain...

An Innocent Mansion-Virgin. We have All been Once in our Lives

In order for the significance of these elements to be understood, it needs to be stated that I grew up on the east coast, and that the Walt Disney World Mansion was my first. It was February of 2000 when I first stepped into the foyer of the Orlando Mansion. I was a boy of only 7 years old. Second grade. I heard for the first time, the unforgettable voice of Paul Frees.

"Is this Haunted Room actually stretching? Or is it your imagination? Hmm?"

Knowing what I know now, and how I looked apoun the effect of the room stretching around me as a 7 year old then, I'm happy knowing that at one point in my life, the magic that so many other experience in the mansion to this day was magical to me at one point in my life. Those of you who read this blog are the same people who spent hours on Doombuggies.com when you first discovered it, spoiling the magic and educating yourself in the technical aspect of the attraction, just as I did in late 2000, or 2001. You bought the 2003 Jason Surrell book and know it front to back, yet still look at it once a week. You bought the updated edition in 2009 and still look at both copies. You know how each effect is accomplished, and the differences between the Mansions. Being a Mansion fan means you know that pixie dust is just a bunch of smoke and mirrors; and yet, that really doesn't matter to you, because you love the attraction so much...

I know for some Mansion fans, the fact of knowing doesn't ruin the magic within. As a child, I was amazed by the attraction at Orlando. I have three rides on the mansion that I must cherish. Because not only did I sit with each Hitchhiking Ghost on my first three visits, (First was Gus, Phineas, and then Ezra; Every Mansion fan should remember their first HHG) I was also innocent to the technical work going on around me. In 2008, I made the journey to Disneyland in California. My last ride on the Orlando Mansion was in October 2003 (Halloween to be exact) and my memory was a bit blurry. I knew that the tricks behind the effects were well concealed at Orlando though...

"Is this Haunted Room Actually Stretching?" No; it's Clearly an Elevator

Well, the original Anaheim mansion was a bit of a let-down for me. While the original Pirates was much better than the Orlando counterpart, the opposite could be said in terms of the Mansion. Even with the Haunted Mansion Holiday Overlay covering up things that I've been told are usually not covered up, *cough-Loading Area-cough-Warehouse Building-cough-of doom-cough-cough* the magic that hardly wavered in Orlando after knowing "what did this" and "what did that" seemed to have been crushed under-foot here in California. The Stretching room is the start of this. The visual is all I needed to back this post:

I want to know how in 40 plus years of operation, this horrible scar on the quality of the show presented has not been addressed and fixed. While any mansion fan will tell you that the California and Paris Mansions (Manors) have elevators in them, this dead giveaway is more then I think my innocent 7-year old self could have taken. Look at it! This shot was taken for me on request by Mr.Padilla, showing the doors to the portrait hallway while halfway open. The doors open to reveal not only an exit, but a huge ugly black wall! Don't tell me nobody could paint that wall! It's bad show!

The amount of visible black walls in Anaheim's Mansion is painful. At least Orlando has been good about cleaning up these unsightly warehouse walls with wallpaper, even if they are near impossible to see in the fitting darkness that is missing from Anaheim in recent years:

If they wallpaper an entire wall behind the line of view in Orlando, why can't something as painfully "there" as that black wall be covered up? Paint a wooden pattern over the black to match the missing wainscoting. Or better yet, you could paint a convincing mural (like the ballroom set) of an unfinished passage wall, with rats, cobwebs, and beams similar to those in the attic. Something this bad should not have remained untouched for 40 plus years. It's blatantly obvious that your in an elevator once those doors open up that high. While the effect was intended to disguise an elevator, it's much more convincing as a stand-alone effect in Orlando. That wall needs to be covered ASAP. Walt would want it done!

UPDATED - After visiting Disneyland Paris in August, I discovered that they have covered up their version of this wall with a wainscoting pattern. If they did it there, why can't they do it at Disneyland? Come on guys! Fix it up! Walt wouldn't want something like that.

I'll See You All a Little Later. This Way, I Won't Have to Explain the Garage Door

I've spoken elsewhere about why the Anaheim mansion, out of all the mansions, needs to be dark inside. Because so much is just covered in black paint to mask it's existence in a ride that's show designates the location to be older then what technical gadgets lie within, the darkness is crucial in the experience. Beyond the ugly wall in the stretching room, darkness can mask nearly all of the other eyesores that made themselfs known during my visit due to the increased lighting during the Holiday overlay. But at least one more element rears it's ugly head, even if it were dark. This shiny monster is another eyesore without an excuse as to why it's remained out in the open all these years without being covered up.

If you don't know where this door leads to, I wouldn't be completely surprised. You're really not even supposed to; but because the Haunted Mansion online fan base has so much media in their hands, which includes full blueprints for the ride, it's not really a huge secret. It leads to a big open workshop that houses a lot of discarded mess and Doombuggies that need repairs. It's a backstage area; and you though the attic was a mess...

However, just because we can't see what's inside doesn't mean we should see the ugly door that guards the Mansion's real pack-rat paradise. It's shiny, so it will reflect off of even the dimmest of lights. Paint it black! Or replace it with a black door if you can't paint it! (I don't know if the door rolls straight up, or if it coils around itself) The garage door was invented in 1921 by C.G. Johnson, a good while after the mansion's story-line "end of life in the house" period began. There should not be a garage door in the mansion that is visible to the public, because they were invented after the mansion's last owners vanished! If your not an Anaheim Mansion regular, here is a diagram to show you were this shiny show-scab is in the mansion:

I can't complain about the entire attraction for it's lack of darkness which ruined a lot more then I could list, because Haunted Mansion Holiday added extra light that really shouldn't be in the ride. But these two elements would remain, even when Anaheim learns to turn down the lights. They need to be fixed! Heck, put a curtain up over the metal door!

UPDATED: Thanks to S&FS follower Alexandre Grancoin-Vinet, I can give you visual proof that the Walt Disney World Garage door has black paint on it:

And at Disneyland Paris, there is no garage door, instead, we have a recessed wall, that could possibly be some sort of door, or might just be a wall; it's not like your supposed to know there's a door to a warehouse room there anyway, so whether it is or isn't really doesn't matter, because it doesn't interfere with the show quality. If your a Phantom Manor regular or have any idea if it is a door though, please comment and let me know, because I like to know stuff like that, even if it's of little importance. Here is the visual, take in August 2011 by your's truly:

I feel obliged to address these minor elements. They are scars on a show that could be drastically improved on with a little less light, and a bit more cover-up. They need to be addressed because they are interfering with the quality of the show! I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Fans Grab Torches and Pitchforks in Reaction to Enhancements. Why?

2011-06-20T13:32:00.010-04:00

Ah, there you are...

Current affairs always come first. Specifically, the wave of dark-spirited intolerance that has swept the online community of Haunted Mansion fans since the reveal of the April 2011 "Enhancements" at Walt Disney World's Mansion. While I'm sure all of you reading this blog know what I'm speaking of, I still must recap the ordeal, to better the post:

Our story begins in 2007; The Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion went down for a lengthy refurbishment which was later dubbed "The Re-Haunting" due to the amount work done. I'm sure you all know what happened during this time; but for those of you who don't, here is a quick refresher of some of the more prominent enhancements:

...and of course, a good half of the enhancements were not to see, but to hear. Here is a sample of just one of the many audio updates that took place during this extensive rehab:

Before & After

So, the Re-Haunting was for the most part, accepted by the mainstream Haunted Mansion fans. Of course, the rumors that swirled about what was going to occur during the rehab ran wild, and some additions did not materialize. Time, money, and of course, money are likely why we had to wait a few years for some long-rumored additions to finally appear (Interactive Hitchhiking ghosts, specifically). But the team of imagineers in charge of the Mansion project changed during those few years...

During 2010, a number of cardboard mock-ups of an "interactive queuing game" appeared in the line for the Haunted Mansion. Many mansion fans went into defense mode. The idea of a game while waiting in line for the attraction seemed to far-fetched and out of place.

Despite the protests from hardcore mansion fans, it was only a matter of time. Within a few months, earth began to turn, and graves were desecrated; construction had begun on what could only be assumed as an "Interactive" new area. Worse, the original tombstones vanished during the construction, and every mansion fan knew in the back of their head that it could be the last time any of them would be seen; since Disneyland's berm graveyard vanished back in the early 2000's forever.

To make things more complicated, early 2011 brought even more changes; the infamous Hitchhiking Ghosts scene was suddenly covered in black tarps and temporary computer generated versions of Gus, Ezra, and Phineas began floating about on the walls.

This is where the story will change from what most mansion fans would tell. For I am a Mansion fan, but I am not in the majority. These computer generated images are considered by most mansion fans to be unsightly, horrible, and unnecessary. I however, have no hatred for these temporary versions of the characters. They moved fluidly, something the audio animatronic versions never could pull off. They were quite useful in keeping the mansion operational during the early 2011 additions. Plus, they had "character" in a way that the originals could not pull off with their appearance alone.

"What did you just say! Blaine Gibson's amazing sculpts of Marc Davis's brilliant work have less character then these un-godly abominations! You are a disgrace to mansion fans everywhere! That's blasphemy! How can you even call yourself a mansion fan!"

While I expect such a backlash for such a statement, I have my reasons why I believe that to be so. Of course, my reasons may not be something you agree on, so I don't feel that they need to be explored at the moment. No disrespect to the legendary Marc Davis and Blaine Gibson, but you can only do so much with the medium they used to originally create the characters. The fact that they were flat projections is what bothered so many people. Because nearly everything in the mansion that is projected is NOT flat projected, everyone seemed to have a problem with the concept. Flat projections work very well when executed properly however. Anyone who has experienced Universal's Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey should know how amazing flat projections can be if executed right.

However; given that those versions were temporary, the story does not end here. It wasn't long before the trio projection that riders see before turning to face the wall of missing mirrors was pulled and replaced with new audio animatronic versions of Gus, Ezra, and Phineas. While the majority of Mansion fans were relived to see this, I was expecting more than what we got. I know I should never have heightened my expectations. The new aa's are nicely dressed, but still seem less sophisticated than the Tokyo Disneyland marvels.

