The Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland)

The Haunted Mansion attractions in Lake Buena Vista, Florida and Urayasu, Chiba are very similar to each other in regards to ride layout and structure. They differ from their counterparts in Disneyland and Disneyland Paris in regards to these features. Both attractions opened with their repected parks and have remained guest favorites ever since.

Queue
Here rests

Lawful R. Bender.

He rode to glory

On a fender. - Epitath

In Walt Disney World, the queue for the attraction starts at the entrance of Liberty Square coming from Fantasyland, in a way bridging the gap between fantasy and reality. The line snakes around the front of the attraction's facade and in front of a hearse, before winding around the riverbank shore of the Rivers of America and turns inland to the side of the mansion. Here, we see the family plot for the family that lived in the mansion prior to our arrival. To the left side of the walkway are gravestones, while in front of us are a pair of black doors, that will open as soon as the mansion is ready for us. An awning was added to the queue a few years after the ride was open, providing shade for those in line.

In Tokyo Disneyland, the queue is very similar except for the fact that it does not go along the shoreline of the Rivers of America. Instead, we are sent through the queue very quickly with not much to look at. Also in the queue, two stone gargoyles also stand on the pillars of the gate, occasionally turning their heads to look at us.

Foyer
''When hinges creak in doorless chambers. When strange and frightening sounds echo throutgh the halls. Whenever candlelights flicker when the air is deathly still... That is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight.'' - The Ghost Host

Upon entering the house, we are greeted by a dimly lit hallway. Following this hallway, we enter a foyer, which features a fireplace to the left side. There is a picture hanging above the fireplace, which shows a young man (quite possibly the owner of the mansion). Our "Ghost Host" welcomes us and gives his usual speil. As he is talking, the picture above the fireplace starts to change, showing the many ages of the man until his final days. One of the walls opens up next to the picture, revealing an octagonal room.

The Stretching Room
''Our tour begins here, in this gallery. Here where you see paintings of some of our guests, as they appeared in their corruptible, mortal state.'' - The Ghost Host

This two story room features four pictures (these pictures look like Disneyland's Stretching Room pictures, aside from a few differences). The wall that let us in to this room immediately closes, and the pictures on the walls begin to stretch. As these pictures stretch, we are shown the terrible fates of the people in the pictures. The ghost host then begins to tell us that we are not too better off than the people in these pictures: we are trapped inside this room with no possible way to escape. Well, states the ghost host, "there's always my way." Suddenly, the roof above us disappears, revealing an attic. In that attic, it reveals the Ghost Host (peresumably) commiting suicide by hanging. A scream is heard, and the lights go dark.

Unlike California and Paris' stretching rooms which act as elevators, Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion did not need to take it's guests underground, under the railroad tracks to a show building. However, the Stretching Room effect proved so popular, it was installed in Florida. It has since become a staple of Haunted Mansions.

The Load Area
''Oh, I didn't mean to frighten you prematurely. The real chills come later. Now, as they say "look alive", and we'll continue our little tour, and lets all stay together, please.'' - The Ghost Host

Having left our mortal selves behind, we are now able to travel through walls and escape the stretching room. We encounter a long hallway, leading to a short queue that is used to board the Doom Buggies. The Ghost Host's spiel has been cut in half from the Disneyland version, mainly because there is nothing to look at in the hallways in Florida and Japan.

The Portrait Hallway
''Do not pull down on the safety bar please- I will lower it for you; and heed this warning: the spirits will materialize only if you remain quietly seated at all times. Oh yes, and no flash pictures please. We spirits are frightfully sensitive to bright lights.'' - The Ghost Host

After boarding our Doom Buggies, we go under a landing that features a dimly-lit candle. We then enter the Portrait Hallway, in which we are shown many creepy looking posters. This is much like Disneyland's portrait hallway, except Florida and japan's pictures do not change. Instead, the eyes of the portraits follow you and your Doom Buggy until you leave.

The Library
Our library is well stocked with priceless first editions, only ghost stories of course; and marble busts of the greatest ghost writers the literary world has ever known. - The Ghost Host

Leaving the Hallway behind, we enter a library. There are hundreds of books here, some of them being pulled off of their shelves- with no one in sight. The book ladder slides across a beam on the top of the book shelves by itself, and chairs rock back and forth. We only stay in the library for a few moments, and then we move on into the Music Room.

It should be noted that The Library is the only scene in Florida and Japan that is not in Anaheim or Paris.

The Music Room
''They have all retired here to the Haunted Mansion. Actually, we have 999 happy haunts here, but there's room for a thousand. Any volunteers?? Hmm?'' - The Ghost Host

Leaving the Library behind, we enter a large room that features a staircase, a large winow, and a piano. Upon close inspection, we notice that the piano itself is playing a haunting rendition of The Screaming Song. Upon even closer inspection, we see a shadow on the floor that seems to be playing the piano.

Until 1994, Anaheim did not have a Music Room. This was changed during a rehab, in which the piano player was relocated to the attic

The Stairway
''Well, if you should decide to join us, final arrangements may be made at the end of the tour. A charming "ghostess" will be on hand to take your application.'' -The Ghost Host

We leave the music room and climb up a stairway, the exact same stairway that we begin our ride in Anaheim and Paris. At the top of the stairwell are two Taranchulas, who have made their webs on two bare walls at the top of the stairs.