Sunday, January 04, 2009

We'll take care of the outside...

Hi Ghost Fans,


Back in the late 50's when the idea of a Haunted Mansion was being established, Walt expressed to Sam McKim and Ken Anderson that he wanted a pristine mansion facade in his park, not something terribly run down. He explained that Disneyland would take care of the outside, and the ghostly inhabitants of the Mansion could do whatever they wanted inside.



This statement, until the mid-90's held true not only for Disneyland, but also Walt Disney World. The Mansion's grounds used to house many tree and beautiful foliage, unlike today where there are broken and toppled fountains, overgrown foliage and a worn paint job on the facade.


One Maid who has been at the Mansion for decades recounts that back then, it really did look like an estate, with trees everywhere, also without the current canopy it gave the full illusion of a residence.







I would like to take a moment and give a big thanks to my friend Mike at WidenYourWorld for the material for this post. Thanks Mike! Hope to see you at the studio soon!

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love those pics, I remember the mansion looking like that in the 70's when I used to go. Notice they didnt have the entrance gates with the pillars that theeyhave now,and the 2 plaques where on the other pillars up close to the side entrance. I also remember wating in the sun the first few years, when thya had no canopy. ANd weher the hearse is no, there used to be that tree and for a time, it had beautiful spanish moss hanging from it, it looked amazing. I actually miss those older times.

10:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love those pics, I remember the mansion looking like that in the 70's when I used to go. Notice they didnt have the entrance gates with the pillars that theeyhave now,and the 2 plaques where on the other pillars up close to the side entrance. I also remember wating in the sun the first few years, when thya had no canopy. ANd weher the hearse is no, there used to be that tree and for a time, it had beautiful spanish moss hanging from it, it looked amazing. I actually miss those older times.

10:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love those pics, I remember the mansion looking like that in the 70's when I used to go. Notice they didnt have the entrance gates with the pillars that theeyhave now,and the 2 plaques where on the other pillars up close to the side entrance. I also remember wating in the sun the first few years, when thya had no canopy. ANd weher the hearse is no, there used to be that tree and for a time, it had beautiful spanish moss hanging from it, it looked amazing. I actually miss those older times.

10:58 AM  
Blogger Johnny Yanok said...

I really like the toppled fountain and some of the overgrown foliage, but I wish that they would remove the trees they have growing directly in front of the mansion. when you are waiting in iline, you can't see much of the mansion. bummer!

1:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These pics are very interesting! I could've believe that the Disney World Haunted Mansion would ever look like that. In my opinion, without the surrounding trees, the mansion did look more isolated and eerie looking in a way than now. Currently, the overgrown trees make the mansion look as if its hiding in a forest.

What would make dinner plate cleared though is that if anyone could have photos inside the Haunted Mansion way back in the older days. I would love to see what madame leota, the stretching portraits, the bride, the cartaker and the bust would look like back in the 70's and 80's.

6:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I mis those old days back in the 70's...WDW was truly magical back then, Im glad I got to experience the Magic Kingdom back when it opened and I feel kind of sad for kids nowadays, the will never know how amazing WDW was back in its heyday

4:21 PM  

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