While these characters were being unveiled inside, the area that was under construction outside was being unveiled. Feast your eyes on what has come to be known as "McMansionland" or "Pepe Le Queue" by the Haunted Mansion's Online fans in these videos:

I can see why many fans have developed a hatred for this addition. For a more in-depth look at what most hardcore mansion fans see in this new area, go take a look at the Long Forgotten blog post, decadence.

I really can't say I'm for or against this addition. I have not seen the finished area in person. They seem to have done a lot of good, and a lot of bad all at once. The graveyard thankfully returned, and enlarged too. Tributes to anyone who was missing from the original headstones who worked on the ride's creation are now present. New orchestrations of Grim Grinning Ghosts coming from a... uh, less than realistic looking tomb... and a "tubsoleum" as it's been called, with a sneezing, singing, bubble blowing sea captain on top; who squirts water everywhere...uh, and then we have a disembodied poet with writer's block trying to figure out how to finish her less-than-scary poems...uh, yeah...

Many fans are angered by the noise pollution the area creates in the quiet, mysterious atmosphere of the mansion's queuing area. Of course, if nobody is really around to press any buttons, you get this:

The one thing I still can't fathom is why some people say that this ruins the entire attraction. They do give you the option to bypass it. They really can't do too much more than that to please those who feel steeping onto the grounds of McMansionland would be a sin. They are not ripping it up after they spent all that money on it, so you all will have to deal with it. Disney does what Disney wants. Sure, some of it could use some improvement, but it's better than no graveyard at all...

Now, we get to the finale. The addition of Interactive Hitchhikers finally materializes. Low and behold, within a few weeks, the hype wears down, and some of the fans begin to find something to gripe about:

Long Forgotten is once again, the place to go to for the explanation of why these "nit-picky" mansion fans are not as thrilled as the general public about these high-tech ghosts. I can see certain reasons that cause fans to fuss, but some reasons are just beyond logic. These new projections look pretty amazing on video, but many of their criticizers have yet to see them in person. I can't judge them entirely off a YouTube video. They do appear to be partially rendered when compared to even the temporary projections, as far as details and shape go. But given time, they will most likely be updated. With computers, you can do that, you know. Details are only so important sometimes, even in the Haunted Mansion.

So, I might as well stop here for now. I'll pick up on this some other time...

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Layout Overlap: Disneyland & Walt Disney World

2011-03-21T11:40:00.007-04:00

Ah, there you are...

I would assume you'd be expect a post on the new queuing area at Walt Disney World since that's the big news in Haunted Mansion fandom right now. No, I am not going to dedicate a whole post to my oppion of the new additions, because I have not seen them myself and will not take a side on them until that happens. I am on the fence about the additions. That's about as much as I will dwell on this topic for now. Instead, my goal is to try and help the foolish mortals with more biased and strong, (sometimes vulgar) statements on what they too have most likely yet to see in person move on to a better state of mind. They aren't going anywhere, so you need to accept them much as I had to get over the addition of Jack Sparrow to my beloved Pirates.

I want to talk about something today that involves the slight differences in the attractions at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. As many know, the Walt Disney World version is slightly longer, and has a few extra scenes that aren't present in the Disneyland version. However, these scenes are very cramped into the layout. Bellow is the Walt Disney World layout:

(Layout by Tim McKenny & Foxx of GrimGhosts.com)

While the image presents the pre-Re-Haunting version of the Orlando attraction, it does still provide the accurate track layout. The only differences would be the obvious missing Grand Staircase scene, the new eyes in the wallpaper, the portrait hallway's new windows, the attic updates, and several slight rotation changes to the Doombuggies in the portrait hallway and the staircase area. But they won't hinder what I'm trying to get across.

So, as said, the scenes not present in Disneyland, but present in Orlando (& Tokyo) are The Servant Staircase, The ride-through Portrait Hall, The Library, The Music Room, and The Endless Staircase with the Wallpaper transfer scene. The Crypt is also a tad bit longer. You ride past Little Leota instead of walk. But because it's on the shorter side of the extended area, most wouldn't even count it as a real addition, more of a mandatory straight away to get to the unload.

Compare the Orlando version to the Disneyland version here:

(Layout, again provided by Tim McKenny & Foxx of GrimGhosts.com)

In Disneyland, you walk the Portrait Hallway, and the Busts from the Library are seen in that area too. The much more sophisticated pianist in the Disneyland attic is the effect presented in the missing music room. As for the staircase scene...

Well, that is were we need to look at what's the same. Bellow are the two layouts overlapping one another:

As you can see, the layouts virtually overlap at the middle of the Library scene and at the end of the Hitch Hiking Ghosts Mirror Room. When you board your Doombuggy at Disneyland, your on the same stretch of track used for the music room in Walt Disney World. So, this is where I'll point out that they have the same space to add the same scene in Disneyland, and infact, I'd say a tad more (not by much though.) The staircase scene was indeed crammed into Walt Disney World's attraction. It takes up a very very small amount of space. The same space is present at Disneyland, right after the buggies leave the stretch of track they load on. So they could essentially add the missing Library Scene into the loading area where the music room is at Orlando to fill that empty space and nix one of the missing scenes from the list. They could then add the staircase scene, and thus, another missing scene would be off the list too. Bellow is a lights on photo of the Disneyland Load area to give you an idea of the space:

Now, look at my feeble attempt to mark where the Orlando Layout would overlap this image:

The boundary of where the wall is at Orlando, marked by the red line, shows that there is an extra couple of square feet worth of floor space in Disneyland. The blue and black wall covers are the approximated areas of space that are the scenes at Walt Disney World if overlapped.

The problem with Disneyland is that the load area is way to bright. Compare to the pitch-black darkness of Walt Disney World, the void of space that is the load are is less then convincing, and a major area of unused room. Since the effect in the music room is already present in Disneyland, the best idea would be to ether make a larger library scene to fill the void, or add Phantom Manor's Grand Staircase entry. Of course, the later would make little sense if they had you enter the Walt Disney World Staircase scene right afterward.

Just wanted to get my thoughts out on this.

Also, the Walt Disney World Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Recreation is coming along very nicely. I would expect it to be done by the end of this month, or somewhere in April. Just wanted to throw that information out there.

Anyhow, I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

The Phantom Pianist...

2011-03-09T12:59:00.015-05:00

Ah, there you are...

Today, we will be covering the phantom piano player; both the 1970's one from Walt Disney World's music room, and the 1990's one from Disneyland's attic. Let's start from the beginning...

When the Walt Disney World Mansion opened with the rest of the resort, it included several new scenes exclusive to the Orlando version due in part to the modified layout. One of those scenes was the music room, a dark parlor with a huge window overlooking a nightmarish moonlit landscape. Various instruments lay about the room, covered in dust and cobwebs. A huge grand piano sitting in the middle of the room plays on it's own, or so it seems at a glance. The moonlight from the window casts the shadow of an unseen anomaly pounding out a Rachmaninoff style composition of "Grim,Grinning Ghosts" across the floor of the room, which is covered in piles of sheet music.

Shhh! Listen...
Listen to the Orlando & Tokyo Music Room Piano:

The effect is accomplished via a GOBO, a type of theatrical "Shadow Puppet" of sorts. The shadow is projected via lighting onto the floor in synchronization with the music and the keys of the piano, which move on cue.

The effect is convincing to the eye, yet it's obvious that the stiff-elbowed shadow is not a real ghost. The effect is used in the Walt Disney World and Tokyo Mansions, as well as Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris. The picture seen to the side shows the effect under proper lighting (If anyone knows whose photo this is, please let me know so I can credit them. I found it on my hard drive, but can't recall the origins of it.) The image under it is a press image from Walt Disney World, most likely taken before opening.

The effect improved like any effect could with thirty years time, and when it was brought to the Attic in Disneyland, it was much more impressive then ever before. I must say that the Attic Phantom is my favorite effect in all of the mansions. The photos to the side show the ghost under proper lighting, as well as the set (via flash) that the shadowy spirit is projected on. The effect is a projection obviously, but how the projection of the shadow is achieved is even more interesting. A person dressed in all black was filmed against a white backdrop, and that is how you get the unusual black projection.

Shhh! Listen...
Listen to the Bridal Chorus from the Attic Scene:

With much more fluid movement and the amazing appearance of being projected onto the uneven scenery surrounding it, the attic phantom is far superior to his older kin. However, the attic pianist is clearly playing his tune on a harpsichord, not a piano. The sound, however, is that of a piano...though to those who don't know what the difference is, (that is the majority of riders) this mistake goes unnoticed.

Bellow is a video comparison of the two. The footage of the Walt Disney World version comes from Martin Smith's amazing 2009 HD Hour-long tribute. The Disneyland attic footage is from YouTube user Pantheragem, who has the clearest HD videos of the attraction, as well as other Disneyland Rides on the Internet. Check them out:

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Improving the Hatbox Ghost

2011-02-26T13:18:00.005-05:00

Ah, there you are...

Welcome back foolish mortals. Last time, I spoke my feelings on the new "Hitchhiking ghosts" at Walt Disney World. We have also been given a better look at the new "Tombstones" in the graveyard since then. I think I will make my next post a prediction post about what I see these new additions doing. But here's what's in store today. I have come up with an idea to give the Hatbox Ghost a little more animation. I may have never gotten a chance to see him myself, but I can't help thinking I would have been pretty confused about his "Floating" top-hat if I had.

And that is what I have figured out how to fix.

As seen in this diagram, we have two projector surfaces (represented in light blue). One on the AA, attached to a retractable rod from within the body; and one within the hat-box. The projectors themselves are labeled via green dots. The AA's surface is projected from the front by an external (hidden) projector, and the hat-box is surface is projected from an internal projector. The effect goes as follows:

Stage 1: We have the AA's projection (On the body's head) visible, with the face being projected onto the surface. When the sound of Constance's Axe plays, we switch to stage 2.

Stage 2: The AA's projection extinguishes. The Projection surface quickly retracts via the rod into the neck-line and out of sight. The Hat falls onto the empty neck line, seeing as the head has just vanished, it has nothing to rest on. Hats don't just float in mid air you know. It falls onto the seemingly decapitated body's neck-stump. The face is then projected into the hat-box via the second projector from within. The Hat then floats back up, and the process will reset itself.

