Posted by
Mike and Chris Pettey
Updated on July 6, 2020
Category:
Disney vs. Disney
Tags:
Disney vs. Disney
Haunted Mansion
Mystic Manor
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The Haunted Mansion is an elaborate dark ride that travels through a spooky and startling world of the paranormal, themed to a large abandoned manor. The ride can be found at three of the six Disney Resorts across the globe. A different take on the attraction, yet still similar in spirit, called Phantom Manor, is found at Disneyland Paris at the Disneyland Paris Resort outside Paris, France. A complete reinvention of the concept, called Mystic Manor, is found at Hong Kong Disneyland at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort outside Hong Kong. And yes, even though there are drastic differences, we’re including all five of the aforementioned attractions in our comparison. While the California and Tokyo versions do have a fantastic and elaborate seasonal overlay featuring Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas, we are reviewing only the standard versions of the attractions. We’ve ridden every version in person.
Major Similarities & Differences
You can watch fantastic videos of all versions of the attraction online, so we won’t spend time re-hashing the details of each experience. Instead, we will just point out the major similarities and differences we feel are worth calling out:
- This is one of the only Disney attractions where each version is located in a different “land”.
- The stretching portrait room in the Disneyland version literally takes guests underground in order to pass under the train tracks and into the backstage show building. It is the only version to descend below ground level. After stepping off of the ride vehicle, this version concludes with a moving walkway taking guests back up to ground level.
- The track layout is nearly identical in all versions except Hong Kong.
- The Florida and Tokyo versions appear nearly identical from the outside, and are extremely similar within. Tokyo did not receive the updates that took place at the Florida version in 2007 including the enhanced queue, or the special effects with the hitchhiking ghosts at the ride’s finale.
- The California, Florida, and Tokyo versions all intentionally lack a linear story, and are instead presented as a exploratory journey through the mansions (both inside and out). The Paris and Hong Kong versions tell a specific story to riders that is followed throughout the attraction.
- The Paris version underwent a lengthy refurbishment in 2018 that lasted over a year and saw significant revisions made to the special effects, as well as the underlying story.
- The Paris version’s location within Frontierland is part of a larger story and theme that incorporates that park’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The concept is based on the never built Western River Expedition, once planned for Walt Disney World in Florida.
- The Hong Kong version was added as part of a 3-land expansion to boost attendance at the struggling park. It was the first trackless ride in Hong Kong Disneyland and its opening drew record attendance. It was themed to more of an enchanted journey, rather than a haunted house, due to Chinese cultural views of the afterlife.
- Lord Henry Mystic, the proprietor of Mystic Manor, is a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.), a fictional organization that runs through many attractinos found in the various Disney Resorts across the world. A portrait of the society is found hanging in the queue for Mystic Manor.
The Rankings (from least favorite to favorite)
Yep you read that right – the original version of the Haunted Mansion slides in at the bottom of our rankings. We can already hear the purists raging. And we get it: it is the original, the version Walt had a hand in, the classic. It’s also the least effective in terms of design, effects, and overall experience. Yes, the ride fits in brilliantly into New Orleans Square, but that’s not enough to save the lack of both queue and on-ride extras that you’ll find in Florida, nor the top tier maintenance you’ll see in Tokyo. We do love the original exterior – and its lack of foreboding or dilapidation – but at the end of the day this version is our least favorite, though it’s still one of the top attractions at Disneyland Park.
Copyright Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright Disney. All Rights Reserved.
The Tokyo version of the Haunted Mansion slides into our list in fourth place. From the exterior, this version looks almost identical to its Florida counterpart, though the interactive queue features are absent. The placement of the ride in Fantasyland has always been a bit of a head-scratcher (and yes, we’ve heard the argument that in Japanese culture, this makes more sense). Like Florida's version, you do get the fantastic changing portrait in the foyer, but the ride swaps out the endless stairway for a few fluorescent spiders that look a little dated. Tokyo, as always, gets major points for ride upkeep – you won’t find anything broken on their version – but at the end of the day it just doesn’t have those extra features to propel it past fourth place.
Copyright Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright Disney. All Rights Reserved.
It’s very likely that a decade or two ago, the Florida version of the Haunted Mansion would be much further down this list. But over the past several years, there have been enough additions and improvements to propel this all the way to the top of the pack of the three original versions of the ride. First, is the interactive queue, with enough to see and do on its own that it surpasses several other Disney “attractions” in the park. Second, the endless stairway, which is unique to this version and makes perfect use of an otherwise empty space. Finally, the fantastic effects of the hitchhiking ghosts always make us smile and provide a perfect “how did they do that?” moment at the end of the attraction. We even appreciate the waterfront setting in Liberty Square. As it stands today, Florida’s version of the ride has been “plussed” up the list, and is a fantastic take on the classic attraction.
At the top of the “traditional mansion” list sits Phantom Manor. Although familiar in layout, this sets itself apart from the other haunted mansions with its completely reimagined storyline, darker tone, and perfect setting in Thunder Mesa. From the exterior to the tragic story of Melanie Ravenswood, Imagineers formed the framework for an experience that strikes the perfect balance between “too scary” and “too tame”. Although many of the scenes are the same for about the first half, the ride becomes completely unrecognizable beyond the ballroom. Phantom Manor fires on all cylinders as your doom buggy descends through a skeleton-lined tunnel into the ghostly town of Phantom Canyon. Indeed, this is what sets it apart from the rest. What about all those changes made during the recent renovations? We LOVE all the new special effects – particularly in the foyer and stretching room. And aside from one major change at the end (we won’t spoil it), all of the “storyline” changes were completely fine by us. Suffice it to say, Phantom Manor easily sits atop any of its Omnimover counterparts.
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In a league, class, stratosphere of its own – the top spot in this ranking unquestionably goes to Hong Kong’s Mystic Manor. Many will argue this ride doesn’t even belong on this list – and they have a point. The entire attraction is so radically different that it really is a bit of a misfit. But the loose connection – a dark ride through a paranormal adventure – means we’ve got to include it at the top of the list. And for good reason. Mystic Manor does absolutely everything right. From the exterior grounds and building, to the elaborate queue, to the incredible trackless ride vehicles, this attraction proves that today’s Imagineers are just as capable as the original bunch, of creating original, memorable, classic attractions. The original score by Danny Elfman is spot on. The use of screens is integrated perfectly with the practical effects. And Albert the Monkey is simply the best original park character since Figment. The special effects will surprise and astound, while the storyline is captivating and compelling. It’s a lengthy, engaging, all-original masterpiece. It even has a fun retail space as well as a fantastic counter service restaurant attached near the ride’s exit. It’s hard to find any faults with Mystic Manor, and even harder to understand why the attraction hasn’t been replicated at any other Disney park. It’s not only the best of this bunch, but it singlehandly makes the trip to Hong Kong Disneyland, from anywhere in the world, worth the effort.
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Written by
Mike and Chris Pettey
YOUR THOUGHTS?
Agree or disagree with our rankings? Have you experienced any of these attractions – either in person, or virtually via the internet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
4 Comments
I totally agree with that rating
Just say you hate Disneyland and get on with your lives.
Yeah i’d have to say Mystic Manor doesn’t belong on this list, its too much an original ride of its own.
It’s a fair point, to be sure. But this is definitely the list we felt it fit on the best, out of the ones we created.