The Grandfather Clock is a supernatural object featured at the Haunted Mansion attraction at the Disney Parks.
Description[]
The Grandfather Clock is a supernatural ominous-looking clock whose upper-half resembles more of a demonic creature with a pendulum in the shape of a devil's tail as well as having a pair of creature-like legs to give the clock a frightening design. Unlike any typical clock, its face is decorated with its crooked hands moving backwards past the number 13 (a number which is synonymous with bad luck) in place of 12.
Due to the success of the attraction at Disneyland, the Haunted Mansion attraction was later constructed in the Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris (as Phantom Manor), still featuring the supernatural clock in it.
Appearances[]
The Haunted Mansion/Phantom Manor[]
In the Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland versions of the attraction, the grandfather clock is encountered at the Corridor of Doors. As the guests pass by, a shadowy claw of a humanoid-like figure passes in front of the face of the clock, implying that the clock takes some form of spirit. The sound of the clock ticking is heard as guests pass through the clock.
In the Disneyland Paris version of the attraction, the grandfather clock reprises its role like it did in Gracey Manor, except that it is located in Ravenswood Manor, due to the attraction having a completely different storyline than the original Haunted Mansion attraction.
Haunted Mansion Holiday[]
In the seasonal overlay at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland, the clock reprises its role like it had in the standard versions of the attraction. However, a tag reading "To Leota, special gifts for you ~ Sandy Claws" was placed on the clock, which could imply that Jack Skellington was the one who gave the gift to Leota for Christmas.
Other appearances[]
The Haunted Mansion (2003)[]
The clock was alluded to in the 2003 adaptation of the Disney Park attraction, but is depicted as a giant clock placed on an arched hallway leading to the ballroom instead of a grandfather clock. An homage to the Florida version of the attraction is also evident in this depiction of having the clock having thirteen hours.
The Haunted Mansion (video game)[]
The clock also appears in the video game adaptation of the film. It serves as a progress saver for the player to save their progress. It is encountered in the foyer, the upstairs hallway, and the downstairs hallway.
Kinect: Disneyland Adventures[]
The grandfather clock appears in the Haunted Mansion attraction where the player could try to mirror the face of a giant version of the clock where the guests must mirror its hands in order to pass through. The regular sized clock is also among the obstacles the player must avoid. The clock later appears in another section of the attraction where the player uses it to smash a living suit of armor.
Disney Crossy Road[]
Various grandfather clocks serve as background props in the Haunted Mansion hub when playing as any character from said hub serving as stationary decorations.
Haunted Mansion (2023)[]
The grandfather clock appears in the 2023 adaptation of the film which is a reboot to the 2003 film adaptation. Although it is often seen in the background, the grandfather clock begins to toll whenever it is midnight inside the Haunted Mansion, causing everything inside to become haunted such as ghosts appearing.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Depending on which park where the Grandfather Clock is at, its hands have a different variation design:
- Disneyland: The hour hand resembles a leech while the minute hand resembles a demon's tongue; if alligned correctly, both of the clock's hands make the silhouette of a bat.
- Magic Kingdom: The clock's hands resemble skeleton fingers.
- Tokyo Disneyland: The clock's hands have an ornate Japanese design.
- Disneyland Paris (Phantom Manor): The clock's hands resemble snakes.
- The number 13 seen on the clock's face is a reference to said number being associated with bad luck in many cultures.
- It could also be a reference to the phrase "thirteenth stroke of the clock".
- The Grandfather Clock was among the clocks pictured on a window at the World of Disney store in Disney Springs from 2016 to 2018.
External links[]