And of course, we all know it's not going to be just an image of the pop-eyed head that will be projected when he does return. It will be more of a video projection like Constance. The two will be fighting for the rider's attention at the end of the attic. A little more "Animation" will be in order. He's probably going to talk too.

What do you think? Leave a comment bellow, and please remember to follow the blog.

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

The "ReHaunting" Continues...

2011-02-23T14:50:00.005-05:00

Ah, there you are...

It was reported to me last night (Tuesday, February 22nd) that the Hitchhiking Ghosts at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion have been, well...put into refurbishment. Of course, the main point here is that the ride is still operation.

Let's go back a few years. In spring of 2006, the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland prompted a number of changes to the Anaheim Mansion. Rumoured additions included the now present "Floating Leota", the updated attic with the "Black Widow Bride". Other rumoured enhancements included the addition of the five "husbands" of the new bride in the seance circle in some form or another, the return of the great "Hatbox Ghost" and "Interactive Hitchhiking Ghosts". They have yet to materialize, nor does it appear that they will at any time in the near future...at least in Anaheim...

(Yes, they have cleared out the coroner in the attic for Ol'Hattie, but with the constant talk of his role in the 2012 film, it is likely that they will wait until later to reintroduce him if they ever do.)

So in 2007, Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion received what I have heard was a much needed refurbishment. Of course, this refurbishment would go on to be known as the "ReHaunting" due to the massive amount of enhancements and new additions that ended up materializing. Now, we know what made it into the Mansion by the reopening in September 2007:

The Updated Disneyland Attic Scene
The New Grand Staircase Scene
Enhanced 3-Dimensional Audio Effects Throughout the Attraction
New & Enhanced Lighting Effects
The New Bat-Eyed Wallpaper Scene
Disneyland - Style Portrait Gallery Scene
Floating Madame Leota

A great number of minor changes where implemented as well, but the major additions are what is important in the context of this post. A number of other enhancements to the attraction that were rumoured to be in the works (or documented an accounted for) but never actually materialized. These included:

Again, the return of the Hatbox Ghost
Having the Gargoyles narrate the entire Stretching Room scene
Exterior projections of some sort
"Interactive Hitchhiking Ghosts"

Of course, some thing take time to materialize. A number of things have materialized, or are beginning to as of this post, that were not present when the mansion re-opened in 2007. These include:

Additional Safety "Elements" at the exit, a 'Pointing Green Hand'
A New "Interactive" Exterior Burial Ground

If this post would have been typed up a day ago, the list above would be as you see it. However, Yesterday evening, I was informed (as I previously stated) that changes have already begun to take place once again at the mansion. The infamous Hitchhiking Ghosts of the Haunted Mansion are being updated in some way, shape, or form. The amazing thing is, once again, Disney has found a way to "enhance" a major piece of the attraction and keep the ride operational.

I would assume that anyone reading this knows the basics about the Hitchhiking Ghosts. But for anyone who doesn't; here is what I will explain for you myself: They are three robot ghost characters that are followed by an effect that showcases the rider in a "Doombuggy" with one of the three of them via 3 large mirrors. If you really need more detail, go here to learn about them.

So recently, the AA's and the stick-puppets have been taken from view. They have been covered with black sheets. On these sheets, a computer generated animation of Gus, Ezra, and Phineas are shown. Since the mirrors have been covered up, the ghosts glide across the black sheet instead of hopping into your car. The animation is pretty neat, you cam view it here, with more information and a report. Thus, it seems the "Interactive" Hitchhikers are on their way. These animations are more then likely, "Place holders". They are not the finished product. The are there to keep the scene interesting while it gets a major overhaul. I have no clue exactly what we will get once it is finished, but here is what I have heard is "being tested":

An On-Ride Photo Opp. That will take the picture of you and the Ghost in the car so you can buy it for $15.00 or so at a gift shop.
Body-Mapping Technology like the Nintendo Wii and XBox360 Cash in that will be used to allow the ghost to "Interact" with you...

So, here is how I look at it: I think we will see more advanced AA's with Projected faces similar to Buzz Lightyear in the Attraction at Tommorrowland, or Constance to some degree. Much more movement then the old 1960's AA's could provide. I don't think we are going to have the ghostly-go-round anymore. I assume the mirrors will be projections to some degree, of course, with your refection in it. With digital mirrors of some sort. They don't need any sort of flash to take your picture. But I don't really know. I can only guess at the moment. Until then...

...I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Enhancements Ideas - Part 1

2011-02-19T11:54:00.006-05:00

Ah, there you are...

Let us get right down to business. I have been think about a few thing that could be added to the mansion that would be less destructive then the current "additions" have been. For ever gravestone unearthed, and every cherished performance re-dubbed, there is an idea that could have been implemented that, few if any, mansion fans could see any negative consequences in.

I myself like the new graveyard vocalists; I think they show character that furthers their existence. For instance, let's take the Duke and Duchess. During the 2007 refurbishment at Walt Disney World, the two ghosts received new vocal performances. They have been met with mixed feelings by Mansion fans. Some hate them, others love them. I have to say, they are nearly identical to the original Betty Wand and Bill Lee performances, with one exception;

The addition of the line "Scream! Oh Sugar" (Or Sugar, some say it is, Until the source tracks are presented to me, I'm saying the former) replaces Betty Wand's "Oh that's my day" or something line. I still to this day, after listening to them countless times, have yet to figure out what she mumbles at the end of the song. The new line is much easier to hear, to understand, and it fits. It's as though she has spilled the wine at the end of the song, and then so, says "Oh Sugar". But this is getting a bit off topic. The fact is, the new vocals are not accepted by some of the fans. It's because the original performances where a memorable part of the scene. They had character, and even with some improvement, they can't stand to see them leave even one of the three mansions that they are used at.

But, on-topic; one performance that is less them memorable to most: The Ballroom Guests. A generic restaurant atmosphere recording of tinkering china plates, cups, and muffled chatter. The scene is amazing as a whole, but take a simple element and isolate it out, and you find something that could be improved on. I wonder what the origins of the recording are. Could it be some generic sound library track that WED pulled out for use in the mansion? Or did they record it specifically for the mansion? Maybe a banquet at "Pickwick Center" near the studio was recorded for the mansion? Anyhow, the fact is, the sound effects used in the ballroom could use an update that would enhance the scene for the better. Here's what I have in mind:

Look at the cast of characters we have in the ballroom scene. What would they talk about around that table?

You know that old Walt Disney quote about Pirates of the Carribean? The one where "It's like a cocktail party; the guests can listen in on each conversation"? Well, the ballroom is indeed a party. What do you think those conversations would consist of?

The idea of adding a few otherworldly minutes of conversation to the scene would add so much (more) life to it. I have always like the Swingtips cover of Grim, Grinning Ghosts. The musical interlude takes listeners on a quick tour through the mansion's rooms; in the ballroom, we get the following dialouge:

"Might I have this dance?" - (Obviously the Dancers)

"(Giggles) I'm a' gettin' down (Laughter)" - (Dancers again)

"...And the guy who said to me, "You can't go up there without a safety-harness", I showed him!" (I'd assume the chandelier characters, but it could be any of the ghosts)

"...How dare you look at me!" (Duelist 1)

"...And we shall duel to the death!" (Duelist 2)

"...Sure, the wicked rises..." (Could be any of the ghosts)

The ghost talking about how they died, or having a conversation could really add some life to the scene. After replaying through the first part of 2003's Haunted Mansion game for Gamecube, the idea got expanded apoun. A great number of ghosts from the ride appear in various rooms, and they can talk to you. The Emperor from the ballroom says something like this:

"...What? What do you mean I'm in danger? I think you underestimate the loyalty of my subjects! How could I possibly be in any sort of danger?"

Thus, we get the idea he was assassinated. The grandmother character from the ballroom says something like this:

"Why aren't you wearing the sweater I knit you deary?"

The idea of giving the characters real voices instead of just one atmospheric sound would give the scene so much life. I know I have said that at least a hundred times in this post, but it would. The characters themselfs wouldn't need to be synced with the audio; they already seem to just make noise without moving their mouths, though nobody can understand it at all. With the new pin-point audio system technology, they could have tracks that would direct to the materialization spot for each of the ghosts.

If anyone would really miss the generic sounds of today, I'd be surprised. They have nothing that screams "Ghost Sounds" in them. You could probably record a more lively track in your local McDonald's then the one used in the ride. I'd love to hear what you all think of this idea.

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

2011-02-16T15:06:00.006-05:00

Ah, there you are...

So, the collection from the last post; what foolish mortal wouldn't give an arm or a leg for it? Of course, there is so much more that needs to be explained about the list to many of you reading. Only a select few of you would know about the mansion's unused "Toccata & Fugue in D-Minor" snippet that comes from the archives. Or the various screams and sound effects present on the "Story & Song LP" that have never been used in the ride, but have managed to make it out of the archives in isolated form...

Unfortunately, they will have to wait until a later date to be explained here. I have come prepared with media for something non-mansion related today. Let's talk Pirates of the Caribbean. Walt Disney World's to be exact. I know, I already wrote a "pillage & plunder" review of pirates in a previous post in my vacation report from January, but I have reason to bring it's ravaged reputation back to the table for another go-round. Because I have discovered a video that somehow explains the condition of the most mysterious pirate in the ride...

The Constipated Pirate, as I nick-named him after my vacation, always had me at a blank. He was crouched in a half-squatting position that brought to mind a young child's pose as it makes a mess in it's diaper. The only form of animation he seemed to have was in his left arm, which is holding a pewter mug. The eyes were not blinking at the expected intervals that the AA pirate's all seem to do in quite realistic intervals. The eyes themselves seemed glazed over, like he was spacing out. The pirate was stiff as a board. Something wasn't right with him...

