
For 40 years guests have heard that greeting in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. The idea of a haunted house appeared on the original Disneyland maps. However, when the Haunted Mansion opened in 1969, it was a very different attraction. For years, imagineers debated whether the attraction should be light and playful or whether it should be dark and scary. Several storylines were offered and discarded, including a pirate’s tale, a museum for the weird and the tale of a murdered bride. Because of these varied influences, the Haunted Mansion has a perfect blend of humor and horror with elements of each storyline combining into a great attraction. Since its opening, the Mansion has appeared in versions throughout Florida, Japan, and Paris. In addition, the Mansion has spawned a lackluster movie with Eddie Murphy, an album with music by Raven Symone and a highly confusing video game.
On August 9, the Disneyland Haunted Mansion turns 40 years old. To celebrate, Radio Station KLOS is giving four lucky winners the chance to take part in a sleep over in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion.
I am a Disney fan. I married my beautiful wife outside of Cinderella’s Castle and am not embarrassed to admit that we had several characters at my reception in the Grand Floridian. My daughter could name the Princesses before she could name her cousins. My family tries to visit the Disney properties several times a year and I have been known to sneak away to Disneyland when traveling to California for business. I listen to Disney Podcasts, most notably Ricky Brigante’s Inside the Magic and Paul Barrie’s Window to the Magic. I should also add that, like many adult Disney fans, the Haunted Mansion is my favorite attraction. As a child, I tried desperately tried to recreate the retirement home for the 999 happy ghosts. Consequently, this contest sounds like a dream come true for some lucky kid.
The contest is featured as part of the Mark and Brian Radio show (As a sci fi geek, I should point out that Mark and Brain guest starred two of the aliens in the Fourth Season Star Trek: Next Generation episode entitled Identity Crisis (Episode 92)) The radio station has narrowed all the qualifying callers to small group of kids, who took part in a talent contest. Each of the four winners will spend the night in one of the Mansion’s stretching rooms, which riders will recall “This chamber has no windows, and no doors --which offers you this chilling challenge: to find a way out!" Disney officials promise that the night might not be restful or quiet and may expect visits from some of the 999 happy haunt that occupy the Haunted Mansion. After all, “there is always room for a thousand.”
A live feed will be broadcast from inside the mansion that night on 955klos.com from midnight to 6 a.m.
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