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ANAHEIM, CA, May 6, 2001 - What happens when holidays collide?
Guests are going to find out the fun way, when DISNEYLAND¨ park
in Anaheim, California, introduces its quirky "Haunted Mansion
Holiday" attraction in October.
The Haunted Mansion Holiday headlines this year's holiday
celebration at DISNEYLAND. The new attraction opens early October
2001, and continues operating throughout the annual transformation
of DISNEYLAND into the "Merriest Place On Earth."
In a well-intentioned attempt to celebrate the Christmas season,
Jack Skellington from the film "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before
Christmas" will descend upon the world-famous Haunted Mansion
attraction to bring his vision of the holidays to life.
A unique Holiday overdressing of the Haunted Mansion will take
place, complete with hilarious gags and playful twists upon the
original Haunted Mansion storyline.
Jack Skellington, donning his holiday "Sandy Claws"
outfit, will set the stage by welcoming guests to a Haunted Mansion
now decorated with stalks of hay in the shapes of Christmas trees, a
coffin sleigh, a spider webbed countdown clock reading "0 days
'til Christmas," and hundreds of flickering candles along the
mansion's rooftop.
Inside, the fun begins in earnest as guests enter the familiar
"stretching" room of the Haunted Mansion, only to find it
decorated for Christmas. New holiday paintings adorn the walls, but
later stretch to become hilarious images of Halloween Town's vision
of Christmas.
Guests will board the attraction's "Doom Buggies" and
be treated to a fun-filled tour of the mansion's many rooms, all
decorated for Christmas by Jack and his dog Zero. But as one can
expect, when Halloween celebrates Christmas, there might be some
flaws.
"The Haunted Mansion Holiday will be packed with fun gags
and laughable images," notes Steve Davison, creative director
for the project. "Jack Skellington's vision of Christmas is
going to be a scream."
Sharp-eyed Disney fans will find some notable twists to their
favorite attraction: Madam Leota will deliver a chilling new holiday
greeting from the sance room, and the famous ballroom scene will
be transformed into the ultimate Christmas Ball, decorated with
bizarre images and strange Christmas toys inspired by Jack's
creative mind. Even the finale scene through the mansion's graveyard
will look strangely familiar - except now it will be covered in
ghostly white snow, where playful ghosts are making their own unique
Christmas trees.
The sound track throughout the attraction will also be completely
changed, encouraging guests to scream along on cue.
The extensive transformation leaves no gravestone unturned, with
scores of surprises and two new Audio-Animatronic¨ figures, thus
creating a one-of-kind experience for the 2001 holiday season.
DISNEYLAND makes its annual transforms into the "Merriest
Place on Earth" in November, with a whole slate of other
holiday experiences on tap for guests.
Included in the holiday magic will be the "it's a small
world holiday" attraction, a New Orleans Square Christmas
celebration, the park's traditionally decorated 60-foot Christmas
tree, and beginning Thanksgiving day, "A Christmas
Fantasy" parade will perform daily along Main Street, U.S.A.
The holiday season will also feature "Believeˇ In Holiday
Magic," a special version of the park's popular fireworks
spectacular. Three times larger than past fireworks shows, this
colorful aerial production combines an enchanting Yuletide
storyline, holiday music and a shimmering array of pyrotechnics
launched from 13 backstage locations.
On New Year's Eve, December 31, DISNEYLAND park will extend its
operating hours from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. and will present a special
midnight fireworks spectacular above Sleeping Beauty Castle to ring
in the New Year in dazzling fashion.
For more details about holiday activities or general DISNEYLAND
Resort information, call (714) 781-4565 or visit the DISNEYLAND
Resort Web site at www.disneyland.com.
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