I'm not sure what this video shows happening to him, but he seems to be having some sort of malfunction. I wonder what causes an AA to shake like jello? The hydraulic rods, metal frame, and poles inside must be taking a beating; He looks like he has some cold shivers gone bad. I will say it is much more realistic then the current "Stick Up My You-Know-What" position he is in, with the spaced-out look on his face. But when a pirate like him, who serves as a background character, starts trying to steal the show by having a realistic-looking bout of epilepsy for no reason in particular, well, you know. The joke is supposed to be "The dog has the keys, and the pirates can't escape! What a situation!", not "Look! That one pirate is having a random spaz-attack! Hilarious!" The realistic movements were stopped for one reason or another, most likely because it wasn't built to sustain the rapid motion. Watch the comparison bellow.

I wonder what happened to him? I love how real he looks when he malfunctions, because the normal one looks fake as fake can be. He bears a striking resemblance to Chuck-E-Cheese, the robotic-rat mascot of the pizza-arcade chain that toy story's pizza planet is based off of.

These aren't the best compare & contrast photos of the two, but I couldn't find any better photos without looking for more then 5 minutes on my hard-drive. Take my word for it that the pirate's beard resembles Chuck's whiskers, and the teeth are buck. The glazed over eyes on both are those that fuel soul-eating nightmares, and they are both stiff as can be.

Of course, Chuck loves Italian, while the pirate look-alike clearly prefers coffee, sugar, and heroin. Obviously, one is a "human" robot, while the other is a "Mutant-Rat" robot.

They both are stiff, hairy, and love to sing songs. They have eyes that induce nightmares, and are buck-toothed. Must have come from the same mold? (Obviously not, but the Pirate resembles a rat more then he probably should. Give him a tail, and you might as well call him a bilge-rat)

So, that's about it for right now. I'll get back to you all on the Audio-based posts soon. Until then, I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

What if? Ultimate Audio Collection CD Set...

2011-02-08T15:20:00.017-05:00

Ah, there you are...

I've set my self up for quite a task foolish mortals. In the last post, I raised the question of "what would the track listing for the ultimate Mansion audio collection look like?" The idea of the Disney Company officially releasing such a set of audio is something a mansion-fan can only dream of. The odds of it ever happening are as low as low can get, but it's just a "What if?" How much audio is there? Some of it most likely doesn't even exist anymore. There are multiple documented "Lost" files of audio that have slipped into the cracks of time and space. But that's no matter in a "What if?" So, let's start this list moving...

THIS IS NOT A REAL COLLECTION. THIS COLLECTION CAN NOT BE PURCHASED, LOCATED ONLINE, OR FOUND ANYWHERE.

...The Unofficial "What if?" Ultimate Haunted Mansion CD Set track Listing:

"Lost" Track Key:

* A track that is know to have existed at some point in some form or another
~ A track that has been mentioned but never heard before; expected to have existed at one point.
^ A track that is most likely gone forever.
! A Rare track that is know to be in existence currently in circulation
? A track that has most likely not entered circulation, but is know to exist
Anything Not Labeled is Know to currently exist, and is in circulation

Disc 1 - Early Recordings, & The Chilling, Thrilling Sounds LP

Introduction (Welcome, Foolish Mortals...)
Early Soundtracks - Eerie Music (Sic) - WED LP !
Early Soundtracks - Weird Background Music - WED LP !
Early Recording Session - Paul Frees (Audition)
Early Recording Session - Pete Renoudet (Audition) *
Early Recording Session - Elenore Audley (Audition)
Early Script Readings - X. Atencio ~ ^
Early Sound Effects - Screams & Shrieks * ^
Early Sound Effects - Thunder & Wind *
Early Sound Effects - Laughter & Moans *
Early Sound Effects - Animal Sounds *
Early Sound Effects - Creaking & Knocking *
'Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of The Haunted House' (1964 LP)

Disc 2 - The Recording Sessions & The Story and Song LP

The Recording Sessions - Paul Frees (The Ghost Host, Laughter)
The Recording Sessions - Elenore Audley (Raven, Madame Leota, Etc) *
The Recording Sessions - X.Atencio (Emergency Spiels, Sound Effects) *
The Recording Sessions - Thurl Ravenscroft (Sound Effects) ~ ^
The Recording Sessions - Allan Davies (Sound Effects) ~ ^
The Recording Sessions - Jimmy MacDonald (Sound Effects) ~ ^
The Recording Sessions - Candy Candido (Laughter, Sound Effects, Etc) ~ ^
The Recording Sessions - Robert Morton Theater Organ (Gaylord Cater) ~ ^
The Recording Sessions - Robert Morton Theater Organ (Stan Sabransky)
The Recording Sessions - Piano (Buddy Baker) ~ ^
'The Story & Song of The Haunted Mansion' (LP)

Disc 3 - Grim, Grinning Ghosts - The Recording Sessions

Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Early Demo Version
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Mellow Men Recording Session (Thurl & Company) ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Bill Lee Recording Session ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Betty Wand Recording Session ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Bill Days Recording Session ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Ernie Newton Recording Session ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Allan Davies Recording Session ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Dallas McKennon Recording Session ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Candy Candido Recording Session ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Loulie Jean Norman Recording Session ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Bill Reeve Recording Session ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Organ ~ ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Drums ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Bass Guitar ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Rhythm Guitar ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Contrabass ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Trumpet ~
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Oboe ~
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Flute ~
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Bagpipes ~
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Harp ~
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Stones ~
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental Recording Session - Piano ^
Grim, Grinning Ghosts - Instrumental - Reverse Playback Demo Tape ^

Disc 4 - The Original Haunted Mansion - 1969

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland - 1969 Soundtrack (Ride Through Mix)(69') ^
Foyer - Organ Music
Foyer - Ghost Host
Stretching Room - Ghost Host
Stretching Room - Castle Thunder
Stretching Room - Scream
Stretching Room - Crashing Sound
Portrait Gallery - Thunder Sounds
Portrait Gallery - Music
Portrait Gallery - Ghost Host
Loading Area - Tubular Bells
Loading Area - Spooky Laughter (69') ^
Loading Area - Wolf
Loading Area - Ghost Host
Loading Area - Creaking Steps
Corridor - Ghost Host (69')
Corridor - Screams, Laughter, & Moans (69') *
Corridor - Endless Hallway Moans
Corridor - Endless Hallway Traveling Sound (69')
Corridor - Organ Music
Corridor - Coffin Creature (LP) !
Corridor - Coffin Creature
Corridor - Banging Ghost
Corridor - Who Turned Out the Lights
Corridor - Knob Turning Moan
Corridor - Chains and Deep Moaning (LP) *
Corridor - Groaning
Corridor - Door Knockers
Corridor - Growling Creature
Corridor - 13-Hour Clock Chime (LP)
Corridor - 13-Hour Clock Chime
Seance - Music (isolated) ~ ^
Seance - Background Ghost Sounds (isolated) ~ ^
Seance - Madame Leota
Seance - Rap on a Table (LP)
Seance - Rap on a Table
Seance - Spirits
Seance - Tambourine
Seance - Trumpet (Unused)
Seance - Drum (Unused)
Seance - Cymbals (Unused)
Seance - Music From Regions Beyond
Seance - Bell
Ballroom - Ghost Host
Ballroom - Guests
Ballroom - Thunder
Ballroom - Dueling Gun-Shots
Ballroom - Organ Waltz
Attic - Shrieks (69')
Attic - Wind
Attic - Heart-beat (69') !
Graveyard - Underline Music
Graveyard - Singing Wind (LP) * ^
Graveyard - Raven Squawking
Graveyard - Cowering Dog
Graveyard - Pop-Up Screams (69') * ^
Graveyard - Drummer
Graveyard - Flute Player
Graveyard - Bagpipe Player
Graveyard - Harpist
Graveyard - Trumpet Player
Graveyard - Phantom 5
Graveyard - Wolf Howl
Graveyard - Owls
Graveyard - Crypt Laughter
Graveyard - Cats
Graveyard - Singing Busts
Graveyard - Singing Busts (Unused) ~ ^
Graveyard - Duchess and Duke
Graveyard - Hearse Backing Vocal - Monotone Tea Party
Graveyard - Hearse Backing Vocal - Mariner (69') (La-La Singer) !!!!!
Graveyard - Hearse Backing Vocal - Mariner (LP) (Dum-Dum Singer) * ^
Graveyard - Mummy and Deaf Old Coot
Graveyard - Hokey Opera - Soprano ^
Graveyard - Hokey Opera - Tenor ^
Graveyard - Decapitated Knight
Graveyard - Executioner & Prisoner
Graveyard - Walled-Up Crypt Sounds !
Graveyard - Grim Grinning Ghosts (Vintage Mega-Mix) ^
Crypt - Ghost Host
Crypt - Grim Grinning Ghosts Reprise
Crypt - Unloading Instructions (69')
Crypt - Little Leota
Crypt - Laughter

Disc 5 - Walt Disney World, New Additions at Disneyland

The Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World - Original Soundtrack (Ride Through Mix)
Loading Area - Ghost Host
Portrait Hall - Ghost Host
Library - Ghost Host
Music Room - Piano
Staircase -Man in a Web Screaming ^
New Additions - Attic - Bridal Chorus !!!
New Additions - Attic - "I Do!" Screams !
New Additions - Attic - Bride Moans *
New Additions - Attic - Heart-Beat (1900's)
New Additions - Attic - 1990's Attic Soundtrack (Mix)
New Additions - Crypt - Unloading Instructions
New Additions - Loading Area - Bilingual Safety Segment
New Additions - Exterior - Hearse Sounds
The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland - 1900's Soundtrack (Ride Through Mix)

Disc 6 - Tokyo Disneyland, & The Walt Disney World 'ReHaunting'

