A Haunted History

We all heard that the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland was a vacant house on the riverside for six long years before Disney opened its doors and that it was planned before the Park was even built. You know exactly what I am talking about. Well, through a connection to the Imagineers, I found out that the Haunted Mansion's history is far more complicated than merely being delayed and magically opening one August day in 1969.


When Walt died in 1966, no one at the Company or at WED were certain about the fate of the Disney name, especially the ambitious projects Walt did worked on in his last year. However, the Haunted Mansion's fate was still undecided until a couple of developments the following year.

Well, 1967 gave WED a better idea of what to do with their Haunted Mansion. First off, the use of the Omnimover in "Adventures Thru Inner Space" had given the designers of the Haunted Mansion their ideal ride system.

According to an article in a New Jersey newspaper dating back to October 1967, Disneyland had installed construction walls around the Mansion.

According to one document, the show building began construction in November 1968. The show building was completed in February 1969, according to one Imagineer. Meanwhile, the interior was still worked on through the Spring and the Summer, even as opening day loomed closer. In fact, some of the opening day effects, such as the Hatbox Ghost, were covered up when the attraction was unveiled to guests, only to be uncovered, and messed around with by designers.

The Mansion's ride system was being tested by July 1969, but the ride system was reportedly installed in April. However, it makes sense that the interior was being installed during the April-July timeframe. It is interesting to think about the crunch time WED has been under with some of its greatest projects. 

I mean they designed, installed, and opened Small World for the Fair within a year. The Pirates of the Caribbean, which had noted production and installation delays, was finished before its third major deadline for opening, which was supposed to be April 1967. Of course, we know it opened to the public a month ahead of schedule.


As per the Hatbox Ghost's removal, it was likely in October 1969 when the Mansion went through its first annual refurbishment. However, there were reports that old Hattie did not make it into September, let alone survive until October.