Celebrating the Haunted Mansion

On August 9th, 1969 the Haunted Mansion opened in Disneyland's New Orleans Square!  

I love the thrill of walking up to the stately mansion, being closed into a "stretching" room,eventually loaded into my "Doom Buggy" and then going home with a "hitchhiking ghost"!

I am always amazed by the mood the Haunted Mansion creates with all of it's little details and some of my favorite Hidden Mickey's!  

As the Haunted Mansion celebrates it's 45th Anniversary I wanted to take a little step back in time to the events that happened when it opened, and take a look at the fun events that are happening to celebrate it today!  

As Walt was looking to create New Orleans Square something haunted seemed fitting, but he didn't want anything to take away from the pristine look of his park.  He is known to have said "we'll take care of the outside and let the ghosts take care of the inside" thus presenting a beautiful mansion exterior with a gloomy, haunting interior.  This is part of the magic of the experience and how Walt always had an eye on keeping the magic alive.  Walt, of course passed away before the completion of the mansion, but his ideas were key in the creation. 

On August 9th and 10th select visitors were able to experience this new attraction and then it officially opened to the public on August 12th, 1969.  Newspaper ads ran to announce the new attraction. To celebrate the opening they offered a special "I scream" Sundae at the Carnation Plaza.

To celebrate The Haunted Mansion's 45th Anniversary you can get some wonderful souvenirs.  First are these wonderful Limited-Edition Prints that can be purchased for just $5 with any $30 purchase at select restaurants in Disneyland Park.  

You can also celebrate by getting your own Haunted Mansion Exclusive Art of the Haunted Mansion prints.

Or a fabulous souvenir to add to you homes Halloween (or everyday) decor or your own sense of ghoulish style!

I, for one, can't wait to get my hands on some of this ghoulish gear and celebrate by spending some Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort with one of my favorite attractions!