The Haunted Mansion at Tokyo Disneyland (Ride Through Mix)
Tokyo Disneyland Ghost Host (Isolated) !!!
The Haunted Mansion 'ReHaunting' at Walt Disney World - 2007 Soundtrack (Ride Through Mix) ?
ReHaunting - Haunted Mansion Area Music !
ReHaunting - Haunted Mansion Area Sound Effects (Daytime) !
ReHaunting - Haunted Mansion Area Sound Effects (Nighttime) !
ReHaunting - Stretching Room Sound Effects - Wind, Eerie Sounds, and Ghostly Noises !
ReHaunting - Stretching Room Sound Effects - Ghost Host (Stereo Sounds)
ReHaunting - Stretching Room Sound Effects - Sliding Door, Creaking Walls and Floor !
ReHaunting - Stretching Room Sound Effects - Thunderclap !
ReHaunting - Stretching Room Sound Effects - Bats come Fluttering Down !
ReHaunting - Stretching Room Sound Effects - Bone-Chilling Crash !
ReHaunting - Stretching Room Sound Effects - Gargoyles Whispering (Ride Version) !
ReHaunting - Stretching Room Sound Effects - Gargoyles Whispering (Unused Narration) ~
ReHaunting - Loading Area - Bilingual Safety Spiel !
ReHaunting - Doombuggy Audio (Isolated Ghost Host & Effects) ?
ReHaunting - Portrait Corridor - Thunder Claps !
ReHaunting - Music Room - Thunder Claps !
ReHaunting - Grand Staircase - Eyes that Follow Sounds !
ReHaunting - Corridor - Running Thud (Door SFX) ?
ReHaunting - Corridor - Banging (Door SFX) ?
ReHaunting - Corridor - Clasp Turning (Door SFX) ?
ReHaunting - Corridor - Rattling Lock (Door SFX) ?
ReHaunting - Corridor - Growling Sounds (Door SFX) ?
ReHaunting - Corridor - 13-Hour Clock Chime !
ReHaunting - Attic - Heart Beat !
ReHaunting - Attic - Piano !
ReHaunting - Attic - Constance Hatchaway (Recording Session) *
ReHaunting - Attic - Constance Hatchaway (Ride Version)
ReHaunting - Attic - Axe Sound Effects !
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Grim, Grinning Ghosts 2007 (Mega Mix) ?
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Duke & Duchess !
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Coachman !
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Woman on Hearse !
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Man in Casket !
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Mariner !
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Soprano !
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Tenor !
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Prisoner & Executioner !
ReHaunting - Graveyard - Knight (Unused) ~
ReHaunting - Breakdown Spiel !

Disc 7 - Phantom Manor Recording Sessions

Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - Early Synthetic Soundtrack
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - Vincent Price (French Version - Unused) ^
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - Vincent Price (English Version) ~
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - Oona Lind (Madame Leota, Little Leota, Etc) ~
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - Gerard Chevalier (French Ghost Host) ?
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Foyer
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Stretching Room ?
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Portrait Hall
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Corridor *
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Bells (Loading Area) ~
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Grand Piano *
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Chimes (Clock) *
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Seance
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Ballroom (Orchestra)
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Ballroom (Pipe Organ) *
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Ballroom (Synthesizer) ~
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Boudoir (Gramophone)
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Boudoir (Clock Chimes) *
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Boudoir (Music Box) *
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Garden (Organ) *
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Casket Tunnel
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Catacombs (Jazz Combo)
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Catacombs (Orchestra)
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Catacombs (Percussion - Skull-O-Phone) *
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Ghost Town (Orchestra)
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Ghost Town (Synthesizer) ~
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Ghost Town (Honky Tonk Piano) ?
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Finale
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Wine Cellar
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - John Debny - Return to the Living World (Unused)
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - Katherine Meyering (Melanie the Bride) *
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - Choir Vocals ~
Phantom Manor Recording Sessions - Early Preview Demonstration Track (20 min)

Disc 8 - Phantom Manor

Phantom Manor - Original English Soundtrack (Ride Through Mix)
Phantom Manor - Current French Soundtrack (Ride Through Mix) ?
Phantom Manor - Exterior - Area Sounds
Phantom Manor - Exterior - Ghostly Chatter !
Phantom Manor - Exterior - Music Box Tune
Phantom Manor - Exterior - Pavilion Music !
Phantom Manor - Exterior - Howling Wind
Phantom Manor - Foyer - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Stretching Room - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Stretching Room - Thunder Clap !
Phantom Manor - Gallery - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Loading Area - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Loading Area - Thunder !
Phantom Manor - Corridor -Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Corridor - Knocking on Door Sound ?
Phantom Manor - Corridor - Rapping on Door Sound ?
Phantom Manor - Corridor - Banging on Door Sound ?
Phantom Manor - Corridor - Growling Sound ?
Phantom Manor - Corridor - Chain Rattling Sound ?
Phantom Manor - Corridor - Hour 13-Clock
Phantom Manor - Seance - Madame Leota
Phantom Manor - Seance - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Seance - Spirit Sounds
Phantom Manor - Ballroom - Thunder !
Phantom Manor - Ballroom - Visitors ?
Phantom Manor - Ballroom - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Ballroom - Laughing Phantom !
Phantom Manor - Ballroom - Raven !
Phantom Manor - Boudoir - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Garden - Laughing Phantom !
Phantom Manor - Garden - Dog !
Phantom Manor - Garden - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Garden - Grave Sounds
Phantom Manor - Garden - Thunder !
Phantom Manor - Catacombs - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Grim Grinning Ghosts
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Gunfire
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Howling
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Ricochet
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Rumbling Earth !
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Thunder !
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Location Chatter (Left & Right) !
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Animal Sounds !
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Mayor
Phantom Manor - Ghost Town - Phantom Laughing !
Phantom Manor - Wine Cellar - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Wine Cellar - Phantom Laughter !
Phantom Manor - Wine Cellar - Little Bride
Phantom Manor - Boot Hill - Soundtrack
Phantom Manor - Boot Hill - Spooky Sounds
Phantom Manor - Boot Hill - Heart Beat Sounds

Disc 9 - Haunted Mansion Holiday

Recording Sessions - Corey Burton as the Ghost Host ?
Recording Sessions - Premiere Score (Complete) ?
Recording Sessions - Current Score (Complete) ?
Recording Sessions - Madame Leota ?
Recording Sessions - Jack Skellington ?
Recording Sessions - Sally ?
Recording Sessions - Oggie Boogie ?
Haunted Mansion Holiday - Premiere Version Soundtrack (Ride-Through)
HMH - Foyer - Music 2001
HMH - Foyer - Music 2002 !
HMH - Foyer - Ghost Host !
HMH - Stretching Room - Music 2001 !
HMH - Stretching Room - Music 2002 !
HMH - Stretching Room - Shattering Glass
HMH - Stretching Room - Ghost Host !
HMH - Stretching Room - Jack & Thunder
HMH - Stretching Room - Oggie (2003) ?
HMH - Portrait Corridor - Ghost Host
HMH - Portrait Corridor - Music 2001
HMH - Portrait Corridor - Music 2002
HMH - Loading Area - Ghost Host
HMH - Loading Area - Music 2001
HMH - Loading Area - Music 2002 !
HMH - Loading Area - Safety Spiel 2001 !
HMH - Loading Area - Safety Spiel 2003 ?
HMH - Endless Hallway - Zero ?
HMH - Endless Hallway - Music 2002 !
HMH - Endless Hallway - Ghost Host
HMH - Corridor - Ghost Host
HMH - Corridor - Music 2001
HMH - Corridor - Music 2002 !
HMH - Corridor - Man Eating Plant Heads !
HMH - Seance - Music 2001
HMH - Seance - Music 2002 !
HMH - Seance - Leota !
HMH - Ballroom - Ghost Host
HMH - Ballroom - Music 2001
HMH - Ballroom - Music 2002 !
HMH - Attic - Ghost Host !
HMH - Attic - Music 2001
HMH - Attic - Music 2002
HMH - Attic - Pop-Up Screamers ?
HMH - Graveyard - Ghost Host
HMH - Graveyard - Base Music 2001 !
HMH - Graveyard - Base Music 2002 !
HMH - Graveyard - Phantom 5 2001
HMH - Graveyard - Sandy Claws !
HMH - Graveyard - Phantom 5 2002 !
HMH - Graveyard - Crypt Ho-Ho-Ho ?
HMH - Graveyard - Singing Jack-O-Lanterns ?
HMH - Graveyard - Duke & Duchess ?
HMH - Graveyard - Hearse Chorus ?
HMH - Graveyard - Shah-Nah-Nah Vocals ?
HMH - Graveyard - Mummy & Deaf Old Coot ?
HMH - Graveyard - Opera Vocalists ?
HMH - Graveyard - Knight ?
HMH - Graveyard - Prisoner & Executioner ?
HMH - Crypt - Ghost Host !
HMH - Crypt - Oggie
HMH - Crypt - Music 2001
HMH - Crypt - Jack and Sally ?
HMH - Crypt - Oggie (Hurry Back) ?

Disc 10 - Tokyo Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare, Supplemental Material

Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare - Soundtrack (Ride-Through)
HMHN - Ghost Host ?
HMHN - Oggie ?
HMHN - Jack ?
HMHN - Sally ?
HMHN - Music Room Harpsichord ?
HMHN - Exit Music ?
Disneyland 35th Anniversary - Isolated Haunted Mansion Segment Score ^
Disneyland Fun Sing-Along-Songs - Grim, Grinning Ghosts Instrumental Score ?
Hurry Back...(End)

Ah, what a list. I know it's most likely I forgot a lot too...but if Disney was ever to release even this stuff, I can only imagine what else would turn up...

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

The Re-Haunting Mix, Projects in Limbo, & What if?

2011-02-07T15:07:00.008-05:00

Welcome Foolish Mortals,

Now that the report has vacation report has been covered, I can attend other things here on the blog. First off, I want to clarify that I did enjoy Pirates at the Magic Kingdom despite all the criticism that I gave about it in the previous post. It was fun, just a little more than disappointing after having taken the original for a spin in 2008. So don't take my negative words to heart, because as I said before, that's just how I am.

It's also worth mentioning to any lost soul who has yet to receive the memo through You Tube or Facebook that the all new Re-Haunting Audio Mix has been completed and uploaded for your personal listening enjoyment as with anything I post. (I guess I could mention the educational value, or insight and what not.) The mix lasts about fifteen and a half minutes. You can find the link to the YouTube video here, which has a download link in the description.

