Updated lighting effect materializes at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion

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Updated lighting effect on the graveyard hearse scene - April 2023

Posted: Tuesday April 25, 2023 9:50am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The graveyard scene has been updated with a new lighting effect at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom.

Updated lighting effect on the graveyard hearse scene - April 2023

The hearse in the graveyard scene is now lit from the interior, adding more visibility to the scene and an eerie red flickering glow through the window. Note that the images here are exposed to show the details of the scene and are brighter than it appears in person.

Updated lighting effect on the graveyard hearse scene - April 2023

This minor update comes ahead of the Hatbox Ghost's arrival later this year. The addition of the Hatbox Ghost to Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion comes after years of speculation, and its return to the Disneyland Haunted Mansion in 2015.

Haunted Mansion Hatbox Ghost at Walt Disney World

Disney has not yet announced if the Haunted Mansion will be closing to add the new Hatbox Ghost scene.

Haunted Mansion overview

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JustInTimeApr 28, 2023

You’re amazing

Prince-1Apr 28, 2023

JABApr 28, 2023

So it's not just my eyes, then. When we went last year, most of the graveyard scene - especially the ghosts - was barely visible, and I started to wonder if my eyesight was finally starting to go.

LSLSApr 28, 2023

Ok I really like that red effect, and it does make things look nicer. Definitely a nice little update.

wdwmagicApr 28, 2023

Here you go

wdwmagicApr 26, 2023

Some more low light pictures from Haunted Mansion. https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/haunted-mansion/gallery/25apr2023-haunted-mansion-overview.htm

Magicart87Apr 26, 2023

The original pop ups were scary.

JustInTimeApr 26, 2023

This I’m so thankful for

TDLFanApr 25, 2023

Saw it yesterday, it looked great! One effect that I think cheapens the attraction are those pop up heads on sticks. Classic, I know, but surely they could come up with a creepy new effect.

ToTBellHopApr 25, 2023

Historically, it’s been favored by MK VPs.

thepiratekingApr 25, 2023

I'm not sure I'll ever find it again, but within the past couple years, I read a post somewhere (I'm not sure if it was old or new) about a Haunted Mansion maintenance technician. It specifically mentioned a lightbulb in the hearse I think. I don't remember all the details, but I think it was about restoring the lightbulb/effect to its original operating status. Interesting that they would upgrade this one area. I wonder if that post and this upgrade are at all related? Has anyone else run across this post? It was either here or social media...

MrPromeyApr 25, 2023

Not to knock improvements to the Haunted Mansion - I love this ride - but they sure do love plussing this one for some reason, despite it never really having been in need of any of it. Meanwhile, across the water, BTM's main effects remain broken/off indefinitely and the replacement remains in limbo, our Pan gets an updated queue but no DL-like update to the attraction itself, etc... Priorities? What priorities?

Dizknee_PhreekApr 25, 2023

For comparison, here's a photo I took of the scene in Dec 2022. There are SO many details in the graveyard that get lost in the dim lighting. So I'm excited to eventually see it in person. As long as it enhances rather than changes the mood, I'm all for it!