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I’m not sure I want to describe what the Haunted Mansion holds in store for you, Dear Readers. I will, but you must promise me you will read no further, if you are planning on coming to Disneyland to see this wonderful new attraction. I don’t want to spoil it for you. You should be completely surprised.

You will note, I said new attraction. But the Haunted Mansion has been there since, 1969, you say. Uh huh, but not like this. It may as well have been built yesterday because what you will experience is like nothing you are used to. Yes, there is still an elevator with stretching portraits, yes, there is a séance room and a ballroom and the attic, but they don’t look like your old friend.

Before I lead you into the elevator, begging you to drag your body to the dead center of the room, I think you should know what my reaction to the Haunted Mansion Holiday was. I squealed. I’m not a squealer. I’m rather stoic. After I rode the attraction for the first time, I felt like I did when I was a little kid. I was filled with magic. Disneyland has magic again.

Yeah, sure, it’s always had magic for me, I’ve never lost it, but it’s not that same kind of magic that a ten-year-old’s eyes see. Haunted Mansion Holiday has restored that for me. I want to ride it again and again. I’m wondering how many times I can be "sick" from work before the boss catches on. I’m wondering how I can plan my days around riding the attraction at least once a day till they take it away when Christmas is done. I am plotting to, horror of horrors; get up really early to be at Disneyland when the park opens (something I almost never do) so I can be first in line.

So, what’s all the fuss? Don’t read any further if you’re not the sort who shakes their Christmas presents to figure out what’s inside. Proceed at your own risk, for I have warned you, I will spoil it for you.

The Paul Frees sound-alike begins the new tale of the Mansion in the foyer (above), wondering what happens when holidays collide. As you step into the elevator, you will notice something is different. Besides the fact that it’s all decked out with black garlands, each of the stretching portraits has been replaced by beautiful stained glass "windows". But, as the room begins to grow, the glass shatters and breaks revealing a "different" sort of Christmas.

And, as the lights go out, the ceiling is filled, not with a hanging corpse. Jack, in his Sandy Claws outfit looks in on you to wish you a Merry Christmas.

Step now, from the elevator, into the Changing Portrait Gallery, where a host of new portraits await. There’s Jack as the Pumpkin King changing into Sandy Claws,

A snowman is transformed into a pumpkin "snowman"...

The Mansion itself transforms into a Halloween Town citizen...

CONTINUED

Sue Kruse offers another look inside!

Sue Kruse on the event show

Adrienne Krock with the $65 perspective

Adrienne Vincent- Phoenix with the $200 perspective

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