I got to listen to it today while in a car, and the effects are really impressive when surrounded with speakers. It really feels like the real thing to some extent. (Nothing can compare to the real thing.) The audio featured is part live recording, part source, part dubbed. One of the sounds within the Corridor of Doors sequence, the "rap on a table" in the seance, and the sounds of the wallpaper demons were all preformed by me for the mix. The new heart-beat/beat-box sound in the attic was recorded by me via a keyboard using the "Melodic Drum" sound and layering it over a heavily edited version of the original attic heart-beat, and the boot hill heart-beat from Phantom Manor. The Graveyard vocalists (minus the Singing Busts, Mummy, and Deaf Old Coot) were all live recordings that were edited together (obviously) from the trip in January of this year, as were the sounds of the whispering gargoyles in the stretching room. The rest of the audio was all studio-quality or original sounds. Many of the new sounds were created with sound effects that I have located on the Internet over time. The only new sound effects from the 2007 refurbishment that were used in the mix that are real "source" sounds are Constance, the Bilingual Safety Spiel, and the opening sound effects for the stretching room (the owl, ghostly whoosh, etc. about 20 some seconds of S.F.X.) The rest were just very similar filler sounds. So far, it sounds like there are really no complaints at all about the mix. It just shows how riding it myself really did make a huge difference. I'm very proud of it.

So, now that I have created what is essentially a near perfect mix (until the day I receive copies of the source tracks for the new additions to replace the live stuff with) I have no intention of trying to top it off at the moment. Where do I go from here?

Well, these projects are still in limbo...

The Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Recreation (now WDW's Mansion)
POV videos for Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder, and more...
"The Haunted Mansion Holiday: Unauthorized 10th Anniversary Collection"
S&FS v.III

...And then, I have the never ending fun of the UK Disneyland Project to work on. I'm also working on a Magic Kingdom soundtrack completion called "A Day at the Magic Kingdom: an Unofficial Soundtrack" which will included the complete versions of all the ride soundtracks with updated audio, including Splash Mountain, Pirates, Space Mountain, The Carousel of Progress, Country Bear Jamboree, it's a Small World, the mansion, etc, plus the new Electrical Parade Soundtrack, and park atmosphere tracks that I doubt Disney would ever release in their entirety. Also, I' working in a recreation of the Magic Kingdom in Roller Coaster Tycoon 2. So that's a lot of stuff...

But wait, I have more...

Your ghost host is currently in the same situation many foolish mortals across the united states are in; living without pay. I need a job that pays...

...and I refuse to make money off of S&FS in any way shape or form; because not only would that be highly illegal (not entirely, add sense is just that, advertising for profit); it would go against what I set the site up for. (No Pop-Ups allowed; Internet ones that is.) S&FS is a data-base of media (and the history of it) from the attraction, for personal enjoyment, reference, and such. A tribute to the attraction and it's creators, not a profitable cash-in...

It's a sad fact of life that the Disney Company will most likely never release a licenced collection of all the isolated audio elements, recording sessions, outtakes, and what-not from the attraction on a CD or purchasable media form. Because the simple fact is, that the amount of media that consists of would result in at least 10 or more CD's worth of content that the average park visitor or even general mansion fan isn't going to shell out the money for. Let's say it's 10 CD's. Well, I purchased the "Walt Disney and the World's Fair" set, which has 5 CD's, at the parks in January for a total of $50.00. So, that would make an extra 5 CD's or more automatically round up to over $100.00 for a set of that magnitude. That's pretty much a ticket to any of the Walt Disney World Parks in value. The logical way of seeing it is, it's not going to happen. If it dose, S&FS will close up shop, and let the officials take it from there...

Imagine an officially licensed 10+CD set dedicated to the Mansion and Manor...oh that would be amazing...because they still have things I don't, and I'd be the first in line to shell out $100.00 or more to get my hands on studio-quality isolated tracks like the La-La singer, or the alternate Dum-Dum singer, the singing wind, the original graveyard pop-up sounds...oh, so much to think about. I'm sure all of you would have no problem buying a copy too. S&FS, the website at least, would go away forever. Because with everything isolated readily available for purchase on an official CD set, I'd feel like I'm taking from their pocketbook. And nobody, I mean nobody in there right mind* would take from the mouse's pocketbook...

*Extinct Attractions would...

But what would such a CD set entail? How much audio is there to complete a collection of the Haunted Mansion & Phantom Manor? Well, that's quite a list...and I have a feeling I'm about to set my next post up just with that statement...

"What if? A Multi-CD Completion of the Haunted Mansion & Phantom Manor..."

I guess that's what we will explore on Wednesday foolish mortals...

I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

Vacation Report: January 2011 - The rest of Walt Disney World

2011-02-02T15:15:00.003-05:00

Ahh! There you are...

Now that I have covered every detail that might have been worth noting; both audio and visual-wise in the Mansion; it would seem I could say "that's that" with the vacation report. After all, S&FS only specializes in the mansion, so that's really all that matters, doesn't it?

I'm sure somebody would care to know what horrible conditions the merry minstrels are in at Pirates; or what it's like to walk around the Magic Kingdom from 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning till 3:00 a.m. Monday morning; or what Space Mountain's new Starry-O-Phonic Sound-System is like; or how...let's just say this: my trip was very centered around visiting the mansion more times then I could keep track of; but I did indeed do other things at the resort, an elsewhere.

So, continue the report past the mansion, and into the boundless realm of the Magic Kingdom...

Let's start with the mansion's sister attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean.

For what it's worth, the Walt Disney World incarnation of pirates was a throw-away. It's a factual statement (to some extent). We all know about Marc Davis's Western River Expedition; the Pirates of the Caribbean with Cowboys and Indians instead of... oh, I'm sorry; I mean "Native Americans" depicted as savage, rain-dancing neanderthals by one Marc Davis. That's part of the reason the attraction never came to be; the more important part is that the greedy Walt Disney World guests wouldn't take "I'm sorry, but you have real pirates and the real Caribbean only a couple of hours away" for an answer when the questioned the missing Disneyland classic. So, what guests want, guests get, at the "Place were dreams come true". They tossed together a shorter version of the Disneyland attraction and threw it in Adventureland. The Walt Disney World version is the only duplication of the "Pirate" attraction that lacks a restaurant that over-looks the opening scene of the ride. That's due in part, because this is the only version of pirates that fails to include the amazing "Blue Bayou", or even a tropical replacement like Disneyland Paris's "Blue Lagoon". Instead, we enter a building that, size-wise, could fit a scene like that one in question. But instead, we get a dungeon queuing area that fits as many switch-back passages as possible, with a few less-than-convincing views of what's meant to be the Night Sky, but is obviously a warehouse ceiling painted a dark gray.

The grotto scenes that are present (Only two made it to Orlando out of the original five) would be far more impressive then their processors at Disneyland if it weren't for the condition of the rock-work with plenty of visible holes in it. The "Drop" that's hardly there leads into random section of S-curves that throw the boat violently from side-to-side. I'm not convinced that they don't have enough room to straighten that section out. It's painful.

But wait! There's more. It's about to get positive (somewhat)!

The Scenes in the main show building are quite impressive when compared to the Disneyland version that is noticeably squished together. That is, if most the Pirates were in better condition. The first day I was there, the flute player was wearing a bandit bandanna-mask and his eyes were popping out of his robot-skull; In the darkness, I can't be sure that his entire "skin" cover was even present. The minstrels were falling apart. The tenor was moving like a robot with those choppy, unconvincing movements. I don't think his mouth was moving ether. He was sporting a new piece of attire, an eye-patch that I would assume is covering up a defective robot eye. (If the flute Player's Bandit Mask was there for the reasons I think it was, it would make sense.) The Accordion Player was in bad shape too. His instrument was falling apart in his hands. I doubt he was playing the sounds that I heard with his terribly stiff movements. The Flute player was fixed over the trip, and when I returned a day later, his face was back to normal. The others, not so much. The Pooped pirate's arm is at a horribly awkward angle that would mean severely dislocated joints if it were a real human limb. The Hat thief was turned off a number of times during my trip. He wasn't singing, or moving at all. No clue why; when he did work, he worked well. Everyone else was in pretty good condition.

Another thing that caught my eye; I'm not sure if the pirate in this scene looks like this at the other parks; but the pirate in the far left of this photo looks terribly constipated and frozen stiff. He reminded me of those scary robots at Chuck-E-Cheese...

So, let's let Pirates be for now. I've about pillaged'n'plundered it's reputation to pieces. It was enjoyable. But I have a knack for pointing out what concerned me, and what I didn't like. If it were the other way around, you'd be hearing about the impressive use of fog in the fort scene, or the visibly invisible show-building roof in the main part of the ride. But I'm not like that...so , let's continue...

Splash Mountain was closed. Looks like they are replacing "B-Lift" and the Orlando exclusive "D-Lift" from what I could see, since both of them are visible on the exterior.

Space Mountain was amazing. I've never been on Orlando's version until this trip; but after riding it, I have to say it's better then Disneyland's was as far as ride-quality. The two tracks quite different, but they both provide enough elements to please. I prefer the shorter "Omega" which has better air-time on the last big drop the "Alpha". I was lucky enough to experience a break-down too. I got a free fast-pass, and I got to see this after making a B-line for the Tomorrowland Transit Authority after getting out:

And Starry-O-Phonic Sound; while it's not the on board stuff Disneyland has, it really adds to the ride experience. I can't imagine the ride mute like it was until 2010. It's awesome.

I also got to try Expedition Everest for the first time. I'll say this much; WOW. I can't relate the ride to the Matterhorn because they are in different leagues. I rode it at night (Extra Magic Hours), and it was darker then space mountain. They have virtually no lights on it. I walked on too, which I hear is a rare thing. The ride was insane for "Disney" coaster. The backwards part was crazy! It felt like I was going up and up and up and... it could not have had the momentum to go up that far because we didn't drop that far! It was amazing. The Yeti wasn't that impressive, but that's probably because you don't get more then 5 seconds to view him in a blare of strobe lights that take away from any movements he might have had.

Over all, the trip was exciting. I only got to visit Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney during my stay at the World. But I visited Islands of Adventure and Sea World for the first time; and Discovery Cove is a story I'll save for later. The Simpson's ride is awesome. I really find these posts rushed near the end. Oh well, if people would check, I did updated the previous ones with media and images.

