Keys to the Kingdom

Today I went to the Magic Kingdom to take "The Keys to the Kingdom" backstage tour.

Our tour guide, Daniel, did a wonderful job showing us the hidden side of the Magic Kingdom and revealing some of the secrets behind the magic!

The 4+ hour tour included an exclusive trip on the Jungle Cruise, with the usual skipper spiel replaced by a technical explanation of how the attraction works. We also visited the underground utility corridors, known as "utilidors", visited the backstage buildings which house the various parade floats, and yes, went to the Haunted Mansion.

While we were in the Utilidors, we ran into "Mayor Weaver" (the Mayor of Main Street USA who I watched officiate the opening of the park that morning) and two of his lady friends. They had just come down from being "on stage" and were still in costume, although one the ladies was holding her wig in her hat (saying it was her pet Shitzu). Even though we were "off stage", the Mayor and the ladies jumped into character . They sang a hormonized "Happy Birthday" to one of the men in our group, told jokes, and made conversations. It was a great moment, in an unusual setting, and they left us all smiling!

If you are a fan of Imagineering, I highly recommend this tour!

You have to make reservations ahead of time, and cameras and bags are not allowed. Lunch was included at the Colombia House, and we all received a beautiful "Keys to the Kingdom" gold pin!

Czech This Out !

Joe sent me an email to let me know that he spotted a magazine article mentioning Haunted Dimensions.

A recent issue of the Czech magazine "ABC" suggests Haunted Dimensions, and in particular, my paper mo del of the Pirate's of the Caribbean, Torre del Cielo, as a web pick.

Thanks Joe! And thanks ABC! 

Click image to enlarge

More Nice Words

"The finest Haunted Mansion model ever."

~Jeff "Chef Mayhem" Baham, founder of the Haunted Mansion supersite,

Doombuggies.com

Thanks, Chef!

Pepper's Ghost in the Ballroom

(SPOILER WARNING)

I received an email from Dustin asking,

"I am trying to figure out how the Imagineer’s got the ghosts in the ballroom to be reflected to

the balcony where guests look into the room. I was hoping you could send me a side view of the ballroom showing where the glass and animatronics are placed."

I am asked that question very often, so click the link below to get a simplified explanation.

If you do not wish to know the secrets of the ballroom effects, please DO NOT click the link below!

Pepper's Ghost in the Ballroom 

A Question of Model Scale

Recently I have received a number of email from model railroad enthusiasts who want to build my models for inclusion on their scale railroad layouts, and wanted to know to what scale I designed my models. For those who do not know w hat I am talking about, the scale of a model is the relation of it's size, to that of the origina l structure. For instance if you had a 12 inch tall model of a structure which is 12 feet tall in real life, then the scale would be 1 inch = one foot.

I do not design my models with any particular scale in mind, but rather, I design them to be as large as possible, while keeping the pieces within an 8x10 inch printable space. I also do not know the measurements of the mansion with 100% accuracy, however, I believe the Liberty Square haunted mansion paper model is approximately

1 inch = 5.5 feet.

In model train terms it is

1/66 (which means 1 inch equals 66 inches).

The large versions of the Crypts, and Entrance Pillar models are approximately

1 inch = 1.4 feet

or

1/16

With the proper math, you should be able to figure out at what percentage to print your models, in order for them to be the scale you require. But please don't ask me what the percentages should be! All of this has already overextended my primitive knowledge of math!

Click image to enlarge

Disney World Map 1979

While rummaging in my basement I found a large Disney World Magic Kingdom map from 1979. I do not know how I came by it, considering my first trip to The Magic Kingdom was not until 1986, but it was a great discovery. (Wow! My 20th Haunted Mansion anniversary is this year!) 

The representation of the Liberty Square Haunted Mansion is very well done!

I especially like the ghostly faces found on the trees.

 But why does the man standing at the entrance look so unhappy?

Maybe the ride is closed for renovations again.

Haunted Mansions from Space

Thanks to Google maps, I was able to find, and compare the overhead views of the 4 Disney haunted mansion attractions.

These satellite shots clearly show the various layouts of the show buildings, and the relatively small mansion facades (circled in yellow). You will also notice the similarities between Tokyo's haunted mansion, and Liberty Square in Disney World, which are nearly identical. 

Magic Kingdom 1977

I liked this mini map found in a 1977 Disney World brochure. I especially like the representation of the Liberty Square Haunted Mansion!

And, of course, in 1977 we were still dealing with flash bulbs!

I love the factoid that a camera would require 100,000 flash bulbs to illuminate the castle!

When Worlds Collide

Did you know that the Liberty Square Haunted Mansion at Disney World is directly next to It's a Small World?The ingenious layout of the park makes it seem like the two attractions are worlds apart, but this satellite view from Google proves otherwise.

So the next time you are riding through the cemetery in your doombuggie, and watching the singing busts, take a moment to realize that true horror, and insanity are just a few yards behind you!

And pray that your doombuggie doesn't make an unexpected left turn, taking you into "a 

of laughter, and a world of tears"!

Prototype #1 Complete!

Well, it is a bit wobbly, and skewed, but the first prototype of my

New Orleans Square paper model is finished!

I discovered a few problems which I hope are minor.

The pillars were about 4 mm too short.

The third storey is about 1 cm too short, causing the pediments to

partially cover the third floor windows.

The verandah roof seems to have some conflicting angles.

But it sure looks like it is supposed too!

There are a couple more photos of the final prototype on the construction page, including a side by side comparison of my Liberty Square model and this one (link below). 

The full process is recorded here.

Disney Artist, Harry Holt

While on our honeymoon in Florida, in October 1990, we went to the Magic Kingdom, and found Disney animator , and artist, Harry Holt, signing pencil sketches.

Mr.Holt signed one for us, and over the years it was lost.

Last week my wife found it.

Click image to enlarge

It was Halloween Day (And we were FIRST in line to the mansion that morning. of course!), so I asked Mr. Holt to sign it "Happy Haunted Honeymoon". But he wouldn't do it, citing that it wasn't a proper Disney sentiment, or something like that.

Having just ridden the haunted mansion several times that morning, I was very perplexed! Anyway, I didn't argue with this Disney legend.

Mr. Holt worked on such projects as Snow White, Lady and the Tramp, The Flintstones, and had a hand in the design of Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Peter Pan attraction.

Harry Holt passed away on April 14, 2004, at the age of 93.

CLICK HERE to read a little more about Harry Holt.

Mansion Comparison

Based on my fairly accurate 3D models of the Liberty Square Mansion ,and the New Orleans Square Mansion, I put together this size comparison. From what I can tell, the tower of Liberty Square is only about 1 foot taller than the top of the New Orleans Square cupola. The Liberty Square "front" facade is wider, which is why I decided to put New Orleans at an angle. Nothing Earth shattering, just a little interesting.