~Exploring Behind the Scenes of Disney's The Haunted Mansion Backstage Areas~

Behind The Scenes Backstage Areas

Today we explore the backstage areas of Disney's The Haunted Mansion...

The show building houses a number of backstage areas unseen by guests. One of the easiest ways for cast members to enter these parts of the attraction is by entering a small, shed-like protrusion behind the facade. 

Inside this shed is the entrance to a cast member break-room and a staircase that leads down below the berm, making a left turn into the attraction's control tower. This small room (about the size of the conservatory) is hidden between the unloading and loading areas, seen only by handicapped guests who must ride all the way through to the loading area. 

Another way into the show building from within the park is through a door in one of the queue's crypts. This leads down several staircases into the portrait hall. Near the tower, a pair of stairways leads beneath the Doom Buggy track and into a passageway that travels between the loading area and the graveyard, below the endless hallway, and behind the ballroom.

On the other side of the ballroom, several large maintenance and equipment rooms can be found.

The show scenes themselves are only convincing when viewed from the path of the ride; exploring these areas quickly reveals the fact that they are built much like movie sets in a sound stage. For instance, the wood that the ballroom walls are built of is easily seen from backstage. 

The back of tombstones also shows plastic, spray paint, etc. The top 8 feet (2.4 m) or so of the building are separated from the larger area below containing the ride. Numerous air conditioning ducts pass through this attic of sorts, which can be accessed via a caged ladder on the north side of the building. The tops of the large, squarish indentations in the sides of the building mark the floor level of this attic space.

It is worth noting that at Disneyland, the Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain show buildings are very close to each other. When the Doom Buggies face the back of the graveyard, adjacent to the ghostly band, guests are looking at the building's northwest corner. Just a few yards beyond the back wall is a similar but smaller building housing Splash Mountain. Guests evacuated from Splash Mountain during a breakdown will verify that the Haunted Mansion show building is virtually indistinguishable from the Splash Mountain building, and that the two have only a few yards of pavement between them.

Because of the Magic Kingdom's different layout, the Haunted Mansion show building is instead located next to the one that houses It's a Small World. This version of the ride takes place within a similar building, though this one is larger and entirely enclosed by other areas of the park. This attraction differs from the original in that the ride takes place at the same level as the mansion itself. 

In addition, no berm separates the facade from the show building; the back of the mansion has a visible, above-ground connection to the main warehouse. To avoid exposing backstage to the guests, WDI uses trees and other rides to hide the building from view.

Here are to videos sharing how the Haunted Mansion was built...! Enjoy!

In another post - the Special Effects of Disney's The Haunted Mansion...!

Wanted to share my creations and booth set up from Sugar Plum's Halloween Show 2022 - old location at Buena Park, Ca.

I was still working for Hallmark at this time. Looking at the photos I cannot believe I had that much time to create SO MUCH!

Inspires me to create MUCH MUCH MORE for 2024!

I love Camilla the owner of Sugar Plum - who knows I love to be by the Haunted House that her husband and son created BY HAND - it's lighted with sound and movement. It is absolutely spooktacular!

Wanted to share a few other illustrations I found via the internet of Tim Burtonesque Art...

I tried to find the artist's names - but individuals on Pinterest seem to fail to give the artist the credit they deserve...

In any event, I applaud whomever created these creative illustrations!

So clever!

Today I'd like to share my Art Doll that won 1st Place and Division Winner at the OC Fair in 2022.

My beautiful Dia De Los Muertos Art Doll...

I was so excited and honored (unlike last year - read why in a previous post)...

I sketched and planned her for over 3 months - then creating her took over 6 months...

Her face is hand stitched and hand painted. Each flower placed by hand...

Her dress is paneled, and the leaves I designed and created myself...

I also stitched her boney hands and fingers as well!

I'm so proud of her!

Haven't parted with her yet - she's such an inspiration!

 A time for healing...

Last year I posted about this time on Instagram of my entry to the Orange County Fair Fiber Arts Art Doll Competition.

I created a moving mermaid holding a Monarch Butterfly that also moves - both spectacular! I pushed myself creatively and she came out just as I had envisioned.

Of course I am competitive, and of course I desired to win - but I also expect to be judged fairly. That was not the case last year for myself and the other competitors.

We were ALL judged unfairly...

The Category in which myself and the other competitors submitted our entries to is FIBER ARTS.

The definition of fiber arts is:

"Fiber art is a style of fine art which uses textiles such as fabric, yarn, and natural and synthetic fibers".

All but one entry met the qualifications of Fiber Arts. And that one entry was chosen as the winner. That individual supposedly created a clay doll, wearing store bought dress and shoes.

