13 things you didn't know about Haunted Mansion Holiday

1... Every night, more than 100 jack-o-lanterns shine their ghoulish light.

2... The character pyramid seen while borading was originally designed as an Advent calendar that revealed a new magical box for each of the 13 weeks.

3...The model for Madame Leota in the original Haunted Mansion was Imagineer Leota Toombs, and in Haunted Mansion Holiday, the model is Imagineer Kim Irvine, her daughter.

4...Each year, "Sandy Claws" covers the graveyard with 7,500 square feet of ghostly white snow.

5...It takes "boo"-kets of ultraviolet paint (over 20 gallons) to enhance the snow's eerie glow.

6...In the graveyard, the trees are decked with 1,000 frightfully festive tiny orange lights.

7...There are more than 70 pumpkins covering the snow mountain in the graveyard.

8...Each season, thousands of feet of "black gnarly" garland is draped and hung...here and there.

9...Jack's faithful dog Zero gathered more than 200 bones to use as decor, garland and presents.

10... More the 2 dozen additional animated figures " marterialize" during Haunted Mansion Holiday.

11...The list of names that drops out of the gaint snake's mouth in the attic (second from left) represents the names of Cast Members involved with Haunted Mansion Holiday.

12...Creepy cobwebs are artistically kept (not swept) year-round to make the Jack Skellington and 999 happy haunts feel right at home.

13...Every year, Madame Leota celebrates the 13 days of Christmas with 13 fortune cards.


very cool...Dr Lee

History and Heritage:

 Tim Burton's  "The Nightmare Before Christmas," which was released 20 years ago on Oct. 29,1993, began with a poem Burton wrote a decade earlier. The story was initially considered for short film or 30-minute television speacial, but Disney released the film, directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton , as a full-length, stop-motion animated feature (originally under the Touchstone Pictures label)>

 It tells story of Pumpkin King Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon) and his obsession with bringing Christmas to Halloween Town. More than 227 puppets were used to represent the characters in the movie, which included Sally (voiced by Catherine O'Hara), and Ken Page voicing the villainous Oogie Boogie. Even two decades later, the film's strong visuals, dark comedy and original music (composed by Danny Elfman) continue to capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences worldwide.

 The 20th anniversary edition of the movie is now available in Blu-Ray and DVD. In addition, the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood will host a 20th anniversary "scare-edration" with showing of the movie in Disney Digital 3-D (with 4-D sensory effects) now through Nov. 3,2013.



FUN FACT: Composer Danny Elfman also voiced Jack's singing voice as well as Barrel and the "Clown with the Tear-Away Face."

Great movie....Dr Lee

Saving Mr Banks, Xmas time:

 Last night,October 6th, saw the movie "Gravity", good one, however, also saw the trailer to the up coming movie "Saving Mr. Banks".
 Starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, with Emma Thompson, the making of Mary Poppins, this looks to be great. Sometime around Xmas this will be in the theatres,a feel good movie for the Xmas Holidays.
Mary Poppins receive 13 Academy Award nominations, and brought home 5 Oscars.


Line starts here....Dr Lee

Disneyland Hotel opens:

In 1954, Walt Disney approached Texas oilman and television pioneer Jack Wrather with the idea of building an upsacle]hotel for Guests to Walt's planned theme park. An agreement was reached to place the hotel on 60 acres of leased land near the exit of what would be the Disneyland parking lot. The Disneyland Hotel welcomed its first Guests on Oct. 5,1955, nearly three months after Disneyland opened. Just seven of the hotel's 104 rooms were ready for occupancy the first day.

 Expansion began almost immediately and would continue for decades. In the early 60's, a helicopter landing pad and 40-acre golf center were added. In 1961, the extended monorail opened, connecting the hotel directly to Disneyland. By 1978, the hotel had grown to a complex of three towers with more than 1,400 rooms, a marina and convention center.

 In 1988, The Walt Disney Company purchased the Disneyland hotel, and in 1999, the last remaining original buildings were removed in preparation for the expansion of the Disneyland Resort. In 2011, the hotel's latest renovation was completed, including the transformation of the three towers and 975 Guests rooms, lobby,convention center, pools and the addition of Tangaroa Terrace restaurant and Traders Sam's-Enchanted Tiki Bar.



To cool...Dr Lee