I'll See you all a little later...

S&FS

Vacation Report: January 2011 - Part 2 - The Mansion

2011-01-31T14:50:00.001-05:00

Welcome Foolish Mortals,

Be expecting posts here one Mondays and Wednesdays around the afternoon hours (EST) till summer, since yours truly needs something to spend his time doing while waiting out the 3 hours in between classes. Just wanted tho throw that out before we jump into today's continuation of the January 2011 Vacation report...

Also, I'd like to point out a minor error in the post last week; The thunder sounds in the ballroom still exists. They can be heard in the videos I filmed; they are the original 1969 sounds too; I've patched that up though, so if you go back and look for it, you will find that it has vanished...

So, let's continue with the report...

The audio was the focus of the first part. I was rushed near the end of it, and while I think I covered it all, I'm not sure if I missed some things. If I did, the must not have been too important. But the sound is only half of what makes the mansion interesting; we need visuals. Again, I will split the report into the various rooms and segments of the ride, and report them accordingly...

The Exterior

Stable and Carriage Barn

Sure, they aren't new in the slightest to most (They were added in early 2003 I believe, but I might be mistaken) but since they were not there in 2000, they were pretty much new to my memory and eye. Sure, I had seen them a few times during my October 2003 trip; but as I have said, that trip is a blur to me. They do provide a nice thematic cover from the weather (Rain or scorching Florida Shine) and are visually pleasing as far as structures go, but they have their downfalls.
In 2000, before the additions of these extra structures to the left side of the dead-end path that leads up to the Mansion's entrance gates, the view of the Mansion was much less obscured. It looked like a house that might have once been occupied by real people; no unnecessary switch-back posts-and-chain fences that hindered the believability of the estate's occupancy at one point or another. The queuing area in general has lately taken over the grounds of the Mansion, and even beyond. What was once a straight-forward walk towards the canvas cover that divides the front lawn from the Rivers of America is now a wasteland of brass posts, chains and extra buildings that feature unmistakable amusement park switch-back waiting areas inside. I don't understand the reason that they need so many post-an-chain set ups. Yeah...

The Graveyard - Farewell & Construction

So, the graveyard as everyone knows, has been unearthed. Behind those fences lies a construction site for a new "Interactive" experience that will take up a lot more room then the original did from the looks of it...

Don't take my word for it, but I think it looks like they are building a Mausoleum sort of structure that if so, will most likely include a switch back in it. I think they might have guests go in and out of the portico arch on that side. That would be a logical way of getting the people in and out of the current area into the new one. One thing is for sure; they better put some more trees in before they finish. The show building is in plain sight. No word on if any of the old gravestones will return or not.

The Interior

The Foyer

Stepping inside for the first time, I was taken by surprise. The Interior from start to finish was darker then I could have ever anticipated. At Disneyland, the lighting plays a huge role in the let-down experience it gives me; the void of darkness that the load area takes place in is way too bright to ever be vaguely convincing. However, the Magic Kingdom has got the "Darkness" thing down to perfection. Everything that wasn't convincing at Disneyland due to lighting issues that reveal the true nature of the effects was extremely convincing in Orlando.
You know that feeling you get in a crowed space when everyone is moving around you and it's too dark to really see where exactly your going? The Mansion really is darker then I could ever have imagined, or remembered for that mater. The changing painting that may or may not be a character named Master Gracey was nice to look at, but like most of the digital portrait replacements, wasn't as convincing as the original, non-digital effect. This is most evident in video footage, which the portrait can be seen in the exact same way that a video screen would look if filmed.

The Stretching Room

It might just be my imagination, (No pun intended) but the stretching rooms are smaller then I remember them. I'm not sure why, but they feel much smaller then Disneyland's own versions (Floor-space wise; the length is obviously more at Disneyland). The stretching rooms in Orlando have always been better at relaying the "Stretching" effect. The lack of walking over the obvious elevator door device when entering and the wall opening up to reveal only an exit and not an additional black mass of wall above it might be part of it. They seem much more cozy-feeling with the new wallpaper; it makes them feel less bland.

Loading Area

The loading area always where I became confused in my memories. The ride always seemed to let out into a dark dungeon looking room in my 2000 video. That might be because of the night vision. But in 2003, I remember walking down colorful corridors that went back and forth after leaving the stretching room to reach the loading area. My memory was wrong however, as I knew it was. The Loading area is right there after you let out of the Stretching room. It's dark too. Very dark. I was afraid I might trip over someone or something. The great mass of people that flee toward the switch back is an accident that has yet to happen, but seems evident to do so in the darkness. The path narrows into a single-file path up against the wall that turns and heads directly back toward the moving walkway. The Sinister Eleven add some much needed character to this dark and dreary area. The wallpaper needs some color too, but that's just my preference. I don't like how it looks like it's a black and white movie with Orange candle lights when you enter the loading area.

The Stairwell and Portrait Hallway

One thing that always stands out to me is the stairwell that you pass under after leaving the loading area. I always took it that the Candelabra you see hovering above is supposed to be the one seen later in the endless hallway. The New changing portrait hall is nice. The wallpaper is a nice change from the old basic stripey wallpaper. The effects are nicely executed too; better than in the foyer.

The Library, Music Room, and Endless Staircases

The library shelves are still convicting as a wall mural can be. The Music room is dark, and shadowy pianist is very sharp looking. It's still laughable compared the new attic projection at Disneyland, but hopefully, one day the will replace the go-bo with a more convincing and fluent projection. The new staircase scene is very neat. It's easily noticeable that the effect is accomplished via the clearly visible wall-mounted mirrors panels. The effect adds a much needed replacement to the mutant spiders that once ruled the darkness of the staircase. It is here that the track layout becomes the same as Disneyland's. The Music Room is located where the loading dock is at Disneyland. The next effect was much more impressive then the Stairs, and much more then I thought it would be...

The Wallpaper is Alive, Central Corridor, and Seance Circle

After clearing the arch at the end of stairs and emerging into darkness, the sound of a swarm of something unpleasant crawling along the walls like bugs is heard. The eyes of the bat-wallpaper are moving about in the darkness; blinking and moving up and down. The fade perfectly into the walls of purple, and are very convincing. I'd love to obtain a flash picture of the scene so I could see exactly how it was done, but I wasn't going to disobey the Ghost Host myself...

The Corridor is very dark, and a gust of wind hits your face when the doombuggy spins around to face the endless hallway. The Coffin man seems to have lost his old tuxedo selves, and now, only a white undershirt sleeve is seen. They have way to many Portraits of the same pop-up heads and are dear Hatbox Ghost lining the walls to take note of. The removal of the hands on the final door (the one that growls) was a silly decision in my mind's eye. It looks empty. The claw shadow on the 13 clock was much more visible and sharp then I recall it.

Madame Leota Airlines are usually flying from what I hear. However, the Saturday I left, flights had been grounded and she was back on her table. I have word that she is flying once again though. The room is very dark (as it should be) making it much more convincing that I was ins a dark void of space instead of a sound stage.

The Ballroom and The Attic

The ballroom is always a pleasing sight. The effect is always amazing, even if I know how simple it is, and how it is accomplished. There really isn't much more to say about it.

The new attic. It was different. Since this was my first time seeing it in person, it was surprising that if felt to me as if I had already seen it. I have of course, on YouTube and various things like that. Seeing it in person gave me a feel for the depth of the space that needed to be refreshed, but it wasn't as extreme of a change as I though it would seem to be. The hatboxes are still in a pile to the right of the attic exit. Constance is pretty cool. They need to flat-project her though. When viewed as you leave the attic, she looses her conceiving feel as the projection distorts accost the dummy underneath at an odd angle.

The Graveyard & Exit Crypt

The graveyard; the big finish. It was dark like the rest of the ride, and the scrims where very convincing as the fog they are meant to be. The Caretaker needs some more lighting. The Bicycle ghosts were missing. The ghost all have painted on eyes now that are startling to look at. The Knight in particular; he's also mute now. He just dances along to the song like everyone else singing along does. The Pop-ups were great, but very noisy in the hydraulics area. The new vocals are phenomenal. The wraiths were very pleasing too, much more then I remember them.

The Hitchhikers now have scary eyes that stare you down in the car. The exit crypt was as it has always been. The new exit projection is really not necessary, but it's not an eyesore ether.

Overall, the ride was amazing to experience aging; even more so with the new additions that I had heard so much about. It's funny. When I got on it for the first time this trip, only until I got to the Attic did it vaguely cross my mind that "I've just seen these effects for the first time." and it was of little importance to me at the moment. I was riding the Haunted Mansion, and even a few new additions couldn't take away from the feeling that came from being back in a doombuggy.

I'll see you all a little later...

Vacation Report: January 2011 - Part 1 - Intro and Audio

2011-01-24T15:28:00.002-05:00

Welcome Foolish Mortals,

After what felt like forever, I returned to the happy haunting ground in Orlando. Prior to this outing, I had last visited in October/November of 2003 during the "Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party" and the constant promotional build up of the sinking ship that was the Eddie Murphy adaptation of our haunted abode. However, this trip remains a murky memory that has lost it's detail, due in part because of the loss of our family video camera during the Halloween party. Only recently did I discover the majority of photographs from the trip at my grandparents, so my memories of the Haunted Mansion were heavily based on my February/March 2000 vacation; my first trip to Disney World. I have all the photos and video from that trip in easy-to-access format, so they keep that trip fresh and vivid in my mind. So, let's begin, shall we?

The Re-Haunting of 2007 was from what I have heard, a much needed refurbishment. The Walt Disney World Mansion, even with it's extra scenes, graveyard, and such was still being placed under the Disneyland version as far as quality goes. That says something strong, since my visit to Disneyland's own Mansion (under the care of one Jack Skellington at the time) in November 2008 had me reeling in "That isn't convincing at all!" and "Why does interior of the mansion look like a sound stage?" remarks of disappointment. The Mansion at the Magic Kingdom must have been in terrible shape if this unimpressive attraction could one-up it.

