The Servant's Quarters

Did you know that the WDW mansion has a "secret" entrance?

OK, so it's not exactly a secret, but it's not well known.

Near the mansions exit, you will find a door marked "Servants Quarters".

This is actually the entrance used by people with disabilities, or by people who take part in special "behind the scenes" tours of the park. It leads to the stretch rooms.

The Map Police

I LOVE amusement park maps! I love looking at them, making them, and following them.

And I guess it is no secret that I am a tad bit obsessive about haunted mansion details.

Well, while examining an old map of the WDW Magic Kingdom, I spotted THIS!

Click image to enlarge!

Look what they did to my mansion! They turned the conservatory into a front yard gazebo, instead of attaching it to the East side facade where it belongs! And what's up with those steps leading to the terrace?! Eve rything is mixed up! Somebody call the authorities!

Yes, I'm kidding. Usually the artists who make these things have never visited the parks they map, and the map itself is only meant to represent the layout of the park. (otherwise each of our maps would need to be life sized! I wonder how small one could fold a 100 acre map?)

I just thought this was an interesting Observation.

The Gastley Mansion?

An interesting observation here. If you are in Frontierland in Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, look for this sign post. It indicates the directions to Liberty Square, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, but at the bottom is an unusual addition. The sign reads "Haunted Mansion", with the word "Haunted" scrawled by hand. A closer look reveals that the sign originally read "Gastley Mansion", but the Gastley name has been crossed out. Was this the original name of the Haunted Mansion? Is there a story related to this little scene which was never shared with the public?

A Ghost Toast!

I have a great photo of one of the ballroom ghosts holding "my" glass goblet, thanks to some great detective work from my pal Dale! Here is the original ghost photo, and beside it is an enhanced enlargement of the goblet. And then, beside that, I inserted a new photo of my goblet, trying to imitate the lighting conditions of the ghost photo, and the match is amazing! Thanks Dale!

  It's looking like we have a set of haunted mansion banquet goblets! Cool! 

My Haunted Goblets

My folks have a set of 18 glass goblets they received as a gift, probably some time in the late 60s, which would only come out once a year for Thanksgiving dinner. I recently noticed that they resemble the goblets used on the banquet table of at least one of the haunted mansions. I swiped one and took a pic of it. Here is my goblet pic, and a close up shot of the banquet table from the attraction (from Doombuggies.com).

I doubt that anyone could confirm whether my set of glasses are the same as the ones used in mansion, but I thought they looked pretty darned close! If you are a mansion CM, I'd love to hear what you think

The Blue Lady

Last week, while visiting San Francisco, we wandered down the coast to Moss Beach on Half Moon Bay. There we had lunch at the infamous Moss Beach Distillery. It is a 20s era building perched on the cliffs above the bay, with a beautiful view, and a resident ghost...The Blue Lady!

We didn't see the ghost, but in the corner of the bar, near the ceiling, is a bust of The Blue Lady, created in the same manner as the library busts, in Disney Haunted Mansions. Her face is actually a negative impression, which the eye sees as a positive 3D bust. So as you move about the room, The Blue Lady's head and eyes will always follow you. She is very well done. with a ghostly blue light illuminating her features. At night she must look pretty spooky! I didn't have my camera, so you'll have to see her for yourself.

Liberty Square Ironwork

Now for an observation. The WDW Haunted Mansion has many great architectural details. Among these, are the iron roof crestings which follow the roof lines and accent the colonnade and conservatory. On closer inspection I found that there is a subtle design difference between the iron cresting of the conservatory, and that of the rest of the mansion.

The tallest elements on the conservatory cresting have a little flourish on their "heads", which is the same shape as the pickets on many of the walkway railings.