Clay is not fiber. This entry was completely in the wrong category, and should have been properly placed in a different category allowing myself and the other competitors an opportunity to be judged fairly. Supposedly the judges chosen are "experts" in the category in which they are judging, but in this instance none of them were able to decipher that clay is not fiber.

The other competitors of actual fiber art entries were very imaginative and creative! Entries included a 5 foot hot dog! But all judged unfairly.

I sent an email to the OC Fair Coordinator Christine Gunst informing her of the blatant misjudging in this category and of the unfair judging not just for myself but for the other competitors who followed the standards and guidelines. There was no response whatsoever.

Supposedly I "won" 2nd place and the "judges" marked my entry as only 50% fiber - which clearly is incorrect. I refused the monies awarded, the medallion, and the award. I wasn't going to accept whatever "compensation" they were bestowing knowing they were purposely misjudging. Clay is not fiber PERIOD.

And Christine Gunst, the OC Fair, and those judges should be ashamed that they denied proper judging for 5 competitors who met the requirements, awarding one that did not met those same requirements.

Needless to say - I will not be participating again until OC Fair acknowledges this incident to ensure proper fair judgment is applied for all competitors and their work in future competitions.

If anyone knows of the other OC Fair Fiber Arts competitors who lost unfairly last year, please pass this along to them. They should've had the opportunity to be judged fairly.

Thanks for all your support!

cgunst@ocfair.com is the email of the individual who oversees entries and competitions at the OC Fair.

My beautiful hand designed, hand sewn and painted mermaid:

The supposed "winner" for Fiber Arts Art Doll:

OC Fair and those judges should be ashamed.

 Creative Ways for Deviled Eggs!

Today I'd like to share a few very creative ways to display your deviled eggs for Easter!

Deviled eggs are so popular for Easter gatherings - but usually their displayed on a plate: egg whites filled with yellow yoke. They are yummy - but the presentation BORING.

Not so with these neat ideas I've found and sharing!

As for recipes for deviled eggs there were SO MANY - and many 5 stars! So I'll let you pick and choose on your own! Me - I love sprinkling BACON and chives on them - SO YUMMY!

But you can hunt and decide which recipe you'd like to try - right now let's look at how to make your deviled eggs the WOW factor on the table!

Simple - but clever! Just slice off the tops of the eggs to remove the yolk. Slice off a bottom portion of the egg to help them stand on their own - and fill with yummy devilish egg mixture! Garnished with dill for a more elegant presentation.

Isn't this adorable?! Use the same "standing" egg white technique above - but top off with a halved cherry tomato! Then dot with mayo, sour cream. or cream cheese.

What a cute chick! Use the "standing" white egg technique once again - keep the top though. Fill the egg whites with the yummy yolky mixture - and use a straw end to cut out eyes and cut a carrot slice into triangle pieces for the beaks!

Colorful Deviled Eggs! How festive! Easy to do - just use food coloring and soak the halved egg whites for whatever contrast you'd like (light, pastel, dark). Dry them completely, fill and garnish!

Beet soaked eggs. This is very popular.

 The deviled egg can be traced back to Rome, Italy.

Soak shelled hard boiled eggs entirely in beet juice. Soak them for a few hours or a few days!

Remove - halve - fill - EAT!

Spring Basket Egg - SO FRIGGIN' CUTE!

Use the same "standing" white egg technique - fill with yummy yolk mixture - cut thin strips of celery for basket handle - dried parsley was used on the basket brim in photo. 

Paprika, bacon bits, crumbled feta or blue cheese, dill, chives, and chopped up sun-dried tomatoes can also be used around the brim!

Deviled Bunnies!

Halved eggs, upside down, use straw cut olive technique above for eyes (you'll have to core out a hole for the eyes in the egg white with the straw as well), use chive strands for whiskers and sliced radishes for ears after slicing a slit on top for them to slide into. I might try cucumbers instead!

Carrot Eggs!

Traditional display of deviled eggs BUT add triangled cut pieces of salmon or red or orange peppers - then add dill, another fresh herb, or the actual carrot top to be the topper of the carrot design!

Bunny Feet Eggs!

Easy! Add pink or red dye to your yolk mixture - and with a pastry piping bag fill in yolk hole and add 3 whisps for toes!

BABY GROGU EGGS!

How adorb is this?

These eggs were filled with avocado mixture - not my choice, but different strokes!

However, I plan to use dyed green yoke mixture!

Cut a 1/4 slice of egg out, empty egg of it's yolk, create your yummy egg mixture - then cut a small sliced portion on bottom for standing purposes. Pipe in the mixture - one for body, then the head. Add eyes cut out by olive pieces cut out by straw end, and triangle pieces of celery of green peppers for ears!

Funny how we are creating Grogu out of eggs - the same food he cannot resist!

I'm sure if you use any of these ideas at your Easter gathering - it will be the hit out of all the appetizers!