As far as audio goes; the ride has receive many changes that have been completely unacknowledged by the Disney Company. Lets run down what the 2007 renovation added and removed from the soundtrack, and what changes were made. Having been there now, I can safely say that I know more then I did prior about the audio by relying just on YouTube videos. So let us begin:

Area music is one of the more obvious additions. The simple combination of wind sound effects with the portrait hall music and the Phantom Manor garden organ is a nice addition that isn't as distracting as I thought it might be from the quiet and creepy mood that the old solo "Wolf Howl" sound effects provided when I was originally told of it's inclusion.

At night, the "Wolf Howl" is joined by another sound; Flashing strobe-lights are followed by a realistically delayed Thunderclap. The effect is even more convincing in the rain (as I got to experience first hand).

The foyer music has been constantly argued over as to it's current state after the 07' refurb. I myself feel I should take some blame for this confusion, as I mistakenly used the wrong recording session track in my first feeble attempt at a "Re Haunting" ride through mix. I want to say they are now using Randy Thorton's "Disneyland Forever" version of the organ; The quality sounds near exact, with some added re-verb. The forever project will get it's own post here soon, so I'll leave the background on that for later; Let's just simply say for now that the music is a tad bit slower. I might be wrong on this; I've been known to miss the minor variations in the foyer organ before, but it sounds cleaned-up at least.

The stretching room; the only place that Disney wants to say they modified as far as soundtracks are concerned. Entering the room as soon as the door slides open (which is exactly as the foyer spiel ends and the opposite stretching room's Thunder Clap goes off) the sound of wind is heard, along with the feint sounds of an Owl flying somewhere in the distance and a number of ghostly "whoosh" sounds. The Ghost Host's audio is amazing as it floats about the room. The sounds of the door closing shut are now part of the soundtrack, and play even if the door doesn't get closed on time. The creaking of the walls is just the right volume; it doesn't distract from the Ghost Host's dialogue. The laugh after "Find a way out" is always directed toward the ceiling, followed by a loud "whoosh" that cuts the wind and creaking to silence. We hear "There's aways my way" directly above. The room goes dark, and a realistic sounding clap of thunder is followed by the sounds of bats and the original scream. The crash sounds much more like falling bones then the old "Punching a hole through a brick wall" sound ever did, and it's followed by the re-introduction of the wind sounds. The door opens, and staying behind, the following things are heard after the ghost host finishes his dialogue: The sound of bats leaving the room, then the whispering of the gargoyles saying "Stay together" for a few seconds. After a pause, the emit a loud childish giggle, and after a few more seconds, the whisper "get out" in a non-threatening, but still creepy tone.

The Load area is the same minus the Bilingual safety spiel, which has the Ghost Host impersonator who dose a brilliant job in my oppion.

The Portrait hallway has realistic claps of thunder, but no rain sounds are evident. They sound rather familiar. I wonder if they might be cleaned-up versions of the Pirate's of the Caribbean thunder sound effects...they sound very similar...

The transition between the library and the music room is layered with a clap of thunder that signals from the window behind the piano, even though it sounds like it's coming from the curtain that separates the two scenes that are constantly assumed by even many mansion-fans as one scene.

The Piano music is clear during the passing of the music room, but after entering the new endless stairway scene, the sound gains a noticeable re-verb as it cancels out the foyer organ track to play solo during the climb.

The inclusion of the Laugh from the Disneyland ghost host is added.

The new moving and blinking eyes are accompanied by a significant sound of their own; a sound of something like a swarm of insects or bats emitting bug-like sounds that invoke the idea that the wallpaper is indeed alive.

The Paul Frees Laugh is still there. I heard it with my own ears. A gust of wind, while not making any sound, is evident once you pass the endless hallway, just as they had originally intended.

The screams echo down the corridor in a fashion like the ghost host in the stretching room.

The removal of all of the originals (or alterations of some) are evident past the Conservatory, and the foyer music is still played in the scene, just very low, you have to listen for it while your there to hear it. The sounds of the old growl are evidently used at a drastically slower speed and deeper pitch on the last door.

The Clock received a new chime.

Rap on a table comes for the floating table to the far side of the room upon entering, via a visible device. It raps three times with a clack-like sound after "From somewhere beyond" only.

A noticeable "whoosh" sound has been added right before the Ghost Host begins his Ballroom audio. He seems to fade off as he says "See you all a little later..."

The Heart Beat has been altered or possibly re-recorded entirely to follow the tempo of the Piano in the attic. The piano is a new addition from the 2007 refurbishment. Obviously, we have Constance speaking now.

The Graveyard has been re-recorded for the most part as far as vocals go. The Duke and Duchess still share the same verse switch-offs that they had previously, but are noticeably new. The Duchess ends the song by saying "Scream!" instead of actually preforming a scream or laugh. She then says more lightly "Oh Sugar." I think it might be possible this was a happy mistake that ended up being used. The sugar in the tea is the tie in. Perhaps the person reading the lyrics while recording accidentally said "scream" where it would have been stated to preform a scream; after quickly realizing, she said "Oh sugar" after realizing the mistake. Just a guess... Listen to them.

I like the new vocals myself, but I know some are not so welcoming to the new additions that replaced the 1969 classics.

The monotone hearse ghosts are now a lively choir that really adds depth to the song overall. The loss of the La-La singer still bugs me, but the vocals are very well executed in my oppion.

The Knight is now realistically mute via cut vocal-cords from decapitation. The removal of the Knight's audio is something I guess has it's reason. Between the Opera Ghosts and the two next to him, there is already quite a lot of sound to take in at that particular area; plus the Ghost host interrupts that area with "Ah, there you are..." so you have yet another sound that chimes in. He just dances along now like the rest of the singers do.

The Opera couple sounds more hokey then ever, like a cow in a blender, really displaying the sound of "I have no clue what I'm doing" that Baker might have been going for with his idea of "Hokey" vocals.

The Prisoner and Executioner are still swapping lines, but noticeable lyric changes include the following: "Spooks come out for a Screaming Wake" instead of "Swinging Wake" and "They begin to terrorize" instead of "Pretend"; sounds a bit scarier...but I like them a lot. They are still using the "big man, high voice, little man, deep voice" joke. Listen to them.

The Walled-Up man sounds are back after missing for years.

The Ghost Host Crypt spiel is now that of Disneyland's with minor variations.

That concludes the new audio. I shall return with the next parts of the report soon. I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS

It's 2011

2011-01-01T16:17:00.000-05:00

Welcome Foolish Mortals,

Happy New Year and Happy Holidays and all that stuff. It's been a busy time for us at S&FS. With the release of "Phantom Manor: The Unofficial 18th Anniversary" (Delayed by approx. half-an-hour due to issues with the upload) and the "13 days of X-mas 2010" event, plus, the announcement of this year's "Haunted Mansion Holiday: The Unauthorized 10th Anniversary 4-Disc Collection" it's been few weeks since the last post for obvious reasons.

From January 14th to January 22nd of 2011, I will be returning to my Happy Haunting ground in Orlando for the first time since 2003's Not so Scary Halloween Party. I have now been to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion (While in Holiday Decor, of course) and can make my full comparison of the two even better with some memory refreshing and much needed rides through the mansion.

And I'll be seeing the Re-Haunting additions, plus Constance and Flying Leota for the first time in person. As you might have guessed, I can't wait, and am planing on taking loads of videos, audio recordings, and a few pictures here and there. My oh my how things have probably changed...or, are still changing...

With the current destruction of the graveyard and grounds of the mansion, I will be sure to take my turn in documenting the messy introduction of the "Interactive" elements. These better be the most amazing, awe-inspiring, and theme-fitting things we've seen from WDI. There's no need to remove the family plot, especially when the pet cemetery gets to sit un-touched. I hear word that the tombstones we know and love might be staying, and that they could also be taking to their own graves; some claim that they are not all getting the boot if they are indeed being removed for good at all; they say some will stay, other will go. I would bet you if this is true, that Master Gracey's Headstone will be the first to get grounded down into pebbles.

It's been said before by many of the mainstream mansion experts online that "Master Gracey" is not a subject that is endorsed by the Higher-Ups in Management. The major revisions to Jason Surell's 40th Anniversary Update of "The Haunted Mansion: From The Magic Kingdom to the Movies" regarding the name as well as the cover up on the Refurb-wall notice during the 2007 Re-Haunting are more then enough proof that plans for the unfolding story of Constance Hatchaway will have no such character with the name, and that there are no plans to make the name official.

After all, it was only a tribute to Yale Gracey, and for the trouble it seems to be causing with the higher-ups, I can say without doubt that it will most likely get the boot if any of the tombstones do. As for who would stick around if they don't pull them all? I'd be willing to put my money on that already interactive Leota Tombstone...

I'll see you all a little later...

P.S. - Hatbox Ghost Return anyone?

Welcome Foolish Mortals...

2010-12-16T17:00:00.000-05:00

Facebook, oh Facebook. If only you would work properly. I must admit, I was hesitant when I began my Facebook account back in October of 2009; Strange & Frightening Sounds v.1 was already in the works at that time. I joined in, and found myself addicted to it as many have. I don't know exactly why. I just did. The aspect of having contact to anyone via a single website was pretty neat, especially since it was lower-grade and faster then the flash-based Myspace. Over the course of a year, S&FS.com went through many refurbishments. I gained a nice following in a year's time I must admit. But S&FS never fully materialized as I originally imagined it. I can't say S&FS v.3 will be the last fix, but it will be around longer then the others, I assure you. Of course, with such a small base of followers, I have every right to fix it up. Facebook However...

Facebook is one of the internet "Mega Sites". Like Google, YouTube, Twitter, Myspace and Wikipedia, it receives a constant flow of web traffic that never ceases to exist. They are constantly being visited by global masses; and yet Facebook; and YouTube to a lesser extent then before; are constantly "Upgrading" their sites. These upgrades take things many users liked, and replace them with unreliable beta versions that are plain ugly. I can't take it any more!

So this blog opens today as a result of my frustrations with Facebook and YouTube. Sadly, both have no alternative at the moment, so I must continue to use them for their purpose. So welcome to the blog foolish mortals. I'll see you all a little later...

S&FS